Solar Inverters Types

What is a solar inverter?
Solar energy doesn't provide electricity in a format that your table lamp could be powered by. Inverters change the power produced by your solar panels into something you can actually use. Think of it as a currency exchange for your power. You might have a fistful of yen, but until you stop and exchange it for USD, you can't pay for lunch stateside.
Your home is wired to conduct alternating current (AC) power. The electricity produced by solar panels is initially a direct current (DC). Inverters change the raw DC power into AC power so your lamp can use it to light up the room. Inverters are incredibly important pieces of equipment in a rooftop solar system. There are three options available: string inverters, micro inverters, and power optimizers.

String Inverters
String inverters have one centralized inverter — or, keeping with the metaphor — one central currency exchange station. This is a standard inverter, and it works just fine if you don't have any encroaching shade from nearby trees or a big chimney. It's also great if you have all of solar panels facing the same direction. String inverters are standard solar inverters in the industry, and they're the least expensive.

Microinverters
Microinverters are small units built into each individual solar panel that convert power. Think of it as having mini currency exchange stations on every nearby street corner. This gives each panel the ability to function at peak performance, independent from its neighbors. Even if the panel next to it has a tree branch shading it for most of the day, all the other panels can convert at full capacity. Any drop in efficiency only affects one panel.

Microinverters also enable you to monitor the performance of each individual panel. This is helpful for spotting any issues with a single panel so you can have it repaired before it slows down the whole system's productivity. This type of inverter can be more expensive than string inverters, but it can pay off over time by getting more power from your solar energy system overall.
Microinverters also make it easy to increase power usage if you want to. Say you buy an electric car and you'll need more power to charge it every night. Adding more solar panels and inverters is easier and less expensive than adding an additional central inverter for a string inverter system.

Power Optimizers
Power optimizers are somewhere in between string inverters and micro-inverters both in how they function and in price. As with micro-inverters, power optimizers have a component (the "optimizer" ) underneath and within each solar panel. But rather than change the DC to AC right there on site, these inverters optimize the current before sending it to one central inverter.

What to Look for in a Solar Inverter?

To recap, there are three kinds of inverters: string inverters, microinverters, and power optimizers. They all transform the power your solar panels generate from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). This makes the energy usable for your home. Here's a few things to look for when shopping for inverters.

Solar Inverter Warranties: Most people feel more comfortable purchasing electronic devices with warranties. Solar inverters are no exception. Most inverters have warranties ranging from anywhere between 5 and 10 years, though some can be extended to 25 years. When you're looking at a company, make sure you know what's included in the warranty and what's not. For example, some power optimizers might not include the central inverter under the warranty. Also make sure you understand the terms of a warranty. Is the device covered in case of an internal glitch as well as in the case of external damage? Will you be charged for labor or shipping if you have to send parts in? These are all important questions to ask.
Solar Inverter Operating Temperatures: As with most solar electronic equipment, inverters operate best when they're running cool. Operating temperature is the safest temperature range an inverter maintains. Inverters will naturally generate some heat themselves as they do their job. Since they're typically in an uncontrollable environment outdoors, they're exposed to a wide range of temperature fluctuations. Obviously, conditions aren't always ideal and sometimes an inverter will have to work harder than others. The higher the operating temperature (the more heat it can handle), the better.
Solar Inverter Efficiency: There are two numbers to look for in solar inverter efficiency, peak efficiency and weighted efficiency. Peak efficiency will give you the efficiency of your inverter when it's running optimally. It's good to know what the best-case scenario is, but it's also worth noting that it won't always be hitting that level. Some days it might only reach peak efficiency for an hour or two, or maybe not at all. Weighted efficiency figures in the variables like DC input levels. This gives a more accurate gauge as sunshine, temperature, and other environmental elements affect inverter efficiency throughout the day.