Solar Inverter

Understanding the solar inverter

Solar energy produces safe and stable electricity from sunlight. However, solar panels cannot convert the kinetic energy from the sun into usable electricity on their own; this is where inverters come in. In home solar systems, solar inverter is a small briefcase-sized box that is carefully installed near the solar panel. They produce direct current (DC), which is converted to alternating current (AC) when it passes through the inverter. This is the type of power needed to supply electronic devices.

Photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between semiconductor materials such as silicon resin and are encapsulated in a polymer frame with a glass surface, resulting in solar panels. The panels are installed at the ideal angle to capture as much sunlight as possible. Photons in sunlight excite different electron characteristics in each layer, creating an electric field. This is known as the photoelectric effect and generates the required current for electricity. In order for this power to be available, it must first pass through a solar inverter. The current enters as direct current and leaves as alternating current, which is used for households or businesses or sent to the grid. All commercial electronic devices use AC power, or alternating current. The job of a solar inverter is to convert the DC collected from sunlight to AC electricity.

How does a solar inverter work?

Solar power inverter uses a semiconductor system called IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). It is a solid-state device that convert DC into AC through oscillation when connected in an H-bridge shape. Additional transformers allow electricity to enter and exit the grid.

If your solar panel produces more electricity than your household needs, any excess will funnel into the grid. Conversely, if your system cannot generate enough electricity, you can supplement it from the grid. Overnight, there is an uninterrupted, continuous supply from the grid.

Solar electric inverter works by taking a low-voltage, high-current signal from the photovoltaic panel and converting it into 120VAC or 240VAC compatible with the U.S. power grid. The best type of solar inverter depends on your expected use, the size of your solar panel, and your budget. It is recommended that you choose the best inverter you can afford, which will last as long as your system with little or no maintenance and increase the energy production potential of your solar panel array.