Solar power systems invariably rely on an inverter of some type.
In most cases, home solar systems involve solar panels charging batteries, with the batteries then supplying electricity to appliances within the home. The purpose of this arrangement is to make sure that power is available even at night, when the solar panels aren’t actually generating power. Of the two types of electricity, both solar panels and batteries work with Direct Current (DC). The inside of the house, meanwhile, uses Alternating Current (AC). This is where the inverter comes in, converting DC electricity to AC.
Currently, there are both Modified Sine Wave (MSW) and True Sine Wave (TSW) inverters in use. MSW inverters convert DC electricity into the simplest form of AC power. Some types of appliances don’t work well with MSW inverters. For example, when used in conjunction with an MSW inverter, audio equipment will often produce a noticeable hum. TSW inverters, though, are excellent in a home setting.
It’s fairly easy to take care of an inverter once you’re up and running. Avoid keeping the inverter in the same box as the batteries, but make sure it’s otherwise as close to them as possible. Use a large size wire to run between the batteries and the inverter. The correct size will probably be given in the inverter manual. It’s good to have a fuse on all wires to and from the inverter. As is the case with any electrical appliance, the inverter can not be exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.
There are two problems which are farily common among users of solar power inverters. RF interference is the first one. Inverters generate radio noise while they work. The most basic way to deal with this problem is to place any receiver as far away from the inverter as possible. Using a battery powered radio will also solve this problem, and the batteries can then be recharged with the solar power system.
The other problem relates to phantom loads. This refers to the electricity that is used by certain electronic devices, including many new TVs, while they’re turned off. Inverters are unable to go to sleep while these devices keep on drawing power. The inverters themselves, then, are forced to use more energy than they really should. If you’re able to connect the devices responsible for the phantom loads to a power strip with an on/off switch, you can address this problem effectively. Turning the power strip off will keep the devices from drawing power, so the inverter can then go into its low power mode.
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