How Important are Solar Inverters for Home Solar Power?

Without solar inverters, your home wouldn’t have much use for the electricity that comes from solar panels. Inverters take the direct current (DC) electricity from rooftop solar panels and convert it to alternating current (AC), which can be distributed around your home. Efficient inverters mean better efficiency for your entire system. At the end of the day, better inverters mean bigger savings.

Let’s look at why solar inverters matter, and how Long Island Power Solutions ensures that your solar installation is as efficient as possible.

The Different Types of Solar Panel Inverters

There are several different types of inverter designs used for solar panel installation on Long Island.

String Inverters are the traditional type, suited to simple straight rooftops that don’t get a lot of shade. All the panels on the roof are wired together in a “string” and connected to a single inverter. This isn’t the most efficient method, but it is cost-effective, so it makes sense in some limited scenarios.
Power Optimizers are a type of converter placed on each solar panel. They allow for individual panel monitoring and balancing before the electricity is sent to a main inverter. This is slightly more efficient than the string method but adds additional complexity to a system.
Microinverters are the most advanced option, and the preferred choice of Long Island Power Solutions. Each panel will have an inverter, creating a grid of independent panels on your rooftop.

The reason it’s better to have an inverter on each panel is simple. You’ll have higher efficiency.

Most homes see some shade on the rooftop at different times of the day. With a string system, it’s hard to properly balance the shaded panels vs. the exposed panels so efficiency decreases. With power optimizers and (more efficient) microinverters, each panel will work at its maximum potential for the conditions, even if each panel is getting a slightly different amount of light.

There are some downsides to microinverters, but they have been largely overcome in recent years. Because each panel has its own inverter, there are more points of failure in the system. Thankfully, reliability has increased significantly over the years to the point where many customers don’t need any repairs throughout the 25 to 30-year lifetime of solar panels. With Long Island Power Solutions your system will come with a 25-year warranty for your peace of mind.

Microinverters are a little more expensive than other solar inverters, but the higher efficiency means better lifetime savings and a stronger return on investment.

Our team will inspect your rooftop and evaluate your needs to choose the solar power inverters that best suit your budget and your long-term requirements.

If you’re interested in Long Island Solar, please call us. We will walk you through the whole process of how to become energy independent!

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SMART Solar Financing

The cost of inverters, solar panels, wiring, and installation can be split over a financing period. You don’t have to pay anything upfront with SMART solar financing. You’ll also get an interest-free period based on income solar tax credits.

It’s the most affordable time in history to switch to solar. The returns are also better than ever before, thanks to more efficient technologies and helpful additions like microinverters. With a lower cost overall and stronger returns, solar is one of the most worthwhile investments for your home.

Learn About Renewable Home Energy with a Free Home Solar Estimate

Want to learn more about the best solar inverters and how solar would work for your home? Start with your free home solar estimate from Long Island Power Solutions. We’ll take you through a detailed energy savings evaluation with a cost/benefit analysis that puts your investment into perspective.

Start with a ballpark free home solar estimate using satellite data and enjoy a detailed no-obligation consultation with the best solar installers on Long Island.