How does a Solar Inverter work?

Solar technology has been the subject of science-fiction for many decades. Many people still imagine that it is part of some futuristic world that is a long way away. The truth is that the market for solar electricity generation in Australia alone is worth more than $512 million every single year!

Solar inverters are just part of that industry, and more and more people are using these tools to enjoy the benefits of solar power.

What exactly is a solar inverter and how does it work? Read on to learn all about the most important things to understand about solar inverters!

What is a Solar Inverter?

Solar inverter components are an essential part of a solar system, as are solar panels. The solar panels themselves generate electricity from sunlight (learn more about how solar panels work here). However, that raw form of electricity is not always very useful.

The vast majority of modern home electronic devices and systems rely on alternating current. Unfortunately, solar panels alone generate direct current instead.

This is why solar inverters are an essential piece of the system as they transform this direct current into a more usable alternating current.

How do Solar Inverters benefit a Solar Power System?

But how exactly do solar inverters do this? Solar inverters access the direct current created by solar panels and push it through a transformer. The transformer then generates alternating current.

To do this, the direct current moves through multiple transistors that toggle on and off at high speed to cause the direct current to behave like alternating current.

Although this system works faultless for the majority of the time, sometimes outside interference can cause breakdowns. If a problem does occur, it is important to get professionals to repair your system.

Different types of Solar Inverters

There are a few different types of solar inverters that perform the same function in somewhat different ways.

Battery Inverters

Battery inverters are part of a slightly more complex solar panel set-up. The solar panel first sends the energy into a battery. Then the battery feeds direct current into the inverter which generates alternating current.

Central Inverters

In contrast, central inverters are notable for their size. They are mostly only used for commercial applications because they are far beyond the needs of a home. On top of that, they are somewhat inefficient, requiring huge quantities of electricity just to perform their function.

Hybrid Inverters

Hybrid inverters connect to both the solar panels directly as well as to the batteries that the solar panels sometimes feed their energy into. That way, they can transform current from either of these two sources.

Many people are beginning to realize that the future world where we benefit from solar technology is nearer than many people think. The first adopters of tools like solar inverters will enjoy advantages that society may make more widespread over the next few years.

Understand the Technology of the Solar Inverter

We hope learning about how solar inverters work has been helpful for you. When it comes to a tool like a solar inverter, these advanced pieces of technology occasionally require maintenance, so it is important to call a licenced and experienced solar inverter repair specialist.

To learn more about how solar inverters work or to speak with our team about how to buy, install or maintain them, feel free to get in touch with us here at Solarfix any time!