Solar Power Inverter performs several tasks, the most important ones are:
- Regulating the solar panel output.
- Converting solar panel DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternate Current).
- Monitoring and feedback.
In the next 3 paragraphs we would explain the basics of these tasks. More information can found on Solar Panel Review blog site.
Solar cells act as current source. The more intensive the sun is the more current you get out of it. The open voltage measured across a solar panel does not change a lot by the amount of sun rays on the panel. However the amount of current a solar panel can supply is directly proportional to the amount of sun rays. A Solar Power Inverter should be able to regulate this varying output current.
All of our home appliances or even commercial equipments work with Alternate current (AC). Since PV output is of DC type, the inverter’s function is to convert solar panel output to AC type suitable for our home appliances or machineries. The alternating current is of sinusoidal type cycling 60 times per seconds (In European countries it cycles 50 times per second).
For the batteries to be charged properly, a circuit should monitor the state of the batteries. If there is any fault in the system, the inverter would detect the problem and provides a feedback. This feedback signal can be used to shutdown certain components to avoid failure or can be utilized towards improving performance and power management. Solar Charge Controller also plays a role in this scenario.
When dealing with most kind of Inverters, we hear the term Pulse Width Modulation. PWM is a technique used widely to regulate the output power in a DC to AC conversion. A house power demand keeps changing for example when we turn on our drier. You might see lights go dim specially if the home wiring is old or not rated properly. A solar power inverter should have a way of sensing the change in power demand and adjust itself so the load does not experience a reduction in voltage. This autosensing and compensating is called voltage regulation. One of the factors causing premature failure in electrical equipment, in particular electronic devices like computers, TVs, and audio systems are fluctuating power source.
One point to keep in mind when shopping for an inverter is the quality of its output voltage. Some less expensive models simulate a sine wave by generating modified square waves. While a hair blow dryer does not care about source of voltage being sinusoidal or ramped square wave, a laptop or a TV on the other hand do care.
Best wishes and good luck in your research.
Jay Eld
April 17, 2010
Solar cells act as current source. The more intensive the sun is the more current you get out of it. The open voltage measured across a solar panel does not change a lot by the amount of sun rays on the panel. However the amount of current a solar panel can supply is directly proportional to the amount of sun rays. A Solar Power Inverter should be able to regulate this varying output current.
All of our home appliances or even commercial equipments work with Alternate current (AC). Since PV output is of DC type, the inverter’s function is to convert solar panel output to AC type suitable for our home appliances or machineries. The alternating current is of sinusoidal type cycling 60 times per seconds (In European countries it cycles 50 times per second).
For the batteries to be charged properly, a circuit should monitor the state of the batteries. If there is any fault in the system, the inverter would detect the problem and provides a feedback. This feedback signal can be used to shutdown certain components to avoid failure or can be utilized towards improving performance and power management. Solar Charge Controller also plays a role in this scenario.
When dealing with most kind of Inverters, we hear the term Pulse Width Modulation. PWM is a technique used widely to regulate the output power in a DC to AC conversion. A house power demand keeps changing for example when we turn on our drier. You might see lights go dim specially if the home wiring is old or not rated properly. A solar power inverter should have a way of sensing the change in power demand and adjust itself so the load does not experience a reduction in voltage. This autosensing and compensating is called voltage regulation. One of the factors causing premature failure in electrical equipment, in particular electronic devices like computers, TVs, and audio systems are fluctuating power source.
One point to keep in mind when shopping for an inverter is the quality of its output voltage. Some less expensive models simulate a sine wave by generating modified square waves. While a hair blow dryer does not care about source of voltage being sinusoidal or ramped square wave, a laptop or a TV on the other hand do care.
Best wishes and good luck in your research.
Jay Eld
April 17, 2010
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