Solar power systems always rely on some form of inverter.
In most cases, home solar systems have solar panels charging batteries, with the batteries then supplying electricity to fixtures within the home. Solar panels do not produce power at night, so this arrangement ensures that power is still available even when the sun isn’t out. The electricity present in both solar panels and batteries is of the Direct Current (DC) variety. Outlets in the home, meanwhile, use Alternating Current (AC) electricity. Solar power inverters handle the task of converting the DC electricity to AC.
In terms of inverters, there are two basic types: Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW). Of the two, MSW inverters are the more bare-bones type, as they only convert DC electricity into the most basic form of AC power. Some appliances work problem-free with MSW inverters, but others don’t. Some kinds of audio equipment, for example, often experience problems when used with MSW inverters. TSW inverters, while more costly, are usually preferred, because they don’t suffer from these problems.
Maintaining an inverter is no problem provided you pay attention to the following. While it’s good to make sure that the inverter is as close to the batteries as possible, don’t put it in the same box. Make sure that the wire connecting the batteries to the inverter is large enough. The correct size will probably be listed in the inverter manual. It’s good to have a fuse on all wires to and from the inverter. As is the case with any electrical appliance, the inverter can not be exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.
In terms of common problems, there are just a couple which are particular to solar power inverters. First, there’s RF interference. Inverters produce radio noise while they work. Any type of receiver should be kept as far away from the inverter as possible. Using a battery powered radio will also negate this problem, and the batteries can then be recharged with the solar power system.
So-called “phantom loads” represent the other frequently cited issue. A phantom load is the electricity used by a device while it’s turned off, which is a common issue among many recent TVs and other devices that have “standby” modes. Not only do these devices waste electricity in this way, but they also keep your inverter from going to sleep. The inverters themselves, then, are forced to use more power than they really ought to. Usually, this problem can be addressed through the use of a power strip with an on/off switch. This will keep the devices from drawing power from your system while the power strip is turned off.
If you would like more information about solar inverters, take a look at Solar Micro Inverter.
If you want to build your own solar panel, visit Build Your Own Solar Panel.
Tags: Build Your Own Solar Panel, Solar Micro Inverter, Solar Power Battery, Solar Power Inverter