SolarEdge Solar Inverter Review

SolarEdge is one of the top providers in today’s solar inverter market. Their innovative technology combines power conversion with panel monitoring for enhanced homeowner performance.

With their 12-year product and 25-year optimiser warranties, their system offers homeowners peace of mind. Additionally, it comes equipped with a smart energy device which can divert excess PV to supply hot water directly.

Optimum Power Conversion

SolarEdge inverter systems combine the best aspects of traditional string inverters with DC to AC inversion and microinverters’ individual module peak power point tracking and management with optimizers made exclusively by SolarEdge.

Power optimizers are devices attached to each solar panel that convert DC electricity generated from it to an optimized voltage for that panel, before sending this optimized electricity back to a central inverter that converts it to AC for home use. This enables every panel to reach its full potential, eliminating shaded or dirty modules which compromise performance of your entire system.

With this approach, the system is able to deliver more energy to both you and the grid than would be possible with traditional string inverters without Power Optimizers; and since only one solar panel needs to be worked with at any one time, there is less chance that its central inverter is overwhelmed by problems.

Optimizers also enable more efficient energy utilization by identifying and mitigating issues at the panel level, providing monitoring features to track how much power your solar system is producing in real-time from anywhere around the world, and offering peace of mind through an industry-leading warranty from SolarEdge inverters.

Flexibility in Design Layouts

SolarEdge inverters enable designers to design systems with great versatility. You can have different orientations on one string or use different types of panels in a chain; this provides installers with greater roof space utilization. Furthermore, power optimizers enable multiple optimizers per chain for improved performance.

These inverters feature ground fault detection systems to help mitigate electrical short circuits in PV systems and protect users by monitoring current flows in DC cables and turning off affected circuits or sections in order to protect users from electric shocks and fire hazards.

SolarEdge inverters come equipped with integrated arc fault protection (UL1699B). This function detects and reduces electric arcs that occur within PV strings, thus decreasing fire risks on roofs.

High DC strand voltages combined with damaged connectors, faulty insulators and water ingress can create electric arcs within your system. SolarEdge optimisers have been shown to significantly lower DC cable voltage to 1V per panel when an inverter shuts down, providing safer operation and installers and homeowners. This advantage surpasses traditional string inverters which may reach 300-600V DC voltage levels when either grid power fails or the inverter doesn’t operate as intended.

Individual Panel-Level Monitoring

Solar PV system monitoring is essential to understanding its performance, showing you exactly how much electricity is produced at any one time and where its source lies. SolarEdge inverters offer an online portal which you can access from any mobile phone, computer, tablet or other.

SolarEdge inverters feature remote monitoring technology that replaces their traditional display panels, but unlike most leading inverters they also come equipped with smart energy control features that can be combined with additional SolarEdge products and smart home devices for maximum convenience.

SolarEdge Power Optimisers are small add-on electronic power conversion units designed to add individual solar panels in your system with panel-level power monitoring capabilities and optimisers, enabling faster identification of underperforming panels quickly, so any issues can be quickly identified and assessed to determine their source.

SolarEdge optimisers also assist in mitigating shading issues that reduce the efficiency of an entire solar array, by lowering DC cable voltages down to just one volt per panel and decreasing risk of shaded cells causing DC arc faults that could potentially cause panel damage and cause rooftop fires.

SolarEdge’s monitoring software enables you to track historical weather-based performance data and provide recommendations on optimal system design to ensure maximum output and savings. Furthermore, SolarEdge monitoring will detect any problems with your inverter or optimisers and alert you immediately – offering peace of mind.

Easy Installation

As photons from the sun strike your rooftop solar panels, they generate direct current electricity (DC). However, for it to work effectively in your home environment it must first be converted to alternating current (AC). That is where a solar inverter comes into play.

SolarEdge has revolutionized the PV industry with their smart inverter system. Their central inverter works exclusively with SolarEdge power optimizers that manage MPPT and voltage management on an individual panel basis – creating record breaking energy efficiency while simplifying their system.

The inverter includes a monitoring device, providing homeowners with insight into how much power their solar PV systems are producing at any given moment and helping them better utilize this energy to reduce consumption and boost overall solar energy efficiency – ultimately saving money in the process.

Palmetto Solar can help reduce your household energy costs with solar PV systems by answering any queries about solar energy and providing expert installation. Call now to get started!