Solar Converter

What is solar converter?

A solar inverter or PV inverter is an electrical converter that converts the variable direct current (DC) output of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels into a commercial grid or used by a local off-grid grid.

DC-AC converter for solar equipment

In your solar power generation system, you need an inverter to convert the low-voltage, high-current signal from the photovoltaic panel into 120VAC or 240VAC, which is directly compatible with the grid. The cost of the inverter is approximately US$0.70 per watt, and the cost of a typical application is approximately US$2,600. From a reliability point of view, they are usually the weak link in any photovoltaic system, so quality is a must.

Most installations use only one converter, but for large systems, it is common to have multiple converters. You can install an inverter with a larger power output than the array you are installing, and then install more panels.

There are two basic types of converters for residential applications: serial converters and micro converters.

String converter: The String converter is a large box installed near the power meter or the main fuse box. In most applications, only one converter is used. Designing the “strings” of photovoltaic panels that feed into the converter is crucial, and this work is almost always handed over to experts.

In terms of the energy that the system can output, the serial converter is the lowest cost option, and this technology has been proven in many years of widespread use. But keep in mind that coloring can become a problem because the arrays are arranged in series and parallel “strings”. If a single panel is blocked, the entire string will be affected, and the total energy output of the converter will also be affected.

Micro converter: Micro converter is the new fashion. Each photovoltaic panel is equipped with its own converter, and the output of each panel is alternating current (matching the power of the grid). The number of micro converters matches the number of photovoltaic panels. In the future, most systems are likely to use micro-converters, but they are relatively new and high reliability risks.