PV grid tie inverters are exceptionally efficient; very little power is lost in the conversion from DC electricity coming down off the roof to the AC power we use in our homes. Newer, sleeker PV inverters will have at least the following four features that make them the highly-efficient multi-tasking machines that they are.

1. Weatherproofing for outdoor installation. New inverters are sealed tight in a sleek enclosure to protect against rain, wind, and other of Mother Nature’s mood swings.
2. Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT) to track and convert every last drop of unusable DC power to usable AC and send the excess back to the grid for the solar homeowner’s benefit. MPPTs track and locate that “maximum power point” and efficiently send all available power beyond back to the utility company. If you’re lucky, your inverter’s MPPT technology will help facilitate a check at the end of year.
3. Ground Fault Protection. This is a requirement for any rooftop installation. The modern grid tie inverter has this protection built in, a valuable attribute to say the least.
4. AC/DC Disconnects. Speaking of built-in features, new inverters have AC/DC disconnects included as well for safety purposes. Should the electrical current get too strong it’s SNAP! and the power is disconnected, the house safe, and the inverter has done just one of its many important jobs.

Nine out of ten articles I write about innovations or technology deal with solar panels or solar cells (although let’s not forget microinverters). I suppose that’s okay, considering inverters already hover around 90% efficiency. If solar panels reach that kind of efficiency, well, I’m going to start leaving the nightlight on again, guilt free. In the meantime it is important not to forget the importance of the inverter, especially in today’s grid-tied solar world. Any one of these four features fails and your solar system effectively goes kaput. So for today at least: Here’s to the photovoltaic grid-tie inverter!

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Posted on January 23rd in Solar Products by Dan.