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Posts Tagged ‘Solar Power Inverter’

There are a few things to think about before installing a solar power system.  With such a variety of roof solar panels on the market, it’s worthwhile to consider what some of these options have to offer.

All roof solar panels are built in such a way that the solar cells inside get as much exposure to sunlight as possible.  Solar cells, when hit by sunlight, produce DC electricity.  The correct number of solar cells, once wired together, can produce any amount of voltage.  After it’s generated, the DC electricity is sent to an inverter, which then converts it to AC electricity so that it’s able to be used in the home.  Any excess power can be sent to the power grid.  This turns back the user’s power meter correspondingly, and the power company credits the power produced.  Roof solar panels don’t generate electricity when the sun isn’t shining; there are a couple of options for dealing with this.  One solution is to have batteries, which are powered by the system throughout the day and then take over as the main power source at night. To know what type of solar power battery is the best to use, visit Solar Power Battery.

The inverter can also simply switch the home back over to the power grid once power stops coming from the solar panels.  The battery bank option does come with some initial cost, but it’s a more affordable solution in the long run. For more info about solar power inverters, go to Solar Power Inverter.

It’s important to choose the right roof solar panels.  Although any solar panel will produce electricity, some produce more efficiently than others.  With the same amount of sunlight exposure, two different roof solar panels can produce completely different amounts of power.  A system with efficient solar panels will be able to generate the same amount of power with fewer panels.

Durability is also important.  For one thing, the durability of the enclosure is crucial.  The solar cells inside the enclosures are very fragile and require protection from the elements.  Enclosures that aren’t well made will often allow moisture and objects through.  If cells are damaged repeatedly, the cost of replacing them can quickly add up.  The durability of the solar cells themselves is also important.

Solar cells differ in how they’re built and, as a result, the benefits they offer.  The two main styles of solar cells are monocrystalline cells and polycrystalline cells.  Of these two, the better one in terms of quality is the monocrystalline solar cell.  They output more current than polycrystalline cells, and tend to last longer.  For these reasons, monocrystalline cells are worth their slightly higher cost.  For further information about solar cells, please visit Solar Cell Efficiency.

The purpose of this article is to explain the function of a solar power inverter in the home solar system, as well as issues pertaining to different types of inverters, and solutions to common problems associated with them.

In most cases, home solar systems involve solar panels charging batteries, with the batteries then supplying electricity to fixtures within the home.  The purpose of this setup is to ensure that power is available even at night, when the solar panels aren’t in contact with sunlight.  Of the two types of electricity, both solar panels and batteries work with Direct Current (DC).  Outlets in the home, meanwhile, use Alternating Current (AC) electricity.  The conversion from DC to AC is handled by the inverter.

Currently, there are both Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW) inverters available.  MSW inverters are the more limited of the two, as they simply convert DC electricity into rough, 120v 60 cycle AC.  Some types of appliances are incompatible with MSW inverters.  For example, audio equipment may give off a noticeable hum when used with MSW inverters.  TSW inverters, on the other hand, have no problems in a home setting.

Inverters are fairly simple to maintain.  Avoid keeping the inverter in the same box as the batteries, but make sure it’s otherwise as close to them as possible.  The wire connecting the batteries to the inverter needs to be large enough.  The manual for the inverter should list the correct size.  A fuse is a must for all wires to and from the inverter.  As is the case with any electrical appliance, the inverter can not be exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.

In terms of common problems, there are just a couple which are known to occur with solar power inverters.  First, there’s RF interference.  When they’re working, all inverters produce some radio noise.  Radio receivers should be kept as far away from the inverter as possible.  Battery powered radios won’t have problems with this interference though, and the batteries can be recharged when necessary with the solar power system.

So-called “phantom loads” represent the other frequently cited issue.  Most new electronic devices, including televisions, continue to use a small amount of electricity even when turned off.  Inverters are unable to go to sleep while these devices keep on drawing power.  The inverters themselves, then, are forced to use more energy than they really ought to.  If you’re able to hook up the devices responsible for the phantom loads to a power strip with an on/off switch, you can solve this problem.  The inverter should be able to enter sleep mode when the power strip is turned off, as the connected devices will no longer be able to draw power.

For more information about the most recent technological improvement being offered in solar panel systems, go to Solar Micro Inverter.

For the finest guide to building your own solar panels, including complete instructions and step-by-step videos, go to Build Your Own Solar Panel.