Solar inverters, also known as photovoltaic inverters, play a vital role in solar energy systems. Most of them are considered the brains of the project. Solar panel inverters are good for converting direct current into alternating current. Direct current is power that flows in one direction in a circuit and assists in providing current when there is no electricity. What is the role of solar inverters? The following is an informative guide on what a solar inverter is and how it works.
Simply put, a solar inverter converts direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power. This is important because solar panels generate direct current, but ordinary homes, businesses, and appliances require alternating current to operate. Therefore, without an inverter, you are actually creating a large amount of solar energy that can be stored but actually cannot be used (if you have solar cells). Therefore, solar inverters are generally regarded as the "gateway" to solar systems.
What is the purpose of solar inverters?
The main purpose of the solar inverter is to convert the direct current from the solar panels into usable alternating current used by household appliances. However, they also have four other jobs.
Communicate with the utility grid
The solar inverter needs to interface with the grid. The inverter can ensure that in the event of a temporary power failure, the power from the solar panels will not be output to the transmission lines outside your home. This prevents electric shocks to line workers who may be troubleshooting or repairing wires.
When your home does not require power or the battery is full (if you connect them to a solar system), your inverter will also feed the electrical load into the grid.
Ensuring the production of sufficient and clean electricity
The solar panel inverter is responsible for continuously tracking the voltage of the solar panel to determine the maximum operating power of the solar panel, ensuring that the system always generates the most and cleanest electricity.
Arc detection and dangerous shutdown
The inverter also needs to be turned off when it detects a dangerous arc, which is caused by the aging of the system and the degradation of materials in the home wiring and solar panels. Some inverters perform better than others in terms of safe shutdown.
Electricity production report
Solar inverters can help you track the power output of the solar system. The latest inverters have communication functions via Wi-Fi, hardware Ethernet or Bluetooth. With their technology, you can view the inverter's error code, power reduction data, and diagnostic information on their dedicated smartphone app or computer.
Obviously, the inverter is essential to convert the energy collected from the panel into a power source that can be used continuously at home. The solar inverter acts as a middleman. Without it, the electricity collected by the solar panels will be worthless. Every home and residential property has different solar energy needs. A good way to determine which solar inverter you need is to calculate the energy you usually need. If you need advice or purchase, it is always recommended to seek professional help from cxmsolar.