Being sustainable and eco-friendly begins with your household. Thus, choosing the best solar inverter is a step you can consider right now.
You will find tons of options on the market, which can be overwhelming for some people. Today, there are several inverter types, such as power optimizers, hybrids, microinverters, and string inverters. Each of them comes with pros and cons worth considering.
Types of Inverters
- String inverters
String inverters are the most common type of inverter. The installation is effortless while the price range is more adorable than other types.
The strings connect to one inverter or more, which is mounted on the home’s switchboard. According to evidence and reports, string inverters work well for almost all houses and are the most common solar PV system design.
However, this inverter type may be under-delivering on power. Their connections to each other make the output drop to 50 percent for some reason.
- Microinverters
Microinverters are suitable for partial shade. Several solar inverter manufacturers also make this option available easily. Installing microinverters allow each panel to have an inverter on its own.
The panels and inverters are two separate components but integrated into each other. Even though the price is a bit expensive, this inverter can be difficult to maintain when exposed to weather excessively.
According to evidence, microinverters are not as efficient as decent string inverters. If the panels become shaded, you can lose an output source. Still, microinverters are worth considering in many ways.
- Hybrid inverters
Hybrid inverters are made to meet something portable. However, you have to install a compatible battery. If you have no idea when to get the battery, buying a quality string inverter would be a better decision.
Hybrid inverters are also capable of connecting the solar system to the storage battery. Thus, the system will run continuously even when a blackout occurs.
Compared to string inverters, the hybrid type is more expensive. Still, this one is worth considering.
- Battery inverters
Battery inverters work for those who have a solar system but want to connect it with batteries. Instead of investing in a hybrid model, using battery inverters would be more affordable.
Some batteries come with an all-in-one ability, while the other only comes with a battery inverter. The choice depends on your needs in the first place.
- Power optimizers
Meanwhile, if you must deal with shaded panels but prefer something other than microinverters, the power optimizers might be a good option to consider. It fits panel string and string inverters quite well.
The effect is similar to microinverters, but this type is more like an add-on. You need to pay an extra installation cost, but it is still cheaper than installing a microinverter.
Final words
There are several types of inverters worth knowing. The best choice depends on your needs and the existing condition.
You better consult a professional before buying a specific type, and checking out the warranty is crucial too. And this is anything you need to know about solar inverters.