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Inverters Solar inverters convert the DC energy generated from your solar panels into AC electricity that is compatible with the AC voltage you use in your home or business. A string inverter is the most common type of inverter in the market and it is likely to be quoted to you by most solar installation businesses. Micro-inverters are another type of inverter, they are generally more expensive and not as common in the market place at the moment. It`s been my experience that inverter selection is the most important aspect to any solar installation. Talk to your installers about their inverter offering and ask a few questions, like: Have you been using this model inverter very long, and if so what has been your experience with reliability and warranty issues?

There are several different types of off grid solar power systems. The first type of solar energy system is one that would typically be used in a caravan or boat and would typically be a ELV system running either 12 or 24 volts of Dc power to specific appliances. The second type of system which is more common in a residential applications is a solar system that uses a charge controller and inverter and creates a standard 240 volt AC grid output. This means houses can use standard off the shelf electrical appliances. Modern inverters such as the Sunny Island from SMA incorporate functions of both and inverter and a charge controller and regulate the relationship between the various components in the system.

A grid connect system is one that works in with the local utility grid so that when your solar panels produce more solar electricity than your house is using the surplus power is fed into the grid. With a grid connect solar power system when your house requires more power than what your solar panels are producing then the balance of your electricity is supplied by the utility grid. So for example if your electrical loads in your house were consuming 20 amps of power and your solar power was only generating 12 amps then you would be drawing 8 amps from the grid. Obviously at night all of your electrical needs are supplied by the grid because with a grid connect system you do not store the power you generate during the day.