Inverters are the brains of the system and therefore considered as one of the most important part of any solar installation. The main purpose of an inverter is converting DC power that is produced by the solar panel into usable AC power.

However, the role of an inverter keeps expanding. Inverters are capable of providing diagnostic information to identify and fix system issues. They also enable the owners or the installers to check how the system performs. So here are some types of solar inverters and their features.

String Inverters

Solar panels are installed in rows and each on a string. Such several strings are linked to one string inverter. Each string transmits DC power produced by the solar panels to the string inverter and it converts such DC power into usable AC power which is consumed as electricity. The number of the string inverters will depend on the size of the installation.

String inverters are favourable for installations where panels are fixed on a single plane and do not face different directions. Also good for installations where there are no shading issues because string inverters are incapable in dealing with such issues. The performance of a shaded panel will be reduced and therefore the performance of the other panels will also be reduced to the level of the shaded panel. String inverters are mainly used in residential and commercial purposes.

Micro Inverters

Micro inverters are module-level electronics installed on each panel. These inverters are small electronic devices which are used on solar panels to convert direct current to alternating current. Due to the panel level conversion, even though the performance of a shaded panel is reduced, the performance of other panels will not be adversely affected.

Micro inverters monitor the performance of each panel and therefore good for setting up with shading problems or panels with multiple planes facing different directions. However, these inverters cost more than string inverters.

Central Inverters

These are similar to string inverters but larger in size and are capable of supporting more strings of panels. In central inverters the strings are connected to a common combiner box which carries the DC power to the central inverter and converted to AC power there. A pad and a combiner box are required for this type of inverters and most suitable for larger installations.

Battery Based Inverter/Charges

These include both a battery and a charger and therefore bi-directional in nature. Battery based inverters or charges are becoming more important due to the growth of the concept of storing solar energy. The main benefit of a battery-based inverter/charges is the flexibility to charge the battery through a grid system. The Fox ESS Solar Inverter is one of the best options so include that in your list to check that out along with other options you have.

The type of the inverter will depend on the specific requirements you are seeking when installing a solar panel.  Therefore, these tips are to provide you a basic understanding about the features of different types of inverters to assist you in choosing the most suitable inverter for your purpose.