What Is a Solar Microinverter?

Solar power systems are an excellent investment that can help you save a lot of money on electric bills in the long run. However, you have to make many decisions when designing the ideal solar power system for yourself, such as power capabilities, price, warranties, etc. Still, there’s one decision that looms the largest, which is the choice of an inverter.

Key Takeaways

• A solar microinverter is a small inverter attached to individual solar panels, allowing each panel to work independently to convert DC power to AC power.
• Solar microinverters offer benefits such as greater efficiency, higher overall solar system yields, less visible equipment, no single point of failure, precise remote monitoring, easy and faster installation, extended warranty coverage, and expandability.
• Compared to string inverters, microinverters are a preferable choice for complicated solar installations, areas with shading, and those seeking enhanced safety due to their elimination of high-voltage DC wiring.

The Role of Solar Inverters

Inverters play a critical role in the production of solar energy, which is why you need to choose the right one. When sunlight hits the solar panels, light energy is transformed into direct current (DC) power. However, since your home or business runs on alternating current (AC) power, a solar inverter is necessary. The inverter converts the DC into AC that can be used to run appliances.

Today, there are two main types of solar inverters that you can use with your solar power system – string inverters and microinverters.

Depending on various factors such as your energy needs, location, energy usage patterns, and the amount of shading on your home, one type of inverter could be better suited to your system than the other.

What Is a Solar Microinverter?

A solar microinverter is a tiny inverter designed to be attached to each individual solar panel. It accepts each panel’s current individually as opposed to a series of panels collectively, as is the case with a string inverter.

How Does a Solar Microinverter Work?

A solar microinverter performs the same role as a string inverter, but it is usually much smaller and designed to sit underneath each individual solar panel.

This is much different from a string solar inverter usually located on a wall some distance from the string of solar panels and connected using DC cable.

In a string inverter system, DC power from the string of solar panels is converted to AC by the inverter. In contrast, since solar microinverters are attached to individual solar panels, each panel works independently from the rest of the solar array. DC power is immediately converted to AC power right on the roof.

Since each microinverter operate independently of the other microinverters in the system, microinverters are considered module-level power electronics. This makes them an ideal solution for complicated solar power installations or those areas that experience marginal shading.

With string inverters, solar panels can only produce electricity at the level of the lowest-performing panel on the same string. However, that isn’t an issue with microinverters since each panel has its own inverter. So, the solar panels will keep performing efficiently even if one panel in the system is not producing electricity.

The size of each microinverter depends on the size of the solar panel and the amount of electricity it can produce as determined by the direction it is facing, the tilt, your geography, and more. If your panel produces more electricity than its microinverter can convert at a given time, “clipping” occurs, which results in power losses.

String Inverters Vs. Solar Microinverters

Suppose you are considering installing a solar power system on your home or business. In that case, one of the critical decisions you will need to make is whether to install a string inverter or a microinverter. Keep reading to understand the difference between the two and know how to choose the right one for your needs.

What Is a String Inverter?

A string inverter, or a central inverter is a large box that’s typically located on the wall on the outside of your property, or close to your electricity meter/fuse box. Each small-scale solar installation usually has one or two string inverters that operate in a series array or series circuit.

What Are the Benefits of Solar Microinverters?

Here are the top benefits of solar microinverters:

Greater Efficiency of Your Solar Energy System

When using a solar microinverter, each solar panel produces electricity independent of the rest, which means that each panel’s performance does not affect that of the neighboring panel.

So, a damaged or shaded solar panel won’t necessarily affect the performance of other panels since they work independently, which isn’t the case with a string inverter.

Higher Overall Solar System Yields

Solar microinverter have higher overall solar system yields compared to string inverter systems installed in similar conditions. Microinverters usually shine where shading is a problem, but they also usually deliver higher overall energy yields compared to string inverter systems when conditions such as access to sun, tilt angle, and orientation are ideal.

Less Visible Solar Energy Equipment

A string inverter is usually installed close to the utility meter, either outside a home or inside the garage. Some models end up taking up a lot of space, and many tend to be rather unsightly.

However, when it comes to microinverters, the vast majority of the equipment is high up the roof with the solar panels out of view.

No Single Point of Failure

The great thing with using a microinverter system is that even if one solar panel or microinverter fails, the remainder of the system will keep generating electricity.

In contrast, if you are using a traditional string inverter system and it goes down, it will most likely take the entire system down with it, thus producing no electricity at all.

Precision Remote System Monitoring

If you install a string inverter, you can track the energy production of your entire home solar power system. However, if you are using a microinverter, you can precisely monitor each module’s electricity output. Remote monitoring is even possible via the web to see how each panel is performing from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Easy and Faster Installation

Microinverters are individually attached to each of the photovoltaic panels that comprise your solar power system. Since the panels are not wired together in strings, and there aren’t any specific restrictions when it comes to solar panel orientation, the installation process is usually faster, thus translating to savings on labor charges.

Extended Warranty Coverage

Warranties for string inverters provide coverage for anywhere between 5 and 10 years since those parts can wear out by then. On the other hand, microinverters usually come with 25-year warranties due to their extended lifespans. If you want photovoltaic components that last, it is best to choose microinverters.

Easily Expandable

Are you looking to add on to your solar power system at some point in the future? If you are like some homeowners, you will probably start with a smaller photovoltaic array and expand it later as your budget allows. If you prefer that option, you should consider installing microinverters that allow for easier expansion.

Enhanced Safety

Solar panels using a string inverter are connected in series before being fed into the central inverter, with an effective nominal rating for 300 to 600 volts of direct current (VDC). That current is potentially life-threatening. Microinverters eliminate the need for high voltage DC wiring, thus improving the safety of both system owners and installers.

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Final Thoughts

You need to consider many factors when choosing the right type of inverter for your needs. Your solar installer will need to consider the direction your roof is facing, how much shade it is receiving, your energy production goals, and much more prior to determining which type of inverter is right for your system.

String inverters and microinverters both have their benefits and drawbacks. However, if you closely look at the benefits of microinverters, it is pretty clear that they are the clear winner.

So, if you are looking to build a robust solar power system, you should seriously consider using solar microinverters.