Tips on Buying a Solar Inverter

When choosing an inverter you should consider several factors:
Wattage rating, or how much electricity do you want to produce?
Surge power. What is your load requirement and how much power is needed for power surges?
On grid or off grid tie inverter. Do you have access to a utility grid or is this a remote application?
Pure sine wave or modified sine wave?
String or Micro inverter?
There are more and more options to buying a solar inverter today. Most inverters are for grid tied applications and should be sized according to the size of your system and localized conditions. Most inverter manufacturers have string size calculators on their websites.
How to buy aSolar Inverter
Before you buy a solar inverter you most consider the entire system since a solar inverter is a primary component.
If you have no experience with this always consult a local solar contractor for assistance in picking an inverter or find a reputable online Solar Store who can assist you in this determination. It is a bit complex and several variables should be considered when making a solar inverter selection.
Choosing a solar inverter can be challenging and your cost should not be your only consideration as inverter perform many functions that can result in improved electricity production. Take your time. Talk with experts, because a 10% difference in power conversion efficiency could cost you thousands extra in more solar panels. Consider whether you will be expanding in the future so that you oversize when you buy a solar inverter. Careful planning and research can save you thousands of dollars. If you use an online solar store they will assist you in careful selection of a solar inverter.
Quickly gaining in popularity are Micro-inverters which can reduce installation cost and improve efficiency of solar electric systems. The 1st advantage of using a micro inverter is that they greatly simplify a solar installation because of the plug and play aspect it adds to the installation of a solar system. These devices plug right in to a solar panel and covert the DC power of the panel directly to AC power.
Micro-inverters for grid-tied applications are the newest advancement in the inverter industry. Micro-inverters allow each solar panel in a solar array series to function as an independent solar power system, which is advantageous for several reasons.
Simplicity of the installation
If an inverter goes down it only affects one panel and not the entire array
Monitoring and diagnosing problems can be done to the exact panel
Working with AC vs DC is safer
Each panel is its own system and therefore does not affect other home solar panels in the system
Better production in areas with shade
No string sizing needed