Microinverter: Basic Information
A solar microinverter or simply microinverter is a small device that forms part of a photovoltaic energy system; it is in charge of converting the alternating current that the panels produce into alternating current for household use. A single solar panel is connected to a microinverter, though there are models that have the ability to connect two modules at one time. It can extract the maximum power from the solar panel's alternating current through the maximum power tracking and minimize the shading effect. In such a way, each of the microinverters maximizes the production of solar energy at the panel, converting a large amount of energy into electricity for household use. Such microinverters are used in balcony solar panel kits. Each balcony requires one solar microinverter, which can extend the power generation of the modules placed on the balcony.
The technology behind solar microinverters is so advanced that it can increase the power generation of a photovoltaic array up to 25%. Even if there are shadows, panel orientations, and other inclement weather in that area, by converting the energy of each panel, the solar microinverters can minimize shadows, dirt, or wear and tear on each panel. These microinverters can thus still work at maximum efficiency.
Besides competitive pricing for solar panel kits with microinverters, we have a broad range of solar microinverters for photovoltaic self-use power at Huijue. Buy microinverter for each solar panel at the best price here and save money on your bill.
What are its uses and applications?
A solar microinverter is the part of the photovoltaic installation that was designed to connect small panels, single or paired solar panels. Since they can optimize power output on a per-panel basis, such a design allows microinverters to further the efficiency of solar power generation.
They can be applied to a wide range, especially in those occasions when one wants to maximize the generation of solar power on a limited space. As an example, it could be installed with balcony solar panels, as the balcony has a limited space that needs to generate as much electricity as possible. In addition, microinverters also can be set up in the following places:
- Neighborhood communities: Microinverters could be applied to lighting systems in neighborhoods, therefore providing ecological energy.
- Single-family homes: In family homes, the microinverters can be applied in powering them, especially in the camps and rural house that requires self-sufficient power.
- Industrial fields: In industries, microinverters can be applied to many facilities including filling stations, which can avoid dependence on traditional sources of energy.
- Other places: Such as lighting, gas stations, etc., are all places where microinverters can play a role.
Following are some of the advantages of microinverters:
- Optimization of Each Panel: Since Micro-inverters can independently control the voltage and current of each panel, they make sure each component works at its maximum power point, hence increasing overall efficiency.
- Excellence in performance for shadows: This is because microinverters will help in reducing the effect of shades on the performance of solar panels, and even when a part of the panel gets shaded, the performance of the whole system isn\'t affected that much.
- Higher safety: Since microinverters operate on lower DC voltages, the surges during maintenance and installation are lower.
- Scalability: A microinverter system is easier to expand when the solar system needs expansion, without having to redesign the entire system.
- Excellent durability: Microinverters have a long expected service life of about 20 years, meaning the inverter does not need to be replaced frequently through the life of the system.
- Flexibility: It can tolerate solar panels of different orientations, different sizes, adapt to various installation conditions, and adjust the size of the system flexibly to improve energy efficiency.
- Monitoring of each panel: Microinverters can monitor the activity of each panel, detect and solve possible faults in time, ensuring that the performance of the entire system is not affected.
In addition, microinverters have other complementary advantages that can make them appropriate for application in some instances. Among the few is the fact that they have the following advantages:
- perfect compatibility with the advanced management systems of manufacturers;
- simple and intuitive systems when it comes to installation;
- a safe and reliable device, since surge tests have been conducted only a few times;
- adapts well to fluctuations and different grid situations.
Microinverter: What are its features?
- Flexibility: Small in size, microinverters are easy to install; thus, they can be integrated into the solar panel structure.
- Wireless operation: Unlike traditional inverters, a microinverter does not create hassle with wires. It operates wirelessly.
- More energy generation: MPPT is an integral part of microinverters that work to increase the power generation of each individual photovoltaic panel, thereby contributing to the increased overall generation of an entire system.
- Cut energy losses: A provision for efficiency related to the loss caused by shading and other factors of the solar panels is fundamentally inbuilt in microinverters.
- Monitoring: Microinverters are easy to monitor; hence, a problem, should it arise in operation, is easily detected and diagnosed.
- Wide input voltage range: Since microinverters have been designed for solar modules of different powers, they need to have a wide input voltage range.
In which cases is the microinverter more suitable:
- Houses with irregular roofs: The usage of microinverters in a home photovoltaic installation is an ideal solution. Very often, the roofs of the house are flat, irregular, and shadowy-the characteristics which cannot allow the photovoltaic installation to work out. That is why microinverters can offer great flexibility in system design since they operate independently with each panel and therefore can maximize solar PV energy production under less-than-ideal circumstances.
- Shadow house: These microinverters reduce the shadow effect in any given situation. They maximize the production of solar energy even in the most adverse situations, thus providing an ideal solution for houses that are highly subjected to shade. These shades are mainly caused by paths, trees, or nearby buildings.Due to the action of microinverters, the efficiency of the solar modules which are affected by the shade is not reduced. Therefore, the entire PV system can work at full capacity, thus providing maximum productivity.
- Roof with different angles: Most of the roofs are surfaces with different inclinations, which modifies the incidence of sunbeams. In such cases, the panels need to be installed at different angles and orientations for maximum production of solar energy. In that respect, each microinverter can individually ensure productivity for each panel, irrespective of its orientation. Microinverters thus become an ideal alternative in photovoltaic installations where the roofs are inclined at different angles.