Inverters serve the function of converting DC power to AC power.
Traditional inverters convert DC to AC via a large, centralized unit. Microinverters are compact units that are attached directly to each solar panel in the system. With microinverters, there’s no clunky box downstairs. These inverters go on the back of each panel, on the roof, so there’s no need for a big inverter downstairs by your meter. This eliminates concerns about where to put the inverter so that it won’t be an eyesore or create clearance issues.
And, distributing the conversion process to each panel makes the entire solar power system more productive, reliable, transparent, and flexible than traditional inverter systems.
More productive: Microinverters will increase the amount of energy the system generates by 10- 25% vs. traditional inverters because they maximize the energy drawn from each panel. With a traditional inverter, if one or more panels is shaded, or gets dirty, the entire system’s productivity can be dragged down.
More reliable: Traditional centralized inverters implementations create a single point of failure for solar power systems. If the inverter fails, the entire system is disabled. Microinverters convert power independently at each solar module. If one microinverter fails, the rest continue to operate as usual. Also, if a microinverter is damaged or fails, it can be replaced during routine maintenance or when convenient, further reducing maintenance costs. Unlike traditional inverters which have moving parts like fans and switching gear to balance the output of all the different panels, microinverters have no moving parts and are therefore warranted for 15 year (as opposed to 10 years for a traditional inverter)
More transparent: The monitoring system that comes with microinverters allows you to see the production of each panel, so if one panel is not producing power, you will know instantly. With a traditional inverter, if one panel is damaged or installed improperly, there is no way to tell because the overall change in system production will be low. If anything happens to a panel or a microinverter, we will get an alert and you will get an alert, and we will be out immediately to troubleshoot and fix any problems.
More Flexible: Another benefit of microinverters is the potential for installations to be expanded over time. An initial set of solar modules can be installed and additional modules added as needs without requiring the replacement of a large centralized inverter.
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