The difference between solar inverters vs. solar inverters Converters

When designing a solar system, you must select solar energy equipment that best meets the needs of your customers. Many potential customers may have questions about alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), charge controllers, power inverters and solar power converters. These are crucial topics that installers need to understand and explain so that the customer can make an informed purchasing decision.

Electricity exists in two forms: AC and DC current. The terms describe the direction of electric current in a circuit. With DC voltage, the current flows in one direction. For alternating current, electrons change directions, both forward and backward.

Alternating current is what most homes, appliances and electronic devices consume because it is better at transmitting electricity over a longer distance. When you plug it into a wall socket, alternating current flows out. Most televisions, computers, routers, cell phones, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers and water heaters use alternating current.

Solar panels generate DC electricity, so a solar panel inverter is needed to convert it to AC electricity for use with typical home appliances. Some off-grid solar system owners may use DC devices to avoid the need for an inverter, but their options are limited to a small number of devices.

Solar batteries store energy in direct current form. Solar panels generate direct current from sunlight and this is stored in the batteries. When the stored energy is used to power a home, an inverter converts it from DC to AC, the standard for home appliances.

There is a lot of terminology specifically related to electricity. Often your customers will not be familiar with the exact meaning of these terms, making it difficult for them to gain a basic understanding of how the solar system works. Here are some useful terms you can explain during a site survey or on your company website.

• Tension: It is the potential of force to move, and it is measured in volts. If the analogy is water, it would refer to water pressure.

• Ampere: The strength of the electric current is expressed in amperes. If it were water, it would refer to the speed of flow.

• Watt: The measurement of power is expressed in watts, kilowatts and megawatts. A kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts, and a megawatt is equal to 1,000,000 watts.

• Kilowatt hour: This is a measurement of electricity consumption over time. Most electricity bills are measured in kilowatt hours, which is equal to 1,000 watts for 1 hour.

• Megawatt hour: One megawatt hour is equal to 1,000 kilowatt hours for 1 hour.

Many people wonder what the difference is between solar inverters and inverters. Inverters convert voltage from DC to AC. Solar panels generate direct current, while households mainly use AC. Inverters convert solar energy into a form that can be used in your customer’s home.

There are two main types of solar inverters: string inverters (also called central inverters) and microinverters. The former reverses electricity from multiple solar panels, while the latter is used on the back of each solar module.

Sometimes solar inverters are incorrectly called inverters, solar inverters or power converters. It’s useful to be aware of this in case this happens to your potential customers.

In solar applications, a charge controller, a DC-to-DC converter, is used to regulate the current flowing through the system and maximize output. The charge controller ensures that the battery bank and solar inverter receive more consistent power.

Off-grid solar systems can have voltage converters, allowing them to draw 24 or 48 volts from a 12 volt battery. These are used with DC devices, which are relatively rare.

RVs often have inverters that allow these units to convert 120V AC to 12V DC. That’s why the converters help RV owners to charge their batteries when they plug in. These units are now standard in new RVs and basically perform the opposite job as an inverter.

A solar inverter is a device that converts the electricity generated by solar panels from direct current to alternating current, the type of electricity used in homes and businesses. This conversion makes solar-generated energy compatible with the grid and appliances. Therefore, a solar inverter ensures that the electricity produced by solar energy systems can be used effectively to power home appliances and feed it back into the electricity grid.

There is no specific component that is commonly called a solar inverter or solar panel inverter. However, people sometimes use this term when they think of a solar inverter, charge controller, or power optimizer on a solar panel. A converter is a device that converts alternating current into direct current. Therefore, it is useful to clarify what people call a solar inverter.

This device, also called a solar panel inverter, converts direct current into alternating current. This conversion is essential if you have DC power sources, such as batteries or solar panels, and you need to power devices that run on AC current.

Solar energy systems require inverters to convert the voltage from DC to AC. Charge controllers, on the other hand, are only necessary solar systems with batteries, both in grid-connected and off-grid applications. So your projects include a string inverter or microinverters, but only projects with a solar battery bank need a charge controller. In rare cases, in off-grid applications with DC devices, a solar voltage converter can be useful.

The two most common types of charge controllers are Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller and a Maximum Power Point tracking (MPPT) controller. The two names refer to how the charge controllers change the voltage, and an MPPT controller is more advanced in its operation.

This technology is essentially a switch that connects a solar system to a battery. Unfortunately, they cannot adapt for greater efficiency depending on the output of the solar energy system.

This DC to DC converter is more advanced in its operation and can adjust its power consumption. MPPT generally allows for more flexible configuration and is more efficient.

All solar inverters complete the same basic task: converting direct current to alternating current. As a solar panel installer, you have three primary options to consider.

When the solar system is wired with a string inverter, each panel is connected together to form a string. Multiple strings can then be connected to the same inverter. This means that several solar panels are connected to a central inverter, which is often located outside the home or business, in a basement or garage. For some projects, multiple string inverters are used.

Because these are centralized units, if they fail, the solar system can stop producing electricity completely. But because they are not on roofs, they are easier to access for maintenance and repairs. String inverters without power optimizers are primarily recommended where shade is not an issue and with simple rooflines, especially when keeping equipment costs low is a priority.

Installers can use power optimizers on each solar panel to increase overall output and help condition the power before it is sent to the inverter. Optimizers are recommended when shade or complicated roof lines are a problem. Power optimizers can also help you meet NEC 2017 fast shutdown requirements.

Keep in mind that they increase the equipment costs for the project. Unfortunately, they are located on every panel, making maintenance more difficult if they fail.

These solar inverters convert direct current into alternating current directly on the solar panel itself. So if you install an array with twenty solar panels, it will have twenty microinverters. The use of microinverters helps minimize the effects of shading as each panel can operate independently.

Micro inverters are generally more expensive than string inverters (without power optimizers). Like power optimizers, they are located on the back of each solar panel, making maintenance more challenging than with a string inverter. Like it power optimizers, microinverters can also help you meet NEC 2017 fast shutdown requirements.

Ultimately, the PV equipment you select for your customers largely depends on their energy needs, property ownership and whether they charge batteries. It is critical to begin any project with an understanding of the project goals and budget constraints to design the optimal solar photovoltaic system. Likewise, it is crucial that you can explain the function of different devices to your customers.

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