Innovative News

19 November 2008

Step 2 for solar panel installation: inverter

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy; Home .

Yesterday we wrote about insolation, an important factor in determining how many full sun hours your roof receives.

Today we take a look at the components you’ll need to make your solar panels work. A power inverter is one of these components. Regardless of whether you’re using solar power for off-grid solutions or connecting to existing AC power an inverter is always necessary.

Power inverters convert DC power into AC power. The first thing you’ll need to know is the wattage of the inverter.

Inverters are rated in continuous and surge watts. Continuous watts is the number an inverter can power up continuously. Surge watts show what maximum power the inverter can support for a short time.

For an off-grid solution it’s best to examine your monthly energy bill to get the exact electrical loads your home needs.

For on-grid solutions the mid-sized, stationary inverter is most often used. You can use it with or without battery backup.

Remember that it’s important to choose an inverter with high efficiency, while still satisfying your continuous power need.