#Solar power converter upgrade#

Also ensure that fuses are used where needed to protect any cables from potential shorting out and short circuits. These tend to be very large to handle the power. This reduces the Amps and current at DC level by 4x.Įnsure that the cable size meets manufacturers guidelines. Off grid homes however can easily use 48v systems.

#Solar power converter upgrade#

Anything over 30A DC for example, you should then look to see if the next battery voltage can work.Ĭaravans, campers and motorhomes are typically 12v so it is difficult to upgrade to a 24v or 48v system. You should always try to keep the current as low as possible to keep the efficiency up. Inverters typically come in 12v, 24v and 48v sizes. Refer to ‘How to size an off-grid solar power system’ for more guidance on the power requirements of a solar power system. If you ask more from the inverter than it is designed for will be an overload and overheat shutdown to protect itself. In a home you may have an oven, fridge, lights and appliances so you need to add them up and make sure that the worst-case scenario is covered by the available power the inverter can output. In a camper you may want an inverter to run an electric bike charger which is 200w. You need to exceed the maximum requirement of your system so as not to stress the inverter and shorten its operating life. It is essential that you have a large enough capacity inverter to power the largest power requirement of your solar power system. Where budget constraints require efficiencies, Modified Sine Wave inverters are suitable for leisure use or where dirty power won’t be a factor. If cost isn’t an issue, we would recommend using Pure Sine Wave inverters wherever possible. This is partly down to lower quality construction which is reflected in its lower price. Modified Sine Wave energy is referred to as ‘dirty’ as the voltage is provides isn’t as refined. Pure Sine Wave inverters are more expensive than Modified Sine Wave but produce cleaner energy suitable for home use. We tend to recommend Pure Sine Wave for systems that will provide power 24-hours a day and Modified Sine Wave inverters for leisure purposes such as caravans, boats and campers. Phrases such as Pure Sine Wave, Quasi Sine Wave and Modified Sine Wave. Less components to fail versus Enphase - inverter behind every panel in an extreme environment.Inverter/chargers come in many types and with many phrases attached. If you don't have any shading, definitely go with a string inverter and this is a good one. On Fronius' solar website, you can look at AC volts and amps, DC volts and amps, mppt 1 power, mppt2 power, and total power. The monitoring can be done via wifi or ethernet and is very simple to configure. It has very low warranty claim rate unlike the IG. It has two maximum power point trackers, so you can have strings facing different directions. Fronius is the only inverter manufacturer that can replace boards if there is a problem, usually an hour job. The connection unit bolts to a wall and the inverter hinges into the connection unit and is attached by two screws making the inverter very easy to remove and service. The Primo is a transformerless inverter and the snap inverter design makes it very easy to install. You can learn more about each solar power system type below Same functionality as a grid-tie inverter, but canĪlso charge and draw power from a battery setup.įully independent solar power systems, givingīackup to function, and cannot be connected It, and importing utility power from it as required.Īre designed to work with hybrid solar systems Relationship with the grid, exporting solar power to The solar inverter you choose will need to be compatible solar system type you are installing: Learn more: Inverter types compared The type of solar power system the inverter is for They are, however, the most expensive type of They’re good at dealing with shade (like power optimizers),Īnd have the additional advantage of making your solar systemĮasy to expand.

Module level, allowing each panel to output usable AC power. They perform both MPP tracking and power conversion at the Microinverters are also attached to individual panels. Then sent to the string inverter for conversion into AC power.Ĭombining string inverters with power optimizers will increase your costīut allow your system to handle issues like shading better.

Tracking at the module level the optimized DC power is Power optimizers are attached to each individual panel. String inverters areĬheap and convenient, but tend to be the least efficient. Standalone unit that converts power from a whole There are two categories to consider when deciding on the right solar inverter type: the solar inverter technology, and the type of solar power system the inverter is for.