Why You Should Replace Your Solar Panel With a Micro Inverter

Microinverters are small electronic devices used to convert direct current (DC) power from solar panels into alternating current (AC), providing power for your home or business. Installed at the panel level, microinverters offer many benefits and should be considered an integral component.

Microinverters allow you to start small with just one panel and an IQ7+, and expand as your energy needs expand over time. Furthermore, shade won’t impact this system since every panel operates independently.

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To make solar work for your home or business, more is involved than installing panels and an inverter. Wiring must run from each roof panel into an electrical control center connected to the grid; an inspection and utility approval may also be necessary – tasks which micro inverters make easier.

Microinverters feature built-in disconnect switches and are wired more simply than traditional string inverters. First, they are attached to the junction box using industry standard polarized connectors that hook up directly with AC wires in the building; next, black and red inverter cord wires are paired with matching facility AC lines, with neutral (blue) inverter cord connecting back up directly to facility neutral – with one more PV feed-in breaker added at this stage for protection purposes.

String inverters consist of wired series strings connected to one inverter that’s installed next to your utility meter on your roof. Unfortunately, these systems can be difficult to install on steeper roofs and more vulnerable to shading issues – even minimal amounts of shade can significantly lower a panel’s output. In comparison, microinverters pair each panel individually with an inverter capable of adapting to its individual characteristics and thus avoid string inverter issues while increasing efficiency for greater return on investment.

More reliable

The inverter is both the most complex and vulnerable component of solar technology, often failing to operate reliably across an entire row of panels if its string inverter fails. Microinverters tend to be more reliable since they operate individually and track real-time solar intensity. Furthermore, remote monitoring capabilities of microinverters enable issues to be pinpointed quickly without needing an on-site visit.

Microinverters mounted to each solar panel enable it to perform at its maximum potential even if one or more are shaded by obstruction, leading to greater energy production and savings for homeowners over time.

Microinverters are more durable than traditional inverters and built to outlive them. Industry leader Enphase conducts over 1,000,000 power-on hours of testing before releasing them for use, as well as rigorous environmental tests in extreme weather conditions. If you opt for a system with microinverters you will get 25 year warranties on both optimisers and 12 years on inverter optimisers; which is much longer than its 5-year equivalent with string inverters.

Faster to diagnose

As a homeowner investing in solar energy, you want to ensure your system is performing at peak levels and getting you maximum return. However, that can often prove challenging when all feedback available comes through smart devices that do not inform of what caused a change in power output.

Solar microinverters offer detailed monitoring at the panel level, making issues easily detectable and providing insight into individual panels’ performances – ideal if your roof features partial shading or various orientations.

Microinverters provide much more reliable power production, as each panel’s maximum production continues until each individual inverter can be repaired – this makes your power production claims more reliable.

If one panel needs fixing, a technician must climb onto your roof in order to locate and address it – this process can be more labor-intensive than troubleshooting an inverter located outside your home, which adds cost and labor-intensive effort. A good solution would be pairing string inverters with power optimizers to maintain performance even when some panels underperform.

More flexible

As opposed to string inverters that manage an entire array of solar panels, microinverters attach directly to each solar panel and convert its DC current directly into AC power, giving each one its own independence from production from other panels, guaranteeing maximum efficiency from every single one. Furthermore, microinverters won’t be affected by shading issues from other panels which makes them suitable for roofs with complex geometries or partial shading conditions.

Microinverters come equipped with advanced safety functions designed to safeguard both their system and user. If an abnormal condition such as high temperatures or overcurrents are detected by the system, such as rapid heat rise or an alarm being set off by one, it will promptly shut down the circuit to avoid further damage and may also be manually activated by users themselves or an alarm signal – this feature significantly lowers fire risks while improving home security.

Microinverters come equipped with standard monitoring services that enable users to keep an accurate tab on their energy production and make data-based decisions about it. While not essential, this service provides another great way of optimizing investment returns and getting maximum use out of solar panel installations with micro inverter installation. With the right microinverter in your solar system’s setup process, you can rest easy knowing it will keep working perfectly for years.