Solar Inverters
Make sure you get a branded and quality solar inverter for your solar system when making a deal with the solar vendor. It will be best if you apply for solar installation with us as you can get multiple quotations with a detailed list of solar equipment including the solar inverter. Compare and choose!
Solar Inverters
Solar inverters make it possible for us to generate electricity of our own from the sun. This is because all the houses as well as commercial establishments are wired to operate on AC electricity. As solar panels generate electricity in DC format, solar inverters help with the conversion. Keep reading to learn about everything you need to know regarding solar inverters.
What is a Solar Inverter?
Solar inverters which are also known as PV (photovoltaic) inverter is a type of electric convertor that play the crucial role of accepting the DC power input and converting it into AC power. When the solar panels generate electricity, it is in Direct Current electricity. While the electrical appliances in residential and commercial properties use Alternating Current. Solar inverters also act as primary connection between solar panels and electrical distribution panels. The inverter further gives analytical information for assisting in identifying operation and maintenance for fixing issues of the system. Inverters are a very important piece of equipment for the entire solar power system to work. The solar panels and inverters fit together like a puzzle and are the next most important component after the solar panels. We at Das Energie Private Limited offer solar inverter of some of the most reputed solar manufacturers in the country. Contact us to know more.
How Solar Inverter Works?
Solar PV panels are made up of semiconductor layers of silicon. These layers are made of both positive and negative layers that are connected by a junction. When the sun shines the semiconductor layers absorb the sunlight and send the energy to the photovoltaic cells. This energy then runs around and bumps the electrons lose, which then runs between the positive and negative layers and generates an electric current which is known as Direct Current. After this energy is produced it is either sent directly to the inverter or stored in a battery for later use. Next comes the functionality of the solar inverter. As maximum houses use alternating current energy for the purpose of operating their appliances, the energy produced by the solar modules is not useful on their own. Therefore after the solar panel collects the sunlight and transforms it into energy, it is transferred to the solar inverter. The inverter takes the 110V/220V DC input voltage and runs it through a transformer which splits out an AC output. The inverter converts the input voltage into an AC power supply of 230V, 50 Hz.
What are the Types of Solar Inverters?
There are basically three different varieties of inverters available in the market. These are on-grid, off-grid and hybrid solar inverters. Without further ado let us get into further details about these solar inverters and how are they different:
On-Grid Solar Inverter
Also popularly known as grid-tied inverters or grid-connected inverters, these solar inverters are compatible with on-grid solar systems. These inverters feed back the excess electricity converted by it to the grid by matching the corresponding phase and frequency. This process is known as net-metering and it is done with the help of a bi-directional meter. On-grid solar inverters have an additional safety functionality known as Anti-Islanding Protection. It allows shutting down the solar power supply system in case there is a power outage. This system helps in preventing any safety hazard while the lineman is working at the site of the fault. As an on-grid solar system does not have a battery backup therefore during a power outage there is no access to power.
- Application
On-grid solar power inverters are suitable for both home and commercial uses in urban as well as industrial areas. However, these areas must have access to power connections with the grid and lines to connect with it. People who are not willing to invest in batteries can opt for grid-connected solar inverters.
- Advantages
- Comes with an anti-islanding safety feature
- Can easily feed back the excess energy into the power grid
- Comparative more cost-effective
- Installation process is quite simple
Off-Grid Solar Inverter
Also known as stand-alone inverters, it is a device that is used in off-grid solar systems and comes in a variety of sizes as well as output waveforms. Stand-alone solar inverters do not have the provision to tap into the grid and feed the excess electricity back. These inverters are a two-way device that provides AC electricity to home appliances and stores the excess electricity in the battery bank. Therefore whenever there is a power cut and there is no sunlight available, the off-grid solar inverter draws energy stored in the battery bank. During this, they convert the DC electricity stored in the battery to usable AC electricity and supply it to the home appliances.
- Applications
These types of inverters are very common in remote areas where people completely live off the grid. This is because in rural or remote areas power grid is situated far away. In this case, connecting the inverter with the utility grid might be impractical and uneconomical.
- Advantages
- Highly suitable for village electrification in isolated areas where there are no electricity grids or they are very far.
- Self-sustainable system of generating energy without any requirement to connect with the utility grid.
- Offers electricity regardless of power cuts or grid failures.
- A reliable source of energy as there is a battery bank that stores the excess energy generated by the solar panels.
- Pocket-friendly as there is no requirement of paying monthly electricity bills.
- Installation process is also simple in rural regions with no access to grid electricity.
Hybrid Solar Inverter
A hybrid solar inverteris a combination of on-grid and off-grid inverter. They offer you complete independence from the grid as well as offer you the option to simultaneously sync with the grid for days when there is low sunlight availability and higher power consumption. These inverters come with three functions
- Converting DC power to AC power and supplying to the home appliances.
- Charging your solar battery.
- Feeding the excess electricity generated by the panel to the grid.
Therefore it is a complete package that intelligently manages solar power as per your requirements. In case there is a power cut, the unit will automatically switch to off-grid and will offer the excess energy stored in the battery. However at times, the battery exhausts all the excess energy, the unit shifts to on-grid and takes electricity from the grid. These inverters use a technique known as ‘DC Coupling’ through which the battery is interfaced with the inverter.
- Application
These all-in-one highly versatile inverters are ideal for both high power cuts, faults and excessive load-shedding areas as well as where there are very less or rare power cuts. These inverters are apt for people who are planning to cut costs by producing energy from the sunlight during the day and using the excess energy stored in batteries at night.
- Advantages
- Efficient solar management facility that uses stored energy during times of high energy requirements.
- Self-sustainable system of generating energy without any requirement to connect with the utility grid.
- Reduction in power consumption from the utility grid.
- Continuity in power supply no matter what.
- Lower maintenance cost.
- Effective management of load.
String Inverter
As the name suggests, string inverters connect a set of solar panels known as a string to a single inverter. The inverter converts the DC electricity generated by every solar panel connected to the string to AC electricity. However, if any one solar panel in the string is shaded or blocked or is facing maintenance issues, then it jeopardises the performance of all the panels present in the string. However, to deal with this problem many homeowners install DC power optimisers with their string inverters. DC power optimisers are installed in every panel individually and help with accounting performance of each panel present in the string separately.
- Application
String inverters are ideal for use in places where all the solar panels face the same direction and have little disruption from shade. It can be used for both residential and commercial purposes provided the requirement is under 1 MW. These inverters are most suitable for people looking for low-cost PV systems or with properties which have roofs that are not very complicated and get consistent sunlight throughout the day.
- Advantages
- These inverters are usually cheaper than microinverters
- Available in three different phases
- Power consumption is lower.
- Easier to maintain as all the solar panels are stringed together and there is only one central inverter for all of them.
Micro Invertersr
As the name suggests, micro inverters are smaller in size and are installed on every individual solar panel in the array. As this inverter is not connected to multiple solar panels, it is good for complicated solar installations. This inverter is apt for partially shaded roofs or roofs which do not have an optimal angle for solar. Therefore this inverter also permits system expansions.
- Application
These inverters are suitable for both residential as well as commercial solar systems where solar panels face different directions. Though it is costlier than string inverters however disparity in amount of sunlight each solar panel receives does not affect the efficiency.
- Advantages
- Have a much higher warranty of up to 25 years.
- Higher production of solar energy
- You can track the solar energy produced by each solar panel.
- It helps with combatting shading issues.
- Suitable for oddly angled roofs
- You can add extra panels at a later point in time.
Features of Solar Inverters
Following are some of the features of solar inverters
Maximum Power Point Tracking
Solar panels generally try to produce as much voltage and current as they can. However, when the voltage is too high it results in a drop of current. Even when the voltage is too low it results in lower power production. There is an optimal voltage point for achieving the maximum power and an inverter has a Maximum Power Point Tracker which is responsible to find this out. The better the inverter, the faster and more accurate it is. It is best to avoid any type of variations when it comes to solar panels which might disrupt the process. Therefore if it is not possible to use same panels it is best to use separate trackers.
Production Monitoring
You can track your inverter's overall kWh production in the informative display. With the help of this tracker you can track any faults in your inverter and immediately take professional help from a technician. There are mobile apps as well if your inverter has WiFi functionality. Once you connect with the monitoring setup it is quite easy to use. Nowadays solar inverters are coming without any screen and rely solely on WiFi connectivity.
Consumption Monitoring
You can also track how much power you are consuming through the remote monitoring system which is present in all solar systems. This system ties nicely with the production monitoring ads meaningful data to the monitoring portal. With the help of this system, you can calculate how much solar power you are using and how much you are returning back to the grid. This further helps us decide how much capacity battery we might require in future.
Central Inverters
These solar inverters are usually very huge and therefore require their own storage room, exhaust system etc. Central inverters are highly efficient and are even compatible with different features of grid-like balancing, fluctuation management and much more. These inverters are available for huge capacities starting from 400 KW.
- Application
These inverters are generally suitable for large commercial requirements, industrial facilities or utility-scale solar farms. They are not preferable for residential needs as the smaller counterparts string and micro inverters are sufficient for meeting these requirements.
- Advantages
- These inverters are highly efficient as they manage the fluctuation of the grid.
- They have centralised control which leads to ease of management.
- These inverters are optimised per watt.
- The installation process is also very simple.
We at Das Energie Private Limited offer all the above mentioned types of solar inverters manufactured by the top solar companies in India. Contact us today to get them at a discounted price.
By Pass Switch
This is a feature of the solar inverters that helps homeowners use electricity even if there is an issue with the inverter.
MCB Protection
An MCB saves the inverter in case there is a high voltage or chance of a short circuit.
How to Install Solar Inverters?
Das Energie Private Limited offers solar inverter installation as a part of the solar system installation. You simply to need to contact us and we will do the rest. Here is a step-by-step guide as to how a solar inverter is installed:
Step 1
First comes the installation of mounting structures on which the solar panels will be installed.
Step 2
Next is installation of the solar panels on the mounting structure
Step 3
After this all the wires need to be connected especially the MC4 connectors
Step 4
Next is connecting solar panels to solar inverters.
Step 5
After this, the technicians connect the solar inverter with solar batteries in case you are using an off-grid solar system.
Step 6
If you are installing an on-grid solar system on the contrary then the solar inverters are connected with the power grid after connecting the panels with the inverter.
Step 7
Finally you need to switch on the solar inverter to check whether the solar system is operating properly or not.
This entire process is quite complicated. Therefore it is best to take the help of a professional for this. We offer hassle-free installation of solar systems at a reasonable price. Therefore contact us today to get the installation done.
Benefits of Solar Inverters
Here are all the benefits of using a solar inverter
Using solar inverters in general helps in reducing global warming as well as the greenhouse effect in the long run. This is because a solar inverter is quite an important aspect in order to operate a solar system.
Solar inverters are comparatively much cheaper than diesel generators.
Inverters help in generating AC pure sign wave which is generally is used for operating any type of appliance for residential, commercial or industrial requirements.
Whether you are a small homeowner or owner of a large electric distribution company, you can use solar inverters for synchronising with other electrical power supplies.
Solar inverters help us save our money by reducing our electricity billsor totally eliminating them. It helps in converting DC to AC which helps in selling electricity to the utility grid or other users.
Solar inverters play a huge role in remote areas by helping the people residing there create their own electricity without having to depend on the grid.
Drawbacks of Solar Inverters
Now let us take a look at the drawbacks of using a solar inverter
In terms of cost of the entire solar system, solar inverters alone cost around 30% of the entire system. Therefore solar inverters are quite expensive equipment.
Solar inverters require a lot of space for installation.
Solar inverters only operate efficiently in the daylight when the solar radiation is really strong.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Solar Inverter
If you are wondering regarding how to compare solar inverters, here are 5 factors that you need to consider to select thebest
Safety Certification
Similar to any other devices, solar inverters also have levels of safety. Therefore this is a very important considerable factor. In case of solar inverters, it is important to make sure that the certificate is from an independent testing laboratory. Only then should you purchase it.
Solar Inverter Battery
Your solar inverters' longevity, as well as endurance, depends on their battery. Therefore choosing the right battery matters a lot. Your battery’s capacity can be defined asmaximum number of hours the battery powers all devices. Before choosing a battery it is important to assess your energy requirements along with how much time will you need your inverter to operate.
Peak Power Consideration
In case of solar inverter, there are two types of power. One is peak power and the other is typical power. Peak power is the maximum power your solar inverter has capacity for generating for only a small duration of time. There are some appliances that require high power to start operating than continue running. This is why peak power is important.While typical power is the usual power that the inverter generally supplies on a steady basis after it stabilises.
Inverter Brand
This is another very important aspect that needs to be taken care of while purchasing a solar inverter. It is always safe to go for a brand that is highly popular. You need to choose a brand that guarantees you efficiency as well as a good warranty.
Customer Service
It is always important to choose a solar inverter from a brand that has a good customer service policy. After purchasing a product it is quite natural to have questions or face any problems while using it for the first time. Therefore this factor is really worth considering. We at Das Energie Private Limited offer solar inverters from some of the top solar manufacturers in the country. Therefore if you are looking for the best services we are just a ring away.
How Much Does a Solar Inverter Cost?
As you are aware now that solar inverters account for approximately 25 to 30% cost of the entire solar system. Factors like technology, warranty, efficiency, as well as brand, play a huge role in determining the price of solar inverters.
In India, the cost of solar inverters starts from around ₹10,000 and may be as high as ₹1,35,000. The price of inverters might vary from ₹10 to ₹20 per watt on the technology it uses.
Lifespan of a Solar Inverter
Solar inverters which are one of the most essential components of a solar system usually last for about a decade. Its output efficiency degrades by around 0.5% every year. Solar inverters generally require minimal maintenance. There are various factors on which lifespan of a solar inverter usually depends. These can be whether the inverter is exposed to harsh conditions like the sun or rain as well as how much maintenance is performed over the entire lifetime of your inverter. While different types of inverters last for different time periods. String inverters last for approximately 8 to 12 years. While Micro Inverters last for as long as 25 years. On the other hand, central inverters have a longevity of approximately 5 to 10 years. Choosing the right solar inverter for your home or commercial requirement is an important decision while building your solar system. The best idea is to choose an inverter with a greater capacity than the capacity of your solar system. This is because inverters tend to lose efficiency while converting DC to AC which means they will generate less AC power than they are rated for. Now that you are aware of all the types of solar inverters available in the market along with their feature it might not be tough to choose which solar inverters are the best. Contact Das Energie Private Limited for some of the best deals on top quality solar inverters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar inverters are waterproof as they are meant to be put outside. However different types of solar inverters have different levels of water resistance.
Solar inverters come with built-in temperature sensors that help in monitoring the internal temperature. Therefore if the temperature is too high the inverter will automatically shut down. However, solar inverters can still overheat in case they are exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore it is best to install it somewhere it is well-shielded from direct sunlight.
Solar inverters need regular cleaning. It is very important to keep it free from dust and dirt stains. Cleaning it with a cotton cloth will keep it free from dust and dirt such as oil stains. Other than that help of a technician is required for the purpose of cleaning the air intake filter.
Yes, solar inverters require proper ventilation for proper efficiency and enhanced lifespan. It is best to keep it in a cool place as all inverters produce heat during operation and requires space for heat dissipation.
Normal temperature for a solar inverter is 30 to 35 degree Celsius. Though the maximum temperature of an inverter is around 60 degrees Celsius anything above 40 to 45 degrees might be considered too much for an inverter to operate normally.
