Going solar is one of the best decisions that you will ever make. It will not just help you save money in the long run, but will also help you contribute to the environment. But before you go solar, it is important for you to know what are the different types of solar inverters for home that are available in the market and how to choose the one that best suits your requirement. Come, let’s take a look.
What are the main functions of a Solar Inverter?
A Solar inverter is the brain of a solar power system. Its primary function is to convert DC to AC power generated by solar panels. It is in charge of battery charging and powering household appliances. It also stops the energy from flowing backwards, which could damage the solar panels. Last but not least, by monitoring the voltage, a solar inverter avoids harm to home appliances and electricals.
Types of Solar Inverters and Their Working
Solar inverters can be categorized into 3 main types
1. On Grid (or Grid-Tied) Inverters
2. Off Grid Inverters
3. Hybrid Inverters
While all three inverters are almost similar in terms of their working and they all are responsible for the conversion of the DC received from the solar panels to AC, the differentiation is based on their connection to the local grid. Let us find out how.
1. On Grid (or Grid-tied) Inverters
As the name suggests, On Grid inverters are connected to the local grid. They draw power from the solar panels and then convert it to AC to run the home appliances. But they don’t use a solar battery which means when the solar panels aren’t generating enough power and there’s a power deficit, they have to rely on the local grid for power supply. Similarly, when solar panels generate more energy than a household requires, the extra energy is transferred into the local grid. The good news is that any extra electricity sent to the local grid during the month is deducted from the monthly energy bill. If you choose an On Grid inverter, you'll need to set up a Net Metering system to keep track of the energy transfer between your inverter and the local grid.
Note - When there’s a power cut, On Grid inverters stop working.
You must be wondering then what is the use of an On Grid inverter. Well, it is because of this reason that On Grid inverters are recommended for residential properties where power cuts are rare and of shorter durations.
Anti-Islanding
Anti-Islanding is a safety feature used in On Grid Inverters. It ensures the safety of line workers by shutting down the On Grid inverter during a power cut. Since there is no energy flow from the inverter to the local grid, there is no risk to the safety of the line workers.
2. Off Grid Inverters
Unlike On-Grid inverters that rely on both solar panel(s) and the local grid for their power supply, Off grid inverters do not rely on the local grid. They prioritize solar panels as a source of energy. Off-Grid Inverters use solar batteries for storing energy that can be used later when there’s a power deficit (days when the power generated by the solar panels is not enough to cater to the power consumed by the household).
Off-grid inverters are best suited for far off areas where the local grids can’t reach out; or for households that lie in areas where there are long and frequent power cuts should also go for off grid inverters as it helps reduce dependence on the local grid.
3. Hybrid Inverters
As we mentioned earlier, the On-Grid inverters are connected to the local grid and they do not use batteries to store energy. Off-Grid inverters on the other hand use solar batteries to store energy. The Hybrid inverters are a combination of grid-tied and off grid inverters. Not only are the hybrid inverters connected to the local grid (that helps reduce electricity bills using the net metering system) but they also use batteries (so that there’s uninterrupted power supply when there’s a power outage).
It’s like getting the best of both worlds. Isn’t it?
Go Solar!
Hope, there's nothing that will stop you from going solar, now. Buying a solar inverter for home will be one of the best decisions of your life. It will not just help you save on your electricity bills but will help you contribute to a greener and more sustainable future. To get started, contact an expert at Luminous India and they will guide you through the entire process of choosing the best solar inverter for home.
