Inverters and Optimizers Knowledge

A string inverter is a stand-alone box that is typically installed close to your fuse box and electricity meter. The simplest explanation is that it changes the DC current into AC current that we all use for electricity here in the U.S. There is typically only one, or possibly two, string inverters on each residential solar installation.

Micro-inverters perform the same basic function but are installed underneath each panel on your roof. Each of these micro-inverters is about the size of an internet router. The big difference is that a solar panel installation with microinverters will have the same number of microinverters as there are solar panels.

Both types of inverters are useful and it really depends on how your solar panels are laid out before you need to choose one inverter over another.

String Inverter Explained

A string inverter functions in a series circuit with their usually being 6-10 individual solar panels in what is known as a string.
 

The advantage of a string inverter is that you only need one of them. If anything is going to fail in a solar system it is likely to be the inverter and so it is less likely that as an installer you will have to go back to a job. Cost is another advantage, a single string inverter on a solar panel installation is usually cheaper than installing micro-inverters.

Micro Inverter & Optimizers Defined

A microinverter functions in a parallel circuit. To simply put, a standard inverter will cap the electricity production of each panel by the lowest producing panel on your roof. A micro-inverter, on the other hand, will take full advantage of the production of each individual panel. It will convert the power generated by each panel to the grid voltage.
 

The core advantage of using microinverters is that theoretically, you can yield more solar electricity. The reason for this is that there are slight differences in voltages between solar panels. When solar panels are in a string the voltage is reduced to the voltage of the lowest voltage panel in the string. If a solar system is facing multiple angles then micro-inverters are the way to go. Or, if you have shading issues from trees or a large chimney, again micro-inverters would be best. In these situations, the solar panels will be producing different amounts of electricity at different times of the day, but micro-inverters will ensure you harvest all of the energy.

Optimizers are an option for standard inverters as well, which function very similarly to a micro-inverter. With an optimizer, you still have a standard inverter, but you also have optimizers for each individual panel combating production differences. There are other aspects to consider as well. Micro-inverters typically have 25-year warranties while standard inverters typically have 5 or 10-year warranties. Micro-inverters and the add-on optimizers both offer an additional perk in system monitoring as well. With either of these devices, you have the ability to track the production of each individual panel, while with a standard inverter you only can track the production of the whole system.

If you were to expand your system in the future, micro-inverters are simple to add one at a time. However, with a standard inverter, it would be more costly to add another full unit. To sum it all up, micro-inverters definitely add value but are only recommended if you have panels facing multiple orientations or you have shading issues. Otherwise, the less expensive standard inverter is usually more cost effective. For more insight, click below; 

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