The Importance of a Solar Inverter
When people think about solar power, the first thing they think about is the large panels fitted to the roof.
However, the large sheets are not the only thing you need to convert the sun’s energy into power for your household to use the power of the sun.
It must go through an important component of the solar system – the solar panel inverter.
An inverter is an absolute must for a solar system.
It’s responsible for the conversion of power collected by the panels into a current that is safe to use.
To understand the importance of a solar inverter, you must first understand the entire solar process.
How does a solar inverter work?
Collection
The process begins with the panels. Comprised of a silicon material that converts the sun’s energy into electrical power. The panels then collect the energy from the sun.
The panels collect the power throughout the daylight hours.
The individual panels then combine the collected power and send the DC to the inverter.
Inverting
- In the form of a small box, some inverters record the efficiency of the panels. This gives you a specific gauge on how much power you collect from the system.
- The inverter, which in the case of a central inverter is often fixed out of the way on the side of a business or home.
- The vast majority of home appliances such as TVs, fridges, and lights run off of alternating current (AC). So, the solar power inverter’s role is to transform the DC into the necessary AC for everyday use in the home.
- Some systems use micro-inverters rather than a single central inverter, which attaches to the underside of each panel. These collect and transform DC and convert this power to an alternating current. However, these options are more expensive.
Function
- Once the inverter creates the correct power input, it sends it to the fuse box and to the building.
- When the switchboard receives the AC, the home receives it to power all of the appliances as required.
- From the fusebox, excess power is either sent to a battery storage system or back into the grid, depending on your usage and system set-up, this will vary.
The inverter is crucial for the conversion of the energy collected from the panels to a power source.
The solar inverter system works as a middleman, and without it, the power collected by the panels would be worthless.
If you are looking for more information about solar options, give SunEnergy a call to chat with our solar experts, or get a quick quote.
