When exploring the right solar panel system for your home, the sheer number of choices and options can be overwhelming and confusing. While compiling your research and investigating suppliers, you may come across the most common different types of inverters – string inverters & micro inverters.
Both types of inverters perform the essential task of converting Direct Current (DC) energy into Alternate Current (AC) energy. This is important because solar panels generate DC electricity, however, our homes are powered by AC electricity. So what are the different types of inverters, and why do they differ so much?
String inverters are the standard inverter type in most home solar PV systems. Sometimes known as a central inverter, they are in the form of a small box typically installed close to your home’s fuse box.
String inverters power your entire solar installation – a standard row of solar panels will only require one or two string inverters on either end of the row. A string inverter works in a circuit-style function, where up to 10 solar panels are connected by a single ‘string’ that powers the entire row.
String inverters are typically cheaper to install, as they are installed at once with the entire row of panels. The main disadvantage to consider when purchasing string inverter systems is that because all the panels in the system are connected by a single string, when one panel’s output is affected by sediment or shade, or is damaged and the output is reduced, the output of the entire row of panels is affected in turn.
Micro inverters work in a parallel circuit, with each inverter allocated to a single panel in your system. Micro inverters are typically the better performing inverters as they are able to take full advantage of the energy generating power of each panel individually.
This is a major advantage over string inverter systems, as they operate on a single panel, they generally generate more energy than string systems. For example, if your roof has panels facing multiple angles, or a section of your panels are shaded during parts of the day, their output won’t affect the performance of the entire system.
As they are a newer, more innovative technology, micro inverters also typically come with a longer warranty – around 25 years, compared to the standard string inverter warranty of 5-10 years. Micro inverters are also a great and cost effective option if you are planning to increase the size of your solar system with additional panels in the future; it is much cheaper to install an additional panel with a micro inverter system, than a string connection.
The main barrier to micro inverters for residential customers is price; they are generally more expensive than string inverter systems but the benefits often outweigh the costs.