You may have heard that, in order to maximise the use of your solar panels, you will need to find the best solar panel inverter. Many people know that solar panels are used to change solar energy into usable electricity for their home, but how they physically operate is a mystery to many.
Gaining an understanding of how solar panels work will also provide you with some of the many benefits of installing a high-quality inverter into your home.
What’s the process behind the inverter?
The first important part of understanding how solar panels work is knowing what they are composed of. A solar panel is only capable of transforming photons (light particles) into electricity through photovoltaic cells. These cells are linked together, and make this process possible by knocking the electrons free of atoms, which, simply put, creates electricity and is processed by your inverter.
What’s the job of my solar inverter?
Your solar panel inverter carries out the job of turning the solar energy that hits your solar panels into a usable current for the mains electricity. It achieves this by turning the direct current that is produced by the panels, to an alternating current.
While this may feel like a back-to-school science lesson, your solar-inverter carries out an important function. Inverters for solar panels are meant to increase the benefit of the energy you gain from your panels, and the wrong model could minimise this. Don’t panic, however, if you are unsure how to measure your current inverters capabilities. If you had a PV inverter, for example, these usually talk to your solar panels using an internet connection. This means you can check online to see if you are making the most of your solar panels.
Does higher voltage matter?
The answer is yes and no. On one hand, a higher voltage range won’t be so useful for a smaller system. The maximum power point voltage range only really matters if you have a longer direct current cable for your system. The reason for this is because the voltage drops when the current is too long. So, if you know that the distance between your solar array and the inverter is incredibly long, and they are situated at a far distance from each other, you may wish to speak to your provider about increasing the voltage range. However, the best way for your system to work efficiently and effectively, is to ensure that your PV inverter keeps its maximum power point voltage within its chosen limits.
The best way to know if your solar inverter is as efficient as it could be, is to firstly take a look online and see if you are getting as much energy from your solar panels as you were estimated to garner.
If this is not the case, there are some considerations for your PV inverter, such as the distance away from the solar array, and whether its voltage range is enough. Investing in a higher-quality model with the right capacity could help you to make the most of your solar panels.
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