What Is
A Solar Energy Inverter?
If you are using solar energy for
your home, one thing you must do is change the electricity you
generate into a usable form. This is what a solar energy
inverter does.
Because the solar energy is DC,
or direct current, you must convert it to AC, or alternating
current. AC is what your home uses, and what the power company
supplies you with.
Also, if you intend to sell
electricity back to the utility company, you need to convert
it. It won't do you much good to try and sell it back if they
cannot accept it! A solar energy inverter can help you
live off the
grid.
If you store your solar energy in
batteries you will need an inverter to change the electricity
to AC, so you can use it in your appliances.
So, what is a solar
energy inverter?
Basically, a solar energy
inverter is an electrical device that changes the DC current
from your photovoltaic cells
(solar panel) into AC current so you can use the power in your
home. The inverter also runs on electricity, and actually
requires a considerable amount to operate. It can be powered by
the solar energy and/or the AC power from the utility
company.
There are several types and sizes
of solar energy inverters. Some are stand alone and intended
for small scale use, such as a portable solar panel. This is
the type you would use for an RV, boat, camper, or cabin.
Larger solar inverters are called
grid-tie inverters and are used to interface with a utility
grid. These have the ability to match the current requirements
of your electricity provider. In the event of a power outage
they are made to shut down, which prevents you from sending
power into the grid for safety reasons.
An inverter can run on battery
power, convert DC to AC, and interface with the grid. That is
actually a remarkable amount of work for one device.
Solar
inverters for home use
Most of the time, for modern home
use, you should use what is known as a true sine wave inverter.
Because choosing a solar inverter is so important, there are
many things to consider. For example: what are you going to
power? Our homes have more appliances than most people realize,
and the inverter is at the heart of your system.
You must consider the wattage,
surge requirements, power factor, and the continuous load you
will need. It may be possible to use a less expensive type of
inverter, but usually this is not advisable.
Which
solar energy inverter is the right one?
Deciding which inverter to use is
a rather bewildering problem. It is a good idea to educate
yourself, then ask a lot of questions. The solar kits available
today have good information that is specifically tailored for
the do it yourselfer. Most kits include all the necessary
information for picking an inverter.
There are also many excellent
online resources that are a great help in learning about
inverters. You also can visit a solar panel supplier, if you
have one in your area.
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