Are you interested to power your home with solar energy? If you have chosen to power your home with solar energy, then you need to know about solar power inverters. An inverter transforms the energy generated by your solar panel system into a usable form.
Hence, the solar power inverter's lifespan is around 10 to 15 years if used properly. However, certain parts render it susceptible to failure considerably sooner. Having said that, there are a few factors you should consider when buying a solar inverter.
The first step in making your purchase is determining the appropriate size of solar inverter. You should also be sure about the type of solar inverter you want to buy. Another critical element is the degree of effectiveness.
There are several features of solar inverters that you must consider. Make sure your inverter can endure the regular weather conditions in your area as a precaution
What Is The Solar Power Inverter?
The wiring for solar panels must go through a little box before connecting to the home electrical system. The device that converts the direct current (DC) produced into the alternating current (AC) is a solar power inverter.
The kind of inverter you select for your solar panels will determine the cost of installation, the number of wires required, and the amount of energy saved. The three broad categories of solar panels are string inverters, microinverters vs optimizers. This article will discuss how to choose the right size solar power inverters for your system.
Factors To Consider Before Selecting The Solar Inverter Size
Factors To Consider Before Selecting The Solar Inverter Size. Watts(W) is a unit used to quantify inverter power, like solar panel power (W). When choosing the best inverter size, installers will consider the size, the type of solar panels and any special circumstances at your installation site.
Size Of The Solar Array
The size of your solar array is the main factor in determining the size of your solar inverter. A solar converter with sufficient capacity should convert the solar arrays' DC electricity into AC electricity.
For instance, the inverter should have a power output of 5000 W if you are constructing a solar panel system with a DC rating of 5 kW.
On the inverter's data sheet, the manufacturer will provide an array of capacities that are compatible with a particular inverter. Deploying an inverter that is either too big or small for its specifications will make the manufacturer's warranties worthless.
Types Of Solar Panel
The location and characteristics of your solar array will determine the size of your solar inverter. A solar array's position, including the orientation and angle at which it is installed, will affect how much electricity it produces. The different types of solar panels have unique features which need to be considered before purchasing an inverter.
Four main types of solar panels are accessible in the market: these are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, PERC, and thin-film panels. Each one has its own pros and cons. However, the user needs to install the best solar panel that would suffice his needs and requirements.
Environmental Factors
The amount of sunlight that can penetrate the solar array is the main concern for solar inverter installation. But environmental factors such as shadow and dust substantially impact the solar inverter capacity.
Professionals consider these elements when calculating the overall output of your solar panel system. You may use your system's derating factor to estimate the quantity of electricity your solar panels will produce in an actual installation.
Solar panel systems that are sometimes shadowed, or face east rather than south are subject to a greater derating factor. If the solar panels derating factor is high enough, inverter capacity may be lower in relation to array size.
Landscape And Geographical Location
Location is also a crucial element in deciding the ideal size of your solar inverter because of solar panel output. Given that Texas has higher solar irradiances than Florida. It makes sense that a 5-kW rooftop system in Texas would produce more electricity than a system of the same size in Florida.
These two systems' DC electrical output will change with time, which will cause a change in the size of the inverters to handle the changing loads. Inverters can be set up to match the overall wattage of the solar array in areas with more regular sunshine and moderate temperatures.
This enables a constant power output. If your solar array is exposed to less solar energy or higher temperatures that reduce panel efficiency, it will produce less power under standard testing conditions. A smaller, inadequately sized inverter might work in some cases.
Understanding DC/AC Ratio
DC/AC ratio is the installed DC capacity to the inverter's AC power rating. Making a solar array larger than necessary can increase DC-to-AC conversion efficiency. This enables a better energy harvest when production is below the inverter's rating, which it typically is throughout the day.
Ideal DC/AC Ratio For Solar Power Inverter
For the majority of designs, a DC/AC ratio of 1.25 is ideal. This is due to the fact that only 1% of the energy generated throughout the course of a photovoltaic (PV) array will have a power level greater than 80%. Combining a 9 kW PV array with a 7.6 kW AC converter will result in the best DC/AC ratio. It will result in the least amount of power loss.
When an inverter's AC output rating is too low then it will result in power loss. The process is power limiting and is also termed inverter clipping.
Get The Right Size Inverter With SolarSME Inc. Installers!
You have nothing to worry about when SolarSME can provide you with the best advice. The company specializes in solar panel installation and inverters that deem fit them. The capable installers can aid you to select the right size for your solar panel. So don't worry and grab the opportunity of getting the best solar power inverter for your home.
Originally Published on: https://solarsme.com/right-size-solar-power-inverter/
