Dec

Solar Power Inverter

The purpose of this article is to explain the role of a solar power inverter in a home solar system, along with issues pertaining to different types of inverters, and how to solve some common problems associated with them.

In the majority of home solar systems, power is initially generated by solar panels. After this, the panels use the power to charge batteries. The solar power battery then supplies power to fixtures in the home. This ensures that power is available at night, when the solar panels themselves aren’t generating. Solar panels and batteries both deal in Direct Current (DC) electricity. This has to be converted to Alternating Current (AC), which is used by appliances in the home. The conversion from DC to AC is handled by the inverter.

Currently, there are both Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW) inverters on the market. MSW inverters convert DC electricity into the most basic form of AC power. Some appliances, such as computers, which use certain types of power sources don’t have any issues with MSW inverters, but MSW inverters can cause problems in other cases. For example, audio equipment may give off a noticeable hum when used with MSW inverters. TSW inverters don’t suffer from these difficulties, and so they are generally the preferred choice for homeowners.

Maintaining an inverter requires a few precautions. While it’s good to make sure that the inverter is as close to the batteries as possible, it shouldn’t be in the same box. Make sure that the wire connecting the batteries to the inverter is large enough. The documentation for the inverter should mention the correct size. All wires to and from the inverter will need a fuse. Make sure the inverter is in a location where it will not be exposed to wetness or extreme temperatures.

In terms of common problems, there are just a couple which are known to occur with solar power inverters. RF interference is one of these. All inverters broadcast a certain amount of radio noise while working. Radio receivers should be kept as far away from the inverter as possible. Battery powered radios won’t experience this interference though, and the batteries can be recharged when needed with the solar power system.

So-called “phantom loads” represent the other frequently cited issue. A phantom load is the electricity drawn by a device while it’s turned off, which is a common trend among many recent televisions and other devices that use “standby” modes. Inverters are unable to go to sleep while these devices keep on drawing power. This in turn means that inverters themselves end up using more power than they ought to. Usually, this problem can be solved by using a power strip with an on/off switch. Turning the power strip off will prevent the devices from draining power, allowing the inverter to enter its low power mode.

To know more about solar inverters, check out Solar Micro Inverter.

If you are interested in building your own solar panel, check this guide Build Your Own Solar Panel.

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