When designing a solar power system, the inverter is one of the most critical components you’ll need to choose. This piece of equipment converts DC power from your solar panels into the AC power that most things in your home actually need. So, it’s important that you’re choosing a high-quality inverter for your system. Inverters can vary widely in price, and you might be wondering what, exactly, makes one inverter worth more than another. Keep reading to learn about the different factors that can influence the cost of a solar inverter.
The type of inverter you choose has a major effect on price. First, you’ll need to choose between a grid-tied, hybrid, or off-grid inverter. Hybrid inverters tend to be the most expensive of these 3 options, but they’re essential if you want to stay connected to your city grid while using a battery bank for backup power. So, this decision should be based on the design of your system, and not the impact on the inverter’s cost.
You’ll also need to choose between string inverters and microinverters. String inverters are more cost effective and are the most common option for residential systems, but they can be less efficient in shaded conditions. Microinverters individually cost less than string inverters, but you’ll need one for every panel in your array, and that makes these the more expensive choice. However, they can increase efficiency and offer panel-level monitoring. So, consider the pros and cons of both options in addition to how it impacts the price of the inverter.
The size or capacity of your inverter, which is measured in kilowatts, also impacts the price. A larger home with a larger solar array will need a higher-capacity inverter to handle the bigger energy loads. The higher the output rating, the more expensive you can expect the inverter to be. But, again, you should be focused more on what you actually need for your system here, rather than undersizing your inverter to save a few bucks.
Inverters with higher efficiency ratings tend to cost more, but they waste less energy in the DC-to-AC conversion process, so a higher-efficiency inverter is still worth considering. Advanced features like Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile app monitoring, and smart grid compatibility will also add to the cost of an inverter, so carefully consider whether or not features like these are worth the additional cost to you.
When shopping for Solis hybrid inverters, always remember to look at the details of what the inverter offers, and not just the price tag. This will help you to better understand how different efficiency ratings, features, and other factors are impacting the cost of the inverters you’re considering.