What Is A Solar Power Inverter and Why Do I Need One?

Sharepower inverters are sophisticated enough to send
Home solar power systems provide an easy andthis excess power back up the power lines to the
cost effective way for the average homeownerlocal utility which generates a credit for the home.
to generate all the power their home requiresThis way the homeowner can use these credits
with simple sunlight. These systems haveto help offset the cost of power they need to
continued to improve over the years and arebuy back from the utility in the evenings. Because
constantly incorporating new and innovativethe solar power inverter is connected to both the
features into their design. One component thathome and the local utility, it can guarantee that
has changed substantially in recent years is thethe free solar power is used by the home
solar power inverter.whenever possible and the excess power doesn't
The Heart of Your Systemgo to waste.
The solar power inverter is the part of any solarCharge Your Batteries at the Optimal Rate
power system that is responsible for theAnother duty that many of these solar power
conversion of DC power being generated by theinverters have taken on is the charging of any
solar panels into AC power that can be used bybatteries connected to a solar power system.
the home. In their simplest form they do littleSome homeowners will install a bank of batteries
more than accept this DC power directly fromin their home that are charged with the excess
the panels and connect to your homes wiringpower being generated by their systems during
panel to allow you to use the free AC powerthe day that can then be used later that evening
they convert. Even though this seems like a trivialto lower the amount of power they need to
function, these solar power inverters still require apurchase from the local utility company. These
fairly sophisticated circuitry to ensure theybatteries can also be used to supply power to the
generate AC power that conforms to a commonhome if the local power utility has a blackout due
standard of 60 Hz and 120 VAC that mostto a storm. Most modern solar power inverters
homes require.can handle the charging of these batteries and
Expanding Their Functionalitythen convert their stored power for use by the
Over the years these simple solar powerhome when needed.
inverters have taken on additional functionality andMicro-Inverters Minimize Electrical Losses
can be found today performing several criticalOne recent innovation to these solar power
functions in addition to their conversion tasks.inverters is the way they are installed. Older
Most modern inverters are more intelligent thansystems would typically have a single large solar
older models and actually sit between the locallypower inverter that converted all the power
supplied utility power to the home and the solarsupplied by the solar panels. This required long lines
power system itself. They act like a traffic copbe run from the panels on the roof of the home
for power being supplied to the home and willto the solar power inverter that was typically
intelligently switch between solar power when it'slocated at ground level near the electrical panel.
available and to utility supplied power in theThe challenge with this design was that there was
evenings when the solar power system issome loss of power because of these long lines
dormant. By being able to sense when the solarand this could reduce the efficiency of the
power system is active, these modern solarsystem. Newer systems are being installed with a
power inverters ensure the home will alwaysgroup of smaller micro inverters that are actually
have a reliable supply of electricity.located at the solar panels themselves. By doing
Spin Your Electric Meter Backwardsthe conversion of DC power to AC power right
Many modern solar power systems are designedat the solar panel you can eliminate much of the
to actually supply more power during the dayloss that older systems suffered.
than the home is using. These modern solar