While solar inverters are essential to every solar setup, their capabilities and design can differ so widely that it's impossible to say which inverter is the best of them all. The right inverter for you will depend on your system's design and your own personal priorities. SMA is a top solar equipment brand that creates a variety of solar inverters for many applications. But which of their inverters is better for residential setups, and which one is better suited for commercial solar applications? Keep reading to learn more.
Best for Commercial Solar
Commercial solar setups are vastly different from residential arrays. While they still need panels and an inverter, that's about where the similarities end. The energy demands of a business far outstrip the average home's demands, so the solar equipment in these setups must meet those higher demands. This typically includes installing larger, higher-efficiency solar panels than those used on most homes, and it also means getting a different class of inverter.
In the SMA lineup, the best inverter for commercial setups is the Sunny Tripower CORE1. This unit is the first standing PV inverter. What's significant about this? Having a standing PV inverter means reduced installation expenses since no racking equipment is needed for roof-mount systems (the most common kind of mount for commercial setups). Even if you need a different type of mounting for your system, the racking for this inverter is much simpler and less expensive than racking for other inverters. You'll also see cost savings related to reduced field labor, time, and materials.
The Sunny Tripower is an ideal building block in terms of scalability, so if your business needs to increase your energy system's size, you can do so easily. Six MPP trackers ensure optimum energy production at all times, and its unique design allows for DC: AC ratios up to 150%.
Best for Residential Solar
Residential energy demands, as mentioned, are typically much lower than businesses, so you simply don't need an inverter the size of the Sunny Tripower. Instead, most SMA customers will choose the Sunny Boy inverter. This model offers peak conversion efficiency, an exceptional warranty, and easy-to-learn remote monitoring via smartphone. The Sunny Boy is also available as a microinverter, which can further increase your system's efficiency.
Whichever version you choose, the Sunny Boy inverter provides a sleek, low-profile appearance, easy maintenance, and premium efficiency for energy conversion. It will meet the demands of your residential energy consumption while integrating with the power grid and/or your battery bank so that you can make the most of your solar setup.
