Inverters

Inverters are one of the most critical components in a solar energy system. It's essentially the translator between the electricity generated by your solar panels and the electricity that powers your home.  Imagine it as the brain of your solar system, and just like a brain if it turns off the body stops.

Solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity. This type of electricity is like a battery – it flows in only one direction. However, most appliances in our homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, which constantly changes direction. This is where the solar inverter comes in.  The inverter converts the DC electricity from your solar panels into AC electricity that your home can use

There are three main types of solar inverters, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:

String Inverters:
String inverters are the most common type of solar inverter, they are easy to install and maintain, the least expensive of the three and allow the system to work as one giant panel, downside is though if one of those panels breaks or is in shade, the entire system stops working.

Microinverters:
Microinverters are small units that are attached to each individual solar panel, essentially allowing you to have mutiple mini solar systems, making them a highly flexible design when combating shading and debris, however they are the most expensive of the three and can add on an additional 2,000-4,000 dollars to your overall system cost

Power Optimizers:
Power optimizers are similar to microinverters in that they are attached to each individual solar panel, however they still work together with a string inverter, these are mostly used by installers when a home has shading and is more cost-effective then microinverters