Solar Power Inverters
A solar power inverter converts
DC power that is collected from solar cells, and changes it to AC
power that traditional appliances utilize. It also has a few
other important roles to play in your solar energy system. Do
to the fluctuation in power generated by solar panels, the inverter
needs to regulate the output supplied to the AC devices connected to
it. It also needs to moderate the loads provided to the
batteries to avoid over / under charging them. They contain
components to prevent internal damage from device surges. Grid
interactive inverters can send excess energy back to the grid
yielding credit or money for the owners. These systems are
usually not used in conjunction with batteries and are not intended
for emergency electricity. Costs for these is typically lower
due to the lack of components necessary to accomplish it's primary
mission of feeding energy to the grid.
If you do choose to tie your inverter into the
grid you'll want to make sure that it has some anti-islanding
protection. Islanding is a condition where the power is out
and the power lines are "dead". Because the inverter is still
receiving power from solar panels or wind turbines it can still make
lines "live" outside the home. This can be dangerous to
utility workers trying to restore service. It is important
that your inverter only provides power to your local circuit (inside
your home) in the event of a power failure.
Since this is such a vital piece of hardware in
your solar setup, you'll want to make sure to consider a few
things...
What kinds of loads will your inverter need to
handle? (appliances / lighting)
Is the powers cleanliness absolutely critical?
(powering sensitive devices)
Is the size and weight of the unit important?
(intend to move the unit around or fix it in place)
How much are you willing to spend?
Because of the importance of the inverter it will
probably be the costliest component in your home solar power setup.
The links below offer a tremendous amount of
information about this topic.
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/inverters.html (Everything
you could want to know)
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago89.html
(Inverter basics)
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