When looking at an alternative power source, you might wonder which option will be your best solution. Should you get just a solar panel, or will a simple inverter plus battery be better?
a Solar panel will produce power only when it receives sunlight vs. an inverter and a battery which can produce power for appliances to use as long as there is a charge in the battery.
Normal inverter and batteries
An inverter is a device that converts DC electricity into AC electricity, which is the form that all appliances in your home will use.
In this instance, you will have a battery or battery bank which your grid power will charge, and the inverter will be the link between the battery bank and the distribution board of your electrical system.
The battery bank can last anything from a few hours up to a few days, depending on its size and capacity.
The advantage of such a system is that it is a simple installation with only the inverter and a battery or batteries. You do not have the added cost of solar panels and the more complicated installation and wiring.
The disadvantage of an inverter-only system is that you do not have any means of charging your batteries during an extended power outage. If your batteries are flat, you will be without power.
There is also the added cost of charging the batteries from your grid power when you do not have solar panels to help reduce that cost.
Solar panel only
a Solar panel produces DC electricity which needs to be converted into AC electricity by an inverter before it will be usable for normal household appliances.
You get some small portable solar panels with their own dedicated USB ports where you can charge small electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops, and cameras. Still, you will need a solar inverter for a solar panel used to produce electricity for household use.
There are various options for a solar system, and one option is choosing the right type of solar inverter.
Different types of solar inverters
There are basically four types of solar inverters:
- Grid-tied inverter
- Off-Grid inverter
- Hybrid inverter
- Micro-Inverter
Solar grid-tied inverter
Grid-tied inverters are used with the solar system, which is integrally connected to the utility grid power. They must be connected to the grid to be able to function.
Electricity produced by the solar panels not consumed by the household is then directly fed into the grid utilizing a bi-directional meter. The meter will then run in reverse, essentially reducing your utility bill.
You should note that some power companies in some areas do not allow surplus power to be fed back into the grid, and before committing to such a system, you should find out if it is allowed.
A disadvantage of a grid-tied inverter is that the inverter shuts off the power supply during a power outage. You will thus be without power as these systems do not have battery backup.
An advantage of these systems is that surplus electricity produced by your solar panels will be directly fed into the grid via a bi-directional meter, reducing your electricity bill.
You can use this type of system in areas with very few power outages, and you do not really need battery backup and only want the advantage of a reduced utility bill.
Solar off-grid inverter
An off-grid inverter system is, as the name implies, not connected to the power grid. Solar panels are connected to a battery bank and the inverter.
In this system, the DC power produced by the solar panels is used to charge a battery bank. In a power cut, the inverter will draw electricity from the batteries converting it to useable AC power for running appliances.
A disadvantage of this system is that you do not have the ability to feed surplus power back into the grid, which is wasted.
An advantage is that you have a battery backup system for use when there is a power outage.
This system can be used in areas with long power outages and works well when you combine it with your normal power grid.
It is also used in remote areas where there is no power grid available, and it is the only source of power.
Solar Hybrid Inverter
A solar system with a hybrid inverter combines all the functionality of a grid-tied and an off-grid inverter.
The inverter is connected to the grid, and it will feed surplus power from the solar panels back into it. In a power outage, the inverter will automatically switch to battery backup and operate independently from the power grid.
a Solar system with a hybrid inverter will thus give you the best of both worlds. You get the reduced electricity usage and bill, as well as the ease of mind of having a battery backup system in times of a power outage.
Solar micro inverter
Micro-inverters are used in solar systems where each solar panel has its own micro-inverter, and you do not have one dedicated inverter for all your solar panels.
There are several advantages to using micro-inverters instead of one dedicated inverter.
- Increased efficiency. When one panel’s efficiency is reduced, it does not drag the whole system down as each panel works independently.
- Reduced current on your roof. Suppose you do not want high current flowing on your roof due to various reasons. One of these reasons might be that you have a grass or straw roof, and a high current can mean a high fire danger.
- Ease of management. When using a micro-inverter, you can manage each solar panel independently, and you will instantly know when there is some problem with the panel.
The disadvantage of micro-inverters is a higher initial cost, but its advantages in some instances will offset this cost.
The best solution will depend on your unique set of circumstances. Almost in all cases, a solar panel combined with an inverter will be your best option.
The choice of grid-tied, off-grid, hybrid or micro will depend on you.
