The purpose of this article is to explain the function of a solar power inverter in the home solar system, as well as issues pertaining to different types of inverters, and how to solve some common problems associated with them.
In order to supply electricity to the home, most home solar systems work by a sequence in which solar panels transfer power to batteries, with the batteries then supplying the electricity to the home. The purpose of this arrangement is to make sure that power is available even at night, when the solar panels aren’t actually generating power. Of the two types of electricity, both solar panels and batteries deal with Direct Current (DC). Outlets in the home, though, use Alternating Current (AC) electricity. Solar power inverters handle the task of converting the DC electricity to AC.
Currently, there are both Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW) inverters in use. MSW inverters are the more limited of the two, as they simply convert DC electricity into rough, 120v 60 cycle AC. Certain appliances work well with MSW inverters, but others don’t. For example, when used in conjunction with an MSW inverter, audio equipment will often give off a noticeable hum. TSW inverters don’t suffer from these problems, 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, don’t put it in the same box. Use a large size wire to run between the batteries and the inverter. The necessary size will most likely be provided in the inverter documentation. All wires to and from the inverter should have a fuse. Make sure the inverter is in a spot where it will not be exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.
Solar power inverters are known to encounter a couple of common issues. RF interference is the first one. All inverters give off a certain amount of radio noise while active. Any type of receiver should be placed as far away from the inverter as possible. Battery powered radios won’t have problems with this interference though, and the batteries can be recharged when need be through the solar power system.
So-called “phantom loads” represent the other frequently cited problem. A phantom load is the electricity used by a device while it’s turned off, which is a common trend among many new TVs and other devices with “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 really need to. If you’re able to hook up the devices responsible for the phantom loads to a power strip with an on/off switch, you can address this problem effectively. This will keep the devices from draining power from your system while the power strip is turned off.
If you would like more information about solar inverters, take a look at Solar Micro Inverter.
If you are interested in building your own solar panel, check this guide Build Your Own Solar Panel.
