Off-grid or stand-alone power systems generally require much more powerful battery inverters with inbuilt chargers, which can be set up as either AC or DC-coupled solar systems. For more information, see our detailed hybrid and off-grid inverter review.

While more expensive, hybrid inverters are becoming more cost-competitive against solar inverters as hybrid inverter technology advances and batteries become cheaper and more appealing. Most hybrid inverters also provide basic backup power in the event of a blackout but are generally not designed for continuous off-grid use. Hybrid inverters, sometimes called battery-ready inverters, are similar to string solar inverters but enable the direct connection of a battery storage system to allow greater self-sufficiency using solar. String inverters are the most common type of inverter used in the UK, Europe, Australia, & Asia, and are growing in popularity in the US, where micro inverters are very popular. These inverters are connected to a string of solar panels linked together in series. This review focuses on common 'string' solar inverters, the most popular type of solar inverter. Many different inverters are available for solar and energy storage systems, but here we list the four most common types used for rooftop solar. This will have a much greater financial impact due to system downtime. Most of the 'value' brands also offer 10-year warranties, but some will only repair a faulty unit if it is shipped to them (at the owner's cost) and returned, which can take weeks and sometimes months. Fronius, SMA, Fimer, Goodwe, Sungrow and Huawei are all available with 10-year warranties, while SolarEdge offers a 12-year manufacturer’s warranty as standard. Warranty and Serviceįronius and SMA have ranked on top of the list for many years due to the low failure rates and great service, as they usually ship replacement units in 3-5 business days. With this in mind, it is worthwhile to pay the additional cost for a quality inverter brand that has been in good business standing for at least five years. However, unlike a faulty inverter, degradation of solar panels will generally not result in a complete system shutdown that being said, we recommend using only reputable solar panel brands from a reliable installer. Solar panels can also develop problems or suffer from excessive degradation over time, resulting in poor performance. If direct sunlight cannot be avoided, a protective sun cover will help prolong the life of the inverter. Most importantly, locations exposed to the hot afternoon sun should always be avoided. The life of a solar inverter will be significantly increased by locating it inside a garage, under a carport and out of direct sunlight.

However, like any electrical equipment, solar inverters should be installed in a protected or shaded location to avoid extreme weather and large variations in temperature, which can reduce performance and lifespan. All SolarEdge power optimizers have a 25-year manufacturer warranty.Almost all solar inverters are fully weather-rated and can be safely installed outside.

Each optimizer is equipped with the unique SafeDC feature which automatically shut down modules' voltage whenever inverter or the grid power are shut down. The SolarEdge power optimizers use next-generation module-level monitoring to ensure the performance of each panel and to communicate performance data to the SolarEdge monitoring portal. This flexibility mitigates effects from manufacturing tolerance, partial shading orientation while allowing for multiple orientations, tilts and module types in the same string. Automatically maintains a fixed string voltage, they allow optimal efficiency of the SolarEdge inverter and provide installers greater flexibility to design optimal PV systems for maximum space utilization. SolarEdge 340W Power Optimizer w/ MC4 Compatible Connectors P340ĭesigned for fast, single bolt installation on high power 60-cell modules, the SolarEdge power optimizers maximize energy throughput from each and every module through constant tracking of Maximum Power Point (MPPT) individually per module.

Solaredge inverter