What Is A Solar Inverter And How Does It Work?
What Is A Solar Inverter?
A solar inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by your solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is used to power homes, businesses, and the grid. Inverters play a critical role in making solar energy usable by rapidly switching the direction of DC to create AC, powering everyday appliances and systems.
Converts solar power into usable electricity
Ensures compatibility with home/business energy needs
Supports integration with the electrical grid
How Does A Solar Inverter Work?
Now that you understand what a solar inverter does, here’s how it works in three simple steps.
Direct Current (DC) Enters The Inverter
The inverter receives DC electricity from the solar panels, which flows in a single direction with consistent voltage.
The Inverter Converts The Power Current
The inverter rapidly switches the direction of the current, converting the one-way DC into alternating current (AC).
The inverter Outputs Alternating Current (AC) Power
Following the directional switch, the inverter transforms the DC energy into a more versatile form, generating alternating current (AC). This AC power output is now prepared for seamless integration into homes, businesses, or the electrical grid, catering to a diverse range of electrical devices and systems.
What Are The Types Of Solar Inverters?
Solar inverters have evolved with advancing technology. The two most common types are string inverters and microinverters, each suited to different system designs.
What is a Micro-Inverter?
On the other hand, in a micro-inverter each solar panel is connected to its dedicated micro-inverter. This design ensures that the performance of each panel is independent of the others, mitigating issues related to shading or malfunctions in one panel affecting the entire system, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of the solar system and output.
A microinverter is installed on each individual solar panel, allowing every panel to operate independently. If one panel is shaded or underperforms, it won’t affect the rest—helping maximize your system’s efficiency.
Best for: Homes with shade, complex roof angles, or where panel-level monitoring and performance matter most.
What is a String Inverter?
A string inverter connects a group of solar panels (a “string”) to one central inverter. It’s a simple, reliable, and cost-effective setup—but if one panel underperforms, it can impact the entire string.
Best for: Larger or unshaded systems with consistent sun exposure.
What is a Micro-Inverter?
Are Solar Inverters Weatherproof?
Solar inverters are indeed designed with weatherproof features, ensuring their resilience to various environmental conditions. These inverters are engineered for outdoor installation, constructed to withstand the challenges posed by diverse weather elements such as rain, snow, and humidity. The weatherproof design guarantees that solar inverters can consistently and efficiently convert solar energy into usable electricity, contributing to their extended lifespan.
Does Solar Inverters Come With A Warranty?
Warranty coverage for solar inverters can vary from one solar company to another as it all depends on the terms and conditions outlined in the solar warranty offered by each company and the manufacturer of the inverter installed. However, at Solstice Solar we offer a 25-year warranty for the solar inverters we install. We use Enphase Energy micro-inverters ensuring reliable performance and optimizing solar energy generation.
Lastly, navigating information about solar inverters can be overwhelming due to its complexity, therefore if you have questions or want to learn more, book a free solar consultation with our team for personalized assistance.