The inverter is one of the key parts of any solar power system.
In order to supply electricity to the home, most home solar systems operate by a sequence in which solar panels transfer power to batteries, with the batteries then supplying the electricity to the home. Solar panels do not generate power at night, so this setup ensures that power is still available even when the sun isn’t out. Of the two types of electricity, solar panels and batteries both deal with Direct Current (DC). This has to be converted to Alternating Current (AC), which is used by everything that plugs into outlets. The inverter handles this part of the job, converting DC electricity to AC.
Currently, there are both Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW) inverters available. Of the two, MSW inverters are the more bare-bones type, as they only convert DC electricity into the most basic form of AC power. Some types of appliances experience problems with MSW inverters. Some kinds of stereo equipment, for example, often experience problems when used with MSW inverters. TSW inverters don’t suffer from these issues, and so they are generally the preferred choice for homeowners.
Inverters are fairly simple to maintain. While it’s good to make sure that the inverter is as close to the batteries as possible, don’t put it in the same box. The wire connecting the batteries to the inverter needs to be large enough. Check the inverter documentation for the necessary size. All wires to and from the inverter should have a fuse. As with any electrical appliance, the inverter must not be exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.
In terms of common problems, there are just a couple which are particular to solar power inverters. The first problem is RF interference. All inverters produce a certain amount of radio noise while active. Any type of receiver should be kept as far away from the inverter as possible. Another solution is to use a battery powered radio, the batteries for which can be recharged at any time through the solar power system.
The other issue relates to phantom loads. This refers to the electricity that is used by certain electronic devices, such as many new TVs, while they’re turned off. Since they’re constantly using electricity, these devices prevent inverters from going to sleep. The inverters then add to the problem of wasted power, as they’re constantly in active mode. Usually, this problem can be solved through the use of a power strip with an on/off switch. The inverter should be able to go into sleep mode when the power strip is turned off, as the connected devices will no longer be able to draw power.
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