Introduction

A Solar PV Inverter is needed in every grid-tied solar PV system to convert the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power that can run the devices in the property.

There are many types of inverters that support different number of AC phases, optimized or not, number of trackers from various manufacturers.

This page guides you in selecting the right inverter for your system.

AC Phases

Most residential properties have a single-phase connection and most commercial buildings and farms will have a three-phase connection. This factor normally determines if you need a single or three phase inverter.

You can however use one, two or three single-phase inverters on a three-phase supply, especially if you have different loads on each phase.

Optimization

Some inverters work in combination with optimizers that are fitted to each individual, or pair of solar panels. These ensure that every panel in the system will operate at its maximum capability for the life of the system. These are especially useful where there is some shading during a part of the day or where you want to monitor the performance of every module over the life of the system.

All inverters from Solar Edge work in combination with optimizers or a Tigo optimizer can be added to any other brand of inverter.

Trackers

For inverters that are not supplied with optimizers the solar panels are wired in series on one or more strings, each strings acts as if it is a single very large solar panel. The inverter has one or more built-in Multiple Power Point Trackers (MPPT) that take the power from one or more strings. This is an intelligent electronic circuit that automatically extracts the most possible energy from each string of solar panels.

For larger commercial systems it is better to have as few solar panels per tracker as practical as a failure or degradation in any one panel connected to a tracker will cause a loss of energy from all solar panels connected to the same tracker. The three-phase inverters from Huawei and Solis have three, four or even six trackers to ensure the minimum losses over the life of the system.

Manufacturers

Until recently the quality of Chinese inverters could have viewed with suspicion and today there are still some very low quality inverters on the market, some made in China, India or elsewhere.

There are however now many excellent quality Chinese suppliers who rival, or surpass the traditional European brands in design excellence and build quality. The inverters from Huawei and Solis are among the most reliable inverters on the market, easily matching their European competitors.

Sector Solar also supply inverters from world-leading manufacturers ABB, SMA and Solar Edge.