Best Solar Panel Inverters: Microinverter vs. String Inverters

Solar panel inverters are the unsung heroes of residential solar panel systems. Aside from the solar panels themselves, solar inverters are one of the most important components of a solar installation. 

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At their core, solar inverters have one main function: to convert the direct current (DC) electricity that your solar panels generate into an alternating current (AC) electricity that your home can use. There are two main types of solar inverters:

• Microinverters

• String inverters

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of solar inverter, and the right one for your home ultimately depends on your system design.

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What do solar inverters do?

Solar inverters are a crucial component of a solar energy system. A solar inverter’s primary purpose is to convert the DC electricity generated by your solar panels into AC electricity, which can be used to power your home. 

Solar inverters can also maximize your solar energy production, monitor system output, communicate with the utility grid, and detect any faults in your system. 

Solar inverter types: Microinverter vs. string inverters

There are two main types of solar inverters used in home solar installations: Microinverters and string inverters.

Both inverter types have the same essential function of converting solar power into usable electricity, but how they get it done is a bit different. 

What are microinverters?

A microinverter works by attaching to the back of each individual solar panel and is responsible for converting the DC power produced by that specific panel into AC power. Some microinverters can connect to more than one solar panel. 

After the electricity is converted, the microinverter sends AC electricity from each solar panel directly to the home’s electrical circuits or the electrical grid.

Microinverters are best for solar systems that will experience shading or are installed on more complex roofs. If you think you’ll want to expand your solar panel system someday, then microinverters are also a good choice, as they make it easier to add solar panels. The most popular brand of microinverters is Enphase. 

What are string inverters?

String inverters also turn DC into AC electricity, but do so differently than a microinverter. Typically, only one string inverter is installed for a residential solar installation, which is usually installed close to your main service panel or electrical meter. 

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The solar panels on your roof will be wired in strings connected to the string inverter, where the electricity generated by your solar panels will be converted for your home to use.

String inverters are often paired with DC power optimizers to meet electrical code standards, maximize energy production, and reduce shading impacts. Power optimizers are attached to the back of each panel, track the panel’s output, and can then regulate voltage before the generated power is sent to the string inverter.

String inverters are best for solar installations on simple, unshaded roofs. SolarEdge is one of the most popular string inverter brands. 

5 best solar panel inverter brands

According to the SolarReviews Solar Industry Survey, the top inverter brands used the most by installers are: 

• Enphase

• SolarEdge

• Tesla

• SolarArk

• SMA

This is the third year in a row that Enphase and SolarEdge appeared on our list for top inverter brands, proving to be a consistent brand trusted by installers year after year. A more surprising contender on this list is Tesla’s inverter. According to our survey, the number of respondents who installed Tesla inverters has more than doubled from the previous year.

Which type of inverter is best for solar panels?

The right inverter for you ultimately depends on your home and the type of solar installation you get. 

Microinverters are the best choice for bigger, more complex systems, like having panels on more than one roof plane. Also, if your panels receive partial shade throughout the day, a microinverter will help make the most of your system’s performance. Even at a higher price point, maximizing solar power production will help you see a return on investment.

String inverters are ideal for straightforward installations, like when you have a shade-free roof with all the panels placed on one side. Having the DC optimizers helps you maximize your panel’s power production, but you can still enjoy the ease of just having one inverter at a lower price point.

For more information, please visit commercial inverters.

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Solar panel inverters: FAQs

Hello

I understand the basics of this design but had a question..
Why go through the trouble of getting a split phase inverter when you could must keep everything at 220 and wire it in before the breaker panel splits off to 110?
Thank you in advance.

If your 100% sure all the outlets will be 220v or use a special plugs to said so, otherwise the 110v stuff will be smoking.

The U.S panels has A and B sides and use double pole 240v breaker to delivery the electricity to the wall outlet.

The whole issue is balance.

When we are on grid, the power coming into the house is being fed from a center tapped transformer. Think of it just like DC with a +120 volt and a -120 volt feed from the ground potential neutral line. When you go off grid, you are now disconnected from the transformer. So if you just had a single 240 volt source. If your 120 volt loads are perfectly balanced, it would sort of work. For example if you had two 60 watt 120 volt light bulbs connected with one on L1 and the other on L2, they would both light up and carry the same current as it becomes a series circuit. If you turned on a third 60 watt bulb on the L1 side, both L1 bulbs would get dimmer,and the L2 bulb would be over powered and likely burn out.

Basically you need some transformer or two synced inverters that will keep both legs at 120 volts and 180 degrees out of phase regardless of the current balance. If you had a single phase 230 volt inverter, you could add a center tapped transformer to get the 115/115 split, but then both sides of the inverter need to be able to swing from the ground potential. A single phase 230 volt inverter normally has one side still tied as the ground potential neutral. It may be difficult or even impossible to float that and still have it function correctly. You could use a custom auto transformer or full isolation transformer to fix that, but then, just buy a split phase inverter that already has a properly matched transformer built into it.