The purpose of this article is to discuss the role of a solar power inverter in your home solar system, as well as issues pertaining to different types of inverters, and how to solve some common problems associated with them.
In order to provide electricity to the home, most home solar systems work by a sequence in which solar panels transfer power to batteries, with the batteries then supplying the electricity to the home. This ensures that power is available in the dark, when the solar panels themselves aren't generating. Of the two varieties of electricity, both solar panels and batteries deal with Direct Current (DC). The interior of the home, meanwhile, uses Alternating Current (AC). The conversion from DC to AC is performed by the inverter.
Users can choose between Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW) inverters. Of the two, MSW inverters are the more limited type, as they only convert DC electricity into the simplest form of AC power. Some appliances, such as computers, which use certain types of power sources don't have any problems with MSW inverters, but MSW inverters can have difficulties in other cases. For example, when used in conjunction with an MSW inverter, audio equipment will often produce a noticeable hum. TSW inverters don't suffer from these problems, and so they are usually the preferred choice for homeowners.
Maintaining an inverter is no problem provided you pay attention to the following. While it's a good idea to keep the inverter as close to the batteries as possible, don't put it in the same box. Use a large size wire to run between the batteries and the inverter. The correct size will probably be provided in the inverter documentation. A fuse is a good idea for all wires to and from the inverter. Make sure the inverter is in a location where it will not be exposed to wetness or extreme temperatures.
In terms of common issues, there are just a couple which are particular to solar power inverters. The first issue is RF interference. When they're running, all inverters broadcast some radio noise. The simplest way to deal with this problem is to place any receiver as far away from the inverter as possible. Switching to a battery powered radio will also solve this problem, and the batteries can then be recharged through the solar power system.
So-called "phantom loads" represent the other common problem. A phantom load is the electricity used by a device while it's turned off, which is a common issue among many new televisions and other devices that use "standby" modes. Inverters are unable to go to sleep while these devices continue to draw power. This in turn means that inverters themselves end up using more power than they really need to. If you're able to connect the devices responsible for the phantom loads to a power strip with an on/off switch, you can address this problem effectively. Turning the power strip off will keep the devices from drawing power, allowing the inverter to enter its low power mode.
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