Solar technology can confuse many people, especially those who are not familiar with all the jargon and equipment. We frequently receive questions about connecting solar panels to an inverter. The reason you would do this depends on what you want the solar system to be designed for and what equipment it is powering.
There are two main scenarios for connecting solar panels to an inverter. The design of the system will be determined by how the inverter is used and its use. We will clarify the use of an inverter and how to connect solar panels to an inverter.
Can you connect a solar panel directly to an inverter?
Theoretically, you can connect a solar panel directly to an inverter, but in most cases, the tight input tolerances of an inverter will not allow this connection arrangement.
The voltage generated by any solar panel is not always the same as the panel’s rated output voltage. Therefore, the output voltage of a 12-volt solar panel can fluctuate from voltages below 12 volts to 18 or even 22 volts.
This fluctuation as the input voltage is not something most inverters can handle. Input voltages below 12 volts will cause the inverter to stop operating, and voltages well above the 12-volt limit can damage the inverter’s internal circuitry and electronics.
Consequently, you need a special inverter designed to handle voltage fluctuations or other equipment to rectify the panel’s voltage output into a constant stream at a constant voltage. This is an important factor that should be considered before connecting solar panels to an inverter.
In most cases, the equipment that will be in the gap to perform this function is the solar charge controller and a battery, which is generally for non-hybrid installations.
A battery wonât be needed for hybrid systems, but in this case, an inverter especially made for the task is needed. The inverter will have built-in electronics to regulate the voltage coming from the solar panel. The success also depends on the solar panel. You can check the Solar inverter price in Dubai as they are perfect for this type of project.
Do you need batteries with an inverter in a solar system?
As we’ve already mentioned, connecting solar panels to an inverter is not a sustainable or efficient way to use power from your solar panel and could damage your inverter.
Are batteries needed with an inverter in an off-grid system?
In a non-hybrid solar system, a battery or battery bank is required to store electricity and deliver a constant voltage power source to the devices that need it.
In this setup, a solar charge controller is also needed to regulate the voltage from the solar panel to charge the batteries.
Connecting solar panels to an inverter can then be safely done to convert the DC voltage from the battery to the AC voltage required by the device needing power.
People with this off-grid solar setup system often opt for 12-volt devices, which eliminates the need for tier 1 solar inverters in the system. This eliminates one more piece of equipment that reduces the cost and complexity of the system.
Are batteries needed with an inverter in a hybrid system?
Hybrid systems are generally not off the grid. They are connected to the grid, providing the home with a combination of solar power and electricity from the grid.
How to connect solar panel to normal inverter?
The way for connecting solar panels to an inverter will depend on the type of solar system you are running, and the devices powered by the system.
If your solar system powers 12-volt DC appliances and 120 or 220-volt AC appliances, you cannot connect the inverter directly to the battery and then to the main circuits. This arrangement will convert the electricity supplied to all circuits to alternating current and require you to connect solar panel to inverter without battery.
In this case, on grid solar inverter Dubai must be connected only to the circuit that powers the device that requires AC input. This will only convert power to your device instead of making the entire system AC power.
If your home only uses AC power devices, you can connect the inverter immediately after the battery to supply AC power to all circuits downstream of the battery rather than connecting solar panels to an inverter.
In a hybrid solar system in your home, a conversion kit is used, which comes with an inverter specifically designed to take input directly from the solar panels, equalize the voltage, and supply AC power to your home’s electrical circuits in combination with the energy of the grid. You can get Off Grid Solar Inverter supplier Dubai from Pas Solar.
These inverters will connect the solar panel, grid, and distribution board of your home circuit. They will monitor the power from the solar panels in your home and the grid connection to regulate the power coming into your home from both sources.
These inverters generally require specialized installation by a certified electrician, and connecting a solar panel to an existing inverter requires special skill.
Connecting an inverter to your solar panels depends on your type of solar installation. So, if you have further questions regarding how to connect solar panels to inverter and battery, contact a solar panel inverters distributor in UAE.