inverter.com: Blog Blog https://www.inverter.com/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:35:20 GMT urn:store:1:blog:post:540 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-test-the-solar-micro-inverter How to Test the Solar Micro Inverter? <p>Adequate preparation is required before testing micro inverters. This includes selecting appropriate test equipment, building a test platform, and ensuring the stability of the test environment. At the same time, it is also necessary to make a detailed test plan, specifying the purpose of the test, test items, test methods, and test steps.</p> <h2>Testing micro inverters</h2> <p><strong>Structural inspection</strong>: check the structure of the inverter, such as insulation and isolation, disconnecting device and connector testing, overcurrent protection, lightning protection, and other aspects.<br /><strong>Mechanical performance test</strong>: such as vibration test, collision test, drop test, static load test, and other aspects.<br /><strong>Basic performance tests</strong>: such as input tests, output tests, self-consumption tests, efficiency tests, and so on.<br /><strong>For inverters with grid-connected requirements, grid compatibility tests are also required</strong>: tests on power factor, DC component, harmonics, response characteristics at abnormal voltage, response characteristics at abnormal frequency, etc.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Micro inverters" width="700" height="174" /><br /><strong>Safety performance test</strong>: such as insulation withstand voltage test, impulse voltage test, protective ground continuity test, DC overvoltage test, anti-reverse test, short circuit test, ground fault test, and other aspects.<br /><strong>Electromagnetic compatibility testing</strong>: Aspects such as radiated immunity testing, conducted immunity testing, etc.<br /><strong>Efficiency measurements</strong>: Comparing the input power with the output power, usually expressed as a percentage.<br />Please note that the exact test procedure may vary depending on the type and specifications of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a>. It is recommended to seek professional help to ensure safety when performing inverter testing and maintenance.</p> <h2>Test procedure for micro inverters</h2> <p><strong>Appearance check</strong><br />Before conducting the performance test, the micro inverter should first be inspected for appearance to ensure that there is no obvious damage to the appearance of the micro inverter and that the screws and other fasteners are not loose. At the same time, the label of the micro inverter should also be checked to ensure that the product model, specifications rated parameters, and other information are accurate.<br /><strong>Performance Test</strong><br />The performance test is an important part of micro inverter testing, mainly including the input characteristic test, output characteristic test, and efficiency test. The input characteristic test mainly detects the maximum input power, minimum input voltage, and other parameters of the micro inverter; the output characteristic test mainly detects the maximum output power, maximum current, voltage range, and other parameters of the micro inverter; and efficiency test mainly detects the efficiency performance of the micro inverter under different working conditions.<br /><strong>Safety Test</strong><br />Safety test mainly includes overload test, short circuit tests, overvoltage tests, and lightning protection tests. Overload test and short circuit test are used to test the performance of micro inverters under abnormal working conditions; overvoltage test is used to test the protection ability of micro inverters under high input voltage; lightning protection test is used to test the lightning protection ability of micro inverters.<br /><strong>Environmental Adaptability Test</strong><br />Environmental adaptation tests mainly include high-temperature tests, low-temperature tests, humidity tests, and vibration tests. These tests are used to check the working stability of micro inverters under different environmental conditions.<br /><strong>Life test</strong><br />The life test is to detect the life and reliability of micro inverters by running them for a long time and with high intensity. This process requires close attention to the micro inverter's performance degradation and any failures that may occur.<br /><strong>Organize test data</strong><br />After completing the various tests, the data collected needs to be organized and analyzed. This includes statistical analysis of the various performance indicators, as well as the processing of any abnormal data that may have occurred. The sorted data will provide the basis for the subsequent analysis and evaluation of the results.</p> <h2>What safety issues need to be noted in inverter testing</h2> <p>In the process of inverter testing, safety is always the primary consideration. The following is a detailed description of the safety issues that need to be taken care of during inverter testing.<br /><strong>Test Equipment Safety</strong><br />Ensure the quality and reliability of the test equipment and perform regular maintenance and calibration of the equipment to ensure the accuracy of the test results. The equipment should be inspected before testing to ensure that there is no damage or malfunction, to avoid accidents during testing.<br /><strong>Test Environment Safety</strong><br />Inverter testing should be conducted in a designated safe working area, which should be equipped with proper grounding measures and lightning protection equipment. The test environment should be kept neat and clean, avoiding any debris or dust that may affect the test results or cause safety hazards.<br /><strong>Inverter Input Safety</strong><br />When testing the inverter, the stability and reliability of the input power supply should be ensured to avoid over-voltage, over-current, or instability of the power supply, so as not to cause damage to the inverter or safety accidents.<br /><strong>Inverter output safety</strong><br />The output of the inverter should comply with relevant standards and regulations to ensure the stability and reliability of the output voltage and current. During the testing process, the output voltage and current values should be paid attention to ensure that they are within the specified range to avoid causing harm to the testing equipment or personnel.<br /><strong>Prevention of short circuits and overload</strong><br />During testing, effective measures should be taken to prevent short-circuit and overload conditions from occurring. Once a short circuit or overload occurs, the power supply should be cut off immediately and inspected and repaired.<br /><strong>Accuracy and Reliability of Test Data</strong><br />To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test results, appropriate test methods and equipment should be used for measurement, and the test equipment should be calibrated and maintained regularly. Meanwhile, the stability and consistency of the testing environment should be ensured to minimize errors and interference.<br /><strong>Abnormal handling and safety protection</strong><br />During the testing process, once abnormalities are found, such as equipment failure and data abnormality, the test should be stopped inspected, and repaired promptly. When dealing with abnormal situations, necessary safety measures should be taken, such as wearing protective equipment, isolating faulty equipment, etc., to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:539 https://www.inverter.com/why-is-solar-micro-inverter-not-working Why is Solar Micro Inverter not Working? <p>To solve the problem of the solar micro inverter not working, you need to carry out inverter troubleshooting and overhaul, check the solar panel connecting wires and battery packs, and find and remove the obstacles to ensure that the inverter works properly. There may be many reasons why the solar micro inverter does not work, specifically, there may be the following points.</p> <h2>Failure</h2> <p><strong>Inverter Failure</strong>: Inverter internal circuit failures, such as capacitor burnout, output circuit short circuit, or poor contact of power cord, etc., result in the inverter not working normally.<br /><strong>Ambient temperature is too high or too low</strong>: solar micro inverters are generally used outdoors, the ambient temperature is too high or too low may affect its normal work. Generally speaking, the working temperature of the inverter should be between -10°C~50°C.<br /><strong>Inverter overload protection</strong>: If the output power of the micro inverter exceeds its rated power, it will start the overload protection, resulting in the inverter not working. It is necessary to reduce the number of solar panels or replace the inverter with a more powerful one.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1200-watt-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar micro inverter" width="330" height="330" /><br /><strong>DC terminal failure</strong>: Poor contact with the solar panel's connecting wires, damaged solar panels, aging battery packs, etc. may cause the DC terminal of the inverter to fail.<br /><strong>Inverter not grounded</strong>: If the inverter is not grounded, there may be a leakage of electricity, resulting in the inverter not working.<br /><strong>Battery panel failure</strong>: If the battery panel is damaged, then the DC power generated by the battery panel cannot be properly transmitted to the inverter, which results in the inverter not working properly.<br /><strong>Insufficient component voltage</strong>: The working voltage of the inverter is from 100V to 500V, when it is lower than 100V, the inverter does not work.<br /><strong>Loose or aging power cord</strong>: Loose or aging power cord will also cause the inverter can’t work properly. PV input terminals are reversed. The DC switch is not closed. When components are connected in series, one of the connectors is not connected properly. One component is short-circuited, causing the other strings to also not work.</p> <h2>The following measures to deal with</h2> <p>Check if the power supply of the inverter is working properly. If the power supply is normal but the inverter still can't be turned on, it may be due to the fuse inside the inverter being burnt out or the capacitor being invalid. At this time, you need to open the inverter for checking, if the capacitor fails, you need to replace the corresponding capacitor; if the fuse burns out, you need to replace the fuse.<br />If the output power of the inverter does not change with the solar radiation, then it may be because of the utility failure or internal failure of the inverter. At this time, you need to check whether the utility switch of the inverter is normal or not and whether there is poor contact between the utility and the solar panel. If the contact between the utility and solar panel is normal, but the inverter still can't work properly, it may be because the inverter is damaged internally and needs to be repaired or replaced.<br />If the battery voltage is not normal, then it may be due to the failure of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a> internal circuit board or the battery itself. At this time, you need to check whether the battery contact is good or not, if the battery contact is good but the voltage is still not normal, then it may be the inverter circuit board failure, you need to replace the circuit board; if it is the failure of the battery itself, then you need to replace the battery.<br />If the three-phase voltage or current output from the inverter is severely out of balance, then it may be due to a damaged AC output module inside the inverter. At this point, the inverter needs to be opened to check if the module is damaged, if it is then the module needs to be replaced.<br />If the inverter is overheating, it may be due to poor heat dissipation or a large amount of dust accumulation on the solar panels. In this case, you need to check whether the heat sink of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-grid-tie-inverter-working-principle">inverter is working</a> properly and clean the solar panel. If the ambient temperature is too low or too high, it is recommended to change the installation location or install a sunshade, add a fan, etc.<br />Ensure that the inverter is not poorly grounded or ungrounded, which could lead to leakage. The rated power of the inverter reduces the number of solar panels appropriately or replaces the solar micro-inverter with a more powerful one. Make sure the inverter is grounded properly.<br />Measure the DC input voltage of the inverter with a meter voltage gear, when the voltage is normal, the total voltage is the sum of the voltage of each component. If there is no voltage, test the DC switch, terminals, cable connectors, and components in turn to see if they are normal. If there are multiple components, separate access tests. If the inverter is used for some time and no reason is found, the inverter hardware circuit is faulty, and you can contact the manufacturer for after-sale treatment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:538 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-difference-between-hybrid-inverter-and-on-grid-inverter What is the Difference between Hybrid Inverter and On-grid Inverter? <p>Solar energy is widely used in our lives, and people can choose to store solar energy or supply power to the city grid. But you need to choose the right solar inverter for it. There are two main types of solar inverters: hybrid inverters and grid-tied inverters. So, what is the difference between a hybrid inverter and a grid-tied inverter?</p> <h2>Differences in inverter functions</h2> <p>The main function of the grid-connected inverter is to convert DC power into AC power and has the ability to interface synchronously with the mains line. This inverter can transfer unused power to the grid without the need for batteries. On grid-tied inverters can be equipped with MTTP technology in the input circuit.<br />The hybrid inverter is a more complex device that integrates on-grid and off-grid functions. Specifically, it can convert DC power into AC power, which can be used in both grid-connected and off-grid photovoltaic systems. Hybrid inverters are mainly used to handle systems with energy storage (battery), in addition to generating electricity (solar panels) and the grid, the inverter also needs to handle the charging and discharging of the battery. During a power outage, a hybrid inverter can power other appliances from batteries and solar energy, effectively becoming a large UPS (uninterruptible power supply).</p> <h2>Different features and application scenarios<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/on-grid-inverter.png" alt="On grid inverter" width="350" height="350" /></h2> <p>The main function of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid-tied inverter</a> is to deliver solar energy to the city grid. During the operation of the grid-connected inverter, the power delivered to the urban power grid can be measured so that users can obtain corresponding subsidies from the government or reduce grid costs. This type of inverter is suitable for areas with strong urban power grids and high power demand.<br />The hybrid inverter integrates the functions of the on grid-connected inverter and the off-grid inverter. It can both deliver power to the city grid and store solar and grid power in battery systems. For use when the city power grid is out of power. The hybrid inverter has a built-in solar charge controller, which can use solar energy and city grid power to charge the battery system. Hybrid inverters are an ideal choice in areas where power demand is high but urban power grids are not stable enough or power supply is insufficient.</p> <h2>Different application factors to consider when choosing an inverter<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="350" height="350" /></h2> <ol> <li><strong>Installation environment</strong>: The on grid-connected inverter needs to be connected to the urban power grid, so it is necessary to ensure that the installation environment has reliable grid infrastructure. Hybrid inverters need to consider both the grid and solar power generation.</li> <li><strong>Energy demand</strong>: For users with higher power needs, a on grid-connected inverter may be more suitable because it can directly deliver excess power to the city grid. Hybrid inverters can meet users' energy needs when the grid is out of power.</li> <li><strong>Investment cost</strong>: The initial investment cost of a on grid-connected inverter may be lower than that of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid inverter</a>, but for users who require a battery system, the overall cost of a hybrid inverter may be lower.</li> <li><strong>Reliability</strong>: For users who need to ensure the reliability of power supply, a hybrid inverter may be more suitable because it has both grid-connected and off-grid functions.</li> <li><strong>Maintenance cost</strong>: The maintenance cost of a hybrid inverter may be higher than that of a grid-tied inverter, because in addition to the inverter itself, the maintenance of the battery system also needs to be considered.</li> </ol> <h2>Advantages of on grid-tied inverters</h2> <ol> <li>The installation cost is low and it is suitable for projects of various sizes, especially for distributed power generation systems.</li> <li>Low maintenance cost and long service life, usually more than 20 years.</li> <li>Excess electric energy can be sold to the power grid to achieve energy sharing and conservation.</li> <li>Environmentally friendly and can provide clean energy for the power grid.</li> </ol> <h2>Advantages of hybrid inverters</h2> <ol> <li>It can provide household power in the event of a power outage because it contains a battery energy storage system.</li> <li>The electric energy stored in the battery can be used to realize electricity consumption at night.</li> <li>Excess electric energy can be sold to the power grid to achieve energy sharing and conservation.</li> <li>It can be used as a backup power supply when the power grid fails or loses power.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:537 https://www.inverter.com/what-to-consider-in-a-residential-solar-system-installation What to Consider in a Residential Solar System Installation? <p>Installing a residential solar system is a significant decision that can bring numerous benefits, including reduced electricity bills, environmental sustainability, and increased home value. To ensure a successful solar installation, it's crucial to consider various factors that can impact the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and long-term viability of the system. In this guide, we will explore key considerations for a residential solar installation.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/residential-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Residential solar panel" width="571" height="374" /></p> <h2>Energy Needs Assessment:</h2> <p>Before diving into solar installation, it's essential to assess your household's energy needs. Analyze your historical electricity consumption, considering seasonal variations. This assessment will help determine the appropriate size of the solar system to meet your energy requirements. Consider future changes in energy consumption, such as the addition of energy-efficient appliances or an electric vehicle.</p> <p>Energy needs assessment is a crucial step in the installation of a solar power system to ensure optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. The process involves evaluating the energy requirements of a specific location, considering factors such as electricity consumption patterns, available sunlight, and system efficiency.</p> <p>To begin, it's essential to analyze the historical energy consumption of the site. This involves reviewing past utility bills and understanding the daily and seasonal variations in electricity usage. This data provides valuable insights into the overall energy needs, peak demand periods, and potential areas for energy efficiency improvements.</p> <p>Next, assessing the solar potential of the location is vital. This includes evaluating the amount of sunlight the area receives throughout the year. Tools like solar irradiance maps and on-site measurements help determine the solar resource available for power generation. Understanding the local climate and weather patterns aids in predicting potential variations in solar output.</p> <h2>Site Evaluation and Solar Potential:</h2> <p>Evaluate your property to assess its solar potential. Factors such as roof orientation, tilt, shading, and available space will impact the system's efficiency. Ideally, solar panels should be installed on a south-facing roof with minimal shading throughout the day. A professional solar installer can conduct a site assessment to determine the optimal placement and tilt for maximum sunlight exposure.</p> <h2>Solar Panel Quality and Type:</h2> <p>Selecting the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">photovoltaic solar panel</a> for a solar system installation is crucial to maximize energy production and ensure long-term reliability. Two key factors to consider are panel quality and type.</p> <p>Panel quality is often determined by the materials used, manufacturing processes, and the reputation of the manufacturer. High-quality solar panels typically have better durability, efficiency, and performance under various environmental conditions. It's essential to choose panels from reputable manufacturers with a proven track record in the industry.</p> <p>Solar panel types include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film.&nbsp; Monocrystalline panels are known for their high efficiency and sleek design but tend to be more expensive. Polycrystalline panels are cost-effective and slightly less efficient, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious consumers. &nbsp;Thin-film panels are flexible and lightweight, suitable for specific applications but generally less efficient than crystalline panels.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-solar-panel">selection of solar panel</a> type depends on factors like available space, budget, and desired efficiency. A comprehensive assessment of these factors, coupled with a focus on panel quality, ensures a well-rounded solar system installation that meets both energy production and long-term reliability goals.</p> <h2>Inverter Selection:</h2> <p>Inverters play a crucial role in converting solar-generated DC electricity into AC electricity usable in your home. Choose between string inverters, microinverters, or power optimizers. Microinverters and power optimizers can enhance system performance by mitigating the impact of shading on individual panels. The choice depends on the system size, shading conditions, and budget considerations. &nbsp;In <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a>, we provides a wide range of high quality power inverters</p> <h2>Battery Storage:</h2> <p>Consider integrating battery storage into your solar system to store excess energy for later use. Batteries provide backup power during grid outages and enable homeowners to maximize self-consumption. Evaluate the battery's capacity, depth of discharge, efficiency, and warranty. While battery technology continues to evolve, it's essential to weigh the upfront cost against the potential long-term benefits.</p> <p>A&nbsp;successful residential solar installation involves a comprehensive assessment of energy needs, site evaluation, careful equipment selection, consideration of local regulations and incentives, and a thorough financial analysis. By addressing these key factors, homeowners can make informed decisions that maximize the benefits of solar energy while minimizing costs and environmental impact.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:536 https://www.inverter.com/why-is-solar-cell-important-to-our-life Why is Solar Cell Important to Our Life? <p>In the contemporary world, where concerns about environmental sustainability and energy security loom large, the role of solar cells has become increasingly significant. &nbsp;Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, harness sunlight and convert it into electricity, providing a clean and renewable energy source. In this article, we will introduce the important of solar cell in our life.</p> <h2>What is Solar Cell?</h2> <p>A solar cell, also known as a photovoltaic cell, is a device that converts sunlight into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. This process involves the generation of an electric current when certain materials are exposed to sunlight. Solar cells are fundamental components of solar panels, which are widely used to harness solar energy for various applications, including electricity generation.</p> <p>The basic building block of a solar cell is the semiconductor material. Semiconductors have the unique property of being able to absorb photons, which are particles of light, and release electrons. Silicon is the most commonly used semiconductor material in solar cells due to its abundance and favorable electrical properties. This also allows <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-long-does-solar-panel-last">solar panels to last longer</a>.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-cell.jpg" alt="Solar cell" width="582" height="382" /></p> <p>The key mechanism behind solar cell operation is the photovoltaic effect. When photons from sunlight strike the surface of a solar cell, they transfer their energy to electrons in the semiconductor material. This energy excites the electrons, causing them to break free from their atomic bonds and create an electric current. The movement of these electrons constitutes an electric current that can be harnessed for various purposes.</p> <p>Solar cells are classified into several types based on their materials and structures. The most common type is the crystalline silicon solar cell, which comes in two forms: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline cells are made from a single crystal structure, offering higher efficiency, while polycrystalline cells are composed of multiple crystal structures, making them less efficient but more cost-effective.</p> <p>Another type is thin-film solar cells, which use thin layers of semiconductor material to absorb sunlight. Thin-film technologies, such as amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide, are more flexible and lightweight than crystalline silicon cells, making them suitable for specific applications. Organic solar cells, based on organic (carbon-containing) materials, represent a newer and emerging technology. These cells are flexible, lightweight, and have the potential for low-cost manufacturing. While their efficiency is currently lower than traditional solar cells, ongoing research aims to improve their performance.</p> <p>Solar cells are typically interconnected to form <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">portable solar panels</a> or modules. These panels can be integrated into various systems, such as residential and commercial rooftop installations, solar farms, and portable devices. The generated electricity can be used directly, stored in batteries for later use, or fed into the electrical grid. The efficiency of solar cells has improved over the years, driven by advancements in materials science, manufacturing processes, and research. However, challenges remain, including the cost of production, energy storage, and intermittency issues associated with solar power.</p> <h2>Why Do Solar Cells Only Produce DC Electricity?</h2> <p>When photons from sunlight strike the semiconductor material, they transfer their energy to electrons in the atoms of the material, causing these electrons to become excited and break free from their usual positions. This creates electron-hole pairs, where the freed electrons and the resulting positive "holes" move in opposite directions.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/photovoltaic-effect-schematic-diagram.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic effect schematic diagram" width="600" height="518" /></p> <p>To harness the generated electrical energy, the solar cell incorporates a built-in electric field. This field drives the separated electrons and holes towards the opposite sides of the cell. The semiconductor material is deliberately doped to create a p-n junction, forming a one-way path for the movement of charge carriers. Electrons move through the cell and create an electric current.</p> <p>The nature of the p-n junction and the internal electric field inherently result in the production of direct current. This is because the electric field only allows electrons to flow in one direction, from the n-type (negatively charged) side to the p-type (positively charged) side. The resulting flow of electrons constitutes a unidirectional current, which is the characteristic of direct current.</p> <p>While solar cells generate DC electricity, many applications and devices in our daily lives use alternating current (AC). Therefore, inverters are commonly employed in solar power systems to convert the DC electricity produced by solar cells into AC, making it compatible with the electrical grid and various appliances.</p> <p>As we navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world, embracing and expanding the use of solar cells is not merely an option but a necessity. The transition to a solar-powered future is a key element in building a more sustainable and resilient world for current and future generations.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:535 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-car-inverter-correctly How to Use Car Inverter Correctly? <p>A car inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) power from a vehicle's battery into alternating current (AC) power, allowing users to run household appliances and electronic devices in their cars. The primary purpose of a car inverter is to provide a source of AC power for devices that typically operate on standard household electrical outlets. These inverters are equipped with one or more AC outlets and are commonly used for charging laptops, smartphones, cameras, and other small electronic devices while on the go.</p> <p>Car inverters are versatile tools for road trips, camping, and emergency situations, enabling users to power devices that would otherwise be challenging to operate without access to conventional power sources. They come in various power capacities, measured in watts, to accommodate different devices and appliances. Some advanced models also include USB ports for charging devices directly, making them convenient for a wide range of applications where portable power is essential. Especially if you are traveling or camping with your family. However, there are few models that can provide domestic power for household appliances. It's crucial to ensure that the inverter's capacity matches the power requirements of the devices being used to prevent overloading the system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/correctly-use-of-car-inverter.jpg" alt="Correctly use of car inverter" width="600" height="400" /></p> <p>We not only know <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-car-inverter">how to choose a car inverter</a>, using a car inverter correctly is crucial to ensure both the safety of your vehicle's electrical system and the efficient operation of your devices. In this guide, we will explore the essential tips and best practices for using a car inverter effectively.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Understanding Your Car Inverter.</strong> Before diving into the correct usage of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a>, it's essential to understand its specifications and limitations. Check the power rating of your inverter, usually measured in watts (W), and ensure it meets the requirements of the devices you plan to power. Exceeding the inverter's capacity can lead to overheating and potential damage.</li> <li><strong>Connection and Installation.</strong> Proper installation is the first step in using a car inverter correctly. Follow these steps for a secure connection: A. Locate a suitable power source: Identify the appropriate power source in your vehicle, usually the cigarette lighter socket or directly connecting to the battery. B. Use the right cables: Use high-quality cables that can handle the inverter's power capacity without voltage drop or resistance issues. C. Grounding: If connecting directly to the battery, ensure proper grounding to prevent electrical issues.</li> <li><strong>Start the Vehicle.</strong> To avoid draining your car's battery, start the vehicle's engine before using the inverter. Running the engine will provide a continuous power source and prevent the battery from discharging excessively.</li> <li><strong>Choose the Right Devices.</strong> Before connecting any devices, check their power requirements and compatibility with the inverter. Avoid connecting devices that exceed the inverter's power rating, as this could lead to malfunction or damage.</li> <li><strong>Power Up Gradually.</strong> When using the inverter for the first time or powering multiple devices simultaneously, start with low-power devices and gradually add more. This approach helps prevent sudden power surges that could overload the inverter.</li> <li><strong>Turn Off When not in Use.</strong> To conserve energy and prevent unnecessary strain on your vehicle's battery, turn off the inverter when you're not using it. Leaving the inverter on with no connected devices can still draw power from the battery.</li> <li><strong>Proper Ventilation.</strong> Car inverters generate heat during operation, so it's crucial to provide proper ventilation. Avoid placing the inverter in enclosed spaces or covering it, as this can lead to overheating and reduced efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Monitor Battery Voltage.</strong> Invest in an inverter with a built-in voltage monitor or use a separate voltmeter to keep track of your vehicle's battery voltage. If the voltage drops too low, it may indicate excessive strain on the battery, and you should consider reducing the load on the inverter.</li> </ul> <p>A car inverter is a convenient tool for powering electronic devices on the road, but using it correctly is essential for safety and optimal performance. By following these guidelines on installation, connection, and operation, you can ensure a smooth and trouble-free experience with your car inverter while extending the life of your vehicle's electrical system. Electrocution or fire accidents can also occur if you use your car inverter improperly. Therefore, choose a reliable car power inverter with all-round protection for your car. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a>, there are a variety of choices.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:534 https://www.inverter.com/inverter-basics Inverter Basics <p>Unless you have a basic system that offers a low-voltage DC power source, the inclusion of an inverter becomes essential. An inverter takes input from a DC (direct current) power supply and generates an AC (alternating current) output, typically at a voltage comparable to that of your standard mains supply. Essentially, it allows you to operate household appliances using a low-voltage DC source, such as a car battery or a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-power-system">more advanced solar power system</a>.</p> <h3>How Does an Inverter Work?</h3> <p>To understand how an inverter accomplishes the transformation from low voltage direct current (DC) to high voltage alternating current (AC), let's draw parallels with the principle behind an alternator. In its most basic configuration, an alternator consists of a coil of wire near a rotating magnet. As one pole of the magnet approaches the coil, it induces a current in the coil. This current reaches its maximum as the magnet passes closest to the coil and then diminishes as the magnet moves away. However, when the opposite pole of the magnet nears the coil, the induced current flows in the opposite direction. The continual rotation of the magnet causes this process to repeat, resulting in the generation of an alternating current.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/alternator.jpg" alt="Alternator" width="300" height="123" /></p> <p>Similarly, an inverter operates by taking a low voltage DC input and employs electronic circuits to produce a simulated AC output. This simulated AC mimics the characteristics of the standard alternating current found in household power supplies. Through the inverter's controlled switching of electronic components, it effectively emulates the alternating pattern of an AC waveform, enabling the utilization of household appliances designed to run on AC power.</p> <p>Considering the function of a transformer, it induces an electric current in a coil by utilizing the changing magnetic field generated by another coil with an alternating current flowing through it. Any coil carrying an electric current acts as a magnet, creating a magnetic field. When the direction of the current changes, the polarity of the field also changes.</p> <p>The advantage of a transformer lies in its ability to alter the voltage in the secondary coil independently of the voltage applied to the primary coil. By adjusting the size of the coils, specifically by increasing the number of turns in the secondary coil relative to the primary coil, it's possible to generate a secondary voltage that is proportional to the ratio of the turns in the coils. For instance, if the secondary coil has twice the number of turns as the primary coil, the secondary voltage will be twice that of the voltage applied to the primary coil. This flexibility allows for the effective production of various voltages by manipulating the size of the coils in the transformer.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/transformer.jpg" alt="Transformer" width="300" height="200" /></p> <p>When a direct current is connected to the primary coil of a transformer, it fails to induce a current in the secondary coil because the magnetic field remains constant. However, by ingeniously causing the direct current to alternately change direction repetitively, a rudimentary inverter is created. This simple inverter generates a square wave output due to the abrupt changes in the current direction.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-basic.jpg" alt="Inverter basic" width="300" height="200" /></p> <p>Certainly, this kind of inverter, employing the basic principle of changing the direction of current, might have been employed in early car radios. These radios needed to convert the 12 volts available in the car into higher voltages necessary to operate radio valves (also known as tubes in America), especially in the era before transistors became widely used.</p> <p>As technology advanced, more sophisticated inverters emerged, leveraging transistors for the switching process. In such a setup, the switching transistors are likely to handle a small current, which is then amplified by additional transistor circuitry. Despite these advancements, the output waveform of this type of inverter remains a square wave.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">Sine Wave Inverter</a></h3> <p>In order to obtain a sinusoidal alternating current from the transformer output, an oscillator is essential. To achieve this, a transistor can be configured to oscillate by introducing positive feedback, where a portion of the amplified output is fed back to the input. This phenomenon is commonly experienced in sound systems, such as PA or microphone setups, where proximity between the microphone and speaker can lead to feedback, resulting in a howling sound.</p> <p>The positive feedback in an electronic circuit can be finely tuned using additional components to generate the desired frequency, typically around 50 or 60 cycles per second to mimic mains electricity. When a crystal is employed to control this frequency, as seen in battery-powered watches or clocks, the precision of the frequency can be highly controlled.</p> <p>Similar to a simpler switching transistor circuit, the oscillator initially produces a low-current output. Subsequently, this output needs amplification, akin to a powerful audio amplifier, to generate the high current required for the primary coil of the transformer. It's worth noting that the frequency of mains AC is roughly comparable to the lowest notes on a bass guitar.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="Sine wave inverter" width="300" height="158" /></p> <p>The transformer, while being very useful, does not do something for nothing. While it elevates the voltage, it concurrently diminishes the current, and the overall power (voltage x current) remains constant (discounting any transformer inefficiency). Essentially, to extract 1 kW of high-voltage AC current, you must input 1 kW of low-voltage AC current.</p> <h3>Grid-tied Inverter</h3> <p>If the above example were a grid-tied inverter, capable of feeding power back into the national grid, it would have to utilize a sample of the mains voltage. This sample would then be either amplified within the inverter or used to synchronize the oscillator.</p> <p>Additionally, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid-tied inverters are equipped with the ability to detect a "power cut" and autonomously disconnect from the grid</a>. This safety feature is crucial because without it, during a power outage, the inverter could inadvertently attempt to supply power to neighboring houses, posing an electrocution risk to individuals working on power lines that are believed to be deactivated.</p> <h3>How to Choose an Inverter For Your Solar Power System?<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/square-wave.jpg" alt="Square wave" width="200" height="144" /></h3> <p><strong>Main Inverter Types</strong></p> <ol> <li>Square wave or modified sine wave.</li> <li>Sine wave (sometimes described as "Pure Sine wave")</li> <li>Grid-Tied</li> </ol> <p>The square wave form will be as shown above right and the modified sine wave form will have had some attempt to round the corners off though will still have some sharp corners or spikes. This can be compared to the sine wave form displayed below on the right.</p> <p><strong>Compare this to the sine waveform below.</strong></p> <h3><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/sine-wave-shape.jpg" alt="Sine wave" width="200" height="144" /></h3> <p>Many AC appliances function well with a modified sine wave form. Devices like computers, televisions, radios, or music centers often incorporate built-in power supplies that not only reduce voltage but also rectify it to generate a DC current, smoothing it for a consistent DC voltage. This rectification process typically mitigates any irregularities present in the original AC supply.</p> <p>However, challenges arise with inductive loads, where power passes through a coil, such as in power supply transformers or motors. In these cases, the voltage and current become out of phase, leading to an inefficiency in modified sine wave inverters. This inefficiency can result in increased power consumption, causing the motor or transformer to run hotter and potentially reducing its lifespan.</p> <p>Additionally, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">using a modified sine wave inverter</a> may necessitate a slightly higher power rating to run the same appliance. There's also the risk of compromised performance, with potential issues such as suboptimal television picture quality and incorrect speed in appliances with timers, like a bread maker.</p> <p>Furthermore, noise problems may arise. Equipment that produces a subtle hum when connected to the mains supply might generate a more bothersome buzz when connected to a modified sine wave inverter. Personal experience, particularly with a ceiling fan running at lower speeds, has revealed this potential issue. Evaluating these potential problems against the cost difference (modified sine wave converters being notably more affordable than pure sine wave converters) becomes crucial, considering the specific appliances you intend to use.</p> <p><strong>Grid-Tied</strong></p> <p>A grid-tied inverter possesses the capability to synchronize its sine wave output with an existing mains electricity supply, aligning its peak voltage with that of the mains supply. This type of inverter, when permitted by your electricity utility company and equipped with a modified meter if necessary, allows you to feed excess electricity into the grid system. In certain instances, your regular electricity meter may function in reverse when you are supplying power. A grid-tied inverter specifically designed for use without a battery (and consequently without a charge controller) might incorporate <a href="what-is-mppt-feature-in-solar-inverters">MPPT technology</a> within its input circuitry.</p> <p><strong>String Inverters</strong></p> <p>Inverters crafted to handle elevated input voltages, reaching up to 600 volts in commercial systems, are commonly known as String Inverters. This nomenclature originates from the arrangement of connected panels, resembling a string, which collectively generates the higher voltages required.</p> <p><strong>DC Input Voltage</strong></p> <p>You may already have the rest of your system set up and you are already committed to using a particular voltage. You may however still be able to choose.</p> <p>The lower the input voltage you are using, the higher the current you will need to use. For instance, if you compare a 12V and a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-inverter">24V inverter</a> with the same power rating, the 12V unit will need to draw twice the current. Correspondingly, the cables running from your battery to the inverter will need to be four times larger to accommodate this increased current.</p> <p>While most inverters available in the market are either 12 or 24 volts, it's worth noting that a higher voltage system is likely to offer greater efficiency. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-inverter">The&nbsp;48 volt inverter</a>, although potentially more efficient, might be less common and, as a result, could be more expensive and harder to find.</p> <p><strong>AC Output Power</strong></p> <p>Every inverter comes with a specified output power, indicating the maximum continuous power it can deliver, typically measured in watts or kilowatts. In addition to this continuous power rating, inverters are designed to handle higher power levels for brief durations, accommodating the momentary power surges that occur when appliances are switched on. Nearly all electrical devices exhibit a momentary increase in current at startup, including low-energy light bulbs.</p> <p>The power output characteristics can vary among <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">different inverters</a>, but they may have capabilities like producing 10% above the rated figure for 5 minutes, 50% over for 5 seconds, and even more for 1 second.</p> <p>The continuous output power of any inverter can be influenced by the battery providing the DC input voltage. The battery must be sufficiently large to supply the high current required by a sizable inverter without causing the battery voltage to drop excessively low, which could lead to the inverter shutting down.</p> <p>Ambient temperature is another factor that may affect the continuous output power capabilities of an inverter. High-power inverters generate heat, typically managed by a fan. In elevated temperatures, an inverter might struggle to sustain continuous high outputs without overheating and triggering an automatic shutdown.</p> <h3>How Much of Your DC Power Comes Out as AC Power?</h3> <p>The efficiency of an inverter refers to the percentage of input power that is converted into usable AC current, acknowledging that no system is 100% efficient and there will always be some losses. This efficiency varies based on the power demand, generally peaking when higher power levels are utilized.</p> <p>Efficiency typically ranges from just over 50% at low power consumption to over 90% as the output approaches the inverter's rated capacity. Even when no AC power is drawn, an inverter may still draw some power from the batteries, resulting in lower efficiencies at low power levels.</p> <p>For instance, a 3kW inverter might draw around 20 watts from the batteries when no AC current is used. If 20 watts of AC power is utilized, the inverter would draw 40 watts from the batteries, resulting in an efficiency of only 50%. Conversely, a smaller 200W inverter might draw 25 watts from the battery to produce a 20-watt AC output, achieving an efficiency of 80%.</p> <p>Larger inverters often incorporate a "Sleep Mode" feature to enhance overall efficiency. This involves a sensor within the inverter determining the need for AC power. If not required, it effectively turns the inverter off, ready to switch back on when power is needed. However, this means appliances cannot be left in "standby" mode, and some devices with timers may struggle to draw enough power to keep the inverter engaged unless paired with another active load.</p> <p>The wave form also plays a crucial role, especially with inductive loads (appliances with electrical coils, including those with motors). Non-sine waveforms, like square or modified square waves, are less efficient with inductive loads, potentially resulting in a 20% increase in power consumption compared to using a pure sine wave. This not only diminishes efficiency but may also lead to appliance damage or a shortened lifespan due to overheating.</p> <h3>Application Places of Micro Inverter</h3> <p>In the conventional setup of a solar power system, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">many solar panels or modules</a> are typically connected to a centralized inverter that generates AC current at "mains" or "grid" voltage. This inverter not only converts DC current from the modules to AC but also manages the efficiency of the entire array. While an MPPT inverter can efficiently perform this task, it requires all modules to have uniform characteristics and operate under similar conditions. Microinverters, on the other hand, are compact inverters specifically designed to match individual solar panels or modules, offering several potential advantages.</p> <p><strong>Advantages</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Enhanced Reliability:</strong> With a system featuring a larger number of smaller inverters, the failure of one inverter results in the loss of power output from only one panel, contributing to overall system reliability.</li> <li><strong>Optimized Efficiency</strong>: Micro inverters, each employing MPPT design, can precisely match the output of individual solar modules. This capability allows them to accommodate differences between modules caused by factors like aging, shading, temperature variations, or cleanliness, without requiring bypass diodes.</li> <li><strong>Improved Monitoring Data:</strong> <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">Each micro inverter</a> can provide valuable information for every solar module, facilitating the monitoring of module conditions, cleanliness, and other relevant parameters.</li> <li><strong>Greater Design Flexibility:</strong> The design of wiring is simplified, resulting in lower costs due to reduced currents. Additionally, expanding the system is made simpler with microinverters.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:533 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-you-need-a-solar-charge-controller Why Do You Need a Solar Charge Controller? <p>If the battery is overcharged, or if the voltage is too high by continuing to charge at a high charging voltage, the lead-acid battery will be damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to connect <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">a solar charge controller</a> between the solar panel and the battery. When the battery is charged from a low state, it will effectively connect the solar panel to the battery until a certain preset voltage is reached. For a 24 volt system, this voltage may be closer to 30 volts.</p> <p>A fully charged 24-volt battery may be about 25.5 volts, but this is for batteries that have been rested, not batteries that are being charged. Therefore, although the controller may disconnect the solar panel before the voltage reaches 30 volts to avoid battery damage, the battery is unlikely to be fully charged at this point. The controller will be connected to charge in a pulse mode to fully charge the battery.</p> <p>For gel-type lead-acid batteries, the charging voltage should be low, and the battery should also be low at higher temperatures. The charge controller can be programmed for a specific type of battery and can also have facilities for a battery temperature sensor.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Solar charge controller" width="400" height="260" /></p> <p>The complexity of the charge controller varies, but the main choices are the system voltage (although the controller may be designed for multiple voltages) and the maximum charge current (the maximum current generated by the solar panel).</p> <p>The solar charge controller can also have a controlled DC output. This is used in systems without solar inverters and will cut off DC power when the battery voltage is too low. The facility is unlikely to provide the current required by the solar inverter, and since <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">the solar inverter has its controls</a>, it can be connected directly to the battery.</p> <p>The simplest type of solar charge controller will stop charging when the battery voltage reaches a certain level and restart charging when the voltage drops. However, most controllers will use pulse width modulation (short pulses of different durations) to continue charging the battery to near maximum after a certain voltage has been reached. A further development of the solar charge controller is the maximum power point tracking controller, which improves efficiency.</p> <p>The basic solar charge controller performs only the necessary functions to ensure that the battery is not damaged by overcharging, effectively cutting off the current of the photovoltaic panel (or reducing it to a pulse) when the battery voltage reaches a certain level. The maximum power point tracker controller performs additional functions to increase system efficiency.</p> <p>The loss of efficiency in the basic system is caused by a mismatch between the voltage generated by the photovoltaic panel and the voltage required to charge the battery under certain conditions. A 24-volt battery requires about 28 volts to be fully charged. When the battery being charged is in a fairly low state, its voltage (when charging) may only be 24 volts.</p> <p>Photovoltaic panels need to be able to charge the battery on a clear day, so 24-volt photovoltaic panels generate at least 24 volts in these conditions. Hovering in bright sunlight, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">these solar panels</a> could be cables that generate 40 volts. They may produce rated output power (volts x amps) at 32-34 volts.</p> <p>When the battery voltage is 24 volts, it will pull the panel voltage down to 24 volts (assuming there is no voltage drop in the cable). This results in the output of the panel being significantly lower than its rated output, and therefore a loss of efficiency.</p> <p>In addition to performing the functions of the basic controller, the MPPT controller includes a DC voltage converter that converts the voltage from the panel to the voltage required by the battery with little power loss. In other words, they try to keep the panel voltage at the maximum power point while meeting the different voltage requirements of the battery. In addition, a 24-volt system with an MPPT charge controller can connect the panels in series to produce 48 volts, maintaining the ability to provide some charging current in dim conditions where the standard system cannot provide any charging.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:532 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel-basics Solar Panel Basics <p>Solar panels are just one way of generating solar power. They are not the most efficient, but they are the most convenient to use on a small to medium scale. Solar cells are made of silicon, and although silicon itself is a very abundant mineral, the manufacturing of solar cells must be carried out in a very clean environment, which leads to high production costs. Photovoltaic cells are made of two types of silicon that, when exposed to solar energy, create a voltage difference between them and, if connected to a circuit, generate an electric current.</p> <p>Multiple photovoltaic cells will be connected in a module, which can then be installed as needed. The batteries in the module will be connected in series or parallel to produce a specified voltage. For example, a 12-volt solar panel can generate about 16 volts in full sunlight to charge a 12-volt battery.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" /></p> <h2>Solar panel working principle</h2> <p>In a pure silicon crystal, atoms form a lattice. These atoms, like other atoms, have a nucleus containing positively charged protons, while around the nucleus are negatively charged electrons in a layer or shell. The electron shell is not full, so neighboring atoms share electrons and hold each other together in the crystal. These electrons are firmly held in place and are not easily moved.</p> <p>However, pure silicon crystals can be doped with different elements, i.e. add small amounts of impurities. If there are more electrons in the shell of the element used in doping than silicon, there will be negatively charged electrons that can move freely, which is called N-type silicon. The material conducts electricity much better than pure silicon because these spare electrons move around more freely.</p> <p>However, the crystal is not negatively charged as a whole, because the negative electrons are still balanced by the positive protons in the nucleus. Conversely, if the silicon is doped with elements with fewer electrons in its shell, there will be an overall electron shortage, and the material will be P-type silicon. The tiny regions where electrons are effectively missing are called holes, and these holes can also move freely.</p> <p>In a solar panel, N-type silicon and P-type silicon touch each other. The electron is attracted to a nearby hole and moves from the N-type to the P-type at the junction. Once this happens at the junction, the region acts as a barrier, preventing further electron movement, and there is an electric field at the junction. If light energy is absorbed by the cell, the energy will push electrons through the junction, and if a circuit is formed between the two silicon types, the electrons will flow through it, back to where they came from, and continue to do so.</p> <p>The current can do work on the way, charging the battery. This type of cell could be 15-20% efficient, in part because silicon wafers don't absorb all the light energy. A more complex type of battery, called a multijunction battery, may have more pairs of chips above or below, using different doping chemicals, each capable of absorbing a different wavelength of light.</p> <h2>Solar cell types</h2> <h3><strong><img style="float: left;" src="/images/uploaded/monocrystalline-cell.jpg" alt="Monocrystalline cell" width="125" height="113" />Monocrystalline </strong>cell</h3> <p>Monocrystalline cells are cut from monocrystalline silicon - they are slices of a crystal. From the outside, it has a smooth texture and you can see the thickness of the slices. These are the most efficient and most expensive to produce. They are also rigid and must be installed in a rigid frame to protect them.</p> <h3><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/polycrystalline-cell.jpg" alt="Polycrystalline cell" width="150" height="121" />Polycrystalline cell</h3> <p>A polycrystalline (or polycrystalline) cell is a slice cut from a silicon block and consists of a large number of crystals. They have a speckle reflection appearance. These cells are slightly less efficient and less costly than single-crystal cells and similarly need to be installed in a rigid frame.</p> <h3><img style="float: left;" src="/images/uploaded/amorphous-cell.jpg" alt="Amorphous cell" width="150" height="120" />Amorphous cell</h3> <p>Amorphous cells are made by placing a thin film of amorphous silicon on a variety of surfaces. They are the least productive and least costly of the three types. Due to the amorphous nature of the thin layer, it is flexible, and if manufactured on a flexible surface, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">the entire solar panel</a> can be flexible. One characteristic of amorphous solar cells is that their power output decreases over time, especially in the first few months, after which they are stable.</p> <h2>How to mount solar panels?</h2> <h3>Direction should it be facing</h3> <p>If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, they should face due south, and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, they should point due north. If you can't avoid hills or tall trees etc. that block the sun at the end of the day, you may need to change this slightly. If a hill to the west causes you to lose early evening sunlight, then point the panel slightly to the east at your discretion. The early morning sun is low in the sky and therefore of little value.</p> <h3>Angle to the horizontal plane</h3> <p>The Angle of the solar panel relative to the horizontal plane should be the same latitude as in spring and autumn, 15 degrees less in summer and 15 degrees more in winter. If possible, change your panel Angle at least 4 times a year. If you must install them fixed, choose an Angle that is the same as your latitude. Of course, you may want to change this depending on which period of the year your needs are greatest.</p> <h3>Install tracker</h3> <p>If the solar panels were always facing the sun, they would be more efficient at generating electricity. The tracker can be mounted as a panel and pointed at the sun. The passive tracker uses a system where the liquid moves when heated by the sun and is used to move the panel, automatically returning to the correct position in the morning. This type is probably the cheapest, doesn't have too many problems, and can reportedly provide satisfactory results. Active trackers typically use electric servo motors to adjust the Angle of the panel, and these can be controlled by light sensors that sense the position of the sun, or can be controlled by the time the panel is moved to a predetermined position. The increased power generation from using trackers is greater in the summer than in the winter because the sun arcs across the sky more in the summer.</p> <h2>How to wire solar panels?</h2> <p>If your panel is 24 volts, and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> and battery are 24 volts, then you need to connect the panel in parallel. Connect all the positive electrodes and separately connect all the negative electrodes.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-in-plarallel.jpg" alt="Solar panels in plarallel" width="300" height="120" /></p> <p>You can connect multiple pairs of panels in series, connecting the positive terminal of one panel to the negative terminal of the next panel to increase voltage. When considering series wiring, the effect of partial masking on the overall efficiency should be considered. Since you don't know how your system will evolve in the future, it's best to buy an even number of panels so that if you want to change the voltage from 24 volts to 24 volts, you can easily pair them in series.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-in-series.jpg" alt="Solar panels in series" width="300" height="170" /></p> <p>The next issue to consider is the type of wire to be used. We usually think that current can flow freely through the cable, but the cable will have a resistance that tends to limit the current to a small but potentially large degree. This resistance is proportional to the length of the cable (the longer the cable, the greater the resistance) and inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area (the thicker the cable, the smaller the resistance).</p> <h3>Photovoltaic panel grounding</h3> <p>Depending on where you are, you may need to ground the panel frame, which is certainly desirable. An ungrounded frame may generate induced voltage or may accidentally contact a live conductor. Due to the natural oxidation of aluminum, it is not easy to establish a good connection between the copper ground wire and the aluminum frame of the photovoltaic panel, and any instructions from the manufacturer should be followed. In some cases, the DC circuit should also be grounded, and the AC circuit should also be grounded according to the manufacturer's instructions.</p> <h2>Solar panel efficiency</h2> <p>Efficiency is a measure of output divided by some factor. When it comes to the efficiency of a solar panel, we usually focus on the output of a given area. Therefore, a more efficient panel will provide more or less power than a less efficient panel. But that doesn't mean more efficient panels are more economical. More efficient panels may be easier to install, especially if space is limited or a tracking system is being used.</p> <p>Current solar panels maintain an efficiency of around 40% in converting light into electricity, using multi-junction cells, each of which is tuned to capture light of a different frequency. Silicon is a naturally luminous substance, and the battery is coated with a non-reflective layer to ensure that as much light as possible enters the battery. The cells used in photovoltaic panels for power generation are typically single-junction and have an efficiency of about 15%.</p> <h3>Factors affecting the efficiency of solar panels</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Solar panel construction:</strong> Solar panels usually have a layer of glass (protecting the battery) that light must pass through before entering the battery. It can reduce the light reflected by the glass, and it can also capture the light that does not shine on the panel at 90 degrees.</li> <li><strong>Effect of temperature:</strong> The output of solar panels and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> is affected by their temperature. For every degree Celsius increase in temperature, the power output decreases by 0.25% (amorphous cells) to 0.5% (most crystalline cells). Panel temperatures in warm climates in summer can easily reach 50 °C, resulting in a 12% reduction in output compared to the rated output at 25 °C. If your electricity demand is high in the summer, this efficiency reduction may be important to you.</li> <li><strong>Local shadow:</strong> Solar panels produce less power when obscured, and ideally should be placed where there will never be any shade. In some cases, this may not be avoidable, so the effect of partial masking should be considered. Not only does the blocked battery produce less power, but since the batteries inside the panel are usually in series, the blocked battery affects the current of the entire panel. If the affected panel is in series with other panels, the output of all of these panels will be affected by the partial shadow of one panel. Therefore, in cases where partial masking cannot be avoided, there may be cases where panels are not connected in series to produce higher voltages that can be used with some inverters.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:531 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-on-grid-inverter What is On Grid Inverter? <p>With the rapid development of renewable energy sources, solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems have become a popular choice in the clean energy sector. The on-grid inverter is a crucial component in solar power systems, playing a key role in converting solar power into alternating current (AC) that can be used in power networks. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter store</a> will provide an in-depth look at how grid-connected inverters work, their application areas, and technology trends to help readers better understand this technological component that plays an important role in the clean energy transition.</p> <h2>Introduction to On Grid Inverters</h2> <p>Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert solar energy into direct current (DC) electricity via photovoltaic cells. However, since most power networks use alternating current (AC), a device is needed to convert DC to AC, which is where on grid inverters come in. On grid inverter is a device that converts the DC power output from the solar cells into AC power that meets the requirements of the grid and then feeds it back into the grid, and is the centerpiece of energy conversion and control for grid-connected photovoltaic systems.</p> <p>Due to the special nature of the input energy of the on grid inverter, its output power has the characteristics of discontinuous uncertainty, during the day with the intensity of sunlight, temperature, and other factors changing, and no energy output at night, the power grid has a periodic impact. On-grid inverter is a kind of electronic equipment that can convert DC power into AC power. Its basic functions include rectification, inversion, and voltage regulation. Through this series of operations, the on-grid inverter can change the DC power generated by the solar PV system into the AC power required by the power network.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/grid-connected-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="Grid-connected photovoltaic system" width="655" height="313" /></p> <h2>Principle of Operation</h2> <p><strong>DC Input:</strong> The DC power generated from the solar PV cells enters the on grid inverter.<br /><strong>Rectification:</strong> The DC is converted into an intermediate DC, usually using a rectifier bridge circuit.<br /><strong>Inverter:</strong> Converts the intermediate DC to AC using the on grid inverter section.<br /><strong>Voltage Adjustment:</strong> Adjusts the voltage, frequency, and other parameters of the output AC to meet the requirements of the power network.<br /><strong>On-grid:</strong> connect the output power of the on grid inverter to the power network to realize synchronous operation with the power grid.</p> <h2>Application Areas of On Grid Inverter</h2> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Single phase grid tie solar inverter" width="250" height="250" /></p> <p><strong>Distributed Power Generation System:</strong> In a distributed power generation system, solar PV arrays are converted from DC to AC using on on-grid inverter, which is then connected to the power network. This application makes it possible for the solar system to provide power for local power equipment and inject excess power into the grid, realizing a two-way flow of energy.<br /><strong>Solar Power Plants:</strong> In large solar power plants, hundreds of solar PV modules are connected to the power network via on-on on-grid inverters. The efficient performance and reliability of the inverters are critical to the overall operation of the solar power plant.<br /><strong>Home PV Systems:</strong> More and more households are choosing to install <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-power-system">solar power systems</a> that generate their own electricity and supply excess power to the electricity network via on-on on-grid inverters. This not only reduces household energy costs but also helps to minimize reliance on conventional electricity.<br /><strong>Commercial and Industrial Applications:</strong> In the commercial and industrial sectors, solar power systems are often used to power businesses. With on on-grid inverters, these systems have the flexibility to convert solar energy into electricity that can be used for production and operations, enabling the sustainable use of energy.</p> <h2>Technology Trends in On Grid Inverters</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Efficient Energy Conversion:</strong> As technology continues to evolve, a new generation of on-grid inverters is dedicated to improving the efficiency of energy conversion. The use of advanced power semiconductor devices and intelligent control algorithms makes the inverter more efficient in converting electricity.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent Control:</strong> The future of on-grid inverters tends to be more intelligent. Through the introduction of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other technologies, inverters can realize real-time monitoring, fault diagnosis, and remote control of the power generation system, improving system reliability and maintenance efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Multi-energy Synergy:</strong> With the advancement of energy transformation, future on-grid inverters may face more types of energy, such as wind energy and energy storage. Therefore, the design of inverters will pay more attention to multi-energy synergy and realize the efficient integration of different energy sources.</li> </ul> <p>As a key component of solar power generation systems, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on-grid inverter</a> plays an important role in promoting the development of clean energy and realizing the goal of sustainable development. Through an in-depth understanding of its basic principles, application areas, and technological trends, we can see that on-grid inverter is gradually becoming a key driving force in realizing the popularization of clean energy in continuous innovation and development. In the future, with the continuous progress of science and technology and the society's increasing concern for sustainable development, it is believed that on-grid inverter will play a more important role in promoting the clean energy revolution.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:530 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-test-a-frequency-inverter How to Test a Frequency Inverter? <p>Frequency inverter is an important power regulation device in the field of industrial automation, which is used to change the frequency of the power supply, to realize the speed regulation of the motor. To ensure that the frequency inverter works properly, system testing and debugging must be carried out. In this article, Inverter shop will introduce how to test frequency inverters in detail, including the preparation before testing, basic testing steps, common troubleshooting, and so on, to help users understand and apply frequency inverters more comprehensively.</p> <h2>Preparation Before Testing</h2> <p>Before testing the frequency inverter, adequate preparation must be carried out to ensure the accuracy and safety of the test.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Safety Check:</strong> Before testing, first ensure the safety of the testing environment. Check the power cables, motor connections, and other electrical components to ensure that there are no short circuits, poor contacts, and other safety hazards. At the same time, wear protective equipment to ensure personal safety.</li> <li><strong>Equipment Inspection:</strong> Check the frequency inverter and related equipment to ensure the integrity of the equipment. Check whether the power lines, control lines, sensors, and other connections are firm to ensure the normal power supply and signal transmission of the equipment.</li> <li><strong>Software Preparation:</strong> Check the control software of the frequency inverter to ensure that the software version is correct and the parameter settings are consistent with the actual demand. If necessary, carry out software updates and calibration.</li> </ol> <h2>Basic Test Steps</h2> <p>Before starting the test, make sure all the equipment is in a normal state. First, start <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">the high precision frequency inverter</a> through the external control panel or remote control software. During the startup process, observe whether there are any abnormal sounds or odors. Carry out the no-load running test, i.e. gradually increase the output frequency inverter under no load. Observe the starting process of the motor and make sure that the motor starts smoothly without abnormal sound and vibration. After determining that the motor can run normally with no load, gradually load the load and observe the response of the motor. Test the performance of the frequency inverter under different loads by gradually increasing the load to ensure that the motor can run smoothly.</p> <p>After making sure that the frequency inverter operates normally under partial loads, carry out the full-load operation test. Gradually increase the load and observe the working condition of the motor. Under full load, test the stability and output performance of the frequency inverter. For applications requiring precise torque control, conduct torque control tests. Adjust the frequency inverter parameters and observe the response of the motor under different torque requirements. Through testing, ensure that the frequency inverter can meet the demand for precise torque control. Simulate some possible faults, such as sudden power interruption, sensor failure, etc., to observe the response-ability of the frequency inverter. Through the fault simulation test, the stability and reliability of the frequency inverter under abnormal conditions can be assessed.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverter-speed-operation-curve.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter speed operation curve" width="679" height="384" /></p> <h2>Common Troubleshooting</h2> <p>During the testing process, some faults may occur and need to be eliminated in time to ensure the normal operation of the equipment. When a malfunction occurs in the frequency inverter, the corresponding fault code is usually displayed. Find and parse the meaning of the fault codes through the manual or online resources to more accurately locate the problem. Check that power cords, control cords, and sensors are connected correctly. Loose, poor, or short-circuited connections can cause the frequency inverter to malfunction, so check and fix electrical connection problems promptly.</p> <p>Frequency inverters generate a certain amount of heat when they work, and the normal operation of the cooling system is crucial to keeping the temperature of the equipment stable. Check components such as heat sinks and fans to ensure that the heat dissipation system operates well. According to the test results, it may be necessary to adjust the software parameters of the frequency inverter. Through the frequency inverter control software, modify the output frequency, current limit, and other parameters to optimize the performance of the equipment. If the fault cannot be solved, promptly seek help from the frequency inverter manufacturer or professional technical support. Manufacturers usually provide online support or on-site service, which can solve the problem more quickly and effectively.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/test-of-insulation-resistance-of-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="Test of insulation resistance of frequency inverter" width="776" height="357" /></p> <h2>Performance Evaluation and Optimization</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Performance Evaluation:</strong> Evaluate the performance of the frequency inverter under different working conditions according to the test results. This includes evaluation of start-up time, torque response, stability, etc. to ensure that the equipment meets the requirements of the actual application. Through testing and troubleshooting, the performance of the frequency inverter can be evaluated and some optimization work can be carried out.</li> <li><strong>Parameter Optimization:</strong> Optimize the parameter settings of the frequency inverter according to the performance assessment results. Adjust the output frequency, current limit, and other parameters to get better performance and energy efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Energy Saving Measures:</strong> For the energy consumption of the frequency inverter, energy saving can be achieved using adjusting the working mode, optimizing the control strategy, and other means. Reasonable use of excellent frequency inverters can not only improve the stability of the system but also reduce the cost of energy consumption.</li> <li><strong>Precautions and Maintenance:</strong> After completing the test, it is recommended to regularly maintain the frequency inverter. Cleaning the fan, checking the radiator, tightening the screws and other work can effectively extend the life of the equipment. After normal operation of the equipment, continuous monitoring is recommended. Use the monitoring function that comes with the frequency inverter to keep abreast of the operating status of the equipment, and discover potential problems and deal with them promptly.</li> </ul> <p>Through the introduction of this article, users can have a more detailed understanding of the testing and commissioning of frequency inverters. When testing the frequency inverter, adequate preparation, detailed testing steps, and timely troubleshooting are the keys to ensuring the normal operation of the equipment. We hope that the information provided by the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter shop</a> will be helpful to users in the field of industrial control and automation in practical applications.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:525 https://www.inverter.com/single-vs-three-phase-inverter Single vs. Three Phase Inverter <p>In the dynamic realm of electrical systems, the choice between a single-phase inverter and a three-phase inverter plays a pivotal role in determining the efficiency, stability, and overall performance of various applications. This blog post delves into the key differences between these two types of inverters, shedding light on their applications, power characteristics, and other critical factors that influence their suitability in different settings.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-inverter.jpg" alt="Three phase inverter" width="320" height="320" /></p> <p>Single-phase and three-phase inverters are devices used in electrical systems to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). Here are the key differences between single-phase and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverter">three-phase inverters</a>:</p> <h2>Number of Phases</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: This type of inverter produces a single alternating current (AC) waveform, oscillating between positive and negative values. It is characterized by a single hot wire and a neutral wire in the output.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: In contrast, a three-phase inverter generates three separate AC waveforms, each with a phase difference of 120 degrees. The output consists of three hot wires and a neutral wire, forming a more balanced and constant power flow.</p> <h2>Applications</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: Well-suited for applications with lower power requirements, commonly found in residential settings and small businesses. Single-phase inverters are commonly used to power household appliances, lighting, and small electronic devices. They are also employed in single-phase motors found in various equipment.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Ideally designed for industrial and commercial applications with higher power demands. Three-phase inverters are commonly used in large machinery, motors, and industrial equipment where the balanced power delivery of three phases is essential for efficient operation.</p> <h2>Power Delivery</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: Delivers power in a single sinusoidal waveform. The power output may experience fluctuations, and voltage imbalances can occur, especially in larger systems. This can result in less stable power delivery, impacting the performance of connected equipment.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Provides a more stable and balanced power delivery. The three separate sinusoidal waveforms, each with a phase difference of 120 degrees, contribute to a smoother power flow. This balanced power delivery is advantageous for applications with higher power requirements and is especially beneficial for three-phase motors, reducing torque fluctuations and improving overall system performance.</p> <p><strong>Three phase inverter circuit</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-inverter-wire.jpg" alt="Three phase inverter wire" width="700" height="739" /></strong></p> <h2>Voltage and Current Characteristics</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: The voltage and current waveforms produced by a single-phase inverter exhibit a single peak and zero-crossings per cycle. This means that the power delivery fluctuates between maximum and zero values in a cyclical fashion. In terms of voltage, there is a single sinusoidal waveform, which may result in less consistent power delivery.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Generates three sinusoidal voltage and current waveforms, each offset by 120 degrees. This configuration leads to a smoother and more continuous power delivery. The overlapping of the three phases contributes to a more balanced and efficient use of electrical power.</p> <h2>Efficiency</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: While single-phase inverters are efficient for lower power applications, they may experience slightly lower efficiency at higher power levels. Efficiency can be influenced by factors such as the design of the inverter, the load it is driving, and the overall power system.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Generally offers higher efficiency, especially at higher power levels. The balanced power delivery and reduced transmission losses in three-phase systems contribute to overall improved efficiency. This makes three-phase inverters well-suited for industrial applications with larger power demands.</p> <h2>Motor Types</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: Typically used with single-phase motors, which are common in household appliances, small machinery, and certain commercial applications. Single-phase motors are characterized by their simplicity and cost-effectiveness, making them suitable for less demanding tasks.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Specifically designed for three-phase motors, which are prevalent in industrial and commercial settings. Three-phase motors are known for their efficiency, reliability, and ability to handle higher power loads. They are commonly found in industrial machinery, pumps, compressors, and other heavy-duty equipment.</p> <h2>Power Stability</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: May experience power fluctuations and voltage imbalances, especially in larger systems or under varying loads. The single-phase power delivery can result in less stable power output compared to three-phase systems.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Offers better power stability due to the balanced and continuous power delivery of three phases. The three-phase configuration helps minimize voltage fluctuations and ensures a more constant power supply, which is crucial for the stable operation of industrial machinery and other critical equipment.</p> <h2>Fault Tolerance</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: Generally, single-phase systems may be more susceptible to voltage sags and power interruptions. In the event of a fault or disturbance, the fault tolerance of a single-phase inverter may be limited, and the impact on connected equipment can be more pronounced.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Offers better fault tolerance. The redundancy provided by three phases enhances the system's resilience against faults. In industrial environments, where continuous operation is critical, three-phase systems can better withstand and recover from faults, ensuring more reliable performance.</p> <h2>Harmonic Distortion</h2> <p>Single-phase inverter: May introduce higher harmonic distortion into the power system. Harmonic distortion refers to the presence of frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental frequency. Higher harmonic distortion can affect the performance of sensitive electronic equipment and lead to increased energy losses in the system.</p> <p>Three-phase inverter: Tends to have lower harmonic distortion. The balanced nature of three-phase power distribution helps mitigate harmonic issues, contributing to a cleaner and more stable power output. This is particularly important in industrial environments where the precision operation of machinery and equipment is crucial.</p> <p>For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:526 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-a-three-phase-inverter-work How does a Three Phase Inverter Work? <p>Three-phase inverters play a crucial role in converting direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC) in various applications, from industrial machinery to renewable energy systems. Understanding the fundamental workings of these inverters is essential for appreciating their significance and diverse applications.</p> <h2>Basic Knowledge</h2> <p>A three-phase inverter circuit is commonly used in high-capacity applications due to constraints related to the capacity of power switching devices, neutral line current, grid load balancing requirements, and characteristics of electrical loads. Single-phase inverter circuits, limited to capacities below 100 kVA, face these restrictions. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverter">Three-phase inverters</a>, on the other hand, are employed for larger capacities and can be categorized into three-phase voltage-type inverters and three-phase current-type inverters based on the nature of the DC power source.</p> <h2>Three-Phase Voltage-Type Inverter</h2> <p>In a voltage-type inverter, the input DC energy for the inverter circuit is supplied by a stable voltage source. Its distinctive feature is that the amplitude of the output voltage during pulse width modulation equals the amplitude of the voltage source. The current waveform, however, depends on the actual load impedance. The basic circuit of a three-phase voltage-type inverter is illustrated in Figure 1.</p> <p><strong>Figure 1: Three-Phase Voltage-Type Inverter Circuit Diagram</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-voltage-type-inverter-circuit-diagram.jpg" alt="Three phase voltage type inverter circuit diagram" width="750" height="285" /></strong></p> <p>In this circuit, six power switching devices (VT1 to VT6) and six freewheeling diodes are controlled by the control circuit. When the control signals are three-phase pulse signals with a 120-degree phase difference, each power switching device can be controlled to conduct for 180 or 120 degrees. The conduction time of adjacent switching devices differs by 60 degrees. The upper and lower switching elements of the three bridge arms alternate between conducting and turning off at 180-degree intervals. VT1 to VT6 are turned on and off sequentially with a 60-degree potential difference, forming three-phase voltages (a, b, c) at the inverter output.</p> <p>The switch control signals for the control circuit output can take the form of square waves, step waves, pulse width modulated square waves, pulse width modulated triangular waves, and sawtooth waves. Among these, the last three waveforms are modulated using a sinusoidal wave as the carrier and a sine wave as the modulating wave, ultimately producing a sinusoidal waveform as the output. The distinction between a regular square wave and a sinusoidally modulated square wave is illustrated in Figure 2. In comparison to a regular square wave signal, the modulated square wave signal follows a series of square wave signals in accordance with the sinusoidal wave pattern. In other words, the regular square wave signal is continuously on, while the modulated square wave signal undergoes N cycles of on and off within the modulation period of the sinusoidal wave.</p> <p><strong>Figure 2: Square waves and modulated waveforms</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/square-waves-and-modulated-waveforms.jpg" alt="Square waves and modulated waveforms" width="553" height="281" /></strong></p> <h2>Three-Phase Current-Type Inverter</h2> <p>In a current-type inverter, the DC input power source is a constant DC current source, and the modulation is applied to the current. If a rectangular current is injected into the load, the voltage waveform is generated under the influence of the load impedance. In current-type inverters, there are two different methods to control the amplitude of the fundamental current. One method is the amplitude modulation of the DC current source, which simplifies the current control on the AC output side. The other method involves using pulse width modulation to control the fundamental current. The basic circuit of a three-phase current-type inverter is depicted in Figure 3.</p> <p>This circuit comprises six power switching devices, six freewheeling diodes, a constant DC current source, surge absorption capacitors, and other components, with R representing the electrical load.</p> <p><strong>Figure 3: Three-Phase Current-Type Inverter Circuit Diagram</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-current-type-inverte-circuit-diagram.jpg" alt="Three phase current type inverter circuit diagram" width="600" height="402" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Characteristics of Current-Type Inverter</strong></p> <p>The current-type inverter is characterized by having a large filtering inductance on the DC input side. When the power factor of the load changes, the AC output current waveform remains unchanged, meaning the AC output current waveform is independent of the load. Unlike the voltage-type inverter in circuit structure, where each power switching element is parallel to a freewheeling diode, the current-type inverter has a reverse-blocking diode connected in series with each power switching element.</p> <p>Similar to the three-phase voltage-type inverter circuit, the three-phase current-type inverter consists of three sets of upper and lower pairs of power switching elements. However, the switching method is different from the voltage-type. The inclusion of a large inductance L in series with the DC input minimizes fluctuations in the DC current. When the power switching elements perform switching actions, the current remains stable and continuous. Consequently, one of the upper switching elements VT1, VT3, VT5, and one of the lower switching elements VT2, VT4, VT6 can conduct a certain value of current in intervals of 1/3 of a cycle. The output current waveform is a square wave during the 120-degree energization period with a height equal to that current value. Additionally, to prevent rapid changes in current when connecting inductive loads, surge absorption capacitors (C) are connected in parallel at the inverter's output.</p> <p>The DC power source of the three-phase current-type inverter, i.e., the DC current source, is achieved through a variable voltage source using current feedback control. However, employing only current feedback cannot reduce the power ripple in the inverter input voltage caused by switch actions, resulting in current fluctuations. Therefore, a large inductance (reactor) L is connected in series at the power input to mitigate these effects.</p> <p>Current-type inverters are well-suited for grid-connected systems, particularly in solar photovoltaic power generation systems, where they offer unique advantages.</p> <p>For more information on inverters, please visit <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a>.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:522 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-single-phase-output-inverter What is a Single Phase Output Inverter? <p>A single phase output inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC) power with a single sinusoidal waveform. In other words, it takes the electrical energy from a DC source, such as a battery or a solar panel, and produces a single-phase AC output that can be used to power household appliances, electronic devices, or other equipment that requires AC power.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/single-phase-output-inverter.jpg" alt="Single phase output inverter" width="320" height="320" /></p> <h2>Basic Information</h2> <p>Single phase output inverters are commonly used in residential and small-scale commercial applications where the power requirement is relatively modest. They are versatile and can be employed in various scenarios, including off-grid systems, backup power systems, and in conjunction with renewable energy sources like solar panels.</p> <p>It's important to note that single-phase inverters differ from three-phase inverters, which generate three sinusoidal AC waveforms. The choice between single-phase and three-phase depends on the specific electrical requirements of the connected equipment or appliances.</p> <h2>Waveform Types</h2> <p>Single phase output inverters typically produce a sine wave output, which is the preferred waveform for most household and commercial appliances. Some inverters may produce a modified sine wave, which is a stepped waveform and may be suitable for certain types of equipment but could potentially cause issues with others.</p> <p>The following is a detailed explanation.</p> <p><strong>Single-Phase Inverters:</strong></p> <p>A single-phase inverter produces a single sinusoidal (or sine wave) alternating current (AC) output.</p> <p>In the context of electricity, "single-phase" refers to a system where electrical power is distributed using one phase conductor and one neutral conductor. This is the typical setup in most residential settings.</p> <p>Single-phase inverters are suitable for powering common household appliances, electronics, and lighting.</p> <p><strong>Three-Phase Inverters:</strong></p> <p>In contrast, a three-phase inverter generates three sinusoidal AC waveforms, each out of phase with the others by 120 degrees.</p> <p>"Three-phase" refers to a system where electrical power is distributed using three phase conductors and one neutral conductor. This is more common in industrial and commercial applications.</p> <p>Three-phase power is often preferred for larger machinery, motors, and equipment due to its ability to provide a more constant and balanced power supply.</p> <p><strong>Choosing Between Single-Phase and Three-Phase:</strong></p> <p>The choice between single-phase and three-phase depends on the specific electrical requirements of the connected equipment or appliances.</p> <p>Single-phase power is sufficient for typical household needs and smaller commercial applications. It's cost-effective and simpler to install.</p> <p>Three-phase power is favored for industrial machinery and large-scale equipment where a more stable and balanced power supply is required. It is also more efficient for transmitting power over longer distances.</p> <p><strong>Considerations:</strong></p> <p>When designing an electrical system, it's essential to match the type of inverter (single-phase or three-phase) with the power requirements of the connected devices.</p> <p>Residential areas typically use single-phase power, while industrial and commercial settings might employ three-phase power for larger loads.</p> <p>In some cases, a combination of single-phase and three-phase inverters may be used to meet the diverse needs of a particular facility.</p> <h2>Applications</h2> <p>Single Phase Output Inverters are commonly used in household settings to power appliances, electronics, and lighting. They are also suitable for small businesses, mobile homes, and remote locations where a single-phase power supply is sufficient.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/single-phase-output-inverter-application.jpg" alt="Single phase output inverter application" width="800" height="241" /></p> <h2>Size and Capacity</h2> <p>These inverters come in various sizes and capacities, ranging from a few hundred watts for small applications to several kilowatts for larger residential or commercial setups. The size of the inverter should match the power requirements of the connected devices.</p> <h2>Efficiency</h2> <p>The efficiency of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter">single phase output inverters</a> is an important factor to consider. Higher efficiency means less energy loss during the conversion process. Look for inverters with a high efficiency rating to optimize energy usage.</p> <h2>Grid-Tie Inverters</h2> <p>Some single phase output inverters are designed for grid-tie systems, allowing users to feed excess energy back into the electrical grid. This is common in solar power installations where surplus electricity generated by solar panels can be shared with the grid.</p> <h2>Off-Grid Systems</h2> <p>In off-grid scenarios, such as remote cabins or locations without access to the main power grid, Single Phase Output Inverters paired with battery banks are essential for providing a stable AC power source.</p> <h2>Protection Features</h2> <p>Quality inverters often come with built-in protection features, including over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, and short-circuit protection. These features enhance the safety and longevity of the inverter and connected devices.</p> <h2>Installation and Maintenance</h2> <p>Single Phase Output Inverters are generally designed for easy installation and maintenance. However, it's important to follow manufacturer guidelines for installation, and regular maintenance checks are recommended to ensure optimal performance.</p> <p>When choosing a single phase output Inverter, it's crucial to consider the specific requirements of the intended application to ensure compatibility and efficient operation.</p> <p>If you require other types of inverters, please visit <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a>.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:523 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-single-phase-output-inverter-work How does Single Phase Output Inverter Work? <p>A single phase output inverter is an electronic device designed to convert direct current (DC) power into single-phase alternating current (AC) power. In other words, it takes electrical energy from a DC source, such as a battery, solar panel, or DC power supply, and produces a single sinusoidal waveform of AC power.&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the important applications of inverters is that they can be used to adjust the speed of AC motors. As long as the frequency of the excitation current in the motor's excitation coil is changed, then the rotational frequency of the magnetic field in the motor is also changed, and the magnetic field frequency is changed, then the motor's rotational speed will be changed. Another important use of inverters is in industrial smelting furnaces, where the body of the furnace is heated by the action of coils with high-frequency currents (eddy current effect), which in turn smelt the minerals in the furnace.</p> <p>The principle of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter">single-phase inverter</a> is an H-bridge, the circuit consists of four parts, a 15V DC source, four switching tubes (M1, M2, M3, M4, M1 and M4 are PMOS tubes, M2 and M3 are NMOS tubes), an inductor L1, a switching-tube control power supply (PWM1, PWM2, with PWM1 and PWM2 having the opposite control logic)</p> <p><strong>Experimental circuit</strong></p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/single-phase-output-inverter-working-principle.jpg" alt="Single phase output inverter working principle" width="1000" height="454" /></p> <p>The principle of the H-bridge is that the four switching tubes in the same moment, only the diagonal on the two tubes on the on, another diagonal on the two tubes in the off, the next moment of the two diagonal tubes on and off the logic of the opposite, for example, t = 0s, M1 and M3 are in the on state, M2 and M4 are in the off state; t = 0.5s, M2 and M4 are in the on state, M1 and M3 are in off state. According to the above explanation, then we know that the logic of the control signals controlling M1 and M3 should be the same, the logic of the control signals controlling M2 and M4 should be the same, and the logic of the signals controlling M1 and M3 should be the opposite of the logic of the signals controlling M2 and M4.</p> <p>If all 4 switching tubes are NMOS, we directly follow the logic explained above to drive the switching tubes directly, but unfortunately, the H-bridge we built uses PMOS for M1 and M4, not NMOS. if we use NMOS, there will be a problem that the ground of M1 and M4 will change with the voltage change of the two ends of the inductors, which is a floating ground, so to drive M1 and M4 normally, we need to use the same logic to control M1 and M4, and the logic of controlling M1 and M3 signals is opposite to controlling M2 and M4 signals. Drive M1 and M4 to use a power supply with a floating ground, it is not impossible to build, but think about the configuration of their computers, instantly no power, so here on the use of PMOS, the use of PMOS do not have to build a separate floating ground power supply.</p> <p>PMOS turn-on requirements gate (G) voltage than the drain (D) voltage can be lower than 10V, PMOS shutdown requirements gate (G) voltage and drain (D) voltage can be the same; NMOS turn-on requirements gate (G) voltage than the drain (D) voltage is 10V higher than the NMOS shutdown requirements gate (G) voltage equal to the drain (D) voltage can be. See here I guess someone will ask, why 10V? Because the general high-power MOS tube (regardless of PMOS or NMOS) turn-on voltage is generally twice the threshold voltage can be, and the general high-power switching tube threshold voltage of the absolute value is about 5V, so here choose 10V.</p> <p>Therefore, directly in summary, we add two PMOS control logic is as follows: M1 and M2 consistent, M3 and M4 consistent, M1 and M2 and M3 and M4 control logic is opposite.</p> <p>As for the control signal generation, we here use a triangle wave and a sine wave to compare the output control signal PWM, the sine wave is our inverter output reference waveform, the reference waveform frequency is 10HZ, then it also determines the frequency of our inverter output sine wave is also 10HZ.</p> <p>Reference Sine Wave</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/sine-wave.jpg" alt="Sine wave" width="1000" height="215" /></p> <p>Triangle Wave</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/triangle-wave.jpg" alt="Triangle wave" width="1000" height="218" /></p> <p>Inverter Output Sine Wave Display</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-output-sine-wave-display.jpg" alt="Inverter output sine wave display" width="1000" height="214" /></p> <p>Detailed Display of Inverter Output Sine Wave</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/detailed-display-of-inverter-output-sine-wave.jpg" alt="Detailed display of inverter output sine wave" width="1000" height="215" /></p> <p>We can see from the simulation output above that the amplitude of the output sine wave is over 200 amps, note that the inverter outputs a current type sine wave, not a voltage sine wave as we normally say! The process of inverting makes use of the principle that the current of an inductor cannot change abruptly, and according to our high school knowledge, the voltage and current at the ends of the inductor meet the requirements:</p> <p>UL=L*di/dt</p> <p>Both sides of the time at the same time to integrate: IL = Ut / L</p> <p>Inductor voltage is constant, that is, our DC power supply 15V, UL = 15V (ignoring the voltage drop of the switching tube), t is each time the switching tube opening time, this time is changing, from the above PWM wave can be seen, L is our inductance 0.3mH, according to the above formula can be calculated every time after the switching inductance above the current changes in the size of the current change, current changes The current change can be seen from the last picture, the inverter output waveform above the jagged change is caused by each switching tube inductance current change, the smaller the inductance current change is more pronounced, we change the inductance from 0.5mH to 0.05mH output waveform is as follows, it is obvious to see that the inductance of the current change is greater, it can also be said that the output of the sinusoidal wave waveform of the ripple is greater.</p> <p>0.05mH Output Waveform</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/0.05mh-output-waveform.jpg" alt="0.05mh output waveform" width="1000" height="206" /></p> <p>From the results of the above demonstration, the principle of inverter is not clearer. Inverter is not so complicated, mainly through the switching tube circuit to build a DC power supply for a short period of time to charge and discharge the inductor, the inductor is born with the characteristics of the current will not change suddenly, which means that the inductor will only let the inductor switch each time a small change in the current, which is the subtlety of the DC-AC.</p> <p>If you need more information about inverters, please visit <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a>.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:528 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-a-frequency-inverter-work How Does a Frequency Inverter Work? <p>Frequency inverters can be used in home appliances. Among the home appliances that use a frequency converter are not only motors (e.g., air conditioners, etc.) but also products such as fluorescent lamps. Frequency inverters used for motor control can change both voltage and frequency. The operating principle of inverters is used in a wide variety of fields. For example, the power supply for computer power supplies, in which the frequency converter is used to suppress fluctuations in reverse voltage, frequency, and momentary power outages. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter shop</a> will introduces the working principle of frequency inverter, control mode, and working process.</p> <h2>Frequency Inverter Working Principle</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Rectifier Part:</strong> Usually also known as the grid-side converter part, it is to rectify the three-phase or single-phase alternating current into direct current, and through the rectification again (that is, the inverter part) into alternating current. The common low-voltage rectifier part is composed of a diode uncontrollable three-phase bridge circuit or a three-phase controllable bridge circuit composed of thyristors. For the medium voltage large capacity rectifier part is used to multiply 12 pulses or more converter.</li> <li><strong>DC Link:</strong> As the load of the inverter is an asynchronous motor, which belongs to inductive load, there is always no power exchange between the intermediate DC part and the motor, and this exchange of no energy is generally required to buffer the intermediate DC link of the energy storage components (such as capacitors or inductors). DC intermediate circuit of the rectifier circuit output for smooth filtering, DC energy storage, and buffer reactive power.</li> <li><strong>Inverter Section:</strong> Often also referred to as the load-side converter section, it realizes the regular turn-off and conduction of the inverter elements through different topologies to obtain a three-phase AC output at any frequency. A common inverter section is a three-phase bridge inverter circuit consisting of six semiconductor main switching devices, and the output is a PWM waveform.</li> <li><strong>Braking or Feedback Link:</strong> As the regenerative energy formed by braking in the motor side is easy to gather to the DC link of the inverter to form a DC bus voltage pumping, the need for timely release of energy in the form of heat through the braking link or converted to the AC grid through the Feedback Link. Braking links in different inverters have different realization methods. According to the power, the size can be a built-in braking unit and an external braking unit. The feedback link mostly belongs to the external circuit of the frequency inverter.</li> </ol> <h3>Braking Methods for Frequency Inverters</h3> <p><strong>Energy Consumption Braking:</strong> When the pump-up voltage exceeds a certain value, V. conducts, thus consuming the energy fed back by the load on R.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/energy-braking-of-frequency-inverters.jpg" alt="Energy braking of frequency inverters" width="800" height="286" /><br /><strong>Energy Feedback Braking:</strong> When the load feeds back energy, the controllable converter works in the active inverter state and feeds the energy back to the grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/energy-feedback-braking-of-frequency-inverters.jpg" alt="Energy feedback braking of frequency inverters" width="800" height="399" /></p> <h2>Frequency Inverter Control Mode</h2> <h3>V/f Control</h3> <p>V/f control is to get the ideal torque-speed characteristics, based on the change of power frequency for speed regulation at the same time, but also to ensure that the motor flux is unchanged and put forward the idea, general-purpose frequency converter adopts this kind of control. v/f control frequency converter structure is very simple, but <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">kinds of frequency inverter</a> adopts the open-loop control mode, and can't achieve a higher control performance, moreover, in the low-frequency, there must be torque compensation to change the low-frequency torque characteristics.</p> <h3>Differential Frequency Control</h3> <p>Differential frequency control is a kind of direct torque control, it is based on V/f control, according to knowing the actual speed of the asynchronous motor corresponding to the power supply frequency, and according to the desired torque to adjust the output frequency of the frequency converter, you can make the motor has the corresponding output torque. In this kind of control method, it is necessary to install a speed sensor in the control system, and sometimes there is also current feedback to control the frequency and current, so it is a kind of closed-loop control method, which can make the frequency converter have good stability and a good response to the rapid acceleration and deceleration, and the load change.</p> <h3>Vector Control</h3> <p>Vector control is to control the magnitude and phase of the motor stator current through the vector coordinate circuit to control the motor excitation current and torque current separately, and then to achieve the purpose of controlling the motor torque. By controlling the order and time of the action of each vector and the time of the action of the zero vector, various PWM waves can be formed to achieve different control purposes. For example, to form the PWM wave with the least number of switching times to reduce the switching loss. At present, the vector control methods applied in the inverter mainly include the vector control method based on the rotational frequency control and the vector control method without a speed sensor.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverter-operation.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter operation" width="865" height="382" /></p> <h3>Direct Torque Control</h3> <p>Direct torque control uses the concept of space vector coordinates to analyze the mathematical model of the AC motor under the stator coordinate system to control the magnetic chain and torque of the motor, and achieves the purpose of observing the magnetic chain of the stator by detecting the stator resistance, thus eliminating the complicated transformation calculations, such as vector control, and the system is intuitive and concise, and the speed of calculation and the accuracy are both improved compared with the vector control method. The system can output 100% of the rated torque even in the open-loop condition, and it has the function of load balancing for multiple drags.</p> <h3>Optimal Control</h3> <p>The application of optimal control in practice varies according to different requirements, and individual parameters can be optimized according to the theory of optimal control for a certain control requirement. For example, in the control of high-voltage inverters, two strategies of time segmentation control and phase shift control have been successfully adopted to realize the optimal waveform of voltage under certain conditions.</p> <h2>Frequency Inverter Working Process</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Parameter Setting:</strong> Before starting the inverter, it is necessary to set its parameters. These parameters include the rated power, rated voltage, and rated current of the motor. The setting of parameters directly affects the output performance of the inverter.</li> <li><strong>Input Power:</strong> The frequency inverter receives AC power through the input rectifier and converts it to DC power. The intermediate DC link smoothes the DC power to ensure the stability of the power supply.</li> <li><strong>Inverter Output:</strong> The frequency inverter converts DC power to adjustable frequency AC power and outputs it to the motor. Through the control of the inverter, precise adjustment of the motor speed can be realized.</li> <li><strong>Control System Adjustment:</strong> The control system adjusts the inverter output according to the real-time monitored parameters such as current, voltage, and speed. The closed-loop control system can make the motor run stably under different loads and working conditions.</li> <li><strong>Real-time Feedback:</strong> The control system of the inverter can provide real-time feedback on the running status of the motor, and ensure that the motor runs according to the predetermined speed and torque through monitoring and adjustment.</li> </ul> <p>As the core component of modern motor control system, frequency inverter not only plays a key role in the industrial field but also in the energy field, transportation, and other fields to show broad application prospects. In the future, with the continuous development of technology, frequency converters will be more intelligent and efficient, providing more reliable and flexible motor control solutions for various industries.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:527 https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter-basic-introduction-functions-and-advantages Frequency Inverter Basic: Introduction, Functions and Advantages <p>The frequency inverter is a power control equipment that applies frequency conversion technology and microelectronics technology to control AC motors by changing the frequency of the motor power supply. Frequency converter relies on the internal IGBT to adjust the voltage and frequency of the output power supply, according to the actual needs of the motor to provide the required power supply voltage, and then achieve the purpose of energy saving and speed regulation. With the increasing degree of industrial automation, frequency inverter has been widely used, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter</a> will introduce the basic knowledge of frequency inverter to you.</p> <p>A frequency inverter is a device that converts industrial frequency power supply (50Hz or 60Hz) into AC power supply of various frequencies to realize the variable speed operation of motors, in which the control circuit completes the control of the main circuit, the rectifier circuit transforms the AC power into DC power, the DC intermediate circuit smoothes and filters the output of the rectifier circuit, and the inverter circuit inverts the DC power back to AC power. For vector control inverters, which require a lot of calculations, a CPU for torque calculation and some corresponding circuits are sometimes required. Inverter speed regulation is achieved by changing the frequency of the power supply to the stator winding of the motor.</p> <h2>Structure of Frequency Inverter</h2> <p>First, the rectifier section converts the AC power supply to DC power. This usually involves a rectifier bridge, which converts the AC voltage to DC voltage. The purpose of the rectifier is to provide a stable DC power source for subsequent circuits. Next comes the filter, whose purpose is to reduce pulsations and harmonics in the DC voltage. Filters usually consist of inductors and capacitors that smooth out the voltage waveforms to ensure stable system operation.</p> <p>The inverter is the core part of a frequency converter, which converts a DC power supply into an AC power supply with variable frequency and variable amplitude to control the speed of a motor. The inverter uses modern power semiconductor devices such as IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Field Effect Transistors) or MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors) to achieve this power conversion.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/structures-of-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="Structures of frequency inverter" width="800" height="288" /></p> <p>Finally, the control circuit is the intelligent part of the inverter, which monitors the motor operating status, receives external input signals, and controls the motor speed and torque by adjusting the output of the inverter. This usually involves PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control algorithms, which are used to precisely regulate the performance of the motor.</p> <h2>Classification of Frequency Inverter</h2> <p>There are various ways to classify inverters. According to the classification of the main circuit working mode, it can be divided into voltage-type inverter and current-type inverter; according to the classification of the switching mode, it can be divided into PAM-controlled inverter, PWM-controlled inverter, and high-load-frequency PWM-controlled inverter. According to the classification of the working principle, it can be divided into V/f control inverter, differential frequency control inverter, and vector control inverter. According to the use classification, it can be divided into general-purpose inverter, high-performance special inverter, high-frequency inverter, single-phase inverter three-phase inverter, and so on.</p> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="et2">Classification</td> <td class="et3" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3">Classification Name</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="et2">Main Circuit Working Mode</td> <td class="et2">Voltage type frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2" colspan="2">Current type frequency inverter</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="et2">Switching Mode</td> <td class="et2">PAM control frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2">PWM control frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2">High-load frequency inverter with PWM control</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="et2">Working Principle</td> <td class="et2">V/f controlled frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2">Differential frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2">Vector control frequency inverter</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="et2">Applications</td> <td class="et2">General purpose frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2">High frequency inverter</td> <td class="et2">Single-phase and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverter">three-phase frequency inverter</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2>Function of Frequency Inverter</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Speed Regulation Function:</strong> Frequency converters can change the speed of the motor by adjusting the frequency of the power supply. This is very important for applications that require flexible speed control, such as in industrial production, where different production processes may require different speeds.</li> <li><strong>Energy Saving and Consumption Reduction:</strong> Frequency inverters achieve effective control of power consumption by adjusting the motor speed. In the case of lighter loads, lowering the motor speed can reduce energy consumption and improve energy utilization efficiency, thus achieving the purpose of energy saving.</li> <li><strong>Smooth Starting:</strong> The frequency converter can realize the smooth starting of the motor, avoiding the shock and stress that the motor may face during the traditional direct starting, and prolonging the service life of the motor.</li> <li><strong>Precise Control:</strong> The frequency converter provides precise motor control, and can realize constant speed, timing control, positioning control, and other functions as needed. This is especially important for some systems with high requirements for motion control.</li> <li><strong>Reduce Mechanical Loss:</strong> By adjusting the speed of the motor, the frequency converter can reduce friction and loss in the mechanical system and improve the efficiency of the system.</li> <li><strong>Improve the Quality of Power Grid:</strong> when adjusting the motor operation, the frequency converter can reduce the impact of the motor on the power grid, and reduce harmonics and the peak value of the current, which helps to improve the power quality of the power grid.</li> </ul> <h2>Frequency Inverter and Energy Saving</h2> <p>The frequency converter is mainly used for AC motor speed regulation, which is recognized as the most ideal and promising speed regulation scheme for AC motors because the frequency converter has a more significant energy-saving effect. The application of frequency conversion speed control can greatly improve the control accuracy of motor speed so that the motor runs at the most energy-saving speed.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverter-control-frequency.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter control frequency" width="700" height="338" /></p> <p>First of all, take the fan pump as an example, according to the principle of fluid mechanics, the shaft power is proportional to the third power of the rotational speed. When the required air volume is reduced, fan speed is reduced, and its power is by the cubic decline, therefore, the power-saving effect of precise speed control is very significant. Secondly, similar to this, many variable load motors are generally produced according to the maximum demand for motor capacity, so the design margin is large. In actual operation, the proportion of light-load operation time is very high, and the use of frequency conversion speed control can greatly improve the efficiency of light-load operation. Therefore, the energy-saving potential of variable load motors is huge.</p> <p>Direct starting of the motor at industrial frequency will produce a large starting current. When using a frequency converter, the output voltage and frequency of the frequency converter are gradually added to the motor to play a role in limiting the starting current to less than the rated current, so the starting current and impact are smaller, which can reduce the wear and tear on the equipment.</p> <h2>Advantages of Frequency Inverter</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Improvement of Energy Efficiency:</strong> <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">Frequency converter</a> can adjust the running speed of the motor to make it match the load requirement, to effectively improve energy efficiency. When the load is light, reducing the motor running speed can reduce energy consumption and improve the overall efficiency of the system.</li> <li><strong>Precise Control:</strong> The frequency converter can realize precise control of the motor speed so that it can adapt to different working conditions. This precise control helps to improve the stability and reliability of the production process.</li> <li><strong>Smooth Starting:</strong> Compared with the traditional direct starting method, the frequency converter can realize the smooth starting of the motor, reduce the impact and loss during starting, and prolong the life of the motor.</li> <li><strong>Energy Saving and Emission Reduction:</strong> Due to the ability to adjust the running speed of the motor according to the need, the frequency converter helps to reduce the energy consumption of the system and minimize the waste of energy, thus reducing the carbon emission and conforming to the requirement of sustainable development.</li> <li><strong>Reducing Equipment Loss:</strong> By reducing the running speed of the motor in the non-operating state, the frequency converter can reduce the mechanical loss of the equipment and prolong the service life of the equipment.</li> <li><strong>Versatility:</strong> The Inverter can adapt to various application scenarios, widely used in industrial production, manufacturing, air conditioning, water pumps, fans, and other fields, providing flexible control solutions for different systems.</li> <li><strong>Reduced Mechanical Shock:</strong> The frequency converter reduces the mechanical shock in the system by smoothly adjusting the running speed of the motor, which helps to improve the stability and reliability of the equipment. Helps to improve the stability and reliability of the equipment.</li> </ul> <p>In the continuous evolution of frequency converter technology, frequency converter has become an indispensable and important part of the industrial automation field. By realizing variable speed control of motors, frequency converters play a key role in improving production efficiency, saving energy reducing consumption, and reducing equipment loss. With the development of intelligence and digitalization, the frequency converter not only stays in the traditional level of motion control but also gradually integrates into the industrial Internet, big data, and other advanced technologies to realize a higher level of automation and intelligent management.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:524 https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter-troubleshooting Single Phase Output Inverter Troubleshooting <p>An inverter is a converter that transforms direct current (DC) electricity from sources like batteries or storage batteries into fixed-frequency, constant voltage, or variable-frequency alternating current (AC) electricity, typically a 220V, 50Hz sine wave. It consists of an inverting bridge, control logic, and filtering circuits.&nbsp;</p> <h2>Basic Knowledge</h2> <p>Inverters find widespread applications in air conditioners, home theaters, electric sanders, power tools, sewing machines, DVD players, VCD players, computers, televisions, washing machines, range hoods, refrigerators, video recorders, massagers, electric fans, lighting, and more. In foreign countries, due to the widespread use of automobiles, inverters can be used to connect to batteries, driving appliances, and various tools while working or traveling. Car inverters with power specifications ranging from 20W, 40W, 80W, 120W to 150W are commonly used through the cigarette lighter output. Additional inverters can be connected to batteries to power various household appliances by connecting them to the inverter's output.</p> <p>It is important to note that the inverter itself consumes some electrical energy during operation, making its input power greater than its output power. The efficiency of an inverter is the ratio of its output power to its input power. For example, if an inverter inputs 100 watts of DC power and outputs 90 watts of AC power, its efficiency is 90%.</p> <p>Troubleshooting a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter">single-phase output inverter</a> involves identifying potential issues and applying appropriate solutions. Here are some common problems, their possible causes, and steps to resolve them:</p> <h2>No Output or Low Output Voltage</h2> <p><strong>Possible Causes:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Faulty DC input source.</li> <li>Loose or disconnected wiring.</li> <li>Internal faults in the inverter circuit.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Check the DC input voltage from the source.</li> <li>Inspect and tighten all wiring connections.</li> <li>Use a multimeter to diagnose internal circuit issues.</li> <li>Consult the inverter's user manual for specific troubleshooting steps.</li> </ul> <h2>Overheating<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/high-temperature.jpg" alt="High temperature" width="200" height="200" /></h2> <p><strong>Possible Causes:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Excessive ambient temperature.</li> <li>Inadequate ventilation.</li> <li>Overloading the inverter.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Ensure the inverter is installed in a well-ventilated area.</li> <li>Reduce the load on the inverter.</li> <li>Check for any obstructions blocking airflow around the inverter.</li> </ul> <h2>Frequent Tripping or Shutting Down</h2> <p><strong>Possible Causes</strong></p> <ul> <li>Overloading.</li> <li>Short circuits.</li> <li>Overheating.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Reduce the connected load to the inverter.</li> <li>Inspect the wiring for short circuits.</li> <li>Improve ventilation and cooling around the inverter.</li> </ul> <h2>Output Waveform Distortion<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/waveform-distortion.jpg" alt="Waveform distortion" width="200" height="142" /></h2> <p><strong>Possible Causes</strong></p> <ul> <li>Incorrect inverter settings.</li> <li>Internal faults in the inverter circuit.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Check and adjust the inverter settings according to the user manual.</li> <li>Consult a professional for internal circuit diagnostics and repairs.</li> </ul> <h2>Unusual Sounds or Smells</h2> <p><strong>Possible Cause</strong></p> <ul> <li>Internal component damage.</li> <li>Poor quality or damaged components.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Turn off the inverter immediately.</li> <li>Inspect for burnt or damaged components.</li> <li>Seek professional assistance for repairs or component replacement.</li> </ul> <h2>Intermittent Output</h2> <p><strong>Possible Causes</strong></p> <ul> <li>Loose wiring.</li> <li>Intermittent faults in the inverter circuit.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Check and tighten all wiring connections.</li> <li>Perform a thorough inspection of the internal circuitry for intermittent issues.</li> </ul> <h2>Display or Indicator Issues</h2> <p><strong>Possible Causes</strong></p> <ul> <li>Faulty display unit.</li> <li>Internal circuit problems.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Inspect the display for physical damage.</li> <li>Consult the user manual for troubleshooting steps related to the display.</li> <li>Seek professional assistance for internal circuit issues.</li> </ul> <h2>Low Insulation Impedance<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/low-insulation-resistance.jpg" alt="Low insulation resistance" width="200" height="108" /></h2> <ul> <li>Faulty DC input source.</li> <li>Loose or disconnected wiring.</li> <li>Internal faults in the inverter circuit.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Disconnect all series connections on the input side of the inverter and check insulation resistance using the inverter's frequency converter function to detect problematic series connections.</li> <li>After identifying the problematic series connection, check if the DC connector has water immersion causing short-circuit brackets or fuse and short-circuit brackets. Additionally, check for black spots, edge scorching, and component leakage to the ground grid.</li> </ul> <h2>Low Bus Voltage</h2> <p>Normal problem if it occurs in the morning and evening as the inverter is trying to limit generating conditions.</p> <p>If it occurs in normal sunlight, use the elimination method with steps similar to the first issue.</p> <h2>Leakage Current Fault</h2> <p>Excessive leakage current.</p> <p><strong>Steps to Resolve</strong></p> <ul> <li>Disconnect the input of the photovoltaic array and check the external AC power grid.</li> <li>Disconnect both the DC and AC terminals, and the inverter will power off for 30 minutes. If it can be restored, continue use. If not, contact a professional engineer.</li> </ul> <h2>DC Overvoltage Protection</h2> <p>Component improvements for high-efficiency processes and increasing power levels lead to higher open circuit voltage and operating voltage.</p> <p>Consider temperature coefficients during the design phase to avoid damage caused by overvoltage at low temperatures.</p> <h2>No Response on Inverter Startup</h2> <p>Ensure that the DC input lines are not reversed. While DC connectors are generally foolproof, terminal connectors are not. Carefully read the inverter manual before crimping to ensure the positive and negative poles. The inverter has built-in reverse connection short-circuit protection, and normal startup will resume after correcting the wiring.</p> <h2>Grid Faults</h2> <p>Preliminary investigation of grid overload (high consumption working hours) or light load (small consumption resting hours).</p> <p>Check the health of the grid voltage at the grid connection point in advance and communicate with the inverter manufacturer about grid conditions.</p> <p>This information is a guide for preliminary diagnosis, and in-depth troubleshooting or any necessary repairs should be conducted by professionals or in consultation with technical support.&nbsp;If you have any questions, please visit <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a> for consultation.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:529 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-a-frequency-inverter How to Use a Frequency Inverter? <p>A frequency inverter is an electronic device that is mainly used to change the operating frequency of an AC motor, thereby adjusting the speed of the motor. By adjusting the output frequency, precise speed and torque control can be realized, enabling the motor to operate efficiently under different working conditions. Frequency inverter is widely used in the industrial control field of equipment, frequency inverter can adjust the speed of the motor to achieve precise motion control. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inveter.com</a> will introduce the use of frequency inverter and debugging steps in detail to help users better understand and apply this key equipment.</p> <h2>Problems to be Paid Attention to in the Use of Frequency Inverter</h2> <p>In the use of frequency inverter, due to improper selection and use, often causes the frequency inverter can not run normally, or even cause equipment failure, so should pay attention to the following points.<br />Installation and Wiring of Frequency Inverter</p> <ul> <li><strong>Preparation for installation:</strong> Before installing the frequency inverter, first of all, you need to carefully read the instruction manual of the frequency inverter, and prepare the work according to the manufacturer's requirements. Make sure that the environment around the equipment is well-ventilated and the temperature is moderate.</li> <li><strong>Power Connection:</strong> Connecting the power supply is the first step in using the frequency inverter, make sure that the power supply meets the rated voltage and frequency requirements of the frequency inverter. Correctly connecting the power supply can ensure the normal operation of the frequency inverter.</li> <li><strong>Motor Connection:</strong> connect the motor with the frequency inverter for the correct wiring, pay attention to check whether the wiring is firm, to prevent loose or short circuits. Correct motor wiring is the key to ensuring stable operation of the system.</li> <li><strong>Installation Environment:</strong> Due to the high degree of integration of the frequency inverter, the overall structure is compact, and its heat dissipation is large, so the temperature, humidity, and dust content of the installation environment are high. Mainly divided into physical and electrical environments. The frequency inverter is a high-power electronic component, very susceptible to the impact of the operating temperature, the general requirements of the product are 0~55 ℃, with the best control below 40℃. When the temperature is too high and the temperature change is large, the internal frequency inverter is easily to condensation phenomenon, its insulation performance will be greatly reduced, and may even lead to short-circuit accidents.</li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/temperature-influence-of-frequency-converter.jpg" alt="Temperature influence of frequency converter" width="850" height="345" /></p> <p>Frequency inverter in the work due to rectification and frequency inverter, around the generation of a lot of interference electromagnetic waves, these high-frequency electromagnetic waves on the nearby meters, instruments have a certain degree of interference. Avoid installation in dust, high humidity, high temperature, corrosive liquids, corrosive gases, strong interference sources around, and vibration occasions. Weather or humid working environments will have frequency inverters because dust and humidity lead to circuit board fire and damage, damage is mostly to module and switching power supply.</p> <p>Frequency inverter power input is often over-voltage protection, but if the input side of the high voltage role for a long time, will make the frequency inverter input damaged. Therefore, in practice, verify the input voltage of the frequency inverter, single-phase or three-phase, and the frequency inverter using the rated voltage. Especially when the power supply voltage is extremely unstable, there should be voltage stabilizing equipment.</p> <h2>Parameter Setting of Frequency Inverter<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverter-wall-mounting-diagram.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter wall mounting diagram" width="361" height="390" /></h2> <ol> <li><strong>Parameter Setting:</strong> The setting parameters of the frequency inverter are set by the controlled equipment type and process requirements, each parameter has a certain selection range, and improper settings, resulting in the phenomenon that the frequency inverter can not work properly.</li> <li><strong>Basic Parameter Setting:</strong> Before starting the frequency inverter, you need to set some basic parameters, including the motor's rated power, rated voltage, rated current, and so on. These parameter settings directly affect the output performance of the frequency inverter, so you need to carefully check and adjust.</li> <li><strong>Advanced Parameter Settings:</strong> The settings of some advanced parameters will affect the performance and stability of the frequency inverter, such as over-current protection, over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection, and so on. According to the specific application scenarios, adjusting these parameters can better adapt to different working conditions.</li> </ol> <h2>Debugging Steps of Frequency Inverter</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Confirm the Hardware Connection:</strong> Before starting the frequency inverter, confirm whether all hardware connections are correct, including the power connection, motor wiring, etc. Make sure there are no wiring errors and short-circuit phenomena.</li> <li><strong>Start the Frequency Inverter:</strong> Start the frequency inverter according to the requirements of the instruction manual, and pay attention to monitoring whether there are any abnormalities during the startup process. During the start-up phase, you can gradually increase the output frequency and observe the running status of the motor.</li> <li><strong>Soft start and Speed Regulation:</strong> Carry out soft start and gradually adjust the output frequency and voltage of the frequency inverter to ensure the smooth start and operation of the motor. Adjust the output frequency according to the actual need and observe the speed change of the motor.</li> <li><strong>Checking the Running Parameters:</strong> During the running of the motor, pay attention to the monitoring of various running parameters, including current, voltage, speed, and so on. According to the changes in these parameters, you can judge whether the running status of the motor is normal or not and whether you need to further adjust the parameters.<br />Selection.</li> </ul> <p>The correct selection of frequency inverter is very critical to the normal operation of the control system. The selection of a frequency inverter must fully understand the characteristics of the load driven by the frequency inverter. People in practice often produce machinery divided into four types, constant torque load, constant power load, fans (pumps), and inertia load. The series of frequency inverters used in different environments and sites are not the same, for some special applications, such as high ambient temperature, high switching frequency, high altitude, etc., which will cause the inverter capacity reduced, the inverter needs to be enlarged by one grade to choose.</p> <h2>Maintenance</h2> <p>During the operation of frequency inverter, you can visually check the running condition from the outside of the equipment for any abnormality, and the full-time inspector can check the running parameters of frequency inverter through the keyboard panel conversion key, such as output voltage, output current, output torque, motor speed, etc., to master the range of daily running value of frequency inverter, to find out the problems of frequency inverter and motor in time.</p> <ul> <li>Set up a person to regularly clean the frequency inverter, blowing dust, to keep the internal cleanliness of the frequency inverter and air ducts.</li> <li>Keep the environment around the frequency inverter clean and dry.</li> <li>After each maintenance of the frequency inverter, carefully check whether there are any missing screws and wires, etc., to prevent small metal objects caused by short-circuit accidents of the frequency inverter.</li> <li>Measure the frequency inverter (including motor) insulation.</li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverter-wiring-precaution.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter wiring precaution" width="913" height="374" /></p> <h2>Precautions</h2> <ul> <li>Connecting the power supply to the output terminals of the frequency inverter will damage the frequency inverter. Please check the wiring error and program before powering on.</li> <li>When installing a contactor on the inlet side, do not open and close the contactor frequently, as this may cause malfunction of the inverter.</li> <li>Even after the power to the frequency inverter is turned off, there is still some un-discharged electricity inside. When checking, wait until the operator and indicator lamps go out.</li> <li>On the power supply side of the frequency inverter, install a circuit breaker for wiring to protect the primary wiring. The selection of the circuit breaker depends on the power factor of the power supply side (which varies with the power supply voltage, output frequency, and load). Its action characteristics vary with high-frequency current, and it is necessary to select a large-capacity one.</li> <li>The frequency inverter can be used without an incoming contactor. The incoming contactor can be used for stopping operation, but then the braking function of the frequency inverter will not be available.</li> <li>If a contactor is set between the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">good quality frequency inverter</a> and the motor, switching during operation is prohibited in principle. When the frequency inverter is connected during operation, there is a large inrush current, so the inverter overcurrent protection operates. When a contractor is set up for switching with the power grid, be sure to switch after the inverter stops output and use the speed search function appropriately.</li> </ul> <p>However, although frequency inverter brings great convenience and benefits, it is still necessary to pay attention to the stability of the system, maintenance, and the impact on the environment in the application process. In the future, with the continuous progress of science and technology, we can expect the frequency inverter technology to show its strong potential in more fields and bring more innovation and change to industrial production. In summary, the frequency inverter as the mainstay of modern industry, will continue to lead the direction of industrial automation, to create a more intelligent and efficient production environment for mankind.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:517 https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter-vs-string-inverter Micro Inverter vs. String Inverter <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">When it comes to solar energy systems, inverters play a crucial role in converting the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into the alternating current (AC) electricity used in homes and businesses. Two common types of inverters used in photovoltaic (PV) systems are microinverters and string inverters. In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the differences between microinverters and string inverters to help you understand which one may be more suitable for your solar installation.</p> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="300 watt solar micro inverter grid tie inverter" width="330" height="330" /></p> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Microinverters</strong></h2> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Microinverter is a kind of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>. Microinverters are designed to be installed on a per-panel basis. This means that each solar panel in your array has its own microinverter. Here are some key features and advantages of microinverters:</p> <ol> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Individual Panel Optimization:</strong> One of the standout features of microinverters is their ability to optimize the performance of each solar panel independently. With a microinverter system, each panel operates at its maximum capacity, which can significantly improve energy production. In contrast, string inverters connect multiple panels in a series, and the output of the entire string is limited by the lowest-performing panel.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Shade Tolerance:</strong> Microinverters are excellent at mitigating the effects of shading. If one panel is partially shaded, it won't affect the output of the other panels in the array. In a string inverter system, shading on one panel can reduce the overall performance of the entire string.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Monitoring:</strong> Many <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">microinverter systems</a> offer advanced monitoring capabilities that allow you to track the performance of each panel individually. This detailed data can help you identify and address issues more effectively.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Safety:</strong> Microinverters operate at lower voltages compared to string inverters, which can enhance safety during installation and maintenance.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Scalability:</strong> Microinverter systems are highly scalable. You can start with a small array and expand it easily by adding more panels and microinverters as needed.</p> </li> </ol> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">String Inverters</strong></h2> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">String inverters, on the other hand, are typically installed as a single unit that is connected to multiple solar panels in a series. Here are the characteristics and advantages of string inverters:</p> <ul> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Cost-Effective:</strong> String inverters are generally more cost-effective on a per-panel basis compared to microinverters. They are a popular choice for larger solar installations, where the cost savings can be substantial.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Simplicity:</strong> The installation of string inverters is simpler and requires fewer components, making it a preferred choice for many installers.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Reliability:</strong> While microinverters have more points of potential failure (one per panel), string inverters have a single point of failure. However, string inverters are known for their reliability, and the single-inverter design means fewer components to maintain.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Commercial Applications:</strong> String inverters are often used in commercial solar installations where the number of panels is higher, and cost considerations are a significant factor.</p> </li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/1200-watt-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="1200 watt solar micro inverter" width="330" height="330" /></p> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Choosing the Right Inverter for Your System</strong></h2> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">The choice between microinverters and string inverters depends on various factors:</p> <ul> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">System Size:</strong> For smaller residential installations, microinverters can provide superior performance. For larger systems, string inverters may be more cost-effective.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Shading:</strong> If your installation is prone to shading from trees, nearby buildings, or other obstructions, microinverters are an excellent choice.</p> </li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="ab3e414a-dcbb-413e-8c16-f4450f502bcb">Budget:</strong> Your budget will play a significant role in the decision. Microinverters are more expensive on a per-panel basis, but their advantages may justify the cost.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Maintenance:</strong> Consider how much maintenance you're willing to undertake. Microinverters offer more detailed monitoring but have more components to maintain.</p> </li> </ul> <p>In conclusion, the choice between microinverters and string inverters is not one-size-fits-all. Your specific needs, budget, and shading conditions will guide your decision. It's important to consult with a qualified solar installer who can assess your situation and recommend the best inverter solution for your solar energy system. Both microinverters and string inverters have their strengths and weaknesses, and the right choice can make a significant difference in the performance of your solar array.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:518 https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter-vs-ups Pure Sine Wave UPS inverter vs. UPS <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="d5a2846c-239c-4b6a-a822-02c077a875da">In a world increasingly dependent on electronic devices and uninterrupted power supply, the choice between a pure sine wave inverter and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a critical one. Both these devices are designed to provide backup power during outages, but they have distinct features and applications. In this comprehensive blog, we'll delve into the differences, advantages, and limitations of pure sine wave inverters and UPS systems to help you make an informed decision based on your specific power needs.</p> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="d5a2846c-239c-4b6a-a822-02c077a875da"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="170cfbc7-cc46-4c69-8096-9aee42b86e37">Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter.jpg" alt="300 watt pure sine wave ups inverter" width="330" height="330" /></strong></h2> <ol> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Waveform Output: </strong>A pure sine wave UPS inverter generates a waveform that closely resembles the sine wave produced by utility companies. It's a smooth, continuous, and consistent waveform with a low total harmonic distortion (THD) that is ideal for sensitive electronics. This waveform is imperative for devices like laptops, computers, and medical equipment because they are designed to run on pure and clean power. Modified or square wave inverters can produce a waveform with abrupt changes and high THD, which can cause overheating or damage to certain equipment over time.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Applications: </strong>Pure sine wave inverters have a wide range of applications. They are suitable for residential use, powering household appliances, electronics, and even air conditioners. In commercial settings, they can run sensitive equipment, servers, and industrial machinery. These inverters are the go-to choice for off-grid systems, such as solar power setups, where you need to ensure the compatibility and safety of all connected devices.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Efficiency: </strong>While pure sine wave UPS inverters are highly efficient, they might have a slightly lower efficiency compared to modified sine wave inverters. This is because generating a pure sine wave requires more advanced circuitry and electronics. However, this slight reduction in efficiency is often justified by the benefits of clean power, especially for devices that demand it.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Price: </strong>Pure sine wave UPS inverters are generally more expensive than modified sine wave inverters due to the advanced technology and components required to produce a pure sine wave output. The cost can vary significantly based on the inverter's capacity, brand, and additional features. It's essential to consider your budget when choosing a pure sine wave inverter, but remember that the added cost is often justified by the protection it offers to sensitive equipment.</li> </ol> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)</strong></h2> <ol> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Waveform Output: </strong>UPS systems usually provide a stepped or square wave output when running on battery power. These waveforms are simpler than a pure sine wave and have more noticeable peaks and valleys. While they might not be as clean as a pure sine wave, they are typically acceptable for most computers and basic electronics. However, sensitive equipment like high-end servers or medical devices might require additional filtering or a pure sine wave source to avoid potential issues.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Applications: </strong>UPS systems are designed to provide short-term power backup, often ranging from a few minutes to around half an hour. Their primary role is to ensure a smooth and orderly shutdown of connected devices when a power outage occurs. They are commonly employed in business environments to prevent data loss and maintain network connectivity during brief interruptions, ensuring that critical operations can continue without disruption.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Efficiency: </strong>UPS units are highly efficient for their intended purpose. They continuously charge their internal batteries when grid power is available, ensuring that they are ready to provide immediate backup power when needed. The efficiency level can exceed 90%, which minimizes energy waste during the charging and discharging cycles.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Price: </strong>The cost of a UPS varies depending on its capacity, features, and brand. Basic desktop UPS units are relatively affordable, making them accessible for home and small office use. On the other hand, larger UPS units designed for data centers and enterprise environments are more expensive. The price difference reflects the capacity and capabilities of the UPS. When selecting a UPS, it's crucial to consider factors like the required runtime and the criticality of the devices it will protect.</li> </ol> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Choosing the Right Option<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter-applications.jpg" alt="300 watt pure sine wave ups inverter applications" width="330" height="466" /></strong></h2> <ol> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Device Sensitivity:</strong> To decide between a pure sine wave UPS inverter and a UPS, assess the sensitivity of the equipment you intend to power. Sensitive devices, like medical equipment, require a clean and stable power source. In such cases, a pure sine wave inverter is the better choice, as it ensures a reliable and safe operation without the risk of damage or malfunction.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Runtime Requirements:</strong> The duration of power outages is a critical factor. If you need extended runtime to keep essential systems operational during prolonged outages, a UPS is the more suitable option. It's designed to provide short-term power and allow for a graceful shutdown. UPS units can be configured with additional battery capacity to meet specific runtime needs.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Budget:</strong> Budget constraints may influence your decision. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">Pure sine wave UPS inverters</a> are typically more expensive than UPS systems due to their advanced technology. Consider your financial limitations, but also weigh the importance of providing clean power to sensitive devices when making your choice.</li> <li data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971"><strong data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">Application:</strong> Evaluate the specific devices and their compatibility with the output waveform. Some equipment may require a pure sine wave for reliable operation, while others can function adequately with the stepped or square wave output of a UPS. Ensure that your chosen solution aligns with your equipment's requirements for safe and consistent operation.</li> </ol> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="79b7fe3d-f57c-4410-87b9-c047d9712971">In conclusion, the decision between a pure sine wave inverter and a UPS depends on your power requirements, your budget, and the sensitivity of the equipment you aim to protect. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses, and making an informed choice ensures that your backup power solution effectively meets your needs and safeguards your critical equipment. If you want to purchase, welcome to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a> to visit.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:519 https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter-price-list Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter Price List <p>An uninterrupted power supply is essential for keeping our electronic devices and sensitive equipment running smoothly. When it comes to backup power solutions, pure sine wave UPS inverters are often considered the gold standard due to their ability to provide clean and stable power. In this blog we will provide you with motor prices, helping you understand what goes into the cost of these crucial devices.</p> <p>In order for you to better choose UPS, the following are the UPS prices provided by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a>.</p> <table style="height: 223.906px;" border="“1”" width="“100%”" cellspacing="“0”" cellpadding="“5”"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;" width="329">Product Name</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;" width="120">SKU</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;" width="182">Rated power</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;" width="75">Price</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">300 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-300</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">300</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$222.44&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">500 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-500</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">500</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$236.33&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">600 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-600</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">600</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$253.13&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">1000 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-1000</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">1000</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$319.49&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">1500 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-1500</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">1500</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$366.99&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-2000</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">2000</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$433.12&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">2500 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2500-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-2500</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">2500</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$472.80&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">3000 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-3000</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">3000</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$533.09&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 22.3906px;"> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">3500 Watt Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3500-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ATO-UPSI-3500</a></td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">3500</td> <td style="height: 22.3906px;">$598.87&nbsp;</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em>Note: The above prices are for reference only. If you need a discount or purchase in bulk, please contact us.</em></p> <p><strong>Tips: What factors should I consider when selecting a pure sine wave UPS inverter?</strong></p> <p>When selecting a pure sine wave UPS inverter, several important factors should be taken into account to ensure that the chosen inverter meets your specific power needs and provides reliable backup power. Here's a detailed explanation of the key factors to consider:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Capacity (Wattage): </strong>The capacity of the inverter, measured in watts (W), is one of the most critical factors to consider. It determines the amount of power the inverter can provide. To choose the right capacity, add up the wattage requirements of all the devices you plan to connect to the inverter. Select an inverter with a capacity that exceeds this total to ensure it can handle the load comfortably.</li> <li><strong>Efficiency: </strong>Inverter efficiency is crucial for minimizing energy waste during the conversion process. Look for an inverter with high efficiency, typically expressed as a percentage. A more efficient inverter will help reduce energy consumption, save on operational costs, and extend the runtime during power outages.</li> <li><strong>Features and Technology:</strong> Consider the features and technology incorporated into the inverter. Look for additional functionalities that enhance usability and convenience. Features like remote monitoring, LCD displays, multiple outlets, and enhanced battery management can make it easier to manage the inverter and tailor its operation to your needs.</li> <li><strong>Battery Type and Capacity: </strong>The type and capacity of the batteries used in the inverter are vital considerations. Lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular due to their longer lifespan and lower maintenance requirements. Higher battery capacity allows for extended runtime during power outages. Assess your backup power requirements and choose an inverter with an appropriate battery system.</li> <li><strong>Accessories: </strong>Some inverters come with accessories like mounting brackets, connection cables, and surge protection built into the device. Check whether these accessories are included or if they need to be purchased separately. These extras can enhance the functionality and convenience of the inverter.</li> <li><strong>Warranty and Support: </strong>The length and terms of the warranty provided by the manufacturer should not be overlooked. A longer warranty period and comprehensive support can be a sign of the manufacturer's confidence in their product's quality. A good warranty ensures that you're protected against unexpected failures or issues.</li> <li><strong>Compatibility: </strong>Ensure that the inverter is compatible with the devices you plan to power during outages. Some highly sensitive or specialized equipment may require specific features or certifications for safe and reliable operation. Verify that the inverter meets the compatibility requirements of your devices.</li> <li><strong>Installation and Setup: </strong>Determine whether you can install the inverter yourself or if you need a professional electrician for installation. Larger and more complex systems may require professional installation to ensure safety and compliance with local electrical codes. Make installation arrangements accordingly.</li> <li><strong>Price: </strong>Price is always a consideration. While you should aim to stay within your budget, it's essential not to compromise on quality and performance. Weigh the features, capacity, and brand reputation against the cost to find a balance that suits your needs.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:520 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter What is a Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter? <p>A sinusoidal inverter is a type of inverter that converts direct current (from power batteries or storage batteries) into alternating current (generally 220V, 50Hz sine wave). The inverter and AC-DC converter are opposite processes. While AC-DC converters or power adapters rectify 220V alternating current into direct current for use, an inverter does the opposite, hence its name.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">sine wave UPS inverter</a> is an electrical energy conversion device that transforms direct current into alternating current, accomplished by the controlled conduction and switching of power semiconductor devices according to specific patterns. Modern inverter technology is a practical field built upon the theoretical study, application, and design methods of inverter circuits. It relies on the foundation of industrial electronics technology, semiconductor device technology, modern control technology, modern power electronics technology, pulse width modulation technology, semiconductor commutation technology, and magnetic materials, among others. As a result, the applications of sinusoidal inverters span various sectors in society and everyday life.</p> <h2>Basic Structure</h2> <p>A sinusoidal inverter converts direct current into alternating current by controlling the conduction and switching of semiconductor power switches (such as SCR, GTO, GTR, IGBT, and power MOSFET) in a specific sequence. The circuit that controls the conduction and switching of power switches is the inverter's control circuit. The control circuit outputs specific voltage pulses to govern the conduction and switching of the power switches in a defined pattern. This results in a specific harmonic combination in the output of the power main circuit, and the desired voltage waveform is obtained through a filtering circuit. The basic structure of a sinusoidal inverter system is depicted in Figure 1.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/sine-wave-inverter-structure.jpg" alt="Sine wave inverter structure" width="600" height="227" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Input Circuit: </strong>The input of an inverter typically consists of direct current (or direct current obtained through rectification and filtering of mains electricity). These direct current sources can include DC grids, batteries, photovoltaic cells, and other means of generating direct current. Usually, these sources cannot be directly used as the input voltage of the inverter and must pass through filtering and EMC circuits before being fed into the inverter.</li> <li><strong>Inverter Main Circuit: </strong>The inverter main circuit consists of power switching devices and forms the power conversion circuit. The structure of the main circuit varies in different input and output conditions, and each power conversion circuit has its advantages and disadvantages. In practical design, the most suitable circuit topology should be considered as the main circuit structure.</li> <li><strong>Control Circuit:</strong> The control circuit generates a set or multiple sets of voltage pulses according to the requirements of the inverter's output. These pulses are applied to the power switches through a driving circuit, causing the power switches to conduct or switch off in a specified sequence. Ultimately, the desired voltage waveform is obtained at the output of the main circuit. The performance of the control circuit is critical for the quality of the inverter's output voltage waveform.</li> <li><strong>Output Circuit: </strong>The output circuit typically includes output filtering and EMC circuits, and if the output is direct current, a rectification circuit is added afterward. For isolated output inverters, a transformer is placed in the front stage of the output circuit. Depending on whether a voltage regulation circuit is needed in the output, the output circuit can be categorized as open-loop or closed-loop control. In an open-loop system, the output is solely determined by the control circuit, while in a closed-loop system, the output is influenced by feedback loops, resulting in a more stable output.</li> <li><strong>Auxiliary Power Supply: </strong>Certain parts or chips in the control circuit and input/output circuit have specific voltage requirements. An auxiliary power supply is used to meet these specific voltage needs. Typically, the auxiliary power supply consists of one or more DC-DC converters. In cases of AC input, the auxiliary power supply is created by combining the rectified voltage with DC-DC converters.</li> <li><strong>Protection Circuit:</strong> The protection circuit usually includes protections against input overvoltage, undervoltage, output overvoltage, undervoltage, overload, overcurrent, and short-circuit protection. In specific operating conditions, inverters may require additional protections, such as temperature protection for extremely low or high temperatures, pressure protection for pressure variations, and humidity protection for humid environments.</li> </ul> <h2>Types</h2> <p>Inverters can be classified in various ways, and based on the nature of their output waveforms, they can be categorized into three types: sinusoidal inverters, square wave inverters, and trapezoidal wave inverters. Sinusoidal inverters produce sinusoidal alternating current, whereas square wave inverters produce lower-quality square wave AC.</p> <p>Inverters are typically divided into voltage-input and current-input types. Unlike direct current choppers, their modulation pulses are related to the width of a sine wave, resulting in output current or voltage that closely resembles a sine wave. Because it requires a significant number of inductive components to simulate a current source, current-input inverters are rarely used for electric vehicle propulsion. Voltage-input inverters have a simpler circuit structure and are capable of bidirectional energy conversion, making them the preferred choice for electric vehicles. A typical three-phase full-bridge voltage-input inverter is illustrated in Figure 2.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-voltage-input-inverter.jpg" alt="Three phase voltage input inverter" width="600" height="316" /></p> <p>Depending on specific requirements, the output waveform of these inverters can be square wave or pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms. PWM schemes can further be categorized into sinusoidal PWM, current hysteresis PWM, and space vector PWM. Inverters can utilize PWM technology to generate pulse width modulated waveforms for induction motors and permanent magnet synchronous motors. The appropriate scheme can effectively suppress harmonics, optimize the use of direct current voltage, and reduce voltage fluctuations.</p> <h2 data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="fc00919e-9a5f-44cf-b3f1-3c64c1de3ee3">Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter Principle</h2> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="fc00919e-9a5f-44cf-b3f1-3c64c1de3ee3">The function of an inverter is to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). It consists of an inverter bridge, a SPWM (Sine Pulse Width Modulation) waveform generation module, a driver module, and a filtering circuit. Among these components, the SPWM inverter circuit is the key to generating a pure sine wave. SPWM waveform generation has always been a hot topic in research. SPWM, or Pulse Width Modulation, is a technology that involves variable duty cycle pulse waveforms. PWM control technology is based on this concept. It controls the conduction and switching of semiconductor switching devices to generate a series of pulse waveforms with equal amplitudes but varying widths at the output to effectively obtain the desired waveform.</p> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="fc00919e-9a5f-44cf-b3f1-3c64c1de3ee3">When performing pulse width modulation, if the duty cycle of the pulse series is arranged according to a sine wave pattern, the output voltage, after filtering, can be transformed into a sine waveform. Simultaneously, this significantly reduces the harmonic components in the load current, and this technique is referred to as Sine Pulse Width Modulation.</p> <p data-immersive-translate-effect="1" data-immersive_translate_walked="fc00919e-9a5f-44cf-b3f1-3c64c1de3ee3">A Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter is the gold standard when it comes to providing high-quality, uninterrupted power to sensitive electronic equipment and appliances. It offers compatibility, efficiency, safety, and enhanced performance, making it an ideal choice for applications where power quality is paramount. When selecting a UPS inverter, consider the specific needs of your equipment to ensure you get the best protection and performance. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> offers a variety of high-quality sine wave inverters to meet your needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:521 https://www.inverter.com/why-is-a-pure-sine-wave-output-from-ups-important Why is a Pure Sine Wave output from UPS important? <p>In the realm of power electronics and electrical engineering, the importance of a pure sine wave output cannot be overstated. The quality of the electrical waveform has a profound impact on the performance, longevity, and safety of the devices and appliances it powers. In this blog post, we will delve into the significance of a pure sine wave output and why it is crucial for various applications.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter.jpg" alt="300 watt pure sine wave ups inverter" width="330" height="330" /></p> <h2>Understanding Sine Waves</h2> <p>Before we explore the importance of a pure sine wave output, let's briefly understand what a sine wave is. A sine wave is a fundamental waveform characterized by a smooth, undistorted, and continuous oscillation of voltage or current. It resembles the ideal AC power provided by utility companies, where voltage and current change direction in a sinusoidal pattern.</p> <p>Now, let's delve into why a pure sine wave output is essential:</p> <h3>Compatibility with Sensitive Electronics</h3> <p>One of the primary reasons a pure sine wave output is vital is its compatibility with sensitive electronic devices. Many modern electronics, such as computers, servers, medical equipment, and high-end audiovisual systems, are designed to operate on a clean and stable AC power supply. Using a pure sine wave inverter ensures these devices receive power that meets their stringent requirements, reducing the risk of damage or malfunctions.</p> <h3>Reduced Heat Generation</h3> <p>Devices powered by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">pure sine wave UPS inverters</a> tend to generate less heat compared to those using modified sine wave or square wave inverters. Reduced heat generation not only contributes to the overall efficiency of the equipment but also prolongs their operational lifespan. This can lead to cost savings and less frequent maintenance.</p> <h3>Enhanced Performance</h3> <p>Motors and appliances with variable speed drives, such as those found in HVAC systems, operate more smoothly and efficiently when supplied with a pure sine wave. The consistent and clean power delivery translates into improved performance, energy efficiency, and fewer operational issues.</p> <h3>Extended Battery Life</h3> <p>Pure <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverters</a> are gentler on batteries. They cause less stress on the battery bank during the charging and discharging cycles, which can significantly extend the battery life. This is particularly important in off-grid or backup power systems where battery longevity is a critical factor.</p> <h3>Safety and Reduced Interference</h3> <p>Appliances and devices powered by pure sine wave inverters are less likely to experience issues like flickering lights, electronic interference, or audible noise. The elimination of these problems enhances the safety and comfort of users while minimizing the potential for electrical disturbances or malfunctions.</p> <p>In the world of power electronics, a pure sine wave output is the gold standard for providing high-quality, stable, and uninterrupted power. Its importance is underscored by its compatibility with sensitive electronics, reduced heat generation, enhanced performance, extended battery life, and increased safety. Whether you are using power backup systems, renewable energy setups, or sensitive electronic equipment, opting for a pure sine wave inverter is a wise choice that ensures optimal performance and minimizes the risk of electrical issues or device damage.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:516 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-solar-pump-inverter What is a Solar Pump Inverter? <p>Solar pump inverters are a key solar technology. Solar pump inverters allow solar energy to drive water pumping systems used in a wide range of applications such as agriculture, drinking water supply, greenhouse management, and wastewater treatment. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter online shop</a> will introduce you to the working principle of solar pump inverters, the range of applications, and their advantages in sustainable energy systems.</p> <p>A solar pump inverter is a device that converts the direct current (DC) electrical energy generated by solar photovoltaic panels into alternating current (AC) electrical energy so that it can be used to drive a solar water-pumping system. These systems typically include solar panels, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller, an inverter, and a water pump.</p> <h2>Key Components</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Solar Panels:</strong> Solar panels are used to capture solar radiation and convert it into electricity. These panels usually consist of multiple solar cells that convert photons into electrons to produce DC electricity.</li> <li><strong>MPPT Controller:</strong> The MPPT controller is used to ensure that the electricity supplied by the solar panels reaches the maximum power point. It monitors the voltage and current and automatically adjusts the voltage to maximize the energy output.</li> <li><strong>Inverter:</strong> The inverter is the core component of the solar pump system. The solar pump inverter converts DC power into AC power for use in the pumping system.</li> <li><strong>Solar Pump System:</strong> The solar pump system is the final device used to deliver water. AC electrical energy is supplied by the solar pump inverter to the solar water pump system to drive <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">the excellent solar water pump</a>.</li> </ul> <h2>How Does a Solar Pump Inverter Work?</h2> <p>Solar panels are installed in places where there is ample exposure to sunlight, such as the roof or the ground. These panels capture photons from sunlight and convert them into DC electrical energy. The voltage and current of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> are monitored through an MPPT controller and the voltage is constantly adjusted to ensure that the power drawn from the panels is maximized. The solar pump inverter then converts the DC electrical energy into AC electrical energy. The converted AC power is supplied by the solar pump inverter to the solar water pump system to drive the water pump. Finally, the solar pumps transport the water from the water source to the desired location, such as agricultural fields, drinking water supply systems, greenhouses, or sewage treatment facilities.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-pump-inverters-working-principle.jpg" alt="Solar pump inverters working principle" width="702" height="363" /></p> <h2>Applications of Solar Pump Inverters</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Agricultural Irrigation:</strong> Solar pumping systems can be used to provide a source of water to improve irrigation of farmland, which helps to increase crop yields.</li> <li><strong>Drinking Water Supply:</strong> Solar pump inverters can be used to provide clean drinking water in remote areas and regions where reliable electricity supply is lacking.</li> <li><strong>Greenhouse Management:</strong> Temperature and humidity control in greenhouses is critical for agricultural production. Solar pump inverters can be used for water circulation and temperature control in greenhouses to improve crop-growing conditions.</li> <li><strong>Wastewater Treatment:</strong> Solar pump inverters can be used to power wastewater treatment plants, helping to purify wastewater and reduce environmental pollution.</li> <li><strong>Pool Circulation:</strong> Solar pump inverters can be used to circulate water in swimming pools, reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Desalination:</strong> Solar pump systems can be used to drive desalination equipment, converting seawater into fresh water to cope with the shortage of freshwater resources.</li> </ul> <h2>Advantages of Solar Pump Inverter</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Environmentally Friendly:</strong> Solar pump inverters do not produce harmful emissions, reducing the negative impact on the environment and helping to reduce the carbon footprint.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-pump-inverters-and-life.jpg" alt="Solar pump inverters and life" width="307" height="216" /></li> <li><strong>Energy Efficiency:</strong> Using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">a high quality solar pump inverter</a> can significantly reduce power consumption and lower energy costs.</li> <li><strong>Renewable Energy:</strong> Solar energy is a renewable source of energy, and solar pump systems have a constant supply of energy that will not run out.</li> <li><strong>Adaptable:</strong> Solar pump inverters can be used in remote areas and places where grid power is not available, providing a reliable source of energy in these areas.</li> <li><strong>Low Maintenance:</strong> Solar pump systems typically have low maintenance costs because solar pump inverters do not have complex mechanical components.</li> <li><strong>Remote Monitoring and Control:</strong> Some solar pump inverters are equipped with remote monitoring and control systems that allow for remote monitoring and control, reducing the need for manual intervention and increasing the reliability of the solar pump system.</li> <li><strong>Reduced Reliance on Traditional Energy Sources:</strong> Solar pump inverters help reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, lowering the demand for oil, gas, and electricity.</li> </ol> <p>As technology continues to evolve and prices fall, the application of solar pump inverters will become even more promising. Solar pump inverters will continue to provide clean, sustainable, and affordable energy solutions for a variety of applications, helping to reduce energy costs, minimize environmental impact, and advance the goals of sustainable development. In the future, solar pump inverters will continue to provide a reliable source of energy for a wide range of industries and promote the popularization and application of clean energy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:515 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-solar-pump-inverter-for-solar-pv-system How to Use Solar Pump Inverter for Solar PV System? <p>Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have become one of the key technologies in the clean energy sector, converting solar energy into electricity to power our lives. However, the efficiency and sustainability of&nbsp; solar PV systems are still at the center of attention. Against this backdrop, the use of solar pump inverters is coming to the fore. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will explore how solar pump inverters can be used in solar PV systems to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the system.</p> <p>The main goal of solar pump inverters is to fully utilize solar energy to power water pumps, resulting in energy savings, lower operating costs, and reduced dependence on the traditional power grid. The emergence of solar water pumps is the most attractive way to supply water in remote areas where there is a lack of electricity and no electricity. Utilizing solar energy that is available everywhere and inexhaustible, the solar photovoltaic system is fully automated to work at sunrise and rest at sunset, without the need for personnel to look after it, and the maintenance workload can be reduced to a minimum, making it the ideal green energy system integrating economy, reliability, and environmental protection benefits.</p> <h2>The Working Principle of Solar Pump Inverter</h2> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/0.4-kW-solar-pump-inverter.jpg" alt="0.4 kW solar pump inverter" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>A solar pump inverter is a device that can convert solar energy into mechanical energy. Its working principle is similar to that of a conventional inverter, but there are some key differences. The main function of a solar pump inverter is to convert DC electrical energy from solar PV panels into AC electrical energy, which is then transferred to the water pump system to drive the pump.</p> <h2>Using Solar Pump Inverters in Solar PV System</h2> <p>A solar PV system is a renewable energy system that utilizes solar PV cells to convert solar radiation into electricity. Such solar PV systems use solar panels to capture solar radiation and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity, which is then converted into alternating current (AC) electricity by an solar pump inverter to power homes, and industrial equipment, or feed it into the grid.</p> <h3>Steps</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Install Solar Panels:</strong> First, solar panels are installed to capture solar energy. These <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">portable solar panels</a> can be mounted on the roof of a building, on the ground, or in other suitable locations.</li> <li><strong>Install MPPT Controller:</strong> Connect a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller to ensure that the power drawn from the solar panels is maximized.</li> <li><strong>Install the Inverter:</strong> Connect the solar pump inverter to the solar panels and solar pumping system. The inverter converts DC power to AC power to meet the power needs of the water pump.</li> <li><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Connecting the Water Pump System:</span></strong> Connect the AC electrical energy provided by the solar pump inverter to the solar pumping system to ensure the proper functioning of the water pump.</li> <li><strong>Monitoring and Maintenance:</strong> Regularly monitor the performance of the solar PV system and perform the necessary maintenance work to ensure the stable operation of the solar water pumping system.</li> </ul> <h2>Application in Solar PV System</h2> <p>In the past, water pumps were usually driven by electric or diesel motors for water supply, but electric and diesel genset-driven pumps not only have high operation and maintenance costs but also consume fossil energy and damage the ecological environment. Nowadays, solar photovoltaic can be used for water supply, as long as the light resource is abundant, the underground or the surrounding rivers and lakes are rich in water resources, the use of solar photovoltaic systems and solar pump inverters to water supply, it can be used for agricultural irrigation, sand treatment, urban water features, water for life and other fields.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/application-of-solar-pump-inverters.jpg" alt="Application of solar pump inverters" width="893" height="183" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Agricultural Irrigation: </strong>Farmland needs to be connected to solar PV panels through solar photovoltaic arrays, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">good quality solar pump inverters</a>, and photovoltaic controllers, solar photovoltaic panels convert solar radiation into direct current electrical energy and transfer it to the solar pump inverter, solar pump inverter is equipped with MPPT technology, which can real-time monitoring of solar photovoltaic panels output and ensure the optimal use of solar energy to maximize the efficiency of the solar PV system. From the solar pump inverter, electricity is converted to power a pumping machine that pumps water into the irrigated area to irrigate the crops.</li> <li><strong>Sand Management: </strong>Desert areas without electricity and water are a regular phenomenon, and sunny, the ground contains water resources, this time the use of solar PV systems, solar energy using solar pump inverters into electricity, solar pump inverter can adjust the frequency and voltage of the output of AC energy to adapt to different pump types and operational needs. This includes starting, stopping, speed regulation, as well as the realization of the optimal working point to improve pump efficiency, to provide power for the solar pump inverter unit, the water will be used to the required area, but also be installed solar panels to the required location, not only to solve the problem of residents in the desert area without electricity, drought problems, but also to achieve the purpose of the sand prevention.</li> <li><strong>Urban Water Features: </strong>Urban landscape planning and water features are inseparable, but driven by electricity, operating costs, and maintenance costs are slightly higher, solar PV systems can provide no grid, and no artificial duty, relying on the combination of solar pump inverter in the solar photovoltaic system to save costs, save resources, and the current economic and environmental protection concepts.</li> <li><strong>Domestic Water: </strong>The water we use in our lives also needs to be stored and then flow into our hands from a cistern via a water pipe. In this process, the solar photovoltaic system also plays an important role, relying on a PV solar energy system can also save the city's resources to make the smallest contribution.</li> </ul> <p>Solar pump inverter is considered to be a kind of inverter that works efficiently and is friendly to the environment. Submersible pumps are mainly used for pumping water from deep wells, rivers, and lakes. Submersible pumps for solar pump inverters have advantages over other water pumps. Submersible pumps for solar pump inverters can be placed in rivers and lakes so that the pump is completely submerged.</p> <p>In this way, the submersible pump with solar pump inverter can meet the fields of agricultural irrigation, sand treatment, urban water features, and domestic water use without electricity and unattended. Through proper design and maintenance, solar pump inverters can improve the efficiency and sustainability of solar PV systems, providing reliable power and water resources for communities and agriculture. With the continuous development of technology, solar pump inverters will play a key role in more fields to promote the application and popularization of clean energy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:514 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-types-of-frequency-inverter What are the Types of Frequency Inverter? <p>Frequency inverter is the application of frequency inversion technology and microelectronics technology, by changing the frequency of the motor operating power supply to control the AC motor power control equipment. The frequency inverter is categorized according to the aspect of the speed regulation system, there are various methods, and the following has <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter shop</a> for you to introduce the types of frequency converter.</p> <p>A frequency inverter, also known as an AC frequency converter or AC speed regulator, is a kind of electronic equipment, used to control the speed of the motor, realize energy saving, and precise control, and improve the degree of industrial automation. Frequency inverters are widely used in various industrial sectors such as manufacturing, construction, water treatment and mining. The different types of frequency inverters fulfill the needs of different applications.</p> <h3>Classification According to Input Voltage Level</h3> <p>Frequency inverters can be divided into low-voltage frequency inverters and high-voltage frequency inverters according to the input voltage level, low-voltage frequency inverters domestic common <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter">single-phase frequency inverters</a>, and three-phase frequency inverters. High-voltage frequency converters commonly have 6 kV, and 10 kV transformers and the control mode is generally according to the high and low-high frequency converter or high-high frequency converter way to transform.</p> <h3>According to the Current Way</h3> <ul> <li><strong>AC Frequency Inverter:</strong> AC frequency inverter is the most common type, used to control the speed of AC motor. The frequency inverter adjusts the running speed of the motor by changing the input voltage and frequency of the motor. AC inverters are widely used in manufacturing, water treatment and construction industries to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The working principle of AC frequency inverters is based on PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) technology.<br />The AC frequency inverter receives AC power from the grid, rectifies it into DC power, and then converts the DC power back into AC power through an inverter. By varying the output frequency and voltage of the frequency converter, the frequency inverter can precisely control the speed of the motor. In addition, AC frequency inverters can provide additional features such as overload protection, start and stop control.</li> <li><strong>DC Frequency Inverter:</strong> DC inverters are another type that is mainly used to control the speed of DC motors. Although DC inverters are not as common as AC inverters in some applications, they are still very useful in some specific situations. DC inverters control the speed of a motor by varying its input voltage and current. DC frequency converters are often used in applications that require high precision control, such as laboratory equipment and some specialized industrial applications.</li> </ul> <h3>According to the Way of Power Supply</h3> <p><strong>Single-phase Inverters:</strong> Single-phase frequency inverters are suitable for applications powered by a single-phase supply, such as household appliances and small motors. Single-phase frequency inverters are usually used for low-power applications and are suitable for small motors that require precise control. Suitable for applications powered by single-phase mains. Suitable for small motors such as household appliances.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/types-of-frequency-converter.jpg" alt="Types of frequency converter" width="1000" height="367" /></p> <p><strong>Three-phase Inverters:</strong> Three-phase frequency inverters are suitable for applications powered by a three-phase mains supply, such as in industrial and commercial areas. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverter">Three-phase frequency converters</a> are typically used for medium to high-power applications and can precisely control the speed and torque of large motors. Suitable for applications powered by three-phase power sources, such as industrial equipment and large motors, the frequency converters are ideal for high-power applications.</p> <h3>By Converter Link</h3> <p><strong>AC-AC Frequency Inverters:</strong> Convert AC DC with fixed frequency into AC with continuously adjustable frequency and voltage. The main advantage is that there is no intermediate link and the conversion efficiency is high. However, the continuously adjustable frequency range is narrow, through the rated frequency of 1/2 or less, mainly for power traction and other large-capacity low-speed drag systems.</p> <p><strong>AC-DC-AC Frequency Inverter:</strong> first rectify the AC power with fixed frequency into DC power, and then invert the DC power into AC power with continuously adjustable frequency. As the link of reversing DC into AC is easier to control, it has obvious advantages in frequency adjustment range and improvement of motor characteristics after frequency conversion, etc., and is the widely used frequency conversion method at present.</p> <h3>According to the Energy Storage Method of the DC Link</h3> <p><strong>Current-type Frequency Inverter: </strong>Characterized by the intermediate DC link using a large inductor as the energy storage link, buffer reactive power, i.e., choke current changes, so that the voltage is close to a sinusoidal waveform, due to the DC internal resistance is larger, so it is called the current source type frequency inverter (current type). The characteristic (advantage) of the current frequency inverter is that it can choke the frequent and rapid change of load current. It is often used on occasions where the load current varies greatly.</p> <p><strong>Voltage Type Frequency Inverter:</strong> Characterized by the intermediate DC link of the energy storage element using a large capacitor, the reactive power of the load will be buffered by it, the DC voltage is relatively smooth, the DC power supply internal resistance is small, equivalent to the voltage source, so it is known as the voltage type frequency converter, often used in the load voltage changes in the occasion.</p> <h3>According to the Use</h3> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverters-and-life.jpg" alt="Frequency inverters and life" width="256" height="191" /></p> <ol> <li><strong>General Frequency Converter:</strong> It refers to the frequency inverter that can be used with ordinary cage-type asynchronous motor, can adapt to various loads of different nature, and has a variety of optional functions.</li> <li><strong>High-performance Dedicated Frequency Inverter:</strong> High-performance dedicated inverter is mainly used in the system with higher requirements for motor control. Compared with general-purpose inverters, most of the high-performance dedicated inverters adopt vector control mode, and the driving object is usually the special motor specified by the inverter manufacturer.</li> <li><strong>High-frequency Inverter:</strong> In ultra-precision machining and high-performance machinery, high-speed motors are often used. In order to meet the driving requirements of these high-speed motors, high-frequency inverters adopting the PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) control mode have appeared, and the output frequency of the frequency inverter can reach 3kHz.</li> <li><strong>IGBT Frequency Inverter:</strong> IGBT frequency inverters use insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) as power-switching devices. IGBTs have high voltage tolerance and high switching speeds, making inverters ideal for high-power applications. IGBT frequency converters can achieve efficient power conversion and are widely used in industrial drives and motor control.</li> <li><strong>MOSFET Frequency Inverters:</strong> MOSFET frequency converters use metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors as the power-switching device.MOSFETs have low on-resistance and fast switching characteristics, which makes them suitable for some applications that require high-frequency switching. These frequency converters are typically used in low-power applications and high-frequency applications.</li> </ol> <p>Frequency converters are indispensable devices in modern industrial automation and energy management. Different types of frequency inverters are suitable for different applications. Understanding the types of frequency inverters and how they work, as well as the uses of frequency inverters, helps in choosing the best solution for a particular application. The widespread use of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">good quality frequency inverters</a> has brought greater efficiency and energy savings to various industries, helping to promote sustainable industrial and social development.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:513 https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter-price-list Frequency Inverter Price List <p>Frequency inverters are a key device widely used to control the speed of electric motors and improve energy efficiency. Choosing the right inverter for your needs is important, so knowing the price range of different types and brands is necessary. Here is an inverter price list from Inverter.com to help you make an informed decision.</p> <p>Nowadays fuel cells powered by solar and wind energy are emerging as a latecomer to the market with their low prices. The most important feature of this power generation equipment is the capacity small and decentralized, the future of the frequency inverter to adapt to such new energy sources, both high efficiency, but also low consumption. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/ato-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="ATO frequency inverter" width="334" height="300" /></p> <p>Now power electronics technology, microelectronics technology, and modern control technology are at an alarming rate, frequency control transmission technology has also made rapid progress, this progress is concentrated in the large capacity of the AC speed control device, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">high performance and multi-functional frequency converter</a>, structure of the miniaturization and so on.</p> <p>Frequency converter is also widely used in transmission, lifting, extrusion machine tools, and other machinery and equipment control fields, it can improve the level of technology and product quality, reduce the impact of the equipment and noise, and prolong the service life of the equipment. The use of frequency conversion speed control, so that the mechanical system is simplified, the operation and control are more convenient, and some can even change the original process specification, thus improving the function of the whole equipment.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Below is the Inverter shop's inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="“1”" width="“100%”" cellspacing="“0”" cellpadding="“5”"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Phase</strong></td> <td><strong>Product</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>USD</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="6"><strong>Single Phase</strong></td> <td>0.4 kW Single Phase Output Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-4kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0004</a></td> <td>162.46</td> </tr> <tr> <td>0.75 kW Single Phase Output Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0007</a></td> <td>195.82</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1.5 kW Single Phase Output Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0015</a></td> <td>243.08</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2.2 kW Single Phase Output Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0022</a></td> <td>379.23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3.7 kW Single Phase Output Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3-7kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0037</a></td> <td>649.59</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5.5 kW Single Phase Output Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0055</a></td> <td>996.86</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="8"><strong>Single to Three Phase</strong></td> <td>0.4 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-4kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0004</a></td> <td>149.10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>0.75 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0007</a></td> <td>159.32</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1.5 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0015</a></td> <td>183.16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2.2 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0022</a></td> <td>238.14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3.7 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3-7kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0037</a></td> <td>294.31</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5.5 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0055</a></td> <td>697.14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7.5 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0075</a></td> <td>992.18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11 kW Single Phase to Three Phase Frequency Inverter</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/11kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0110</a></td> <td>1453.95</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="19"><strong>Three Phase</strong></td> <td>0.75 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0007G</a></td> <td>206.49</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1.5 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0015G</a></td> <td>218.41</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2.2 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0022G</a></td> <td>280.48</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3.7 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3-7kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0037G</a></td> <td>293.51</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5.5 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0055G</a></td> <td>415.08</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7.5 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0075G</a></td> <td>463.25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/11kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0110G</a></td> <td>634.44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0150G</a></td> <td>697.14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>18.5 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/18-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0185G</a></td> <td>992.18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>22 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/22kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0220G</a></td> <td>1,264.30</td> </tr> <tr> <td>30 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0300G</a></td> <td>1,497.31</td> </tr> <tr> <td>37 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/37kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0370G</a></td> <td>1,781.14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>45 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/45kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0450G</a></td> <td>2,193.10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>55 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/55kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0550G</a></td> <td>2,591.20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>75 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/75kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0750G</a></td> <td>3,197.41</td> </tr> <tr> <td>90 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/90kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0900G</a></td> <td>3741.6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>110 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/110kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T1100G</a></td> <td>4,882.54</td> </tr> <tr> <td>160 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/160kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T1600G</a></td> <td>6,979.36</td> </tr> <tr> <td>220 kW Frequency Inverter, 3 Phase</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/220kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T2200G</a></td> <td>9813.41</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h3>Purchase Recommendations</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Power Requirements:</strong> Determine the range of power required by your motor and then select the appropriate frequency converter. Do not purchase an overly large or underpowered model.</li> <li><strong>Brand Reputation:</strong> Find out the reputation and user reviews of different brands and choose a reliable manufacturer. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter online shop</a> is an online branch of ATO Inc, founded in 2010 specializing in the sales and technical service of power inverter products. We are dedicated to providing green power solutions including solar inverters, frequency converters, solar panels, generators, and other green energy products. Each inverter product is manufactured to the highest quality standards.</li> <li><strong>Additional Services:</strong> Consider additional costs such as installation, training, and maintenance contracts to ensure your system is up and running and supported.</li> <li><strong>Technical Support:</strong> Ensure that your supplier provides good after-sales technical support to address potential problems and maintenance needs.</li> </ul> <p>When choosing an inverter, consider performance, quality, price, and maintainability. Choosing the right inverter for your specific needs and budget will help improve equipment efficiency, reduce energy costs, and extend equipment life.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:512 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-we-need-a-frequency-inverter Why Do We Need a Frequency Inverter? <p>The frequency inverter is a power control equipment that applies frequency conversion technology and microelectronics technology to control AC motors by changing the frequency inverter of the motor's working power supply. The frequency converter can realize precise motor speed control by adjusting the voltage and frequency of motor input. Frequency inverter plays a key role in industrial, commercial, and domestic applications, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">the inverter shop</a> will explain in detail why we need frequency inverters.</p> <p>The frequency inverter mainly consists of a rectifier (AC to DC), filter, inverter (DC to AC), braking unit, drive unit, detection unit microprocessor unit, and so on. Frequency converter relies on the internal IGBT on and off to adjust the output power supply voltage and frequency, according to the actual needs of the motor to provide the required power supply voltage, and then achieve the purpose of energy saving and speed regulation, with the increasing degree of industrial automation, the frequency converter has also been very widely used.</p> <h2>Energy Saving and Efficiency</h2> <p>A major reason is that frequency inverters can significantly improve the energy efficiency of the motor. In traditional motor control systems, motors usually run at a constant speed, but very often the load on the motor is constantly changing. This leads to wasted energy as the motor consumes additional energy to maintain a constant speed.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/ato-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="ATO frequency inverter" width="334" height="300" /></p> <p>Frequency inverters allow the motor to adjust its speed as needed to match the actual load demand. This means that the motor will only use as much energy as is required, resulting in lower energy costs and less negative impact on the environment. Frequency converters smooth the starting current of the motor, reducing inrush currents and voltage fluctuations in the power system and avoiding transient voltage drops on the grid. That helps to reduce load fluctuations in the grid and improves grid stability and reliability.</p> <h2>Load Adaptability</h2> <p>In many applications, load requirements change over time. For example, a pump may need to operate at different flow requirements, or a fan may need to operate at different airflow requirements. Frequency inverters can dynamically adjust the speed of the motor to meet different load requirements. The adaptability makes the system more flexible and provides better performance and control. The frequency inverter is highly programmable and can be adjusted and configured to meet specific needs. This way allows operators to better control the system and achieve greater safety.</p> <h2>Energy Saving and Consumption Reduction</h2> <p>The frequency converter can dynamically adjust the motor speed and load as needed to adapt to the actual work requirements. Frequency inverters avoids unnecessary energy waste and significantly reduces power consumption. Especially under constant load, significant energy savings can be achieved by reducing the motor's operating speed. By reducing energy wastage, the frequency converter helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the negative impact on the environment. It is in line with sustainability objectives and environmental regulations.</p> <p>Conventional motor systems typically produce high levels of noise and vibration when running below rated speeds, or when starting and stopping. Frequency inverters allow motors to run at low speeds. By using frequency inverters, smooth starting and stopping can be achieved, which reduces noise and vibration, and improves the comfort and safety of the working environment.</p> <h2>Soft Start and Stop</h2> <p>Conventional motor starting and stopping usually require sudden application or cut-off of current, which can lead to shocks and wear and tear on the motor and mechanical systems. Frequency inverters allow motors to realize soft starting and stopping. By reducing the shock and stress during motor starting and gradually increasing or decreasing the speed of the motor, which reduces shock and wear, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency converters</a> can extend the life of motors and mechanical equipment. Inverters also reduce motor overheating and wear, which means lower maintenance costs for equipment and mechanical systems because motors are replaced and repaired less frequently.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-converter-work.jpg" alt="Frequency converter work" width="500" height="400" /></p> <h2>Precise Speed Control</h2> <p>In many industrial applications, precise speed and torque control are critical. Frequency inverters enable precise motor speed control, making production processes more stable and controllable. It is important for machining, production, and transportation processes that require high precision. In some applications, very precise speed control is required, such as robots on production lines, medical equipment, and laboratory instruments. Frequency inverters can provide highly accurate speed control, enabling precision operations and production in these applications.</p> <h2>Automation Control</h2> <p>Modern frequency inverters are designed for high reliability and durability and can operate in a wide range of industrial environments. The frequency converters often feature a wide range of protection features to ensure the safe operation of motors and equipment. Frequency inverters are integrated with modern automation systems and can be remotely monitored and controlled via a computer or PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). This makes the production process more intelligent and automated. Frequency inverters can be applied to various types of motors, including induction, synchronous, and permanent magnet synchronous motors. Frequency converters can also be used for different applications such as pumps, fans, compressors, conveyor belts, and winders.</p> <p>All in all, frequency inverters are indispensable equipment for modern industrial and commercial applications to improve energy efficiency, production quality, and equipment reliability. Also, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-does-frequency-inverter-protect-the-motor">the use of frequency inverters</a> helps to reduce the impact on the power grid. The importance of inverters is increasing with the growing concern for the sustainability of energy and resources. Frequency converters are an indispensable technology in modern industry and commerce, helping to meet the requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection while improving productivity and automation.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:511 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-hybrid-solar-inverter How to Choose a Hybrid Solar Inverter? <p>Choosing a hybrid solar inverter is an important decision as it directly affects the performance and reliability of the solar system. Hybrid solar inverters are designed to convert the DC power generated by solar panels into AC power that can be used for home or industrial purposes. When choosing a hybrid solar inverter, there are several key factors to consider to ensure that your system will operate efficiently and meet your needs.</p> <p>The advent of hybrid solar inverters has made solar systems more flexible and intelligent. They help to fully utilize solar energy resources, reduce reliance on the traditional grid, lower energy costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also providing greater control over energy and financial returns. In the future, as solar technology continues to evolve and battery technology improves, hybrid solar inverters will play an even more important role in the energy sector, promoting the adoption and popularization of sustainable energy.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="350" height="350" /></p> <h3>Output Power</h3> <p>First, determine the total output power and total power requirements of your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-components-of-a-solar-power-system">solar power system</a>. This includes the total capacity of the solar panels and the maximum power you want the hybrid solar inverter to be able to handle. The rated output power of the hybrid solar inverter must be large enough to meet the power requirements generated by your solar panels. Typically, you need to make sure that the rated output power of your hybrid solar inverter is greater than or equal to the peak capacity of your system, and that the hybrid solar inverter you choose can meet these power requirements to fully utilize your solar system.</p> <h3>Input Voltage Range</h3> <p>Different models of hybrid solar inverters may have different input voltage ranges. Check the operating voltage range of your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> and make sure the hybrid solar inverter you choose supports this range. Some hybrid solar inverters have multiple MPPTs to accommodate systems with multiple cells in series. You need to make sure that the input voltage range of the hybrid solar inverter matches the output voltage range of your solar panels. This helps ensure that the hybrid solar inverter will operate properly in all weather conditions.</p> <h3>Output Voltage and Current</h3> <p>Determine the grid voltage and frequency standards for your area, and then choose a hybrid solar inverter whose output voltage and frequency match those standards. This will ensure that your solar system will connect seamlessly to the grid. Ensure that the output voltage and current of the hybrid solar inverter match the requirements of your electrical system to efficiently deliver power to your home grid or battery storage system.</p> <h3>Functions and Features</h3> <p>The efficiency of your hybrid solar inverter is critical to the performance of your system. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">A more efficient hybrid solar inverter</a> will convert more solar power into usable power, reducing energy losses. Choosing a hybrid solar inverter with high efficiency can reduce energy costs. Hybrid solar inverters often come with a few extra features. Some hybrid solar inverters have built-in monitoring and data acquisition features that allow you to monitor the performance of your solar system in real-time. This is important for identifying and solving problems promptly, so you may want to consider features such as communication interfaces, smart grid capabilities, backup power support, and more. Choose the appropriate features for your needs.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/hybrid-solar-inverter-system.jpg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter system" width="600" height="400" /></p> <h3>Quality and Reliability</h3> <p>Look for a hybrid solar inverter manufacturer with a good reputation and a long warranty. Solar inverters often need to run for long periods, so choosing a reliable manufacturer reduces the risk of repairs and replacements. Choosing a reliable manufacturer ensures that the hybrid solar inverter you purchase will be able to operate for a long time in different climates.</p> <h3>Installation and Maintenance</h3> <p>Ensure that the hybrid solar inverter you choose is easy to install and compatible with other system components such as battery storage systems, monitoring equipment, and grid connections. Ensure that the selected hybrid solar inverter is compatible with your solar panels, battery storage system, and other components. It is also important to consider the installation and maintenance requirements of hybrid solar inverters; some inverters may require more frequent maintenance, while others are easier to install and maintain.</p> <p>In the end, choosing a hybrid solar inverter requires a combination of these factors and consultation with a professional solar system installer or engineer to ensure that the inverter you choose is fully compatible with your solar system and can operate reliably under a wide range of conditions. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> can provide you with a selection of high-quality hybrid solar inverters and professional consulting services. Inverter.com can provide you with high-quality hybrid solar inverters to choose from and professional consulting services, and if you have any problems during installation or use, our professional engineers will provide you with assistance so that you can maximize the performance and reliability of your solar system and have a satisfying experience.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:510 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-voltage-converter What are the Advantages of Voltage Converter? <p>Voltage converters, as an important component in electronic circuits, have many significant advantages, and voltage converters play a key role in various applications. Voltage converters enable efficient utilization of electrical energy. In power systems, voltage often needs to be converted from one level to another to accommodate the needs of different devices.Voltage converters can reduce high voltages to a level suitable for household use or raise low voltages for use by industrial equipment. In this way, voltage converters help to reduce the wastage of power and increase the efficiency of energy utilization.</p> <p>Voltage converters have the ability to stabilize the power supply. Voltage fluctuations are unavoidable in power grids, but for many devices, a stable supply voltage is critical. Voltage converters can stabilize the power supply by monitoring the input voltage and adjusting the output voltage to ensure proper operation of the equipment. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter. com</a> will explore the benefits of voltage converters and the importance of voltage converters in different fields.</p> <h2>Power Adaptability</h2> <p>One of the most obvious benefits of voltage converters is the power adaptability they provide. Different devices and systems may require power supplies of different voltages, and a voltage converter can easily adjust the voltage to the desired level. This adaptability allows devices to operate in different regions and under different power conditions without having to worry about voltage mismatches.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/500-watt-voltage-converter-110120v-to-220240v.jpg" alt="500 Watt voltage converter" width="330" height="236" /></p> <h2>Portability of Mobile Devices</h2> <p>In the field of mobile devices, the advantages of voltage converters are obvious. Many mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, need to be charged, but power voltage standards can vary from region to region and country to country. With <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">a voltage converter</a>, users can easily use their devices while traveling internationally without having to worry about power compatibility issues. In addition, voltage converters provide the proper voltage for these devices to ensure they are charged safely and efficiently.</p> <h2>Flexibility for Industrial Automation</h2> <p>Voltage converters play a key role in industrial automation systems. These systems often involve a variety of different types of equipment, which may require power at different voltages. Voltage converters can help ensure that the various components of the overall system are able to function properly without having to make complex power adjustments or replace equipment. This flexibility saves time and costs and increases productivity.</p> <h2>Energy Savings and Efficiency</h2> <p>Voltage converters can also improve the efficiency of energy use. When a device requires a low voltage supply and the power supply is providing a high voltage, a voltage converter can convert the excess voltage into heat to prevent damage to the device. This helps reduce energy waste and extends the life of the device. In addition, some voltage converters have a high-efficiency design that reduces energy consumption and lowers energy costs.</p> <h2>Protection of Electronic Devices</h2> <p>Voltage fluctuations and power problems can cause damage to electronic equipment. Voltage converters can act as power stabilizers, ensuring that devices always receive a stable supply voltage. This helps protect devices from voltage spikes, voltage drops, and other power problems. By reducing the potential impact of these issues on equipment, voltage converters can extend the life of equipment and reduce repair costs.</p> <h2>Solar and Wind Energy Applications</h2> <p>Voltage converters also offer important advantages in the field of renewable energy. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-benefits-can-solar-energy-bring-to-our-daily-life">Solar energy</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-a-wind-solar-hybrid-system">wind energy systems</a> typically generate unstable supply voltages, which need to be converted to a stable supply voltage for powering the grid or for storage. Voltage converters play a key role in these applications, helping to ensure that energy is efficiently transferred from the renewable energy system to the power network or storage system.</p> <h2>Communications and Telecommunications</h2> <p>The benefits of voltage converters are equally important in the field of communications and telecommunications. Communication equipment often requires power supplies of different voltages to meet the needs of different applications. Voltage converters ensure that these devices are able to function properly and provide the appropriate voltage level when needed. This is critical to maintaining the stability and reliability of communication networks.</p> <h2>Medical Equipment</h2> <p>Medical devices often require very high power quality and supply voltage to ensure patient safety. The use of voltage converters in medical devices helps to provide a stable and high-quality supply voltage to ensure the proper functioning of these devices. This is critical for medical diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring devices, which require an accurate and reliable power supply.</p> <p>Voltage converters offer important benefits in a variety of areas. Voltage converters provide power adaptability, portability, flexibility, energy efficiency, device protection, and a key role in areas such as renewable energy, communications, and medical devices. As technology continues to evolve, voltage converters will continue to play a key role in different industries, helping to improve system reliability, efficiency, and performance.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:508 https://www.inverter.com/portable-solar-panel-working-principle Portable Solar Panel Working Principle <p>With the increasing demand for energy and growing environmental concerns, solar energy is attracting attention as a clean, renewable energy resource. Portable solar panels are an outstanding achievement of modern technology, and with their compact and lightweight design, they provide a convenient way to get power for outdoor activities, camping, hiking, or emergencies.</p> <p>The working principle behind these portable solar panels is based on solar cell technology, which is used to fulfill the charging needs of various electronic devices by converting sunlight into electricity. As an important application of solar technology, portable solar panels have become an important source of energy for outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and emergencies. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter online shop</a> will introduce you to the working principle of portable solar panels and their application in various scenarios.</p> <h2>Structure</h2> <p>Portable solar panels, also known as portable photovoltaic panels, are devices that convert the sun's energy directly into electricity. Its basic working principle is the photovoltaic effect, which means that when sunlight irradiates a semiconductor material, photons will excite the electrons in the material, causing them to jump to a state with a higher energy level, thus generating an electric current.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Photovoltaic Materials:</strong> The core of portable solar panels is photovoltaic materials. Common photovoltaic materials include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and other organic materials. The choice of these materials affects the efficiency and cost of the panel.</li> <li><strong>Monocrystalline Silicon:</strong> High efficiency and long life, but higher manufacturing costs.</li> <li><strong>Polycrystalline Silicon:</strong> Lower cost, but slightly lower efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Amorphous Silicon:</strong> Suitable for flexible panels, but with relatively low efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Organic Materials:</strong> Lightweight and suitable for flexible panels, but efficiency is usually low.</li> </ul> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="557" height="232" /></p> <h2>Photovoltaic Effect</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Absorption of Photons:</strong> Photons from sunlight are absorbed by the photovoltaic material and excite electrons within the material.</li> <li><strong>Formation of Electron-hole Pairs:</strong> The excited electrons leave their atomic orbitals, leaving behind a "hole".</li> <li><strong>Electronic Drift:</strong> The electrons and holes begin to move through the PV material.</li> <li><strong>Current Generation:</strong> As the electrons and holes move through the material, an electric current is formed, which generates electrical energy.</li> </ul> <h2>How It Works</h2> <p>Portable solar panels usually consist of multiple solar cells that are connected by specific circuits and components to achieve higher voltage and current output.<br />Arrangement of portable solar panels: Portable solar panels typically utilize multiple solar cells arranged on a plate or flexible substrate. The cells of the portable solar panel are connected by metal wires to form a battery pack. The arrangement can be in series or parallel to increase the output voltage or current as needed.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Solar Light Irradiation:</strong> When <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">the portable solar panel</a> is exposed to sunlight, sunlight strikes the surface of the photovoltaic material on the portable solar panel. The photovoltaic material absorbs the energy from the sunlight and begins to produce electron and hole pairs.</li> <li><strong>Current Generation:</strong> Each solar cell unit generates an electric current and transfers it to the circuit of the portable solar panel through a connecting wire. In the circuit, the current can be controlled by rectifiers and regulators to ensure a stable output of voltage and current.</li> <li><strong>Panel Output:</strong> The output of a portable solar panel is usually direct current. This current can be used to directly power devices such as charging mobile devices, electronics, batteries, etc. It can also be used to charge battery storage devices to power them at night or on cloudy days.</li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-folding-panel-applications.jpg" alt="Portable solar folding panel applications" width="800" height="510" /></p> <h2>Applications</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Outdoor Activities:</strong> Portable solar panels can provide power to outdoor enthusiasts for charging devices such as smartphones, tablets, GPS, etc., ensuring that you can stay connected and navigate during outdoor activities.</li> <li><strong>Camping and Traveling:</strong> During camping and traveling, portable solar panels can charge lighting devices, rice cookers, small refrigerators, etc. to enhance the comfort of the camping experience.</li> <li><strong>Emergency Situations:</strong> In emergencies, portable solar panels can provide power to disaster areas, charging medical equipment, communication equipment, and lighting equipment to provide necessary help.</li> <li><strong>Power Supply in Rural Areas:</strong> Portable solar panels can be used in rural areas to provide power to remote areas for lighting, charging, small machinery, and other uses to improve the quality of life.</li> </ol> <p>Portable solar panels work based on the photovoltaic effect, providing electricity by converting sunlight into electricity. Portable solar panels play an important role as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar energy products</a> that provide a clean, renewable source of electricity for outdoor activities, camping, traveling, and emergencies. As technology continues to advance, the efficiency and mobility of portable solar panels will continue to improve, providing sustainable power solutions for a wider range of applications.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:509 https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter-price-list Voltage Converter Price List <p>Voltage converters, an integral part of modern electronic equipment, play an important role by converting the output voltage of electrical energy into different voltage levels suitable for various applications. Whether for household appliances, mobile devices, or industrial use, voltage converters are tasked with stabilizing the power supply. However, several factors need to be taken into consideration when purchasing a voltage converter, with price being a crucial consideration as it directly affects the balance between budget and performance.</p> <p>In today's market, there is a wide range of voltage converters available and hence consumers need to carefully compare the various options while choosing the right product. Below you will find a voltage converter price list from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter shop</a> that covers the typical price range of different brands and models to help you get a better understanding of the market.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Inverter Voltage Converters Price List</strong></h3> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>AC Voltage Step-up/Down</strong></td> <td><strong>Product Weight</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>500 Watt</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-voltage-converter">ATO-VC-500</a></td> <td>$87.22&nbsp;</td> <td>110/120v to 220/240v</td> <td>2.65 kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000 Watt</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-voltage-converter">ATO-VC-1000</a></td> <td>$113.53&nbsp;</td> <td>220/240v to 110/120v</td> <td>3.8 kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2000 Watt</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000w-voltage-converter">ATO-VC-2000</a></td> <td>$153.82&nbsp;</td> <td>110/120v to 220/240v</td> <td>7 kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3000 Watt</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000w-voltage-converter">ATO-VC-3000</a></td> <td>$182.77&nbsp;</td> <td>220/240v to 110/120v</td> <td>8.6 kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5000 Watt</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000w-voltage-converter">ATO-VC-5000</a></td> <td>$252.69&nbsp;</td> <td>110/120v to 220/240v</td> <td>13 kg</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2>Developments and Future Trends</h2> <p><strong>Highly Efficient Energy Conversion:</strong> High efficiency is one of the key objectives of future voltage converters. Through the use of new semiconductor materials, topologies, and innovative control algorithms, the efficiency of voltage converters can be increased and energy waste can be reduced, thus better meeting the needs of green energy and sustainable development.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1000-watt-voltage-converter.jpeg" alt="1000 Watt voltage converter" width="398" height="398" /></p> <p><strong>Miniaturization and Integration:</strong> As mobile devices, IoT, and wearable technologies continue to evolve, voltage converters need to be more miniaturized and integrated to fit the space constraints of smaller devices. Three-dimensional packaging, integrated sense circuits, and power management units will be the key technologies of the future.</p> <p><strong>Wide Input Voltage Range:</strong> Voltage converters need to accommodate voltage fluctuations from different power sources, from solar panels to batteries in wearable devices. Future voltage converters will have a wider input voltage range to provide greater flexibility and reliability.</p> <p><strong>Intelligent Control and Monitoring:</strong> Future <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">voltage converters will have more powerful</a> intelligent control and monitoring features that can adjust the output voltage in real-time to adapt to different load conditions and monitor system performance. This will improve the reliability and stability of the equipment.</p> <p><strong>Sustainable Energy Integration:</strong> As renewable energy sources continue to increase, voltage converters will play a key role in areas such as solar, wind, and e-mobility for efficient energy use and storage.</p> <p>It is important to note that purchasing a voltage converter can be influenced by several factors, including brand reputation, power rating, special features (such as overload protection, short circuit protection, etc.), and market supply and demand conditions. Therefore, when purchasing a voltage converter, you need to consider its performance and reliability in addition to its price to ensure that it meets specific needs.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether you are looking for a voltage converter for domestic, mobile, or industrial use, it is recommended that you research the market carefully and consult a professional before making a purchase, and Inverter.com can help you to ensure that the product you choose will safely and effectively meet your power needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:507 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-we-need-micro-inverters Why Do We Need Micro Inverters? <p>With the growing global demand for energy and increasing environmental concerns, renewable energy has emerged as an important option to address these challenges. The development of renewable energy resources such as solar and wind power not only reduces dependence on finite fossil fuels but also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. In the field of renewable energy, solar power systems and wind power systems are the two most common forms.</p> <p>However, inverters are required to convert the electrical output of these systems into electricity that can be used for domestic, industrial, and commercial purposes. With the rapid development and popularization of renewable energy sources, micro inverters have become an integral part of modern energy systems. These small but powerful devices play a key role in converting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into electricity.</p> <h2>The Rise of Renewable Energy</h2> <p>As climate change and energy security issues continue to worsen, renewable energy is gaining traction and support worldwide. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are seen as key ways to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, and reduce dependence on finite fossil fuels. As a result, many countries and regions have adopted policy measures to encourage the development of renewable energy, including tax incentives, subsidies, and the reduction of market access barriers.</p> <p><strong>Environmental Issues:</strong> Environmental issues such as climate change, air pollution, and water scarcity have attracted widespread attention. Renewable energy is a clean, low-carbon form of energy that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help mitigate climate change.<br /><strong>Abundant Resources:</strong> Solar and wind energy are abundant resources that are available almost globally. The wide distribution of these resources makes renewable energy a potential in a wide range of geographical conditions.<br /><strong>Declining Costs:</strong> The costs of solar and wind energy are gradually declining as technology continues to improve and economies of scale are realized. This makes renewable energy more viable and competitive.</p> <h2>Advantages of Micro Inverters</h2> <ul> <li><strong>System Efficiency:</strong> Micro inverters allow each power source to operate independently, maximizing system efficiency. If a problem occurs with one component of the micro inverter, it will not affect the performance of the entire system.</li> <li><strong>Real-time Monitoring:</strong> Micro inverters often have real-time monitoring capabilities to track the performance of each power source. This helps detect and resolve problems promptly, improving system reliability.</li> <li><strong>Easily Expandable:</strong> Renewable energy systems can be easily expanded using micro inverters. Simply add new solar panels or wind turbines and connect the micro inverters.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/350-watt-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="350 Watt solar-micro inverter" width="382" height="302" /></li> <li><strong>Adaptable:</strong> Micro inverters can be adapted to the conditions of each power source to maximize power conversion efficiency. This adaptability is important for a wide range of environmental conditions and energy resources.</li> <li><strong>Higher Energy Yield:</strong> <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">Micro inverters can provide higher energy yield</a> than traditional central inverters because they can maximize the performance of each solar panel or wind turbine.</li> <li><strong>Long-term Maintainability:</strong> Micro inverters typically have a longer lifespan and are easy to maintain. This means lower overall operating costs for the system.</li> <li><strong>Reduced Risk of System Failure:</strong> Since micro inverters can quickly detect and isolate faults, the risk of system failure is greatly reduced.</li> </ul> <h2>What Micro Inverters Do</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Maximize Power Generation Efficiency:</strong> Micro inverters can optimize the current conversion according to the actual performance of each solar panel or wind turbine, thus ensuring that the overall efficiency of the system is maximized. This helps to maximize the use of renewable energy and reduce waste.</li> <li><strong>Fault Isolation:</strong> Each solar panel or wind turbine is connected to a micro inverter, which means that if one component fails, it will not affect the performance of the entire system. This fault isolation capability increases the reliability and stability of the system.</li> <li><strong>Real-time Monitoring and Management:</strong> Micro inverters often have real-time monitoring capabilities that can track the performance of each component, identify problems, and provide data to aid in system maintenance and troubleshooting. This is important to ensure the long-term operation of the system.</li> <li><strong>Safety:</strong> Micro inverters ensure safety by quickly disconnecting power output in the event of a system blackout or failure. This helps prevent fire or other potential hazards.</li> <li><strong>Modular Design:</strong> The modular design of the micro inverters makes system installation and maintenance flexible and simple. If the energy system needs to be expanded, simply add more solar panels and micro inverters.</li> </ol> <h2>Importance of Renewable Energy</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Increased System Efficiency:</strong> Micro inverters convert DC power to AC power, enabling renewable energy systems to operate in a wide range of power network conditions. This not only helps to maximize energy use but also improves the overall efficiency of the system. Efficient energy conversion means more power is available for domestic, industrial, and commercial needs.</li> <li><strong>Reduced Energy Losses:</strong> Conventional central inverters typically result in energy losses on the transmission line, as they are required to transfer power from the generating source to the inverter's location. Micro inverters reduce this loss and improve the overall efficiency of the system by converting power to AC and doing so near the source of generation.</li> <li><strong>System Reliability:</strong> The distributed design of micro inverters enhances the reliability of renewable energy systems. If a micro inverter fails, it only affects the individual generation sources associated with it, not the entire system. This reduces the risk of system failure to the power supply.</li> <li><strong>Monitoring and Maintenance:</strong> Micro inverters are often equipped with real-time monitoring to track the performance of each generation source. This makes it easier to maintain the system, detecting and resolving problems promptly, and ensuring long-term system reliability.</li> <li><strong>Scalability:</strong> Micro inverters support easy expansion of the system. If more solar panels or wind turbines need to be added, simply add the appropriate number of micro inverters. This allows renewable energy systems to be quickly expanded as needed.</li> <li><strong>Adaptation to Different Environments:</strong> Different environmental conditions and energy resources in different regions allow the micro inverters to be adapted to maximize energy conversion efficiency. This adaptability makes renewable energy systems more flexible and applicable.</li> </ul> <p>As a key component of renewable energy systems, micro inverters provide the necessary support for the popularization and diffusion of renewable energy. They improve system efficiency, reduce energy losses, enhance system reliability, and facilitate system monitoring and maintenance. As technology continues to evolve and innovate, micro inverters will continue to play a key role in advancing the renewable energy industry, reducing dependence on finite fossil fuels, and contributing to the environment and future energy supply.</p> <p>By continually improving micro inverter technology, we can make better use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power and realize a more sustainable energy future. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter shop</a> offers high-quality micro inverters with different power, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter">300watt solar micro inverters</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1400-watt-solar-micro-inverter">1400 watt solar micro inverters</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2800-watt-solar-micro-inverter">2800 watt solar micro inverters</a>, etc. If you are interested, please click here to buy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:506 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-we-need-off-grid-inverters Why Do We Need Off Grid Inverters? <p>In today's society, electricity has become an integral part of our lives. Whether it is used for lighting, heating, cooling, communication, or industrial production, electricity is one of the driving forces of modern civilization. However, erratic power supply, rising energy prices, and the constant impact on the environment have led to a search for more sustainable and independent power solutions.Off-grid inverters are part of these challenges, and off-grid inverters offer a unique way to meet the electricity demand and reduce the reliance on traditional power networks. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will provide you with a detailed overview of why we need off-grid inverters and their importance in the modern world.</p> <h2>Instability of Electricity Supply</h2> <p>Instability of power supply is a common problem, especially in remote areas or places prone to natural disasters. Conventional power networks are susceptible to damage from natural disasters such as storms, fires, and floods, resulting in power interruptions that affect life and production. In addition, equipment failures, maintenance work, and planned outages by power companies can lead to instability in power supply. Off-grid inverters can act as a backup power source in these situations, ensuring a continuous supply of electricity.</p> <h2>Energy Price Volatility</h2> <p>Fluctuations in conventional electricity prices have become a global problem. Rising oil and gas prices, as well as environmental concerns about fossil fuels, have led to a search for alternative energy sources. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are becoming increasingly popular, but energy production from renewable sources can also be affected by natural factors such as weather conditions. Off-grid inverters can capture and store these renewable energy sources to provide stable power when needed while reducing dependence on fluctuating energy market prices.</p> <h2>Environmental Impact</h2> <p>Traditional methods of electricity production, particularly coal and natural gas-fired power plants, have serious environmental impacts. Conventional electricity emits large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change and reduced air quality. In addition, the extraction and transportation of energy sources such as coal-fired and nuclear power can cause damage to ecosystems. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">The off-grid inverters</a> can help individuals and businesses reduce their need for conventional electricity, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting more sustainable energy.</p> <h2>Experiencing Power Outages</h2> <p>Power outages are a common problem, especially when natural disasters (e.g., storms, floods, earthquakes) or power system failures occur. Normal life and work activities are severely affected when the grid is cut off from the supply of electricity. This is one of the prime applications of off-grid inverters. Off-grid inverters convert electricity stored in batteries to AC power to maintain basic power needs such as lighting, communications, and electronic equipment operation.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-solar-inverters.jpg" alt="Off grid solar inverters" width="800" height="320" /></p> <h2>Isolated Areas and Outdoor Activities</h2> <p>Some areas are far from cities and difficult to connect to the main power grid. For example, areas such as mountains, deserts, villages, and islands may not have a reliable power supply. Off-grid inverters can help residents and businesses in these places to access a reliable power supply, improving quality of life and work efficiency. In addition, off-grid inverters can provide people with the power they need to charge, light, and operate electronic devices during wilderness activities such as camping, mountain climbing, and hiking.</p> <h2>Renewable Energy Systems</h2> <p>Renewable energy systems, such as solar cells and wind turbines, have become an important way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions. However, one of the main challenges of systems with off-grid inverters is their instability, as solar and wind resources are subject to weather and seasonal changes. Off-grid inverters can help smooth the output of renewable energy systems. Off-grid inverters can convert DC power generated by solar panels or wind turbines into AC power that can be used to power the grid.</p> <h2>Energy Efficiency and Self-sufficiency</h2> <p>Off-grid inverters are also widely used in buildings and homes to achieve energy efficiency and self-sufficiency goals. By combining renewable energy sources, such as solar, with energy storage systems, such as batteries, and inverters, buildings can reduce their dependence on the traditional grid while not only lowering energy costs. Systems with off-grid inverters can also increase energy utilization by storing excess energy in batteries for use at night or during inclement weather.</p> <h2>Commercial and Industrial Applications</h2> <p>Commercial and industrial sectors require a stable and reliable power supply to ensure continuity of production and operations. Off-grid inverters play a key role in these environments, especially in factories, mines, and agricultural sites far from urban centers. Off-grid inverters can help these businesses solve the problem of unstable or unavailable power supply, thus increasing productivity.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Emergency Relief and Military Applications:</strong> A reliable power supply is vital in emergency relief and military operations. Off-grid inverters can be used to provide power to support communications, medical equipment, lighting, and other critical missions. Whether it's a rescue operation following a natural disaster or in battlefield conditions, off-grid inverters can help rescue teams and military units stay in touch and carry out their missions.</li> <li><strong>Electric Transportation Charging:</strong> With the popularity of electric transportation, people need convenient charging facilities. Off-grid inverters can be used to build electric vehicle charging stations away from the main power grid. Charging stations with off-grid inverters can provide fast charging for electric vehicles, helping to promote sustainable modes of transportation.</li> <li><strong>Eliminating Voltage and Frequency Instability:</strong> Certain areas may often suffer from voltage and frequency instability, which can impair the proper functioning of electronic devices and machines. Off-grid inverters can solve this problem by converting unstable power to stable AC power, protecting equipment from damage.</li> </ul> <p>Off-grid inverters play an important role in a variety of situations, from responding to power outages to supporting renewable energy systems to providing a reliable power supply. Off-grid inverters not only help to improve the quality of life but also have a positive impact on the environment and energy sustainability.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:504 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-off-grid-inverter-work How Does Off Grid Inverter Work? <p>An off-grid inverter is one of the key components in a solar electric system. Off-grid inverters allow the DC power generated by solar panels to be converted into AC power that can be used for household appliances, and the excess power can be sent back to the grid or stored in batteries. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">The inverter shop</a> will provide a detailed description of how an off-grid inverter works, including its main components and the process of operation.</p> <h2>Basic Principle</h2> <p>The off-grid inverter is one of the core components of a solar power system. The main task of the off-grid inverter is to convert the direct current power generated by the solar panels into alternating current power for use by household appliances. The working principle of off-grid inverter can be divided into the following key steps.</p> <ul> <li><strong>DC Energy Harvesting:</strong> Solar panels convert sunlight into DC energy through the photovoltaic effect. This DC energy has a variable voltage and current, depending on the characteristics of the solar panel and the light intensity.</li> <li><strong>DC Energy Input:</strong> First, the solar panels deliver the generated DC energy to the input of the off-grid inverter. This process usually involves the use of a technique called maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to ensure maximum electrical output from the solar panels.</li> <li><strong>Inverter Conversion:</strong> Once the DC power enters the off-grid inverter, the main task of the inverter is to convert this DC power into standard AC power. This is accomplished through a series of electronic components and switches, the most important of which are the inverter's power semiconductor switches, such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors or silicon carbide transistors.</li> <li><strong>AC Power Output:</strong> The output of an off-grid inverter is converted AC electrical energy, and the voltage, frequency, and waveform of the off-grid inverter are usually matched to the standards of the local grid. This allows the off-grid inverter output to be connected directly to the home electrical system for use by electrical devices.</li> <li><strong>Power Management:</strong> Off-grid inverters also typically include power management features to monitor and optimize the performance of the solar system. This includes tracking the output of the solar panels, managing the energy storage system (e.g., batteries), and flowing excess power back to or from the grid to meet household needs.</li> </ul> <h2>Key Components of an Off Grid Inverter</h2> <p>Off-grid inverters are typically made up of several key components that work together to fulfill their function. The following are the main components of an off-grid inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-inverter-system.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter system" width="771" height="469" /></p> <ol> <li><strong>DC Input:</strong> This is the input port of the off-grid inverter and is used to connect the solar panels. The DC input of an off-grid inverter usually includes a DC circuit breaker, insulation monitoring, and a DC disconnect switch to ensure the safe operation of the system.</li> <li><strong>MPPT Controller:</strong> A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller is an electronic device used to track the optimal operating point of a solar panel to maximize power extraction. It constantly adjusts the operating point of the off-grid inverter by monitoring the input voltage and current to maximize power output.</li> <li><strong>Inverter Circuit:</strong> The off-grid inverter circuit is the core part of the off-grid inverter, which consists of a series of power semiconductor switches, capacitors, and inductors used to convert DC energy to AC energy. These switches control the flow of electrical energy to produce the desired AC output.</li> <li><strong>Controller:</strong> The controller of the off-grid inverter is its brain and is responsible for monitoring the system status, performing MPPT, managing the batteries (if any), protecting the system from faults and overloads, and enabling communication with other systems.</li> <li><strong>AC Output:</strong> This is the output interface of the off-grid inverter, through which the converted AC energy is supplied to household appliances or the grid. It usually also includes safety features such as overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, and ground fault protection.</li> <li><strong>Data Communication Interface:</strong> Off-grid inverters typically have data communication interfaces that allow for system monitoring and remote control. These interfaces can be connected to a monitoring system or the Internet via wireless technology or a wired connection.</li> </ol> <h2>Work Process</h2> <p>The operating process of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">an off-grid inverter</a> is highly complex and dynamic. The off-grid inverter needs to constantly monitor input conditions and make real-time adjustments to ensure optimal performance. The following is a typical operating process of an off-grid inverter.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Solar Panel Output:</strong> Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into DC electrical energy. The characteristics of this electrical energy depend on the type of solar panel and the light intensity.</li> <li><strong>MPPT Control:</strong> The MPPT controller monitors the output of the solar panel and constantly adjusts the input voltage and current to ensure maximum power is extracted from the panel. This helps to maximize the system efficiency of the off-grid inverter.</li> <li><strong>Inverter Conversion:</strong> The off-grid inverter circuit converts the DC power from the solar panels into AC power. This involves converting the voltage from low-voltage DC to standard AC voltage and generating grid-compliant AC waveforms.</li> <li><strong>Power Management:</strong> The off-grid inverter's controller is responsible for monitoring the flow of power and managing the distribution of power based on household demand, battery status, and grid conditions. If there are batteries in the system, the controller also determines when to store excess power in the batteries for use at night or during low light hours.</li> <li><strong>AC Output:</strong> The off-grid inverter outputs the converted AC energy to home appliances or connects to the grid. In this way, home appliances can use solar power directly, while excess power can flow back into the grid, usually measured and billed through a meter connected to the grid.</li> <li><strong>System Monitoring and Remote Control:</strong> Off-grid inverters are usually equipped with a monitoring system that can monitor system performance in real-time and connect to other systems or the cloud via a data communication interface for remote monitoring and control. This allows the operation of the system to be tracked and optimized at any time.</li> </ul> <p>Overall, off-grid inverters play a crucial role in solar electric energy systems. Off-grid inverters enable the efficient utilization and power supply of renewable energy by converting the DC energy generated by solar panels into AC energy. At the same time, off-grid inverters can also send excess power back to the grid or store it in batteries, improving the reliability and flexibility of the system. Through rational design and control, off-grid inverters can maximize the performance of solar energy systems and reduce dependence on traditional energy sources.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:505 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-advantage-of-off-grid-inverter What is the Advantage of Off Grid Inverter? <p>Off-grid inverters are an important component in solar power systems and have many advantages that make them one of the key technologies in renewable energy systems. By using off-grid inverters, we can reduce our dependence on finite fossil fuel resources, lower carbon emissions, and increase energy independence, bringing positive impacts to both the environment and the economy. Off-grid inverters are not only beneficial to individuals and businesses but also have a positive impact on the global sustainable development goals.</p> <h2>How It Works</h2> <p>An off-grid inverter is a device used to convert DC energy into AC energy, and off-grid inverters operate without the need to be connected to the public grid. Solar panels generate a DC through the photovoltaic effect. This DC is first fed into the off-grid inverter. The off-grid inverter converts the DC into AC and outputs it to the building's power grid.</p> <p>In this way, the solar power system can power the building and also sell excess power back to the grid. In addition to converting solar power to AC, some off-grid inverters can also be used in conjunction with a battery system. This means that excess solar power can be stored in the batteries in case it is needed. Off-grid inverters can manage the flow of electricity to ensure efficient charging and discharging.</p> <h2>Independent Power Generation</h2> <p>Off-grid inverters enable buildings to generate power independently of the public grid. In emergencies, off-grid inverters can operate independently to provide a power supply, which is particularly useful for those in remote or unstable power supply areas, medical facilities, emergency services, and critical infrastructure. In addition, off-grid inverters can also be used in mobile homes, such as campervans or boats, enabling them to be supplied with electricity without a grid connection.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Off grid solar inverter" width="497" height="362" /></p> <h2>Energy Independence</h2> <p>Solar systems using off-grid inverters can increase energy independence. This means that a home or business can reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, thereby lowering energy costs and reducing carbon emissions. Off-grid inverters enable users to supply power independently of the main grid. This is particularly important for those living in remote areas or where the main grid is unstable. Off-grid inverters also provide backup power for emergencies.</p> <h2>Environmentally Friendly</h2> <p>Off-grid inverters are used in conjunction with solar panels, which are a clean source of energy. Off-grid inverters do not produce noise or emit pollutants, which allows <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">the off-grid inverters</a> to be widely used in urban and sensitive environments as well, helping to improve the quality of the environment. As a result, off-grid inverters help reduce the need for fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and helping to combat the problem of climate change.</p> <h2>Renewable Energy Storage</h2> <p>Some off-grid inverters have an energy storage feature that allows them to store excess solar power in a battery. This allows solar systems to continue to supply power at night or on cloudy days, increasing the availability of renewable energy. Off-grid inverters work perfectly with solar photovoltaic and wind power systems to convert renewable energy into usable electricity. This helps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to environmental protection.</p> <h2>Saving on Electricity Bills</h2> <p>Off-grid inverters allow building owners to generate their electricity. Off-grid inverters allow for efficient energy conversion and minimize energy waste. Off-grid inverters often feature sleep mode and automatic shutdown to further reduce energy consumption. Off-grid inverters are typically designed for long-lasting use and are highly reliable. Off-grid inverters are precision-engineered and tested to ensure stable operation under various environmental conditions. As a result, people can reduce or even eliminate expenses associated with electricity bills from the public grid. In addition, some regions offer government incentive programs to reward homes and businesses for using solar energy systems.</p> <h2>Long-term Return on Investment</h2> <p>Although solar systems are expensive to install, off-grid inverters help to realize a long-term return on investment. Solar panels and off-grid inverters typically have a long lifespan and excellent energy performance, and these systems can provide inexpensive electricity to buildings for many years, thus recouping their costs and creating long-term savings. Off-grid inverter systems can be easily scaled to accommodate the growing electricity demand, making them ideal for future sustainable energy solutions, so off-grid inverters can deliver a good return on investment over the long term.</p> <h2>Increase Property Value</h2> <p>Properties with solar systems and off-grid inverters are often more attractive than those without them, as off-grid inverters can reduce energy costs for future occupants. Off-grid inverters have a wide range of output voltage and frequency settings to meet a variety of power needs, including domestic, agricultural, commercial, and industrial applications. Off-grid inverters typically have lower maintenance costs compared to conventional power generation systems.</p> <p>They have no mechanical moving parts and therefore require less maintenance, which reduces operating costs. This can increase the value of the property and make it more competitive in the marketplace. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter online shop</a> offers a wide selection of high quality off grid inverters in different models, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/80kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">80kW pure sine wave off grid solar inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">5000 Watt 48V off grid solar inverter charger</a> and so on. If you are interested, please click here to buy.</p> <h2>Areas of Application</h2> <p><strong>Home Solar Systems:</strong> In a home solar system, an off-grid inverter allows the homeowner to use solar electricity for power, hot water heating, heating, and other purposes. Such a system can significantly reduce electricity bills and provide renewable energy for the home.<br /><strong>Commercial Use:</strong> Off-grid inverters are also widely used in commercial environments such as office buildings, factories, and stores. Systems with off-grid inverters can help businesses reduce their energy costs, reduce their dependence on the grid, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.<br /><strong>Rural and Remote Areas:</strong> In remote and rural areas, the availability of the public grid is often limited. Off-grid inverters enable residents in these areas to utilize solar energy to meet their power needs and improve their quality of life.<br /><strong>Disaster Recovery:</strong> Off-grid inverters are also very useful in emergencies following natural disasters. Off-grid inverters can supply electricity to help people light up, recharge, and maintain communications while waiting for the grid to return to normal operation.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-inverters-applications.jpg" alt="Off grid inverters applications" width="707" height="530" /></p> <p>Off-grid inverters are an integral component of a solar power system. The advantages of off-grid inverters include independent power generation, energy independence, environmental friendliness, renewable energy storage, savings on electricity bills, long-term return on investment, and increased property value.&nbsp;<br />These advantages make off-grid inverters one of the key technologies driving the renewable energy revolution. In the future, off-grid inverters will continue to evolve to improve efficiency, intelligence, storage system integration, and multi-energy system integration to further promote the sustainable use of renewable energy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:503 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-power-inverter What are the Advantages of Power Inverter? <p>In today's fast-paced and technology-driven world, power inverters have become indispensable devices that play a pivotal role in converting direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). This conversion allows for the utilization of electrical appliances and devices that run on AC power through a DC power source, such as batteries or solar panels. The advantages of power inverters are numerous, ranging from portability to energy efficiency. In this article, we will delve into the various advantages that power inverters offer.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/advantages-of-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Advantages of power inverter" width="769" height="426" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Versatility and Portability.</strong> One of the key advantages of power inverters lies in their versatility and portability. These devices come in various sizes and types, ranging from small, compact inverters for personal use to larger, industrial-grade models. This versatility allows users to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-power-inverter">choose a power inverter</a> that best suits their specific needs, whether it's for powering electronic gadgets during outdoor activities or ensuring a stable power supply for critical equipment in remote locations. The portability of smaller inverters further enhances their usability, making them ideal for camping, road trips, and emergency situations.</li> <li><strong>Emergency Power Backup.</strong> In times of power outages or natural disasters, power inverters prove to be invaluable assets. They enable homeowners to continue using essential appliances, such as lights, refrigerators, and communication devices, by drawing power from backup battery systems. This ensures uninterrupted access to electricity, which can be crucial for maintaining communication, preserving perishable items, and ensuring the safety and comfort of occupants during emergencies.</li> <li><strong>Renewable Energy Integration.</strong> With the growing emphasis on renewable energy sources, power inverters have become essential components in solar and wind energy systems. Solar panels generate DC electricity, which must be converted into AC to be used in homes and businesses. Power inverters facilitate this conversion, enabling the efficient utilization of solar energy for various purposes. Additionally, some advanced inverters offer features like grid-tie functionality, allowing excess energy generated by solar panels to be fed back into the grid, potentially leading to energy savings and even financial benefits through net metering.</li> <li><strong>Efficient Energy Conversion.</strong> <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">Modern power inverters</a> are designed with advanced technology that ensures high levels of energy efficiency during the conversion process. This efficiency translates to minimal energy wastage, making them environmentally friendly and cost-effective solutions. In comparison to traditional methods of power generation, power inverters contribute to&nbsp;reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills, making them an attractive choice for both residential and commercial applications.</li> <li><strong>Noise Reduction.</strong> Certain appliances and devices, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, can generate noise when running on AC power. Power inverters can help mitigate this issue by providing a smooth and consistent source of power. When these appliances are powered by inverters, the resulting AC output is often cleaner and less prone to fluctuations, leading to quieter operation and improved user experience.</li> <li><strong>Remote Power Generation.</strong> Power inverters find great utility in remote and off-grid locations where access to a stable power grid is limited or nonexistent. These areas might include remote research stations, construction sites, and rural communities. By harnessing DC power sources, such as batteries or generators, power inverters make it possible to establish functional electrical systems in places that would otherwise be without reliable power.</li> </ul> <p>In conclusion, power inverters have revolutionized the way we access and utilize electrical power. Their versatility, portability, and efficiency make them indispensable tools in various scenarios, from emergency power backup to renewable energy integration. As technology continues to evolve, power inverters are likely to become even more advanced and tailored to specific applications, further expanding their range of advantages and benefits. Whether it's enhancing energy efficiency or providing a lifeline during critical situations, power inverters have undoubtedly become a driving force in shaping our modern electrical landscape.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:502 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need-for-a-dishwasher How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For a Dishwasher? <p>Almost all dishwashers use AC power. Solar power produces DC power, so an inverter is needed to convert DC power to AC power. A 1500 watt dishwasher requires a 2000 watt inverter. Theoretically, a 1500 watt inverter is a perfect match, but due to inefficiencies, the system will require more power.</p> <p>Power inverters are typically rated between 85% and 95% efficiency. This can have a significant impact on wattage usage. For example, a 1500 watt dishwasher uses 1725 watts on an inverter that is 85% rated at 1500 watts. 1500 × 115% = 1725. There is no 1725 watt inverter, and the closest size is 2000 watts.</p> <p>Now if you run the same dishwasher through a 93% rated inverter the wattage is 1605 watts. 1500 x 107% = 1605. This is applicable not just for dishwashers but other appliances too. And this also shows why high conversion efficiency ratings matter.</p> <p>This brings us to pure sine wave inverters and modified sine wave inverters. Most appliances run better on pure sine wave. For example, sensitive equipment and power tools should only use pure sine wave. For appliances, it's more of a case-by-case basis. Some dishwashers only use pure sine, but there are modified sine wave inverters that are acceptable.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-and-dishwahser.jpg" alt="Solar panel and dishwasher" width="763" height="316" /></p> <p><strong>Do You Need Batteries to Run Solar Powered Dishwashers?</strong></p> <p>An off-grid home needs a battery bank or a solar generator to run appliances. Solar panels can power almost any appliance, but when the sun goes down, another source of power is needed.</p> <p>It takes a 250ah 12V battery to run a 1500 watt dishwasher for two hours. The battery will be 100% empty at the end of the dishwasher cycle. If you do not want the depth of discharge (DOD) to drop below 50%, increase the battery pack to 500ah.</p> <p>You can use gel or lithium batteries. Lithium offers the best DOD rate but costs more. It really depends on how you run the dishwasher, whether it is off the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">batteries or solar panels</a>.</p> <p>You don't have to choose one of them. For example, you can connect a battery to a solar panel. The solar panel will charge the battery pack and you can use the batteries to power the dishwasher. As long as the solar panel is charging, the batteries won't cut out.</p> <p>Another benefit of having a battery bank is you can store unused solar energy into it. This way you can tap into this during low solar power days.</p> <p><strong>How to Reduce Dishwasher Power Consumption?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Dishwasher power consumption has gone down, but there are ways to save even more energy.</li> <li>Look for the most energy efficient dishwasher. So they might be worth checking out.</li> <li>Set the dishwasher settings to as low as possible.</li> <li>Do not use the hot drying option. Let your plates air dry naturally. The energy savings will be substantial.</li> <li>Reduce the number of cycles used. Keep the number to five cycles maximum. If you can lower this, that is even better.</li> <li>Set the dishwasher to economy mode or energy saving mode.</li> <li>It is recommended to use the dishwasher only when it is full. Running a half-empty dishwasher wastes a lot of energy.</li> <li>Avoid pre-rinsing to save on power usage. Remove large pieces of leftovers for easier and faster cleaning.</li> <li>And if it is possible, hand wash the dishes.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:501 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-know-if-inverter-battery-fully-charged How to Know If Inverter Battery Fully Charged? <p>If you are in a solar RV or live off the grid, you undoubtedly have an inverter in your system. It's the perfect match for solar panels because it converts DC power to AC power. Most inverters have a display which indicates the battery charging status. If there is no display, a light or sound will notify you when the battery is fully charged. Regardless of what equipment you're running, the inverter must have batteries, so how do you know if they're ready to use? In this article, we will show you how to do this in a different way.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/power-inverter-charging.jpg" alt="Power inverter charging" width="718" height="375" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Check the Inverter Display.</strong> Many modern inverters have display screens that provide system information, this also includes battery status. Once you connect the battery to the inverter, you'll be able to see its state of charge as well as the percentage displayed. Some inverters have a built-in light or sound mechanism. However, in atypical systems, a specific light color indicates whether the battery is charging, charged or uncharged. There are also inverter battery low and overload indicators. Some inverters incorporate sound. When the battery is fully charged, a "beep" will notify you. There are also inverters that are a combination of light and sound.</li> <li><strong>Check the Charge Controller.</strong> In a solar panel system, the charge controller manages the charge going to the battery. For example, when an inverter battery is charging, the voltage range is 14.4-14.6 volts. When charging is almost complete, the voltage drops to about 13.7 volts. When the battery reaches the float level, the charge controller should indicate that it is full. A quality charge controller will provide all the information you need about battery charging. The display will show whether the charge is absorbing, bulk or floating. If there is a problem with the battery, the controller will also display an error message. If you are using a solar system, you can check the battery charge status through the inverter or charge controller. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">Some solar panel systems</a> have built-in battery status checkers. However, the settings can vary from system to system, so check the charge controller user guide.</li> <li><strong>Use a Voltmeter.</strong> Another way to monitor the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">charging of power inverter</a> batteries is through a voltmeter. A voltmeter is suitable for measuring the electrical potential between two points in an electronic circuit. To use a voltmeter, it must be connected to the red and black terminals of the battery. Do this only if the battery has not been used for at least two hours. Be careful not to test recently used batteries as the voltmeter will give inaccurate readings. Once the voltmeter is connected to the battery, check its display. For example, if the battery is fully charged, the voltage should be 11-13 V. If the voltmeter shows 13 volts, the battery is fully charged. If it reads 11 volts or less, the battery is drained.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Why is the Inverter Battery not Charging?</strong></p> <p>The inverter battery might not be charging due to several potential reasons. First, check if the battery connections are secure and free from corrosion, as poor connections can impede charging. Ensure that the charging cable or wire is intact and undamaged. If it's a new installation, verify that the battery has been properly connected to the inverter. If the connections are fine, examine the battery's age and condition. Over time, batteries deteriorate and might not hold a charge effectively. If the battery is old or damaged, it may need replacement.</p> <p>The charging process could also be hindered by a faulty inverter or charging circuitry. Inspect the inverter's settings and controls to make sure it's configured for charging mode. Additionally, a blown fuse or circuit breaker in the charging circuit could be responsible for the issue. Power supply disruptions can affect charging. Check if the power source to which the inverter is connected is functioning correctly. A tripped circuit breaker or a power outage might interrupt the charging process. Lastly, environmental factors can influence charging efficiency. Extremely high or low temperatures can impact battery performance. Make sure the battery is stored in an appropriate temperature range.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:500 https://www.inverter.com/is-a-1500w-inverter-enough-to-run-a-microwave-oven Is a 1500W Inverter Enough to Run a Microwave Oven? <p>A 1500W inverter is an electrical device that converts DC power into AC power for household appliances. It can supply up to 1500 watts of continuous power, allowing it to operate a range of devices. When connected to a microwave, it enables the microwave to function even without a traditional AC power outlet. This setup is useful for outdoor activities, camping, or emergency situations where conventional electricity is unavailable. The inverter must be appropriately sized to handle the microwave's power requirements, ensuring safe and efficient operation. In this article, we will talk something about power inverter and microwave.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/power-inverter-and-microwave-oven.jpg" alt="Power inverter and microwave oven" width="757" height="341" /></p> <p><strong>How to Calculate Microwave Inverter Power Requirements:</strong></p> <p>The formula is microwave watts x number of hours used = inverter size. However you have to factor in the surge watts and running watts to find the right inverter capacity. The surge capacity of an small inverter is usually double its running capacity, so a 2000 watt inverter has a 4000 watt surge limit. Their ratings are usually given in running watts, but check to be sure.</p> <p>If you have an 800W microwave, do you only need an 800W capacity <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave power inverter</a> to run it? It's not as simple as one might think. Microwave surge power can be twice its operating power, so an 800W inverter must have a peak capacity of 1600W. If the surge power is 3-4 times the operating power, a larger inverter is needed.</p> <p>Large appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators and even hot tubs can have start-up and run-up wattage requirements. The starting or surge wattage is the power required to initialize the appliance.</p> <p>There are three important things to remember. First, when buying a microwave oven, try to choose an energy efficient model, second, check the operating watts and surge watts. Third, your inverter must be able to support surge watts.</p> <p><strong>Factors That Affect Microwave Power Consumption:</strong></p> <p>The amount of power you actually consume depends on the frequency of use. For example, a 1200W microwave oven consumes 1200W per hour. but if you use it for 30 minutes, it's only 600W. you reheat the food in the microwave for another 15 minutes or so, that's 300W.</p> <p>It's important to remember this as it applies to all appliances including TVs, computers, refrigerators, air conditioners and more. The wattage usage is just a guide as you may end up using less or more. If you only use the microwave to heat your coffee water for a few seconds a day, you don't need a large inverter.</p> <p>Also, settings affect power consumption. This is because cooking at higher temperatures requires more power. Even if you have an energy-efficient microwave oven, if it's set to maximum and runs for a few hours, the power usage will go up.</p> <p>The quality of the microwave is also crucial. There are some microwave ovens that are made for for the home while others are made for RVs and campers. It is important to choose the one that best suits your needs. Your choice determines how much energy you need to set aside.</p> <p><strong>What is the Right Battery Bank Size for Microwaves?</strong></p> <p>A 1000W inverter running a 700W microwave requires at least a 12V, 150Ah battery pack. Assuming a surge power of 1600W, twice the running power. If the starting power is 3-4 times higher, increase the battery capacity. As with all solar, it would be nice if you could get more batteries.</p> <p>The inverters get their power from the battery bank, so they have to be large enough to handle the microwave. If you're using solar power, the solar panels will power the batteries. The inverter is connected to the batteries and converts the power to AC for the microwave. This is how AC powered appliances work on solar.</p> <p>Battery capacity is determined in amps and volts. Amps x volts = watts. Most microwaves use 5 amps when in use, but during the initial surge this could be as high as 20 amps.</p> <p>You have the option of purchasing single or multiple batteries, as long as the capacity matches the inverter and microwave. However, if you are using only solar panels, use multiple batteries. In the event of cloudy weather, it may take several hours for the solar panels to feed the required amperage into the batteries. And the more batteries you have, the faster you can start the microwave.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:499 https://www.inverter.com/solar-energy-vs-electricity Solar Energy vs. Electricity <p>Solar energy refers to the radiant light and heat emitted by the sun that is harnessed and converted into usable electricity or thermal energy. This renewable and sustainable energy source is captured through photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Electricity is a fundamental form of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles, usually electrons, through conductive materials like copper wires. It is generated through various means, such as burning fossil fuels, harnessing wind or solar power, or using nuclear reactions. In this article, we will introduce the differences between solar energy and electricity.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-and-electricity.jpg" alt="Solar energy and electricity" width="658" height="423" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>The Source of the Energy.</strong> Electricity uses fossil fuels, oil, water streams and natural gas to generate electricity. It burns fuel and uses coal-driven production machinery to spin turbines. Oil is an important conventional energy source and many countries around the world use different oils and fuels to generate electricity. Oil drives turbines and converts them into electricity. It is a powerful resource. Gas is used to spin turbines and produce electricity. Natural gas may be a good solution, but it has limited reserves around the world. It is not a renewable energy source. The sun is the source of solar energy. It is a renewable and unlimited source of solar power. Solar power is generated by sunlight and photovoltaic technology. This technology requires some equipment and specialized components. Solar panels, batteries and solar powered equipment are the most important. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">Portable solar panels</a> collect energy from the sun and convert it into a base station. In the base station, a converter converts the sunlight into DC electricity stored in batteries. There is no limit to the amount of energy that can be generated from solar power.</li> <li><strong>Eco Friendly.</strong> Energy comes in different forms. Some have a limited stock of resources that affect the environment, while others are eco-friendly. Both solar and conventional energy sources have some benefits and advantages. Eco-friendly production is considered to be one of the important advantages of any energy source. First of all, the energy source for solar power is the sun. It only requires solar panels and batteries and other small instruments. It does not require burning or destroying anything. Therefore, it is environmentally friendly and good for nature. Solar power relies on sunlight and it converts heat energy into electricity. It uses solar panels which can be used on the roofs of houses or buildings. The durability of these panels provides efficiency and the ability to work for a long time. Secondly, conventional electricity can cause difficulties for the environment. The way electricity is produced and the energy source makes it harmful to the environment. Power plants require fossil fuels, oil or natural gas to generate electricity. This process requires burning these raw materials to generate electricity. It pollutes the air while increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.</li> <li><strong>Renewable.</strong> Solar energy is one of the important renewable energy sources in the world. Solar energy is produced by converting sunlight into electricity. It captures the sun's rays directly by using photovoltaic panels. This renewable energy source makes electricity available all over the world. Solar panels and solar electricity can be installed in remote areas where the sun shines. During the daytime, the sun provides light all over the world. Thus, solar power is a perfect example of renewable energy. On the contrary, electricity and its resources are non-renewable. Its resources are limited and the process continues to pollute the planet. Electricity generation requires natural gas, oil and fossil fuels. All resources are finite and dependent on supply chains. But solar energy is skillful and powerful.</li> <li><strong>Ability to Meet Human Need.</strong> People around the world are using thousands of appliances and devices for their homes, offices and businesses. All devices are powered by electricity. It can be direct current or electricity stored in batteries. With electricity, the world is powered and it can be considered as the lifeline of civilization. Both renewable energy and conventional electricity are in demand in the market. At the same time, renewable energy sources such as solar energy are not enough to meet the needs of mankind. It requires a lot of installation cost and space to generate a lot of energy. Electricity can provide powerful energy to cope with excessive demand. It can meet human needs by providing high voltage power. But the needs are different from place to place.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:498 https://www.inverter.com/what-to-consider-when-using-solar-energy-in-an-apartment What to Consider When Using Solar Energy in an Apartment? <p>If you are living in an apartment, solar energy may not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking for ways to lower your utility bills and reduce your energy consumption. In fact, it may seem impossible due to space constraints. However, there are several ways to be able to use solar energy in your apartment, whether through flexible solar panels or portable solar panels. In case you're considering solar power for your apartment, here are some things to keep in mind. In this article, we will give you the details.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-in-apartment.jpg" alt="Solar energy in apartment" width="599" height="370" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Amount of Area with Sunlight Exposure in the Apartment.</strong> If you have a south-facing balcony, it may be appropriate to install a solar energy system for your apartment. Knowing how much area the sun hits will help you determine how effective solar panels are in reducing your electricity bill. Solar panels need a lot of sunlight to work properly. If your balcony receives a lot of sunlight during the day, you may want to explore installing photovoltaic modules. Just make sure it will be installed safely and reliably. You can start with some lightweight solar panels that are flexible like thin film modules. In this case, you will probably need at least three 120 watt modules. You can also install a grid-tie inverter and use it directly with your appliances. Another option is to use a solar charge controller, which will charge the batteries and use the stored power later.</li> <li><strong>Size and Layout of your Apartment.</strong> Depending on the size and layout of your apartment, you probably know how many <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels you can install</a>. If you have a balcony, then you can install up to four solar panels with a capacity of 200 watts. Then you will have an 800 watt solar PV system. This is not a very large system, but at least you will be able to utilize solar energy.</li> <li><strong>Your Energy Needs.</strong> One of the main problems that arise in apartments nowadays is the rising cost of electricity. This is obviously related to the amount of electricity used and the type of appliances owned by the apartment owner. So, your energy needs will also determine if you really need to install solar panels. In most cases, people want to use solar panels. If done correctly, this can be a really good investment. If you are a huge consumer of electricity, then installing solar panels on your apartment will be a very attractive option. No matter what your reasons are, solar energy is still something that is well worth exploring.</li> </ul> <p>If you rent a residential apartment, you may think that solar energy is not an option. However, in many cases, it is still feasible to install solar panels in an apartment building. If you've had a fleeting interest in solar energy, don't let any factors stop you. No matter how big or small, a solar power system can not only bring clean energy to an apartment, but it can also help dispel the misconception that solar energy is overly complicated.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:497 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-fix-a-power-inverter How to Fix a Power Inverter? <p>If you're living in a remote place where you have only Direct current for power, a power inverter is a necessity. The same applies if you're going camping on an RV or have only the SUV for power. Power inverters or digital inverters are extraordinarily efficient when it comes to using batteries as a bigger power source. They will help you turn the DC from your car battery into AC and let you charge your devices, run a laptop or so.</p> <p>A power inverter is a device that converts DC (direct current) power into AC (alternating current) power, allowing you to use electronic devices and appliances that require AC power when you only have access to DC power, such as from a battery or solar panel.</p> <p>However, if you end up getting a faulty power inverter, and have no other option but to repair it yourself, this article is for you. I'll talk about everything you should know about power inverters, what they are, and how they work. Once you know how your inverter works, you'll get through the processes you should follow to repair it as well. Stay with the process and get your inverter repaired all by yourself.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-fix-power-inverter.jpg" alt="How to fix power inverter" width="833" height="328" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Check the power source.</strong> Ensure that the power source, such as the battery or solar panel, is providing sufficient voltage and current. Use a multimeter to measure the voltage at the input terminals of the inverter. If the voltage is too low, recharge or replace the battery, or check the solar panel connections.</li> <li><strong>Inspect the cables and connections.</strong> Make sure all cables and connections are secure and free from damage. Loose or corroded connections can cause power loss or interruptions. Tighten any loose connections and clean any corrosion using a wire brush or sandpaper.</li> <li><strong>Check the fuses.</strong> Power inverters typically have fuses to protect against overcurrent. If the inverter is not turning on or providing power, check the fuses. Replace any blown fuses with the appropriate rating and type. Refer to the inverter's manual for the location of the fuses.</li> <li><strong>Test the inverter without a load.</strong> Disconnect any devices or appliances from the inverter and turn it on. Use a multimeter to measure the AC voltage at the inverter's output terminals. If the voltage is not present or significantly lower than the rated output, there may be an internal fault in the inverter.</li> <li><strong>Check for overheating.</strong> Overheating can cause power inverters to shut down or perform poorly. Ensure that the inverter has adequate ventilation and is not placed in direct sunlight or near other heat sources. Clean any dust or debris from the cooling vents and ensure that the fan, if present, is functioning properly.</li> <li><strong>Reset the inverter.</strong> <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">Some power inverters</a> have a reset button or switch. If your inverter has one, turn it off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. This can help reset the internal circuitry and resolve minor issues.</li> <li><strong>Consult the manual.</strong> If the above steps do not resolve the problem, refer to the inverter's manual or manufacturer for troubleshooting tips specific to your model. They may have additional steps or specific instructions for common issues.</li> <li><strong>Seek professional help.</strong> If you have followed the troubleshooting steps and the inverter still does not work, it may require professional repair. Contact the manufacturer or a certified technician who specializes in power inverter repairs.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>A power inverter is indeed a great tool to have as it can help you run devices with DC even if they run with AC. Remember to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines when working with electrical equipment. Always disconnect the power source before inspecting or working on the inverter. If you're unsure or uncomfortable with any steps, it's best to seek professional assistance.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:496 https://www.inverter.com/vertical-or-horizontal-wind-turbines-which-is-better Vertical or Horizontal Wind Turbines, Which is better? <p>As the demand for renewable energy continues to rise, wind power has emerged as a promising source of clean and sustainable electricity generation. When it comes to harnessing wind energy, two primary types of turbines are widely used: horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). This article aims to provide guidance on selecting the most suitable option based on various factors.</p> <h2>Efficiency and Performance</h2> <p>HAWTs are generally recognized for their higher efficiency and performance compared to VAWTs. Due to their design, HAWTs can take better advantage of higher wind speeds at elevated heights, resulting in increased power output. VAWTs, on the other hand, are less affected by wind direction and are suitable for areas with turbulent or changing wind patterns.</p> <h2>Space and Installation</h2> <p>HAWTs typically require more space and a clear, unobstructed area for installation. They are commonly mounted on tall towers to capture stronger winds at greater heights. In contrast, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/vertical-axis-wind-turbine">VAWTs</a> have a compact design and can be installed in smaller areas. They are often preferred in urban environments or locations with limited space.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/vertical-or-horizontal-wind-turbines.jpg" alt="Vertical or horizontal wind turbines" width="560" height="auto" /></p> <h2>Maintenance and Durability</h2> <p>HAWTs generally have fewer mechanical components and are easier to maintain. With their simpler design, routine maintenance tasks such as blade inspections and gearbox servicing are relatively straightforward. VAWTs, with their intricate structure and moving parts close to the ground, may require more frequent maintenance. However, advancements in VAWT technology are continually improving their reliability and durability.</p> <h2>Noise and Visual Impact</h2> <p>HAWTs tend to generate more noise due to the rotation of large blades and the gearbox mechanism. This factor makes them less suitable for noise-sensitive areas such as residential neighborhoods. VAWTs, on the other hand, have a quieter operation as their blades are closer to the ground. Additionally, VAWTs can have a lower visual impact and blend better with the surrounding environment.</p> <h2>Cost Considerations</h2> <p>HAWTs are more commonly produced and have a mature market, resulting in competitive pricing and a wider range of options. VAWTs, being a relatively newer technology, might have a higher initial cost due to limited manufacturing scale. However, the long-term costs should also consider factors such as maintenance, lifespan, and local wind conditions.</p> <h2>Conclusion</h2> <p>Choosing between a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/horizontal-axis-wind-turbine">horizontal axis wind turbine</a> (HAWT) and a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) depends on several factors. If efficiency, higher power output, and larger wind farms are the primary considerations, HAWTs are usually preferred. On the other hand, VAWTs offer advantages in terms of space requirements, adaptability to turbulent winds, quieter operation, and visual impact. Assessing the specific requirements of the installation site and weighing these factors will help make an informed decision for harnessing wind energy efficiently.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:495 https://www.inverter.com/why-choose-a-frequency-inverter Why Choose a Frequency Inverter? <p>A frequency inverter (Variable-frequency Drive, VFD) is a power control device that uses frequency conversion technology and microelectronics technology to control AC motors by changing the motor's operating power supply frequency. The frequency inverter mainly comprises rectification (AC to DC), filtering, inverter (DC to AC), braking unit, drive unit, detection unit and micro-processing unit. The inverter adjusts the voltage and frequency of the output power supply by switching off the internal IGBT, and provides the required power supply voltage according to the actual needs of the motor, thereby achieving the purpose of energy saving and speed regulation.</p> <h2>Why choose a frequency inverter?</h2> <p>Some people say that I can just use the motor directly, why should I choose the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency converter</a>? If the power of your motor is very small for household use and there is no need for speed regulation or constant voltage automation, you can directly start the electrical use. If there are no effects such as voltage conversion and frequency conversion, then the inverter must be used, not only to help you protect the motor and prolong the service life of the motor, but also to effectively protect the motor and on-site electricity safety, and protect other surrounding electrical equipment and factory circuits. So what function does the frequency converter have, and when must the frequency converter be used?</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-choose-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="Why choose a frequency inverter?" width="450" height="auto" /></p> <h3>Energy saving of frequency conversion speed regulation</h3> <ul> <li>After adopting frequency conversion speed regulation, the energy-saving effect of fans and pump loads is the most obvious, and the power saving rate can reach 20% to 60%. This is because the power consumption of fans and pumps is proportional to the cube of the speed. When the user When the required average flow rate is small, the speed of the fan and water pump is low, and its energy-saving effect is also very considerable. However, when the traditional baffle and French door are used for flow adjustment, the power consumption does not change much. Since there are many such loads, accounting for about 20% to 30% of the total capacity of the AC motor, their energy saving is of great significance.</li> <li>For some constant torque loads running at low speed, such as conveyor belts, frequency control can also save energy. In addition, the original speed regulation method consumes a lot of energy, the original speed regulation method is relatively complicated, and the efficiency is low. After adopting frequency conversion speed regulation, the energy saving effect is also obvious.</li> </ul> <h3>Advantages of frequency conversion speed regulation in motor operation</h3> <ol> <li>It is easy to realize the positive and negative rotation of the motor with frequency conversion speed regulation. It is only necessary to change the switching sequence of the inverter tube inside the frequency converter to achieve output commutation, and there is no problem of burning the motor due to improper commutation.</li> <li>Most of the frequency conversion speed regulation systems start from low speed and low frequency. The acceleration and deceleration time can be set arbitrarily, so the acceleration and deceleration time is relatively gentle, the starting current is small, and it can start and stop at a higher frequency.</li> <li>When the frequency conversion speed regulation system is braking, the frequency converter can use its own braking circuit to consume the energy of the mechanical load on the braking resistor, and also feed it back to the power grid. However, special accessories are needed to feed back to the grid, and the investment is relatively high. big. In addition, the frequency converter also has a DC braking function. When braking is required, the frequency converter applies a DC voltage to the motor for braking, so there is no need to add a braking control circuit.</li> <li>The DC motor can be replaced by a frequency converter, and an induction motor is used at this time. Like DC motors, no brushes, slip-rings, etc. are required, and maintainability and environmental resistance are excellent.</li> <li>One inverter can run in parallel to control several engines</li> <li>The inverter can be soft-started and soft-closed, and the acceleration/deceleration time of the engine can be adjusted arbitrarily.</li> <li>Reduce the starting current. Through the soft start and soft close of the frequency converter, the starting current can be reduced to 1.5~2 times of the rated current when the motor starts. Generally, when starting straight-in, a starting current 6 times the rated current flows, so that loads are imposed on the frequent operation and stop of the motor.</li> <li>The rebound braking of the inverter is convenient for electric braking.</li> </ol> <h3>Applications aimed at improving process level and product quality</h3> <p>In addition to the application of frequency conversion speed regulation in fan and pump loads, it can also be widely used in various mechanical equipment control fields such as transmission, winding, lifting, extrusion, and machine tools. It can improve its production yield, prolong the normal working cycle and service life of the equipment, simplify the operation and control system, and some can even change the original process specifications, thereby improving the control level of the entire equipment.</p> <h2>How to choose the configuration of the inverter?</h2> <p>When selecting the inverter configuration, it is necessary to fully grasp the load characteristics, but it is also difficult to do.</p> <ol> <li>Confirm the load characteristics such as load type, speed and nature;</li> <li>Confirm whether it is continuous operation, long-term operation, short-term operation and other operating characteristics;</li> <li>Confirm the maximum consumption output value and rated output value;</li> <li>Confirm the maximum number of revolutions and the rated number of revolutions;</li> <li>Confirm the speed control range;</li> <li>Confirm load changes, current, voltage, frequency, temperature changes, etc.;</li> <li>Confirm the required control precision;</li> <li>Confirm the braking method;</li> <li>Confirm the input power configuration, that is, select the capacity based on factors such as speed-torque characteristics, overload capacity, time rating, starting torque, rated output value, operation mode, control mode, number of revolutions, efficiency-power, etc.</li> </ol> <p>However, it is not easy to select the inverter configuration using the above method, so ordinary users can choose the inverter according to the motor configuration. Select the configuration voltage (220V, 380V, 440V) and select the inverter capacity according to the engine capacity (kW). Generally, products with low starting torque and load, such as fans and water pumps, use motors and inverters with a capacity of 1:1; for elevators, cranes, etc. that require more torque and large loads, the selected capacity is one higher than that of the motor to the second-stage inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:494 https://www.inverter.com/can-a-solar-generator-run-a-whole-house Can a Solar Generator Run a Whole House? <p>The demand for renewable energy has grown significantly in recent years, and solar energy has emerged as a promising solution. Solar generators, also known as solar power systems or photovoltaic (PV) systems, are gaining popularity as a clean and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources. So can solar generators efficiently power a whole house?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/100w-portable-solar-generator.jpg" alt="100W portable solar generator" width="400" height="327" /></p> <p>A solar generator consists of three main components: a solar panel, an inverter and a battery system. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">Solar panels</a>, usually installed on rooftops, capture sunlight and convert it into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. The generated electricity is then fed to an inverter, converting it from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) suitable for household appliances. The battery system stores excess energy for use in the absence of sunlight or at night.</p> <p>To determine whether a solar generator can run a house, it is crucial to assess the amount of electricity a home uses. The average power consumption of a house depends on a number of factors, such as the number of people living in it, the size of the house, the climate and the appliances used. The total wattage required for all equipment and appliances must be calculated to ensure that the solar generator can meet the demand.</p> <p>Solar generators come in different sizes, measured in kilowatts (kW). The size of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generator</a> needed for a house depends on the energy needs of the home and the amount of sunlight available in the area. It is recommended to consult a solar energy professional to determine the appropriate solar generator size for a particular house. Increasing the size of the solar generator ensures that enough energy is generated to meet the needs of the home.</p> <p>Before considering a solar generator, homeowners should pay attention to energy efficiency and energy-saving measures. By reducing energy waste with proper insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and smart energy management practices, homeowners can lower their overall energy consumption. Energy-efficient LED lighting, programmable thermostats, and energy-saving practices can significantly reduce the load on solar generators, making homes that rely solely on solar power more viable.</p> <p>The availability of sunlight is a key factor affecting the performance of solar generators. Sunny areas will generate more electricity and have a higher solar potential. However, even in areas with less sunlight, solar generators can still meet a significant portion of a house's energy needs. In the event of prolonged periods of low light or severe weather, backup power options such as grid connections or alternative energy sources, such as wind, can ensure a continuous energy supply.</p> <p>Battery storage is an important part of solar power generation system. It allows homeowners to store excess solar energy generated during the day for use at night or during periods of low daylight. The capacity of the battery system determines the available storage energy. Depending on the size of the battery and the energy needs of the home, solar generators may be able to fully run the house, including during non-sunny periods.</p> <p>While solar generators have many benefits, they also have limitations. Initial installation costs can be high, but long-term savings can be substantial. In addition, the physical space required for solar panels may limit their installation in some areas. In addition, the capacity of the battery system may not be able to withstand prolonged power outages or high energy demands. Therefore, it is critical to assess specific energy needs and consider alternative back-up options for uninterruptible power supplies.</p> <p>All in all, solar generators have the potential to power homes, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources and providing clean, sustainable solutions. However, several factors need to be considered, including power consumption, the size of the solar generator, energy efficiency measures, sunlight availability, battery storage capacity, and backup power options. By carefully evaluating these factors and seeking professional advice, homeowners can determine the feasibility of running their homes entirely on solar energy. As technology advances and costs continue to decrease, solar generators are likely to play an increasingly important role in meeting household energy needs in the future.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:493 https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter-troubleshooting Frequency Inverter Troubleshooting <p>The emergence and application of frequency converter simplifies the complex control and makes the production process more convenient and fast. However, like other control devices, the frequency converter will inevitably fail in application. Frequency inverter can be powerful tool in maintaining processes by using diagnostics to solve frequency inverter performance issues and troubleshoot related processes.</p> <p>Fault analysis in a VFD inverter involves identifying and diagnosing any issues or malfunctions that may occur in the operation of the device. Here are some common fault analysis for <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency inverters</a>.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/frequency-inverter-troubleshooting.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter troubleshooting" width="711" height="328" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Overcurrent Fault.</strong> When troubleshooting an overcurrent fault, first check all power connections to make sure they are properly connected. When overcurrent and control problems occur, loose connections or broken conductors are often to blame. Loose power connections can result in overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, blown fuses, and inverter damage. Loose control lines lead to unstable inverter performance, resulting in unpredictable speed fluctuations or inability to control the inverter. Use the auto tuning function if it is available on the inverter. Automatic tuning features on many drives enable the drive to recognize the connected motor, enabling rotor information to be used in processor algorithms for more precise current control. The frequency inverter can also compensate the magnetoelectric flow, giving better control over the current that generates torque. The magnetic flux of the motor is too large and too small will cause trouble.</li> <li><strong>High Bus Fault.</strong> High bus fault is a common fault caused by external factors. Transient voltage spikes in AC lines or "maintenance loads" generated by machine inertia can cause high bus failures. The rotation speed of the load continues to be higher than the command speed of the motor. When this situation occurs, the frequency inverter protects itself by tripping on a high bus fault and shutting off the insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). If a high bus fault is indicated, ensure that the ac power supply is consistent and that the deceleration time is adjusted to match the capability of the load. If the process requires rapid deceleration, dynamic braking or a regenerative power control circuit may be added.</li> <li><strong>Erratic Operation.</strong> If the inverter is running unstable, but does not show a fault, it may be caused by external factors, or it may be the inverter itself has a fault. Understanding the causes of inverter failure can help you determine the root cause of the problem. The root cause that is often overlooked is usually the instability in the process, forcing the inverter to operate under harsh conditions. Visually inspect the inverter for burned or overheated parts by looking for signs of discoloration or cracking. Burned or cracked parts can hinder the normal operation of the inverter. Replace defective parts and test drives before resuming operation.</li> <li><strong>Temperature Failure. </strong>The working environment of the variable frequency inverter must be within the specified temperature range. The temperature inside and outside the housing is measured to ensure that it is within the environmental specifications determined by the manufacturer. Failure to meet the specified temperature specifications can lead to premature failure of the inverter, as numerous power components rely on sufficient cooling to operate properly. If the ambient temperature is too high, an additional cooling device should be added to the housing, or the frequency inverter should be relocated to a place where the ambient temperature is within the specification range. Low ambient temperatures can also cause problems. Condensation can form and cause component or frequency converter failure.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:492 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-frequency-inverter How to Choose Frequency Inverter? <p>A frequency inverter, also known as a variable frequency drive (VFD) or an adjustable frequency drive (AFD), is an electronic device used to control the speed and torque of electric motors. It operates by converting the fixed-frequency alternating current (AC) power from the mains into adjustable-frequency AC power, allowing precise control of motor speed. A frequency inverter is a versatile device that plays a crucial role in modern automation systems, enabling efficient and flexible control of electric motors.</p> <p>Choosing the right VFD inverter is a crucial step in optimizing the performance and efficiency of electric motor-driven systems. The following guidelines will help you make an informed decision when selecting a frequency inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-choose-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="How to choose frequency inverter" width="579" height="379" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Understand your application.</strong> Start by thoroughly understanding the requirements of your application. Consider factors such as motor power, voltage, current, speed control range, torque control, and any specific environmental conditions.</li> <li><strong>Determine the motor type.</strong> Identify the type of motor you will be using, such as induction motors or permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). Different types of frequency inverters are designed to work with specific motor types, so it's important to choose one that is compatible.</li> <li><strong>Calculate the load characteristics.</strong> Analyze the load characteristics of your application, including starting torque, peak torque, speed variations, and any cyclic load variations. This information will help you select a frequency inverter with the appropriate torque and speed control capabilities.</li> <li><strong>Consider the voltage and current ratings.</strong> Ensure that the frequency inverter's voltage and current ratings match or exceed those of the motor. Undersized inverters can lead to motor overheating and premature failure, while oversized inverters may result in unnecessary costs.</li> <li><strong>Evaluate the speed control range.</strong> Determine the required speed control range for your application. Frequency inverters offer different speed control options, such as scalar control or vector control. Vector control provides better performance and precise control in applications requiring a wide speed range.</li> <li><strong>Assess the protective features.</strong> Look for frequency inverters with comprehensive protective features, such as overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, undervoltage protection, short-circuit protection, and motor stall prevention. These features safeguard both the inverter and the motor from potential damage.</li> <li><strong>Consider the environmental conditions.</strong> Evaluate the environmental conditions in which the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency inverter</a> will operate. Factors such as temperature, humidity, dust, and vibration can impact the performance and reliability of the inverter. Choose a model that is suitable for the specific environmental conditions of your application.</li> </ul> <p>All in all, selecting the right frequency inverter involves a thorough understanding of your application requirements, motor type, load characteristics, and environmental conditions. By considering factors such as voltage and current ratings, speed control range, protective features, programmability, energy efficiency, manufacturer support, and cost, you can make an informed decision and choose a frequency inverter that meets your specific needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:491 https://www.inverter.com/what-happens-when-pressure-wash-solar-panel What Happens When Pressure Wash Solar Panel? <p>To supply home energy needs, solar panels are becoming more common. The electricity they generate is converted into useful electricity by absorbing solar energy. If solar panels are dirty, they are less cost-effective because the amount of energy produced depends on sunlight exposure.</p> <p>If you decide to clean your solar panels yourself, you may find that some stains, such as bird droppings, are particularly difficult to remove. Due to the high temperature of bird droppings, they can be baked onto the surface of solar panels. A pressure washer is probably the first thing you think of. But obviously, solar panels are not designed to withstand such water pressure. According to research, the best method for cleaning solar panels is low-pressure soft bristle mechanical cleaning. In this article, we will tell you what happens when pressure wash solar panel.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/pressure-wash-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Pressure wash solar panel" width="577" height="355" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Paint Damage.</strong> The protective coating that protects the metal frame of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> from the environment can peel off under intense pressure. Over time, under enough pressure, they may even begin to separate from the glass panels, exposing them to environmental factors and risking some irreversible damage, such as rust and corrosion. If you want to resell at this time, this damage could reduce the value of the solar panels. Over time, it can also cost you a fortune to repair them and extend their useful life.</li> <li><strong>Overspray.</strong> Overspray is a potential problem when pressure cleaning solar panels. Pressure washing of roofs as a problematic cleaning technique has slowly been discovered. Almost every roofing material that can be pressure washed has disadvantages. If the water is in the wrong direction, it can shoot water under your roof and damage the outer coating of composite roofs, shingles, and clay roofs, which can last for years. If other cleaning methods are available, these should be used instead of over-spraying when pressure cleaning solar panels.</li> <li><strong>Warranty Denied.</strong> Most solar panel manufacturers will recommend avoiding high pressure cleaning of solar panels, and for some, doing so can even void their warranties. This is because of the above factors, as well as concerns that high pressure will cause water to penetrate between the glass panels and onto the photovoltaic system, shattering the vacuum seal.</li> </ul> <p>If your solar panels are coated in dust, dirt, or grime, your solar power system's production may decrease in quality. It's vital to keep your solar panels clean and debris-free in order to get the full cost-saving benefits of solar electricity.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:489 https://www.inverter.com/differences-between-centrifugal-pump-and-positive-displacement-pump Differences between Centrifugal Pump and Positive Displacement Pump <p>Centrifugal and positive displacement pumps are powerful tools that can move fluid through complex industrial and municipal systems. But it’s essential to choose the right equipment for your facility’s needs. Next, we'll&nbsp;talk about the differences between these two pumps.</p> <h2>What is a centrifugal pump?</h2> <p>A centrifugal pump is a mechanical device designed to move fluid by means of the transfer of rotational energy from one or more driven rotors, called impellers. Fluid enters the rapidly rotating impeller along its axis and is cast out by centrifugal force along its circumference through the impeller's vane tips.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pumps" width="500" height="250" /></p> <h2>What is a positive displacement pump?</h2> <p>A positive displacement (PD) pump&nbsp;moves a fluid by repeatedly enclosing a fixed volume and moving it mechanically through the system. The pumping action is cyclic and can be driven by pistons, screws, gears, rollers, diaphragms, or vanes.&nbsp;The positive displacement pump is the ability to produce a consistent flow rate. The flow rate of a positive displacement pump will remain constant when there are changes in pressure. However, this is not the case with centrifugal pumps, which are designed to react to changes in pressure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/positive-displacement-pump.jpg" alt="Positive displacement pump" width="350" height="265" /></p> <h2>Centrifugal Pump&nbsp;vs. Positive Displacement Pump<br /><br /></h2> <h3>Fluid Transport Mechanism</h3> <p>Both centrifugal and positive displacement pumps move water from an entry point to an exit point with a controlled degree of force and volume. However, the mechanisms they use are different. Positive displacement pumps draw fluid into a cavity or expel fluid, and then force fluid out of the cavity by suction. Centrifugal or pneumatic pumps have a rotating impeller that draws fluid into the pump and forces it away from the outlet point at a higher velocity.</p> <h3>Type of conveyed fluid</h3> <p>Each type of pump works best with a different type of fluid. Positive displacement pumps can handle high-viscosity fluids, and their flow rate increases as the fluid thickens. On the other hand,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pumps</a> also cannot handle viscous fluids due to frictional losses. Additionally, positive displacement pumps can handle fluids that are shear sensitive—or fluids that change when force, stress, or pressure is applied—while centrifugal pumps cannot; the impeller presents a risk to the fluid. Positive displacement pumps can also handle intermittent dry periods and can be primed without the need for liquid in the system to prime. The liquid is required in KNOLL centrifugal pump units to initiate pressurization control.</p> <h3>Centrifugal pumps and positive displacement pumps applications:</h3> <p>Centrifugal pumps are good at pumping thin liquids with low viscosity. These include water, thin oils and fuels, and chemicals. They are the most commonly used class of pumps in high-volume applications requiring high flow at low pressures.</p> <p><strong>Some popular applications of&nbsp;centrifugal pumps include:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Municipal water and water systems</li> <li>Air conditioners and water circulators</li> <li>Irrigation</li> <li>Petrochemical and light fuel transfer station</li> <li>Cooling Tower</li> <li>Boiler feed</li> </ul> <p>With vortex impellers, centrifugal pumps can even handle some fluids laden with solids. However, they work best when pumping large, consistent volumes of water.</p> <p><strong>Where positive displacement pumps are used:</strong></p> <p>Positive displacement pumps, on the other hand, excel in high-pressure and low-flow applications with viscous fluids. These pumps are suitable for the following applications:</p> <ul> <li>Municipal sewage system</li> <li>Petroleum Processing Center</li> <li>Manufacturing centers that produce or process thick pastes and other viscous materials</li> </ul> <p>Complex facilities such as food processing plants and other manufacturing facilities benefit from a mix of both types of pumps. For example, a food processing operation will require a centrifugal pump to add water to the batch, but a positive displacement pump to control the movement of thicker compounds. Oil processing centers may need positive displacement pumps to handle crude oil, while they can use centrifugal pumps to handle thinner, lighter by-products.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:490 https://www.inverter.com/5-methods-to-boost-solar-efficiency 5 Methods to Boost Solar Efficiency <p>If you decide to use solar energy, you may want to ensure that you can maximize the utilization of your solar system. Fortunately, you can do many things to improve the efficiency of your solar energy, from selecting the appropriate photovoltaic cells to installing the maximum exposure panel. After installation, proper management and maintenance can help ensure that your panel continues to work as efficiently as possible for many years to come.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/boost-solar-efficiency.jpg" alt="Boost solar efficiency" width="561" height="368" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Use panels with grade A monocrystalline cells.</strong> Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency. In solar energy systems, the quality of photovoltaic cells is the largest predictor of solar panel efficiency. If efficiency is important to you, whether it's purchasing or renting, don't be stingy about quality. Battery panels using low-level batteries may be cheaper, but their efficiency is lower and they generate less energy. This means that, in terms of actual value, their operating costs are higher than those of high-quality battery panels.</li> <li><strong>Invest in anti-reflection coatings to increase cell efficiency.</strong> Anti reflective coatings can allow cells to absorb more radiation. If there is no anti reflective coating, more than 30% of the light reaching the battery panel will not be absorbed and converted into energy. The photovoltaic cells in high-quality&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> have anti reflective coatings to prevent light loss due to reflection. These coatings ensure that your battery board absorbs as much sunlight as possible. Cells with textured surfaces also exhibit anti reflective properties.</li> <li><strong>Orient solar panels for maximum exposure.</strong> In the northern hemisphere, orient your panels facing geographic south. If you live in the southern hemisphere, on the other hand, have your panels face north. These directions are different from the directions you might find with a compass, which points you toward the magnetic poles, not the geographic poles. Your panels' orientation also depends on how you're using your solar energy. For example, if you're powering your home with solar, you'll get more value from energy collected later in the day. In the northern hemisphere, this might mean turning your panels slightly southwest. If you can't have your solar panels facing south (or north in the southern hemisphere), face them west, since that's the direction the sun sets. If those aren't an option, orient them east, or north (or south in the southern hemisphere) if that's your only option.</li> <li><strong>Set up your panels to track the sun.</strong> Tracking the sun allows your battery panel to absorb maximum energy. If you have a solar panel installed on the ground, a tracker can make your panels follow the sun, so they can absorb the most light. But there are also smaller trackers that allow your battery panel to arc from east to west, following the sun from sunrise to sunset.</li> <li><strong>Reduce the number of devices using solar power at a time.</strong> Using less electricity can reduce battery consumption. Generally speaking, if you don't run at full speed, you can use your stored energy for a longer period of time. Using less electricity within a few hours is also more cost-effective than using the maximum electricity in a shorter period of time. For example, do not run both the dishwasher and washing machine simultaneously. You can also turn off the lights in rooms you are not using, or unplug electronic devices you are not using.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:488 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-adjust-the-flow-of-centrifugal-pump How to Adjust the Flow of Centrifugal Pump? <p>Centrifugal pumps are widely used in water conservancy, the chemical industry, HVAC and other industries, and more and more attention has been paid to the selection of working conditions and the analysis of energy consumption. The so-called working point refers to the actual water output, head, shaft power, efficiency and suction vacuum height of the pump device at a certain moment, which indicates the working capacity of the pump. Usually, the flow rate and pressure head of the centrifugal pump may be inconsistent with the pipeline system, or due to changes in production tasks and process requirements, it is necessary to adjust the flow rate of the pump, which is essential to change the operating point of the centrifugal pump. In addition to the correct selection of the centrifugal pump in the engineering design stage, the selection of the working point of the centrifugal pump in actual use will also directly affect the energy consumption and cost of the user. Therefore, how to reasonably change the operating point of the centrifugal pump is particularly important.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="560" height="280" /></p> <p>The working principle of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a> is to convert the mechanical energy of the high-speed rotation of the motor into the kinetic energy and potential energy of the lifted liquid, which is a process of energy transmission and conversion. According to this characteristic, the operating point of the centrifugal pump is based on the balance between the energy supply and demand of the pump and the piping system. As long as one of the two conditions changes, its operating point will shift. The change in operating point is caused by two aspects:</p> <ul> <li>Changes in the characteristic curve of the piping system, such as valve throttling;</li> <li>The characteristic curve of the water pump itself changes, such as frequency conversion speed regulation, cutting impeller, and water pumps in series or parallel.</li> </ul> <h2>4 Methods of centrifugal pump flow adjustment</h2> <h3><strong>Valve throttling</strong></h3> <p>The easiest way to change the flow rate of a centrifugal pump is to adjust the opening of the pump outlet valve, while the pump speed remains unchanged (usually the rated speed). The essence is to change the position of the pipeline characteristic curve to change the operating point of the pump. When the valve is closed, the local resistance of the pipeline increases, the operating point of the pump moves to the left, and the corresponding flow decrease. When the valve is fully closed, the resistance is infinite and the flow rate is zero. At this time, the pipeline characteristic curve coincides with the ordinate. When the valve is closed to control the flow, the water supply capacity of the pump itself remains unchanged, the lift characteristic remains unchanged, and the pipe resistance characteristic will change with the valve opening. This method is easy to operate, the flow rate is continuous, and it can be adjusted freely between a certain maximum flow rate and zero without additional investment. It is applicable to a wide range of occasions. But the throttling adjustment is to consume the excess energy of the centrifugal pump to maintain a certain supply, and the efficiency of the centrifugal pump will also decrease accordingly, which is not economically reasonable.</p> <h3><strong>Frequency conversion speed regulation</strong></h3> <p>The working point deviating from the high-efficiency zone is the basic condition for the speed regulation of the water pump. When the speed of the pump changes, the valve opening remains unchanged (usually the maximum opening), the characteristics of the piping system remain unchanged, and the water supply capacity and head characteristics change accordingly.</p> <p>When the required flow rate is less than the rated flow rate, the head of the frequency conversion speed regulation is smaller than the valve throttling, so the water supply power required by the frequency conversion speed regulation is also smaller than the valve throttling. Obviously, compared with valve throttling, the energy-saving effect of frequency conversion speed regulation is very prominent, and the work efficiency of the centrifugal pump is higher. In addition, after adopting frequency conversion speed regulation, it is not only beneficial to reduce the possibility of cavitation in the centrifugal pump but also can prolong the start/stop process by presetting the speed up/down time, so that the dynamic torque is greatly reduced, thus eliminating the extremely destructive water hammer effect to a large extent, and greatly extending the life of the pump and piping system.</p> <p>In fact, frequency conversion speed regulation also has limitations. In addition to large investment and high maintenance costs, when the speed of the water pump is too large, it will cause a decrease in efficiency, which is beyond the scope of the pump proportional law, and it is impossible to adjust the speed without limit.</p> <h3>Cutting impeller</h3> <p>When the speed is constant, the pressure head and flow rate of the pump are related to the diameter of the impeller. For the same type of pump, the characteristic curve of the pump can be changed by the cutting method.</p> <p>The cutting law is based on a large amount of perceptual test data. It believes that if the cutting amount of the impeller is controlled within a certain limit (this cutting limit is related to the specific revolution of the water pump), the corresponding efficiency of the water pump before and after cutting can be regarded as unchanged. . Cutting the impeller is a simple and easy way to change the performance of the water pump, the so-called variable diameter adjustment, which to a certain extent solves the contradiction between the limited type and specification of the water pump and the diversity of water supply objects, and expands the scope of the water pump. have to use the range. Of course, cutting the impeller is an irreversible process, and the user must perform accurate calculations and measure economic rationality before implementation.</p> <h3>Pumps in series and parallel</h3> <p>Pumps in series mean that the outlet of one pump sends fluid to the inlet of another pump. Take the simplest two centrifugal pumps of the same model and performance in series as an example: as shown in Figure 3, the series performance curve is equivalent to the head of the single pump performance curve. Both the flow rate and the head are larger than the working point B of the single pump (public account: pump steward), but they are not twice as high as that of the single pump. As a result, the excess head promotes the increase of the flow rate, and on the other hand, the increase of the flow rate increases the resistance, which inhibits the increase of the total head. When pumps are operated in series, attention must be paid to whether the latter pump can withstand the boost. Before starting, the outlet valve of each pump must be closed, and then the pumps and valves are opened in sequence to supply water to the outside.</p> <p>The parallel connection of water pumps means that two or more pumps deliver fluid to the same pressure pipeline, and its purpose is to increase the flow rate when the pressure head is the same. Still take the simplest parallel connection of two centrifugal pumps of the same model and the same performance as an example, the parallel performance curve is equivalent to the single pump performance curve. The operating point B of the single pump must be larger, but considering the pipe resistance factor, it is also less than twice that of the single pump.</p> <p>If it is purely for the purpose of increasing the flow rate, whether to use a parallel connection or series connection should depend on the flatness of the pipeline characteristic curve. The flatter the pipeline characteristic curve, the closer the flow rate after the parallel connection is to twice that of single pump operation, so The flow rate is larger than that in series, which is more conducive to operation.</p> <p>Although valve throttling will cause energy loss and waste, it is still a fast and easy flow adjustment method in some simple occasions; frequency conversion speed regulation is more and more favored by users because of its good energy-saving effect and high degree of automation; Cutting impellers are generally used in clean water pumps. Due to the change of the pump structure, the versatility is poor; the series and parallel connections of water pumps are only suitable for situations where a single pump cannot meet the delivery task, and too many units connected in series or parallel are uneconomical. In practical application, many aspects should be considered, and some reliable schemes should be synthesized among various flow adjustment methods to ensure the efficient operation of centrifugal pumps.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:487 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-a-voltage-converter-work How does a Voltage Converter Work? <p style="text-align: left;">A voltage converter is a static electrical device that converts an AC voltage of a certain value into a voltage with the same frequency but different values. Transformers are made of two or more sets of coils wound on the same bobbin or on the same iron core.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/500-watt-voltage-converter-110120v-to-220240v.jpg" alt="500 watt voltage converter" width="330" height="236" /></p> <p>Voltage/current conversion, that is, V/I conversion, is to convert the input voltage signal into a current signal that satisfies a certain relationship. The converted current is equivalent to a constant current source with adjustable output, and its output current should be able to maintain stability without changing changes with load changes. Generally speaking, the voltage conversion circuit is realized in the form of negative feedback, which can be current series negative feedback or current parallel negative feedback, which is mainly used in industrial control and many sensor applications.</p> <h2>How does the voltage converter work?</h2> <p>The two basic formulas for an ideal transformer are:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>U1/U2=N1/N2, that is, for any two coils of the same transformer, the voltage is proportional to the number of turns.</li> <li>P in = P out, that is, no matter how many secondary coils are working, the input power of the transformer is always equal to the sum of all output powers.</li> </ol> <p>The principle of making a transformer: In a generator, whether the coil moves through a magnetic field or the magnetic field moves through a fixed coil, an electric potential can be induced in the coil. In both cases, the value of the magnetic flux remains unchanged, but The number of magnetic flux changes, which is the principle of mutual induction. A transformer is a device that uses electromagnetic mutual induction to transform voltage, current, and impedance.</p> <h2>The composition and function of the voltage converter</h2> <p>The function of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">voltage converter</a> is to convert the output voltage of the multiplication and division component into a DC current. The voltage-to-current converter consists of two parts: a self-excited oscillation modulation amplifier and a power detection amplifier. The power detection amplifier composed of transistors and other components is the same as the power detection amplifier in the temperature transmitter.</p> <h2>Voltage Converter Applications</h2> <p>In the application circuits of industrial control and many sensors, when the analog signal is output, it is usually output by voltage. When the analog signal is transmitted over a long distance in the form of voltage, the signal source resistance or the DC resistance of the transmission line will cause voltage attenuation. The lower the input resistance of the signal receiving end, the greater the voltage attenuation. In order to avoid signal attenuation during transmission, only increase the input resistance of the signal receiving end, but the increase of the input resistance of the signal receiving end reduces the anti-interference performance of the transmission line, is susceptible to external interference, and the signal transmission is unstable. For analog signals, the voltage output mode cannot be used, and the voltage output is converted into a current output. In addition, in many conventional industrial instruments, matching in the current mode also requires the output terminal to convert the voltage output into a current output. The V/I converter is to convert the voltage output signal into a current output signal, which is conducive to long-distance signal transmission. The V/I converter can be composed of various devices such as transistors.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:486 https://www.inverter.com/why-choose-centrifugal-pumps Why Choose Centrifugal Pumps? <p>Centrifugal pump is a kind of liquid conveying equipment widely used in various fields. Its working principle is to convert the kinetic energy into the pressure energy of the liquid by utilizing the centrifugal force. Centrifugal pumps have many advantages that make them the first choice for many applications. The following are the reasons for choosing a centrifugal pump.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/cheap-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="472" height="348" /></p> <h2>9 reasons why choosing a centrifugal water pump</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Simple structure: </strong>The structure of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a> is relatively simple, mainly including the pump casing, impeller, shaft seal and bearing, and other components. This simple structure makes the centrifugal pump easy to manufacture, install and maintain. Additionally, this simplified design helps reduce manufacturing costs, making it an affordable solution.</li> <li><strong>Running smoothly: </strong>Centrifugal pumps can achieve smooth and continuous delivery during operation, so they are ideal for applications that require continuous operation, such as water supply systems, cooling systems, and heating systems. In addition, the vibration and noise of centrifugal pumps are relatively small, making them more advantageous in noise-sensitive applications.</li> <li><strong>Flexible Performance Tuning: </strong>Centrifugal pumps have high-performance adjustment flexibility, and can meet different working conditions by changing the diameter of the impeller, adjusting the clearance of the impeller, or adopting frequency conversion speed regulation. This flexibility enables centrifugal pumps to adapt to diverse application scenarios, such as municipal water supply, petrochemical, electric power, metallurgy and other industries.</li> <li><strong>High efficiency: </strong>The efficiency of the centrifugal pump is relatively high, especially in the working conditions of medium and small flow and medium and low head, its efficiency advantage is more obvious. High efficiency helps to reduce energy consumption and reduce operating costs, thereby achieving dual benefits of economy and environmental protection.</li> <li><strong>Transmission medium diversity: </strong>Centrifugal pumps can transport a variety of media, such as clean water, sewage, oil, corrosive liquids, etc. This makes centrifugal pumps have a wide range of application prospects in various industries and occasions. By choosing appropriate materials and sealing methods, centrifugal pumps can meet the requirements of different media delivery.</li> <li><strong>Easy maintenance: </strong>Due to the simple structure of the centrifugal pump, it is easy to maintain and easy to carry out fault diagnosis. Most of the common faults, such as shaft seal leakage, bearing failure, etc., can be resolved through on-site inspection and repair. In addition, since centrifugal pumps have fewer critical components, spare parts are easier to obtain, which further reduces maintenance costs and downtime.</li> <li><strong>Safe and reliable: </strong>Centrifugal pumps are safe and reliable during operation. Due to its compact structure, the potential risk during an operation is low. In addition, centrifugal pumps can usually be equipped with various protection devices, such as overload protection, overheat protection and leakage monitoring, etc., to ensure the safe operation of the pump.</li> <li><strong>Long lasting: </strong>Centrifugal pumps use high-quality materials and precision manufacturing processes to give them a long service life. Under normal use and maintenance, the service life of centrifugal pumps can reach several years or even ten years. The advantage of long life means that users can enjoy the stable operating performance for a longer period of time, reducing replacement frequency and related costs.</li> <li><strong>Easy to expand: </strong>Due to the modular design of the centrifugal pump, users can easily expand it into multi-stage pumps or connect them in series or parallel according to their needs. This enables the centrifugal pump to meet expansion needs in different scenarios and provide greater flexibility.</li> </ul> <p>To sum up, centrifugal pumps have many advantages that make them ideal for various application scenarios. Simple structure, stable operation, flexible performance adjustment, high efficiency, diverse conveying media, convenient maintenance, safe and reliable performance, long life, and easy expansion make centrifugal pumps widely used in municipal water supply, petrochemical, and electric power, It has broad application prospects in various industries such as metallurgy. However, when selecting a centrifugal pump, parameters such as the actual application scenario, flow rate, and head should be considered to ensure that the selection is correct and the best performance can be exerted. At the same time, regular maintenance and inspection are carried out to ensure the safety and stability of the centrifugal pump during use.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:484 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-voltage-converter What is a Voltage Converter? <p>Due to the different power environments of countries and regions in the world, there are also differences in civilian voltages, and the applicable voltage ranges of electrical appliances in various countries are also different. The common ones are 220V voltage and 110V voltage. With the development of global economic integration, the exchanges between people of various countries are becoming more and more frequent, and voltage converters have become a must-have for many people going abroad, bringing great convenience to people's lives. Today, we will give you a detailed introduction to what is a voltage converter and some precautions during the use of a voltage converter.</p> <h3>What is a voltage converter?</h3> <p>A voltage converter, also known as a "household transformer", is a kind of transformer, which is suitable for household appliances, such as hair dryers, cooking machines, rice cookers,<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1000-watt-voltage-converter-220v-to-110v.jpg" alt="voltage converter" width="330" height="215" /> sterilizers, electric kettles, air purifiers, etc. Its function is to realize the conversion between 220V and 110V voltage of household appliances, which can be divided into two types: 220V to 110V voltage converter and 110V to 220V <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">voltage converter</a>.</p> <p>The voltage converter is 220V to 110V, and the voltage converter is connected to the 220V mains with a national standard power plug line, which can be directly connected to the domestic household mains. Turn on the switch, and the output end is a universal socket, and the electrical appliance can be used directly by connecting it to the socket.</p> <p>Similarly, the voltage converter converts 110V to 220V. The output socket of the voltage converter is also a universal socket, which is suitable for all countries, and foreign electrical sockets can be used directly.</p> <h3>Tips for using a voltage converter</h3> <p>It is worth noting that in the process of using the voltage converter, there are also the following three points for attention:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Before using the voltage converter, you need to confirm that the capacity of the voltage converter is sufficient. It is recommended that the power of the voltage converter be 10% higher than the rated power of the electrical appliance. First, to ensure that the converter can drive the electrical appliance normally, and second, to extend the use of the converter life.</li> <li>It must be ensured that the output voltage of the converter meets the voltage range required by the electrical appliance. The 220V to 110V voltage converter can connect to 100V-120V electrical appliances, and the 110V to 220V voltage converter can connect to 220V-240V electrical appliances.</li> <li>After the first use, it needs to be powered on for 15 minutes to warm up before connecting the electrical appliances; in addition, it is best not to run for a long time in daily use, and the power of the converter must be disconnected when not in use.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:479 https://www.inverter.com/is-an-energy-efficient-home-worth-it Is An Energy Efficient Home Worth it? <p>Energy efficient homes are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners are increasingly interested in sustainable development and environmentally friendly lifestyles. Whether you want to build, renovate, or buy a house that is already energy efficient, some key design elements are essential for any truly green home.</p> <p>A simple example of energy efficiency in your home would be switching out your traditional light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. While both bulbs produce light, the compact fluorescent and LED bulbs do so using less energy. Should we bring more energy efficiency to our home? If you can afford it, the answer is, simply, yes. In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will talk something about this topic.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/build-energy-efficient-home.jpg" alt="Build energy efficient home" width="525" height="342" /></p> <p>Should you bring more energy efficiency to your family? If you can afford it, the answer is affirmative: Yes. Next, let's learn why improving energy efficiency has more advantages than disadvantages.</p> <p><strong>Benefits Of Having An Energy-Efficient House:</strong></p> <p>Energy efficiency boasts more benefits than just better-burning light bulbs, including: minimizing your carbon footprint, saving money on utility bills, increasing your quality of life and boosting the economy.</p> <p>Due to the increasing popularity of energy-efficient residential buildings, adding energy-efficient features to your house can also increase its market value. Nowadays many people install <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> in their homes to improve energy efficiency. In fact, a study has shown that more energy efficient houses tend to sell for 3% to 5% more than less energy efficient houses.</p> <p><strong>The Downside Of An Energy-Efficient House:</strong></p> <p>The only disadvantage of energy efficient housing is upfront costs. Whether you buy a new house or renovate an existing one, energy-saving features are not cheap. For completed homes, the cost of upgrading to energy efficient facilities can be as high as thousands of dollars. For new houses, contractors will have to pass on the additional costs of any electrical appliances, higher quality insulation, or sustainable materials used in the house, which may significantly increase the average cost of building a new house. However, the cost savings of installing energy-saving devices at home will ultimately exceed the cost of installing these devices.</p> <p>Whether you're building a new home or looking to upgrade your current house, investing in energy-efficient improvements can have real value.  Not only will you reduce your home energy use, but you'll likely also save money on your utility bills each month. In general, it is necessary to built energy efficient home.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:481 https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter-for-commercial-solar-systems Hybrid Solar Inverter for Commercial Solar Systems <p>A hybrid solar inverter is <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">an inverter</a> that combines the functionality of a standard solar inverter with a battery inverter or backup power source such as a generator. This type of inverter is designed for use with solar systems, and it allows you to store excess solar energy in batteries for later use, rather than feeding it back into the grid.</p> <p>Hybrid solar inverters can also draw power from the grid to charge batteries during off-peak hours when electricity prices are lower, and then use the stored energy during peak hours when electricity prices are higher. This feature is called peak shaving, and it can help you save money on your electricity bill. Additionally, hybrid solar inverters can provide backup power in the event of a grid outage. It can automatically switch to a battery or generator to power your home or business, ensuring you have power even when the grid is out.</p> <p>Nowadays, hybrid solar inverters are becoming increasingly popular in commercial solar systems due to their ability to manage energy flow from multiple sources, including solar panels, batteries, and the grid. They offer a cost-effective and sustainable way for commercial buildings to reduce energy and improve energy independence. Here are some of the key benefits of using hybrid solar inverters in commercial solar systems:</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Hybrid Solar Inverter" width="250" height="auto" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Efficient energy management: </strong>Hybrid solar inverters ensure optimal use of solar energy by controlling the charging and discharging of batteries. This results in higher energy efficiency and lower energy bills for commercial buildings.</li> <li><strong>Backup power: </strong>Hybrid solar inverters can be used as a backup power system in case of a power outage. They switch the energy source from the grid to the batteries to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for critical operations.</li> <li><strong>Load management: </strong><a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">Hybrid solar inverters</a> can manage energy consumption by automatically adjusting the energy output to match the building's energy demands. This ensures efficient energy use and reduces energy waste.</li> <li><strong>Energy independence: </strong>With a hybrid solar inverter, commercial buildings can reduce their dependence on the grid and become more energy independent. They can use the stored energy during peak demand periods when the grid electricity is more expensive.</li> <li><strong>Scalable: </strong>Hybrid solar inverters are easily scalable, allowing for easy expansion of the solar system to meet the changing energy needs of commercial buildings.</li> <li><strong>Easy to install: </strong>Hybrid solar inverters are easy to install and can be integrated into existing commercial solar systems with minimal disruption.</li> <li><strong>Environmentally friendly: </strong>Commercial solar systems powered by hybrid solar inverters reduce the use of fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions, making them an eco-friendly solution.</li> </ul> <p>Therefore, hybrid solar inverter is an essential component of a commercial solar system. They offer numerous benefits, including efficient energy management, backup power, load management, energy independence, scalability, easy installation, and environmental sustainability.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:480 https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter-for-residential-solar-systems Hybrid Solar Inverter for Residential Solar Systems <p>A hybrid solar inverter is an electronic device that combines the functions of a solar inverter and a battery inverter. It is designed to be used in a solar power system that incorporates energy storage in the form of batteries.</p> <p>When solar panels generate more electricity than the immediate needs of the household or building, the excess energy is stored in the batteries. The hybrid solar inverter controls the charging and discharging of the batteries to ensure optimal use of the stored energy.</p> <p>In addition, a hybrid solar inverter can also draw electricity from the grid or a backup generator when the solar panels and batteries are unable to meet the power demand. This makes the system more reliable and ensures a constant supply of electricity.</p> <h3>Hybrid Solar Inverter Applications in Off-grid solar systems</h3> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/hybrid-solar-inverter-applications.jpg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter applications" width="800" height="NaN" /></p> <p>Hybrid solar inverters are widely used in residential solar systems to manage the energy flow from solar panels, batteries, and the grid. Here are some of the key features and benefits of hybrid solar inverters in residential solar systems:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Maximizes energy efficiency:</strong> <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">Hybrid solar inverters</a> ensure optimal use of solar energy by controlling the charging and discharging of the batteries. This results in higher energy efficiency and lower energy bills.</li> <li>Energy independence: With a hybrid solar inverter, homeowners can reduce their dependence on the grid and become more energy independent. They can use the stored energy during the night or during peak demand periods when the grid electricity is more expensive.</li> <li><strong>Reliable backup power:</strong> Hybrid solar inverters can be used as a backup power system in case of a power outage. They switch the energy source from the grid to the batteries to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.</li> <li><strong>Easy to install:</strong> Hybrid solar inverters are easy to install and can be integrated into existing solar systems with minimal disruption.</li> <li><strong>Cost-effective: </strong>Hybrid solar inverters are a cost-effective solution for homeowners who want to reduce their energy bills and improve their energy independence. They eliminate the need for separate battery and inverter systems, which can be expensive.</li> </ul> <p>Above all, hybrid solar inverters are an essential component of a residential solar system. They offer numerous benefits, including higher energy efficiency, energy independence, reliable backup power, and cost-effectiveness.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:483 https://www.inverter.com/why-use-renewable-green-sources Why Use Renewable Green Sources? <p>Every other day, we read reports of increased pollution, rising fuel prices, and fossil fuel depletion. Various newspaper and news headlines are discussing these issues, and various channels also have special television programs to highlight these issues, making people aware of and responsible for these global issues.</p> <p>These issues are all interrelated. Let's imagine, if people are aware and responsible, will these problems still exist? Think about why these issues are increasingly worrying. The main reason is that there is no use of renewable green energy.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/renewable-green-source.jpg" alt="Renewable green source" width="517" height="350" /></p> <p><strong>Less Pollution: Cleaner and Greener Environment</strong></p> <p>How many fossil fuels do we use in our daily activities? Now think about how much people living near you consume? The amount keeps getting bigger. We all like clean and fresh environments, but we are still intentionally or unintentionally destroying the natural environment. Burning fossil fuels to meet our daily energy needs can generate toxic gases such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.</p> <p>The only way to solve this problem is to shift to green energy, such as solar energy. Solar energy does not emit harmful substances. Solar energy is a renewable and sustainable source of energy, meaning it can be used without depleting finite resources or causing harmful environmental impacts. Using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> to generate electricity can reduce the carbon footprint and help protect the environment. With solar energy now it's possible to stay remotely. We can boast that shortage of fossil fuels will never bother again. With the increasing demand of solar power there shall be a huge decrease in power outages.</p> <p><strong>Solar Saves Money</strong></p> <p>Solar energy is green for the environment and pockets! Investing in the solar energy industry is a good thing for investors because solar energy is a booming industry. Installing solar panels is a one-time investment, and once you have paid the initial investment cost, you can enjoy free electricity. Generally speaking, solar panels have a long-term warranty period of 25 years.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:478 https://www.inverter.com/how-energy-efficient-houses-are-built How Energy Efficient Houses Are Built? <p>An energy-saving and environmentally friendly house is a house that saves energy, provides a high level of comfort and is free from pollution. It can harness a variety of natural energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal and swamp gas. Energy-saving housing is constructed with sustainable materials, aiming to minimize the impact of housing on the environment. The following are the key steps we have taken to ensure that the new residence is as energy efficient as possible.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/energy-efficient-house.jpg" alt="Energy efficient house" width="465" height="307" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Pick the right building materials.</strong> When building houses, choosing to use more sustainable building materials, such as recycled wood or natural stone, is a way for builders to save energy in their design choices. In addition, some building materials can improve the efficiency of the house, including recycled steel, non glass fiber foam insulation, concrete and bamboo.</li> <li><strong>Use proper insulation.</strong> Proper heat insulation can make the house warm in winter and cool in summer, without your heating or air-conditioning system working overtime to adjust the temperature. When we build energy-saving houses, we will install enough insulating materials on the attic space, walls and floors to keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter. Then double or triple glass windows will be installed to provide sufficient natural light for the home without affecting the wall insulation level.</li> <li><strong>Harness solar power.</strong> Builders place windows strategically to take advantage of the sun's natural heat. With many south-facing windows, you can heat more effectively in winter. In summer, covering the windows can keep the house cool. Some contractors will be ready to install solar energy during the construction process. This makes it easier for homeowners to install solar panels in their homes. Although it is expensive to add, solar panels have a high return on investment and can save money on energy use, depending on your location. Some power companies will even pay for the extra energy generated by your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>.</li> <li><strong>Integrate "smart home" systems.</strong> Smart home upgrades not only make a house more automated, but they can also save homeowners money on energy bills. Some popular upgrades that builders often incorporate into their designs include: home hubs, smart lighting systems, energy meters, smart thermostats, smart security systems. Many smart home devices learn your habits and preferences and can suggest changes in your energy use based on your needs and how much money you want to save.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:475 https://www.inverter.com/why-does-power-inverter-output-power-not-reach-rated-power Why Does Power Inverter Output Power not Reach Rated Power? <p>The output power of solar photovoltaic system is generally difficult to reach the nominal power of the module, because the power of the module is tested under very good weather conditions and the temperature of the module is relatively low. Normal weather is not able to achieve this condition, photovoltaic modules may not all receive solar energy, because the photovoltaic system has losses.</p> <p>Such as dust, block, shadow on the components, cables, switches, joints and other line losses; Inverter, transformer, distribution cabinet and other equipment loss. In general large power stations, the maximum output power of the system may only be about 85%-90% of the rated power of the components. In a small distributed power station, the maximum system output may only be about 90% to 95% of the rated power of the components. In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Home Power Inverter</a> will tell you more. We list two factors:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/power-inverter-output-power-and-rated-power.jpg" alt="Power inverter output power and rated power" width="513" height="335" /></p> <p><strong>Solar Irradiance Factor:</strong></p> <p>We often say that the 340W photovoltaic module, the maximum power Pmax/W, represents the peak power of 340W in the standard test environment. Only under standard test conditions (irradiance 1000 W/m<sup>2</sup>, cell temperature 25 ℃), the output power of the photovoltaic module is "nominal power" (340W), and the power will also change when the irradiance and temperature change.</p> <p><strong>System Loss Factor:</strong></p> <p>The key factor affecting power generation is system efficiency, and the main factors to be considered in system efficiency are as follows: Dust on the component, shadow block caused by the efficiency of the reduction, the component temperature caused by the reduction of power, impedance matching loss caused by DC cable, component series voltage and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> voltage mismatch caused by the efficiency of the reduction, the inverter MPPT tracking loss, the inverter itself power loss, AC cable power loss, transformer power loss and many other factors.</p> <table border="“1”" width="“100%”" cellspacing="“0”" cellpadding="“5”"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Content</strong></td> <td><strong>Percentage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Module dust, shadow, temperature</td> <td>1.5-3.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>DC cable, connector internal resistance loss</td> <td>1.0-1.5%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Impedance matching of DC cable</td> <td>1.5-3.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Module and inverter voltage match</td> <td>0.5-1.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Inverter MPPT tracking efficiency</td> <td>0.5-1.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Inverter efficiency</td> <td>1.0-1.5%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>System loss is the loss of comprehensive power generation, and the value varies according to the conditions. The factors that affect the maximum power output are components and DC cables. To increase the output power, various losses must be minimized. After the photovoltaic installation location is determined, it is difficult to change the installation angle, component temperature, inverter loss, MPPT tracking efficiency and other factors. However, factors such as DC cable loss, DC cable impedance matching, and component and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> voltage matching can be controlled.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>As far as possible to reduce the length of DC cable, from the component to the inverter, to use DC cable, the length of the cable has a very large impact on the system power generation, on the one hand is the loss of DC cable itself, on the other hand is impedance matching, inverter as close as possible to the component, DC cable control within 20 meters, each DC cable of MPPT as consistent as possible.</li> <li>The working voltage of the components after series is as close to the rated voltage of the inverter as possible to reduce the loss of the inverter.</li> </ul> <p><strong>How to Judge Whether the Photovoltaic System is Normal?</strong></p> <p>The first is to check the output power of the solar power inverter. In particularly good weather, if more than 90% of the power of the components can be achieved, there is nothing wrong with the design of the system. Secondly, simply calculate the electricity generation, check the local average daily energy generation hours, multiply the number of hours by 365, and then multiply the system efficiency to get the average annual energy generation. Generally, the system efficiency is 0.8. For example, the average daily energy generation hours is 3.5, and a 40 kW electricity, the average annual energy generation is 40*3.5*365*0.8=40880 degrees. If it is within this range, the system is well designed and installed.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:469 https://www.inverter.com/tips-for-efficient-use-of-rv-solar-energy Tips for Efficient Use of RV Solar Energy <p>Solar RV is now a common sight in campsites, which is expected. The energy from the sun is free, it can let you live away from the grid. But to get the most out of your system, you should learn to use solar energy effectively in your RV. If you think that using solar energy can save money, you will save more money when you use energy efficiently.</p> <p>Only use necessary electrical appliances and energy-saving products to maximize the energy of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>. Many of the methods used to reduce the power consumption of RV and home are also applicable to RV and campers. Here are some tips to save solar energy for your RV.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/rv-solar-energy-efficient-use.jpg" alt="RV solar energy efficient use" width="687" height="254" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Switch To LED.</strong> LED lights have become the standard for a good reason: they last a long time and use much less power than older light bulbs. Just to give you an example, a 5 watt LED light is equal to a 100+ watt regular bulb. You can reduce the number of lights you use without sacrificing efficiency. If you haven't already, replace all the lights in your RV with LED.</li> <li><strong>Add a Central Inverter Switch.</strong> A central switch makes it easy to turn off the inverter when you're not using it. Like chargers, an inverter uses up power as long as it is turned on. A solution to this is the power saving mode built into modern inverters. If yours doesn't have one, add a central switch or manually turn it off. You'll save even more power if you use the power saving mode and turn the inverter off after usage.</li> <li><strong>Invest In Lithium-ion Battery.</strong> Lithium ion batteries are considered premium compared to lead acid, but they are more efficient in storing energy.  They need little maintenance and charging power is better too. Lithium batteries are lighter than lead acid and they're safer to use as well. If you spend lots of time in your RV, it's better to invest in lithium ion now as it will pay for itself in the future. With superior storage capacity, it is a more cost effective solution.</li> <li><strong>Take Advantage Of the Sun.</strong> Park your RV so the solar panels receive the maximum amount of sunlight. In the northern hemisphere that means facing north, while in the southern hemisphere that means face south. Do not place your camper near shade as that obstructs light. By parking your RV for optimum sun exposure, you also maximize the amount of light that gets inside. You can use natural light instead of sunlight to save on light bulbs during the morning and early afternoon. During the cold season and cloudy days, the right RV solar panel positioning is important. During hot summer days it's the opposite. Once the panels have stored enough energy, look for some shade to park. This cools down your RV and lessens usage of fans or AC systems.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:474 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-core-uses-of-igbt-in-photovoltaic-inverter What are the Core Uses of IGBT in Photovoltaic Inverter? <p>Photovoltaic inverter is an important equipment in the photovoltaic system, the main role is to convert the direct current emitted by the photovoltaic module into alternating current. In addition, the inverter is also responsible for the detection of components, power grid, cable running state, and external communication and other important functions.</p> <p>As a power device, IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) plays the role of power conversion and energy transmission in the inverter, and is the heart of the inverter. At the same time, IGBT is one of the most unreliable components in the inverter, which is very sensitive to the temperature and current of the device. Therefore IGBT is the key protection object of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>.</p> <p>The core use of IGBT protection technology in photovoltaic inverter is reflected in four aspects. In the following, Inverter.com will introduce to you.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/IGBT-and-photovoltaic-inverter.jpg" alt="IGBT and photovoltaic inverter" width="695" height="313" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Driving Protection.</strong> IGBT is a current switch device, how long the switch is controlled by the CPU of the inverter, but the DSP output is a PWM signal, the speed is very fast, but the power is not enough, the driver's most important role is to amplify the PWM signal. IGBT control a large current, will produce electromagnetic interference signals, and the driver and IGBT separated by very close, so the drive circuit to have isolation function. At present, there are several driving isolation schemes, such as optical coupling, optical fiber, pulse transformer and magnetic coupling.</li> <li><strong>Over-current / Short-circuit Protection.</strong> In the design of IGBT, the current will generally leave a margin of more than 10%. However, when the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-pure-sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> is working, due to the component, the load short circuit leads to overcurrent, the load side has a particularly large inductive load, there is a large harmonic current when the start and stop, this time the output current of the inverter will rise sharply, resulting in the IGBT working current will also rise sharply.</li> <li><strong>Over-temperature Protection.</strong> If the ambient temperature of the inverter is too high and the heat dissipation of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> is poor, continuous overheating will lead to IGBT damage. If the device is continuously short-circuited, the power dissipation from the large current will cause the temperature to rise. If the chip temperature exceeds the silicon temperature (about 250 ℃), the device will lose its blocking ability and the gate control will not be protected, resulting in IGBT failure. So in the design mainly from two aspects to consider. First, strengthen and improve the IGBT pipe heat dissipation conditions, including air duct design, radiator design and production. Second, the design of overheating detection circuit, with IGBT module built-in thermistor to measure the IGBT heat dissipation temperature, is very accurate. When the temperature exceeds the set value, turn off the IGBT to stop working.</li> <li><strong>Mechanical Fault Protection.</strong> In order to facilitate heat dissipation, IGBT is connected by screws, installed on the radiator, the connection strength of the screws should be just right, neither too strong, nor too light strength. If the force is too strong, it will damage the IGBT. If the force is too light, in the process of transportation and installation, due to vibration will cause poor contact, increase of thermal resistance, device overtemperature damage. Therefore, when installing IGBT, a special screw batch will be used. According to the IGBT model, the corresponding torque will be used to ensure that the connection is firm and not damaged at the same time. IGBT is the most easily damaged part of the inverter, but also the most expensive, the most critical part of the power inverter. Therefore, in order to be able to better protect IGBT, inverter must take more corresponding protection measures.</li> </ul> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:473 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-car-inverter-and-how-does-it-work What is a Car Inverter and How does it Work? <h2>What is a car inverter?</h2> <p>A car inverter is a kind of converter suitable for automobile power supply. Indirectness is a kind of power conversion from a DC power supply to an AC current. It can convert the 12V DC power supply of the car battery into 220V AC current. The 220V power supply in Laptops, mobile phones, and other devices can be charged in the car, and home appliances can be connected within a certain power range. The actual inverter is not a simple transformer, even a simple inverter is composed of complex circuits and various electrical components.</p> <p>The car inverter is a convenient power converter for cars. Now the popularity of cars is high. When you go out to work or travel, you can use the inverter to connect the battery to drive electrical appliances and various tools. As a DC-to-AC converter used in mobile, the vehicle inverter power supply will bring a lot of convenience to life, and it is a kind of regular automotive electronic equipment for vehicles. The car inverter output through the cigarette lighter can be 20W, 40W, 80W, 120W up to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/150w-car-power-inverter">150W</a> power specification. Even larger power inverters need to be connected to the battery through connecting wires. Connect household appliances to the output of the power converter, and you can use various appliances in the car as conveniently as at home.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/150W-car-inverter.jpg" alt="150W car power inverter " width="413" height="389" /></p> <h2>How does a car inverter work?</h2> <p>Usually, the car inverter is mainly composed of an inverter bridge, filter circuit, control circuit, oscillator, etc. Its basic working principle is to convert the 12V DC power provided by the car battery into an AC current of about 30khz-50khz and 220V according to high voltage. Frequency PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) switching power supply technology. Subsequently, the 30kHz~50kHz and 220V AC current is converted into 50Hz and 220V AC current by using bridge rectification, filtering, pulse width modulation, and switching power supply output technology.</p> <h2>Tips for using the car inverter</h2> <p>First of all, it is necessary to choose a professional and regular factory-produced or distributed vehicle-mounted inverter product. For the convenience of some users, some DC appliances, such as mobile phone chargers, laptops, etc., do not use their own 220V power supply in the car, but are equipped with a simple adapter and directly plugged into the cigarette lighter. This is wrong. The voltage of the battery is not stable, and taking electricity directly may burn the electrical appliances, which is very unsafe and will greatly affect the service life of the electrical appliances, because the 220V power supply supplied by the original manufacturer is specially designed by the manufacturer for its electrical appliances, and has excellent stability.</p> <p>In addition, when purchasing, it is necessary to check whether the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a> has various protection functions, so as to ensure the safety of the battery and external electrical appliances. Also, pay attention to the waveform of the vehicle inverter. A square wave converter will cause an unstable power supply and may damage the electrical appliances used. Therefore, it is best to choose the latest type of vehicle inverter with a sine wave or a corrected sine wave.</p> <h2>Precautions for the use of car inverters</h2> <ol> <li>When unplugging the electrical plug-in continuous use, be sure to confirm whether the switch of the electrical appliance is turned on "off" before unplugging the power plug. And unplug the car inverter.</li> <li>When replacing the fuse of the car inverter, please be sure to use the same model and specification fuse. Using a fuse or metal wire other than the specified specification will cause abnormal overheating and fire.</li> <li>Please clean up the dirt on the plug of the car inverter regularly to avoid poor contact or abnormal overheating of the inverter.</li> <li>After use or when the car inverter is not in use, please unplug this product from the outlet and keep it in a safe place. Please strictly abide by the precautions on the use of electrical appliances to use this product.</li> </ol> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com">Inverter.com</a> car inverters can be applied to laptops, TVs, stereos, camcorders, digital cameras, car refrigerators, printers, various chargers, handheld computers, etc.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:468 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-solar-panels-do-you-need-for-a-300ah-battery How Many Solar Panels Do You Need For a 300ah Battery? <p>300 ah battery is an ideal companion for solar panels. No matter how much energy your system generates, it needs batteries to store energy for future use. 300 ah battery is a good choice because it provides capacity and efficiency. But the question is, how long does it take to recharge? How many solar panels do we need? In this article, we will talk something about this.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-battery.jpg" alt="Solar panel battery" width="550" height="358" /></p> <p>It takes at least 8 x 100W <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> to fully charge a 12V 300ah battery in 5 hours. If the battery is only 50% discharged, it will be ready in about 2.5 hours. Lithium deep cycle batteries have a discharge rate of 85-100% and are more efficient.</p> <p>Battery capacity is measured in amp hours (ah) while solar panels use watts (w). To find out how long the battery will take to charge, you have to convert amp hours to watts and find out how many peak sun hours are available in your area.</p> <p>If you want to charge an empty 12V 300ah battery in 5 hours, you need 8 x 100W solar panels. The formula is: battery amp hours x volts / available sun hours = watts needed per hour. Using our example again:</p> <p>300ah x 12V = 3600W; 3600W / 5 sun hours = 720 watts per hour</p> <p>Your solar power system must produce at least 720 watts an hour: 720 x 5 = 3600 watts.</p> <p>With 8 x 100W solar panels, your system can generate up to 800 watts an hour. Because solar power is not 100% efficient (more on that later), you should have additional power available. If you need at least 720 watts as in this example, it is better to have an output of up to 800 watts an hour. You can even bump that up to 900 or 1000 watts to be sure.</p> <p><strong>Why are My Solar Panels not Charging at Full Power?</strong></p> <p>One of the things you quickly learn about solar panels is you should have more power available than what you currently need. The reason is solar panels cannot produce their rated output continuously.</p> <p>If you install 300W solar panels on your RV, you might get an average of 285W an hour. This is not a defect but has to do with how solar energy works.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:470 https://www.inverter.com/8-intelligent-functions-of-photovoltaic-inverter 8 Intelligent Functions of Photovoltaic Inverter <p>Photovoltaic power station refers to a photovoltaic power generation system that uses solar energy, uses special materials such as crystalline silicon plates, inverters and other electronic components, and is connected to the power grid and transmits electricity to the power grid. Photovoltaic power station in the role of the inverter, an unattended can fully automatic operation of the photovoltaic inverter how intelligent? Today we're going to sort it out.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/photovoltaic-power-station.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic power station" width="551" height="361" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Intelligent MPPT.</strong> MPPT technology is the core and key technology of inverter. It refers to the ability of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> to track and find the maximum output power of components in real time. The output power of photovoltaic modules is affected by radiation, temperature and other factors, so it can not always output the nominal rated power. The task of the inverter is to track the maximum power output of the modules at every moment in real time, so as to maximize the power generation.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent anti-isolated island.</strong> Island prevention and low voltage crossing are contradictory in nature, but in some unattended power stations or large ground power stations, it is necessary and reasonable to exist at the same time. The relevant provisions of the national standard stipulate the time of anti-island protection and low voltage crossing. When the power grid fails, the island is about to be generated. At this time, the photovoltaic system only needs to support for about 1s to wait for the power grid to recover. In this process, the inverter always keeps the detection state of the power grid information.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent cluster monitoring.</strong> With the development of technology, inverter on the basis of the original MPPT monitoring, has already realized intelligent group series by series monitoring. Compared with MPPT monitoring, the monitoring of voltage and current is accurate to each branch group string, and users can clearly view the real-time operating data of each group string. If the voltage of the group string is inconsistent, it can be reverse proved that the number of components of the group string is inconsistent at a glance.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent I-V curve scan diagnosis.</strong> The PV module I/V curve refers to the corresponding relationship between the output current and output voltage of the PV module, which is expressed by the researchers in the form of a curve. The I/V curves of the component and string will change significantly once the component is shaded, damaged, or in poor contact.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent anti-PID effect.</strong> PID (Potential induced degradation) effect of photovoltaic module refers to the performance of the module will gradually decay after a long time of work. The direct harm of PID effect is that a large number of charges gather on the surface of the battery, so that the surface of the battery passivation phenomenon, so that the filling factor of the battery module, open circuit voltage, short circuit current is reduced. Reduce the output power of solar power stations, reduce the generation, reduce the income of photovoltaic power stations.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent air cooling.</strong> At present, intelligent air cooling is widely used in the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a>, and the inverter external high-performance fan, protection level up to IP67, built-in temperature sensor and drive circuit real-time monitoring device temperature, and set the appropriate threshold. When the temperature exceeds the threshold, the circuit automatically drives the fan. When the temperature returns to normal, the circuit shuts down and the fan stops running gradually.</li> <li><strong>Connect the network intelligently.</strong> The reason why the inverter can realize automatic operation is because it has the function of intelligent recovery and grid connection. The normal operation of the power station depends on a variety of factors, such as string voltage, grid voltage, frequency, etc, and the inverter may appear standby, fault shutdown and other states due to the absence of grid-connected output conditions. Once it detects that the operating conditions are normal, it will automatically restore the grid output after self-check, and no longer need to re-debug, restart and other artificial operations.</li> <li><strong>Intelligent reactive power compensation.</strong> Generally, photovoltaic inverters only generate active power. However, in practical application scenarios, especially in industrial and commercial photovoltaic self-use scenarios, the power consumed by loads includes not only active power but also reactive power. The power grid company only charges active power when the electricity bill is settled, but also evaluates the power factor, if the power factor is lower than the requirements of the power grid company. The grid company will charge punitive rates. In order to avoid the generation of power regulation, industrial and commercial owners usually used reactive power compensation devices at the load end to ensure that the power factor reached the standard.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:472 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-frequency-inverter-protect-the-motor How Does Frequency Inverter Protect the Motor? <p>Frequency inverter is a power control equipment which uses frequency conversion technology and microelectronics technology to control AC motor by changing the working power frequency of motor.</p> <p>Frequency inverter is widely used in various industries, mainly because of its energy saving and frequency conversion speed regulation function in equipment and operating system application, then from what aspects of the frequency inverter to protect the motor? In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will introduce something about this topic. Next we will list ten ways in which the frequency inverter protects the motor.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/1-5-kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter.jpeg" alt="1.5 kW single phase output frequency inverter" width="383" height="383" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Over-voltage Protection.</strong> The output of single phase frequency inverter has voltage detection function, frequency inverter can automatically adjust the output voltage, so that the motor does not bear overvoltage. The converter protects the motor by stopping even when the output voltage adjustment fails and the output voltage exceeds 110% of the normal voltage.</li> <li><strong>Under-voltage Protection.</strong> When the voltage of the motor is less than 90% of the normal voltage, the inverter protection stops.</li> <li><strong>Over-current Protection.</strong> When the motor's current exceeds 150% of the rated value for 3 seconds, or 200% of the rated current for 10 microseconds, the inverter protects the motor by shutting down.</li> <li><strong>Open-phase Protection.</strong> Monitor the output voltage. When the output is out of phase, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency inverter</a> will alarm. After a period of time, the frequency inverter will stop to protect the motor.</li> <li><strong>Phase-reversal Protection.</strong> The inverter makes the motor rotate in only one direction, and cannot set the rotation direction. Unless the user changes the phase sequence of the wiring of the motor A, B and C, there is no possibility of reversing the phase.</li> <li><strong>Overload Protection.</strong> The converter monitors the motor current and protects the motor by shutting down when the motor current exceeds 120% of the rated current / 1 minute.</li> <li><strong>Ground Protection.</strong> The frequency inverter is equipped with a special ground protection circuit, which is generally composed of ground protection transformer and relay. When one or two phase ground contact occurs, the frequency inverter will alarm. Of course, if the user requires, we can also be designed to protect the shutdown immediately after grounding.</li> <li><strong>Short-circuit Protection.</strong> The short circuit of the converter output will inevitably cause overcurrent, and the converter will stop to protect the motor within 10 microseconds.</li> <li><strong>Over-frequency Protection.</strong> Frequency inverter has maximum and minimum frequency limit function, so that the output frequency can only be in the specified range, thus realizing the overfrequency protection function.</li> <li><strong>Stall Protection.</strong> Stall protection is generally aimed at synchronous motors. For asynchronous motor, the stall in the acceleration process is bound to be overcurrent, and the frequency inverter realizes this protection function through overcurrent and overload protection. Stalling during deceleration can be avoided by setting a safe deceleration time during debugging.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:477 https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-inverter-vs-power-inverter Pure Sine Wave Inverter vs. Power Inverter <h2><span lang="EN-US">What is a pure sine wave inverter?</span></h2> <p>Pure sine wave inverter is a kind of inverter, which is a power electronic device that transforms DC power (power battery, storage battery) into AC power, and the sine wave inverter completes the inverter task through the on/off of power semiconductor devices according to a specific law. Pure sine wave inverter is widely used in microcomputer system, communication system, home, aviation, emergency, communication, industrial equipment, satellite communication equipment, military vehicle, medical ambulance, police car, ship, solar and wind power generation field and other places that need emergency backup power.</p> <h2><span lang="EN-US">What are the features of a pure sine wave inverter?</span></h2> <ul> <li>Pure sine wave output, suitable for TV sets, refrigerators, induction cookers, electric fans, microwave ovens, air conditioners, and other household equipment.</li> <li>Microcomputer (CPU) control technology, superior performance.</li> <li>Ultra-wide input voltage range, high-precision output, and fully automatic voltage stabilization.</li> <li>Built-in overload, short-circuit, over-voltage, under-voltage, over-temperature protection functions, high reliability.</li> <li>Simple and clear LED display, upgradeable to the full digital LCD display, easy to observe machine status.</li> <li>Power supply time can be arbitrarily configured according to different requirements.</li> <li>Sine wave inverter adopts valve-regulated maintenance-free lead-acid battery with intelligent battery management, over-charge and over-discharge protection to prolong battery life.</li> </ul> <p><span lang="EN-US"> <img src="/images/uploaded/blog/pure-sine-wave-inverter-vs-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Pure sine wave inverter vs power inverter" width="600" height="400" /></span></p> <h2>What is the difference between a pure sine wave inverter and a power inverter?</h2> <p>A pure sine wave inverter is suitable for any inductive load and resistive load, inductive load includes all kinds of equipment with AC motor refrigerator washing machines, etc. The power inverter is suitable for lighting lamps, watching TVs, electric heaters, and other resistive loads.</p> <p>Pure sine wave inverter, functional parameters require strict, higher prices, used for electronic circuits with high requirements for waveform parameters, while the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is a heterogeneous waveform of a sine wave, square wave, miscellaneous wave, and other components, for general appliances can be used, the price is lower.</p> <p>The difference between a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> and a power inverter is that the output voltage waveform is different. A pure sine wave inverter is suitable for all appliances, and a power inverter is suitable for pure resistance appliances such as an electric stove.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:467 https://www.inverter.com/should-i-get-solar-panel Should I Get Solar Panel? <p>Over the years, buying and owning a house will accumulate a lot of costs, whether it is repairing the backyard or updating the decoration of the living room. But you have to pay your electricity bill every month. Although this is a necessity, the cost of power supply for your home may account for a large part of your monthly budget.</p> <p>Solar energy is becoming more and more popular nationwide, and more and more solar panels appear on the roofs of urban and rural areas. You may ask, "Should I buy solar panels?" There are many things to consider before deciding whether solar panels are suitable for you.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/get-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Get solar panel" width="510" height="346" /></p> <p><strong>Are Solar Panels Good For The Environment?</strong></p> <p>As a form of clean energy, solar power does not release any greenhouse gases or pollutants when operating. When solar power is used to replace energy sources that do create pollution, it can have an indirect yet impactful effect on the environment. Solar panels also reduce carbon emissions because they don’t require vehicles to deliver supplies, which reduces fuel consumption.</p> <p>The process of creating solar panels is a lengthy and requires specialized skills and hazardous chemicals. Still, solar panels produce more energy in 1~ 4 years than was used to manufacture them. Due to their ability to create so much energy, solar panels are considered one of the key elements of an energy-efficient home.</p> <p><strong>Is My House Good For Solar?</strong></p> <p>To determine if your house is a good fit for solar panels, let's look at your sun number. While it shouldn't determine whether you should get solar panel, the sun number will determine the solar power potential of your property. Sun number scores work on a scale from 1~100, with 100 being the most ideal for solar power. A score above 70 is considered a great score. If you have a high sun number, installing solar powers could have a major impact on the cost of your electricity bills.</p> <p>Here are some characteristics that make a residence a good fit for solar panels: space available on ground or roof for solar panels; condition of roof; How long you're planning to stay in your home; the average cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your state.</p> <p>The benefits of home <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> are dependent on a variety of factors. But in most cases, a solar energy system can help homeowners save money each month, lower their carbon footprint and become more self-sufficient from energy companies.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:471 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-pwm-charging-mode-of-solar-charge-controller What is PWM Charging Mode of Solar Charge Controller? <p>The early photovoltaic controllers were all PWM. The electrical structure was simple. The controller consisted of a main power switch, a capacitor, and a drive and protection circuit. The output voltage was controlled by the PWM duty cycle of the switch tube.</p> <p>PWM controller, there is only one switch between the solar array and the battery panel. As the battery is gradually filled and the battery voltage rises, the PWM controller will gradually reduce the power provided to the battery. The photovoltaic output will be output according to the maximum power. PWM controller, with battery charging and discharging management function, can prevent the battery from overcharging and over-discharging.</p> <p>Since there is only one switch connected between the solar module and the storage battery of the PWM type controller, and there is no inductive voltage divider in the middle, the voltage of the module is about 1.2-2.0 times the voltage of the battery when designing, such as a 24V battery, the input of the component The voltage is between 30-50V, and each string can only be equipped with one module. For a 48V battery, the input voltage of the module is between 60-80V, and each string can only be equipped with two modules.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/pwm-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="PWM solar charge controller" width="450" height="278" /></p> <p>The solar controller can also be said to be a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>. It is a controller with two charging modes, one is MPPT charging mode, and the other is PWM charging mode. Now Inverter.com will explain to you the PWM charging mode.</p> <p>The PWM controller is pulse width modulated (PWM), which refers to the use of the digital output of the microprocessor to control the analog circuit, which is a way of digitally encoding the analog signal level. Then control the analog circuit in a digital way, which can greatly reduce the cost and power consumption of the system. Many microcontrollers now have PWM controllers in them.</p> <h2>Principle of PWM Controller</h2> <p>The principle of the PWM controller is based on the fact that narrow pulses with equal impulse but different shapes have the same effect when applied to the link with inertia. PWM control principle: divide the waveform into 6 equal parts, which can be equivalently replaced by these 6 square waves. There are many classification methods of pulse width modulation, such as single polarity and bipolarity, synchronous and asynchronous, rectangular wave modulation and sine wave modulation, and so on.</p> <p>Unipolar PWM control means that the carrier only changes in one direction within half a period, and the resulting PWM waveform only changes in one direction. The bipolar PWM control method is the opposite of the unipolar one, which changes the carrier in two directions within half a cycle. According to whether the carrier signal is synchronized with the modulation signal, PWM control can be divided into synchronous modulation and asynchronous modulation. The characteristic of rectangular wave pulse width modulation is that the output pulse width columns are of equal width, and can only control harmonics of a certain order; The output waveform is close to a sine wave. Sine wave pulse width modulation is also called SPWM. Generating pulse width according to the control signal is the key to this technology. At present, the triangular wave comparison method, the hysteresis comparison method, and the space voltage vector method are commonly used.</p> <p>Buy a high efficiency solar charge controller from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a>, including <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">10 Amp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">20 Amp</a>,...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/60a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">60 Amp</a> PWM solar charge controllers and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20A</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">30A</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">60A</a> MPPT solar charge controllers.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:476 https://www.inverter.com/car-charger-or-car-inverter-which-is-best Car Charger or Car Inverter? Which is Best? <p>In today's society, charging mobile phones, tablets, notebooks, etc. in the car has become more and more common. For first-time car owners, is it better to choose a car charger or a car inverter? Below, Inverter will introduce the differences between the two in detail to help users make a choice.</p> <h2>What is the difference between a car charger and a car inverter?</h2> <p>The main difference between a car charger and a car inverter is that the car charger mainly converts the car power supply into an output voltage of 5V, which is used to charge digital products such as mobile phones and tablet computers with DC 5V input.</p> <p>The car inverter converts the car power supply into an output voltage of 220V, which is used to charge notebooks, car refrigerators, and other equipment.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/car-charger-vs-car-inverter.jpg" alt="Car charger vs a car inverter" width="NaN" height="auto" /></p> <h2>A car charger or a car inverter, which is better?</h2> <p>The choice of the car charger or car inverter mainly depends on which devices are usually charged in the car. If you just charge your mobile phone, tablet, etc., then you only need a safe and efficient car charger. If you often charge your laptop, car appliances, etc., you need to buy a car inverter. In addition, from the perspective of safety, the output voltage of the car charger is 5V, 1~3.1A, which is safer than the 220V output voltage of the car inverter.</p> <h2>Precautions for purchasing a car inverter/car inverter</h2> <ol> <li>When purchasing a car charger, pay attention to the voltage and current of the supporting equipment. Generally, the standard input voltage of portable and handheld terminal products is 5V/700MA, while that of iPhone is 5V/1A.</li> <li>Know the output voltage of your car cigarette lighter, the output voltage of the car is 12V, and the output voltage of the truck is 24V. Generally, the car inverters sold on the market are 12V to 220V.</li> <li>Pay attention to the conversion efficiency of the onboard inverter. The power of the onboard inverters currently on the market is very high.<br />The conversion rate is only about 70% to 80%, and the quality is relatively good.</li> <li>Choose the power of the car inverter, and choose the power that is more common at present, including 100W, 200W, 300W, 500W, and other specifications. It is recommended that car owners should choose a 200w or <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-car-power-inverter">300w</a> car inverter. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">Inverter.com's car inverter</a> provides an AC power source by plugging directly into your cigarette lighter, perfect for use on road trips, work trips, vacations, and camping trips.</li> </ol> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:466 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-future-developments-of-solar-energy What are the Future Developments of Solar Energy? <p>The future of solar energy is enticing. After all, the idea of stable energy costs from a renewable energy source is an ideal mix. But reaching a future where solar energy is heavily relied on won't happen overnight. Here are a few things that must happen on the way to a bright future. In this article, we will talk about this topic.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-future-development.jpg" alt="Solar energy future development" width="608" height="334" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Making Solar Technology More Affordable and Accessible. Although solar energy can help a household save on their electricity bills, the upfront installation is an impediment for many. For more widespread adoption of solar energy, the industry will need to continue improving technology to push costs lower.</li> <li>Increasing Solar Deployment. In order to meet ambitious decarbonization goals, it's necessary for the industry to increase the deployment of solar energy systems. Although more households may be interested in adopting solar, the industry may need to grow its capacity in order to meet increasing demand.</li> <li>Improving Storage And Transmission. It's one thing to turn the sun's energy into electricity. But it's another to store and transmit this energy to the consumer. The production of usable electricity from solar energy is a major accomplishment. But the industry remains focused on improving the storage options for this energy. Plus, the industry is looking to improve the transmission of produced solar energy.</li> <li>Continuing To Develop New Solar Technology. Modern solar technology is useful. But continuing research into technology improvements is necessary for the long-term future of solar energy use.</li> </ul> <p>Of course, improving the basic mechanics of how <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> work is one important task. But it's also important to increase the viable lifespan of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>. Otherwise, these hard-to-recycle components end up in landfills at the end of a short lifespan, which is another problem for the industry to solve.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:465 https://www.inverter.com/what-benefits-can-solar-energy-bring-to-our-daily-life What Benefits Can Solar Energy Bring to Our Daily Life? <p>Solar energy is produced by the fusion of hydrogen atoms inside the sun to release huge nuclear energy, radiation from the sun. The vast majority of human energy comes directly or indirectly from the sun. Plants release oxygen through photosynthesis, absorb carbon dioxide, and convert solar energy into chemical energy that is stored in their bodies.</p> <p>So what are the benefits of solar energy? In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will introduce something about this.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-daily-life.jpg" alt="Solar energy daily life" width="521" height="342" /></p> <p><strong>Solar Energy Helps Save the Environment:</strong></p> <p>Typically, the traditional production of electricity isn't a great process. The burning of coal, oil, and gas can be very harmful to the environment. For example, a portion of the electricity production comes with excessive carbon dioxide emissions, the extraction of fossil fuels in the ground contributes to pollution and climate change, and its massive use of water supply may also cause environmental problems around the world.</p> <p>Considering these issues, it can be safe to say that using renewable energy sources may help save the environment. Solar energy creates pure, clean, and renewable power from the sun, a perfect alternative to fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal. It also reduces carbon footprint and greenhouse gases worldwide. Lastly, once the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> are installed, the production of electricity will be emission-free and require a little amount of water.</p> <p><strong>Solar is a Great Investment:</strong></p> <p>The world needs solar energy in the post-pandemic world. Arab countries and others see them as a long-term energy solution. Solar energy is the cheapest form of power, especially in sunny regions. It's no wonder why many people find solar energy plant investments attractive, rapidly multiplying worldwide because of above-average returns. In the future, solar energy will undergo an amazing transformation, like telecommunications with flat call rates. This is because more people will enjoy cheaper utility bills and more savings from using solar energy.</p> <p>You've just learned the important benefits of installing solar energy. A home solar energy can help homeowners save more money with lower utility bills and incentives. Solar energy is a worthwhile investment not only for homeowners but also for investors and businesses. Like construction companies, businesses can use solar energy to power up tools and machinery to reduce operating costs.</p> <p>Using solar energy helps save the environment by reducing gas emissions and reducing carbon footprint. Also, it promotes better health because of fewer air contaminants produced. It can be a versatile source of energy wherever you are in the world and Indeed, solar has a bright future with plenty of promising benefits to humanity.  </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:464 https://www.inverter.com/why-solar-power-is-the-energy-in-future Why Solar Power is the Energy in Future? <p>Solar energy is a kind of renewable energy. Refers to the heat radiation energy of the sun, the main form is often referred to as the sun's rays.</p> <p>Compared with the past, the cost of solar cells that convert light energy into electricity is now more affordable. More and more companies produce large quantities of solar cells, and new innovative <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> designs are easier to install. So, why is solar energy the way of the future? Learn the important benefits of solar and how it can change the future by reading our article.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-future.jpg" alt="Solar energy future" width="581" height="385" /></p> <p><strong>Build and Rebuild Using Solar Solutions:</strong></p> <p>Construction companies understand the importance of keeping up with technological innovations, such as offering and using solar solutions to clients. The use of renewable energy allows construction companies to utilize fewer fossil fuels. Also, solar energy can run construction tools and machinery, which saves money on oil and gasoline. Thus, if you're running a construction company, offering solar solutions has the potential of attracting more homeowners and commercial property owners to work with you, thereby increasing your construction leads.</p> <p><strong>Can Be Used By Anyone or Anywhere:</strong></p> <p>Solar can be considered the way of the future due to its versatility. This means that wherever people choose to live their lives, solar energy will always be there to help. For example, for those who are living in a place with no form of electricity, such as in rural communities, using solar panels can bring renewable energy to them without hassle.</p> <p>In other words, people can rely on the sun for energy. Unlike fossil fuels, sunlight can be a guaranteed resource of energy. Even in areas where solar isn't thought to be a potential source of energy, solar can still provide you the electricity that you need. What's also good is that solar panels can work during the winter and in colder climates.</p> <p><strong>Solar Energy Promotes Better Health:</strong></p> <p>One of the benefits of using solar energy is fewer air pollutants. It significantly reduces sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter emissions, and other harmful substances that cause health problems—utilizing solar power results in fewer respiratory problems, like bronchitis and asthma, and cardiovascular problems. Also, it reduced lost workdays associated with health issues.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:463 https://www.inverter.com/why-is-solar-energy-important-for-electricity Why is Solar Energy Important For Electricity? <p>When it comes to electricity, you may have heard that the whole energy industry is using the word "resilience". In the energy department, this means that the power system has the ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and recover quickly from outages.</p> <p>Solar energy can play an important role in improving the elasticity of the national grid. Distributed solar energy systems, such as roof and community solar energy, can improve the overall flexibility of the grid and the communities it serves, rather than one main generator providing power for a large area.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-important-for-electricity.jpg" alt="Solar energy important for electricity" width="534" height="307" /></p> <p><strong>Grid-based Resilience</strong></p> <p>Power comes from a variety of sources—fossil-based generators fueled by coal or natural gas have been standard for the last century. Now, solar energy offers an affordable, low-cost electricity source well suited for a 21st century clean energy economy.</p> <p>To enable solar to provide resilience, grid operators need tools like battery storage, demand management, and load shifting to ensure reliable power. The tricky part is understanding when to use those tools. That requires real-time knowledge of how much energy solar resources are producing at that moment, as well as how much energy they will produce in the future, known as forecasting. It will help commercialize tools that will aid in predicting solar generation, and has also been investing in tools and models that continue to improve communications between solar generation facilities and grid operators so they have the accurate and timely information to do their jobs effectively.</p> <p><strong>Focus on Communities</strong></p> <p>New research is expanding the definition of resilience to include the communities served by electric grid. Increasing the amount of solar energy on the grid and ensuring its affordability increases community resilience by helping to relieve energy burdens and provide clean, reliable, local electricity. Electricity powers vital services that are integrated into virtually every corner of our economy and communities: lighting at night for safety, communication services for emergency responders, refrigerated food and medication storage, and clean water and sewage disposal. All of these actions can be achieved by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>.</p> <p>As the number of grid connected solar energy continues to grow, flexibility at the grid and community levels remains an important priority. New and innovative community energy planning methods and new clean energy technologies will be developed to mitigate the impact of power outages on basic services and improve the ability to withstand extreme weather events and recover quickly.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:462 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-create-your-own-electricity-at-home How to Create your Own Electricity at Home? <p>With the development of science and technology, it is easier and cheaper to generate electricity by yourself than ever before. The technology used is cost-effective and mature, and has reached the peak level in terms of performance and reliability.</p> <p>As long as you have free space on your roof, backyard or garden, you can generate enough electricity to power your home and offset your energy costs. The technology of photovoltaic panels and inverters has achieved high efficiency and reliability. In this article. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will tell you something about creating your own electricity.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/create-your-own-electricity.jpg" alt="Create your own electricity" width="545" height="325" /></p> <p>Stable performance means that you can generate more power without operating costs, and you can get a return on investment in less than five years. In addition, the battery used to store power can be used for 12-15 years without maintenance and takes up much less space than before. They will not be exposed to dangerous chemicals. The battery is completely insulated and free from electric shock. It is very safe to use in the home.</p> <p><strong>How the System Works?</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>As the heart of your solar system, the inverter has a built-in battery charger to convert DC power from the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> to usable AC power for your home appliances. The inverter also charges the batteries, with lithium ion or lead acid batteries both available with no maintenance.</li> <li>The inverter charges and feeds excessive energy to your home / office appliances.</li> <li>When the batteries are fully charged, all the solar power is fed to your home appliances.</li> <li>If there is not adequate solar power, the inverter will use the stored energy from the batteries.</li> <li>At night, the inverter will feed the stored energy from the batteries to the household.</li> </ul> <p>If you and your electricity supplier have affordable services, you can charge your battery at night with cheap electricity. The inverter has an internal timer and you can easily set the charging time. This also applies to inverse matrices. If you expect a sunny day, you can turn off charging at night and use solar energy completely.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:461 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-maximize-the-use-of-solar-panel How to Maximize the Use of Solar Panel? <p>Solar energy has made great progress in the past decade. With the decline of technology price, the demand for solar PV is also increasing. There are many reasons why people install solar PV, but most people see it as a way to help reduce electricity bills and carbon footprints. Once you have installed solar panels, it is important to understand how to make the most of them.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/maximize-use-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Maximize use solar panel" width="485" height="314" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Make sure your home is insulated.</strong> To help you save money on your electricity bills if you are using electric heating, programme your timers to come on during the day. In order to keep the heat in your home for longer make sure that your roof or loft are insulated and add insulation to your cavity or solid walls. To prevent draughts, draught-proof your doors and windows as well.</li> <li><strong>Use more electricity during the day.</strong> It's a good idea to do all your domestic tasks such as washing, dishwashing and ironing during daylight hours as this is when your solar PV system will be working at its peak. If you’re out at work during the day, it's worth setting up timers for your dishwasher and washing machine to make the most out of your PV system.</li> <li><strong>Install a smart meter.</strong> Smart meters are able to show you the exact and real-time consumption of your electricity and send it back to your energy supplier. When coupled with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, a smart meter can save you a substantial amount of money on your energy bills. You can see what your solar energy usage is so that you can act on reducing it. However, you should be aware that not all energy suppliers have set up their smart meters to read the exported energy from solar panels.</li> <li><strong>Combine with other renewable systems.</strong> Solar PV systems can be combined with other space-heating renewable technologies such as heat pumps, solar thermal systems, and wind turbines all of which work well together. PV can be set up to power a heat pump for example or several of these systems can feed into a thermal store. In fact, solar PV systems make the perfect renewable partner for heat pumps. Heat pumps can use the electricity produced by the solar panels from sunlight and create up to 4 times as much energy as they consume.</li> <li><strong>Check your inverter.</strong> The basic function of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is to convert the direct current (DC) electricity produced by your solar PV panels to alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used in your home and exported back to the grid. In addition to that, its job is to maximise the available energy being generated from your solar panels.</li> </ul> <p>It is important to choose a high quality solar inverter, because it is an important part of your solar panel setup. It is an intelligent device connected to your system and should be placed where you can easily get it. Most inverters now have Internet connectivity, so you can monitor your system with an application or web browser even when you are not there.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:460 https://www.inverter.com/is-a-wind-turbine-the-right-energy-source-for-you Is a Wind Turbine the Right Energy Source For you? <p>A wind turbine is a type of turbine that uses wind energy as its power. Normally, when the wind passes through a turbine, almost half the air is forced to stay around the blades instead of passing through them, and the energy in these winds is lost.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-turbine-100W.jpeg" alt="Wind turbine 100W" width="342" height="342" /></p> <p>The installation of wind turbines on building is not trivial, it requires careful consideration and a special mechanical study. The safety is also paramount before erecting a generator with blades that spin over 600 rpm. It is not entirely recommended our 1 kW wind turbine is suitable for building, as this would cause turbulence. In addition as the wind blows against the turbine a noise resonance may be heard within the building. Therefore, ideally the turbine should be erected on a free-standing tower 7-8m high away from obstacles.</p> <p>Producing off grid energy from the wind can be an ideal source in a rural location for caravan camping, glamping or at an outdoor event as a power supply. The project starts with a site assement, you can access a wind speed database. Enter the postcode of the location you wish to site a wind turbine. The data base contains the average wind speed in metres / second (m/s) at various heights. Ideally anything above 5.5m/s at 10 metres, otherwise a wind turbine may not be a viable option for you. Variations can occur depending on the elevation of the land.</p> <p>A good wind site location for a horizontal <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> needs to be in a rural location in clean air area away from trees, hedges, walls, and buildings which may cause turbulence. Therefore, do you have the correct conditions to produce the power you require? By comparing how much power you potentially need (to run appliances) to the wind speed in your area and how much power you can potentially produce is a good indicator to see if this energy source will work for you.</p> <p>For example: Average wind speed 5.5 m/s = estimated 1100 kwh = 1100 kwh of electricity over 12 months or more if the wind speed is higher. At 6.5 m/s this would increase to an estimated 1800 kwh and at 7.5 m/s an estimated 2500 kwh increasing exponentially. Wind works hrmoniously with solar photovoltaics as a hybrid system combines the best of both worlds taking advantage of the sun in the summer and the wind in the winter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:459 https://www.inverter.com/how-a-grid-tied-pv-system-works-with-hybrid-solar-inverter How a Grid-tied PV System Works with Hybrid Solar Inverter? <p>The system is widely applicable to all grid-connected properties, warehouses or commercial buildings. Our solution is designed for grid-connected installation (single or three phase) with the ultimate goal to reduce the dependence on the supply of the grid and to maximize the self-consumption for the energy produced by the solar panels.</p> <p>In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will explain in a very simple way and a few steps how a photovoltaic system can be integrated to your home when your home is connected to the national grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-system-hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="PV system hybrid solar inverter" width="591" height="392" /></p> <p>The primary goal of a self-consumption system is to optimise the use of solar and/or wind power. The major obstacle in such a system is that power generation times do not match the actual times of power use. This results in a system being forced to import energy from the grid and export it when there is a surplus. In an optimised self-consumption system, surplus energy is stored locally for local on-demand use. Such energy storage is becoming an increasingly attractive proposition, especially with feed-in tariffs decreasing and grid supplies becoming less stable and more expensive.</p> <p>It is important to mention that the system is always connected to the grid but the grid supplies in parallel with the inverter/solar panels the energy demand of the household.</p> <p>And it is important to explain that a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid solar inverter</a> will power the AC-loads but if the energy demand exceeds the capacity of the inverter or the batteries are not fully charged, the surplus energy will be withdrawn from the grid. In simple terms if the load is 5kW but the inverter can only supply 4 kW then 1 kW will be supplied by the grid.</p> <p>This is a major difference between off-grid inverters and hybrid grid inverters, the off-grid system will go into bypass mode if the power demand exceeds the rating of the inverter and all the energy will come from the grid.</p> <p><strong>Characteristic of Hybrid Solar Inverter For Self-consumption:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The inverter will be the main source of electricity for the household.</li> <li>The grid will supply any surplus energy if the consumption exceeds the power rating of the inverter.</li> <li>On cloudy days the grid will top up the batteries and supply energy to the house.</li> <li>The batteries are charged from solar first.</li> <li>A charge timer will be used to charge the batteries with the economy rate. (low-cost electricity)</li> <li>Inverter and grid run in parallel feeding power to the loads.</li> <li>Export to the grid can be controlled from 0Watt to maximum power.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:458 https://www.inverter.com/how-important-is-a-solar-inverter How Important is a Solar Inverter? <p>In the relentless pursuit of cost-effective and sustainable energy, nothing has more potential than the sun. At least in theory, it can meet the global energy demand for a whole year. This is a lot of energy. The challenge is to figure out how to harness that energy efficiently and effectively.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-grid-tie-inverter.jpeg" alt="Solar grid tie inverter" width="426" height="426" /></p> <p>Solar inverter is an important part of solar power generation system. It converts all direct current generated by solar panels into alternating current, which can supply power to anything that needs power. Without inverters, the power collected by solar panels would have nowhere to go. Not only that, the inverter is also the brain of the solar system. It provides ground fault protection and overall performance statistics. If there is a problem with your system or a particular panel, it is likely that your inverter will detect it. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverters</a> also play a huge role in the efficiency of the solar system. When energy is transferred from solar cells to your home or business, it will inevitably lose some energy. An efficient inverter minimizes these losses. The more efficient your inverter is, the less batteries you need to generate the power you need, reducing the overall cost of the entire system.</p> <p>Solar energy uses photons released by the sun to generate electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> consist of multiple solar cells, essentially miniature conductors. Each cell has a positive electrode and a negative electrode, which together form an electric field. When photons strike the solar cell, electrons break free from the atoms and flow in one direction along the circuit. This unidirectional current is called direct current or DC. Each solar panel has a plurality of solar cells, which can be connected together to form an array. The more batteries and panels you have, the more energy you can collect and deploy. With unlimited solar cells, you can create unlimited direct current.</p> <p>However, the power grid and most commercial appliances were made to run on alternating current, or AC. With AC electricity, the loose electrons don't just flow in one direction, they periodically reverse direction when pushed or pulled by some form of energy. For solar power to be useful in providing electricity to run our homes, businesses, and cities, the DC power must be converted to AC power. This is why it's important that all households planning to install solar panels also plan to buy solar inverters.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:457 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-steps-to-select-a-centrifugal-pump What are the Steps to Select a Centrifugal Pump? <p>Centrifugal pump refers to the centrifugal force produced when the impeller rotates to transport the liquid pump. Centrifugal pump is the use of impeller rotation and make the water centrifugal movement to work. Before the pump starts, the pump shell and the suction tube must be filled with water, and then start the motor, so that the pump shaft drives the impeller and the water to do high speed rotating motion, water centrifugal motion, is thrown to the outer edge of the impeller, through the flow channel of the cochlear pump shell into the water pump pressure pipe.</p> <p>We should not only know what is centrifugal pump, but also pay attention to the main points when choosing products. In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will show you the steps to choose a centrifugal pump.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/cheap-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="472" height="348" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Determine the physical and chemical properties of the liquid being transported.</strong> The physical and chemical properties of the liquid include temperature, viscosity, density, saturated vapor pressure, corrosiveness and toxicity, etc, whether it contains solid particles or bubbles. Only then can the type and model of the pump be determined, the material of the pump parts, the type of seals, and the measures to prevent pump corrosion and cavitation.</li> <li><strong>Determine the flow rate of the pump.</strong> According to the requirements of production conditions, calculate the amount of liquid that needs to be transported per unit time, and add a certain margin (generally 5%-10%) as the flow rate of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal water pump</a>.</li> <li><strong>Calculate the lift of the pump.</strong> According to the flow rate of the pump and the condition of the pipeline and device, calculate the liquid resistance loss of the pipeline, find out the lift required by the pump, and add a certain margin (5%-10%) as the basis for selecting the pump. The rated flow generally adopts the maximum flow directly. If it is missing, it adopts 1.1-1.15 times of the normal flow. The rated lift is 1.05-1.1 times the lift required by the device. For media with viscosity greater than 20mm or containing solid particles, it needs to be converted into the rated flow and head when conveying clean water. According to the rated flow and head, find out the initially selected pump model, there may be several.</li> <li><strong>Correction of viscous liquid.</strong> If the kinematic viscosity of the liquid to be transported is less than 20cSt (1cSt=1mm2/s), it is not necessary to correct it because the flow rate and lift of the pump do not change much. According to the flow rate and head of the pump and the physical and chemical properties of the liquid, a type of centrifugal pump is initially selected on the series diagram (spectrogram) of a certain type of pump.</li> <li><strong>Determine the installation height of the pump.</strong> After the model of the centrifugal pump is determined, according to the local atmospheric pressure or the liquid surface pressure of the liquid to be conveyed, the temperature of the liquid and the saturated vapor pressure of the liquid at this temperature, the allowable vacuum height or allowable cavitation given on the centrifugal pump sample margin, determine the installation height of the pump.</li> <li><strong>Determine the spare rate of the pump.</strong> When one pump can meet the production requirements, one pump should be used as far as possible, and the parallel operation of two or more pumps is generally less efficient, which is uneconomical from the point of view of "energy saving". However, when the flow rate is large, one pump cannot meet the production needs or a spare pump is required, two or more pumps can be used in parallel. When the starting current of the large pump is too large and has an impact on the power system, two smaller pumps are often used in parallel and started one by one.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:456 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-importance-of-solar-panel-ingress-protection What is the Importance of Solar Panel Ingress Protection? <p>As the solar panel is always made of waterproof materials, and uses a good sealant for its internal solar cells and wiring, there is no worry when we see rains drop on solar panels for long time, actually the solar panel is designed to work effectively when it is rained on for even decades. The damage which may be happened due to water is very rare, and if it occurred, you would be sure that the solar panel had a manufacturing defect from the beginning, and in this case, there is no worry as the supplier warranty will honor this, especially the warranty period for most of solar panel brands in the market is not less than 10 years.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-ingress-protection.jpg" alt="Solar panel ingress protection" width="580" height="290" /></p> <p>The solar panel ingress protection indicates the protection level against environmental elements includes preventing water from entering inside the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a>, and always be denoted by "IP" abbreviation. The number written after IP will indicate exactly what will the solar panel be protected against, and to what extent. For an instance, if we purchased a solar panel with IP65, then this means it has been well protected against dust and can withstand sprayed water at low pressure, but if we purchased a solar panel with IP67 or IP68, then it has been well protected against dust, moisture and it can be submerged temporary in water, so better protection, more reliability and longer life span.</p> <p>The good quality solar panel manufacturer and supplier, not only protect you from being the solar panel damaged by water or not properly sealed, but also, they protect you from solar panel bad performance, we mean if it generates less output power that what it was designed and manufactured for. However, after a10 years of installing the solar panel, it will produce only 90% of its rated power capacity, and that is normal, it is an acceptable degradation in performance which you will notice it is already listed clearly in solar panel specification sheet.</p> <p>Generally, although the solar panel manufacturer/supplier warranty period is so long, its real, and you will be able to replace the panel inside the warranty period limit free of charge, with no issue at all, because as said the manufacturer understand from the beginning that the solar panel will be installed outdoor, and it lifespan in 25 years or more.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:455 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-solar-light-work How Does Solar Light Work? <p>One of the best technique to be green and save money is to use solar lights, it is an effective way to generate electricity from solar energy, then using it for lighting. And it is an important application of using renewable energy in lighting system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-light-work.jpg" alt="Solar light work" width="563" height="363" /></p> <p>There are many different styles of solar lights in the market, which can be used for different application and different places, like lighting up gardens, houses, streets, football stadium, work places, etc. It's important for us to know how this lights work, what benefits we shall harvest of installing them, and how to choose the proper light for our applications.</p> <p>All these solar powered lights have a collection part which contains the solar photo-voltaic cells /solar panels, and the job of the collector is to collect the sun-light converting it to usable electricity with certain DC output voltage and current. So, it's considered as the electrical power supply of the lighting system. Another important component that must be incorporated in this lighting system, it is the automatic system that will turn lights off when daylight rise, and will switch on the lights when the daylight falls, this automatic system works depending on outdoor sensors, like light sensors, motion sensors, and other types of sensors.</p> <p>The main important component in this solar light system is the batteries which will store energy during daylight, as solar panels will keep charging batteries till the end of the day, then at night time, the batteries will power on the lighting system and keeps all lit based on the need. So, when selecting batteries system type, we have to select the most reliable and longer life type although it will be more expensive than other types. Also, batteries system capacity should be well sufficient to feed the solar light for the whole nighttime period, so it should be well designed from the beginning.</p> <p>When positions <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> of the lighting system, we have make them directly exposed to the sun light, that is technically better, because direct sun exposure will make the fullest, quick and strongest charging to the batteries system during the day light.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:454 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-solar-light What are the Benefits of Solar Light? <p>Solar lights are electric lights that are converted into electricity by solar panels. During the day, even on cloudy days, solar panels can capture and store the sun's energy. Most of people use solar lights in their houses and offices, in addition to many different organizations types, industrial facilities, and others. And that is for a lot of reasons we shall mention as following.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-light-benefits.jpg" alt="Solar lights benefits" width="592" height="396" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>First, solar lights require low maintenance. You install them and they work for a long time without needing anything to do, you only need to clean the solar panels occasionally, around two or three times per year, based on your site weather, as if its harsh weather with much dust, we may need to make cleaning four to five times per year, and even though, its easy action, with no additional cost required. Another free action, is to check the solar lights system every now and then to make sure there is no damage happened and all connections are sealed.</li> <li>Second, when using the solar lights, you do not need to pay for consumed electricity, as you generate it from the sun energy, it's a very economical system.</li> <li>Third, solar light system is a budget friendly system, as although it's an advanced system, but it is not much expensive than traditional lights system, in addition the money saving you are getting from No longer paying electricity bill making the return of investment very awesome, and surely you will return the money you pay in purchasing and installing solar light system in around 5-6 years.</li> <li>Fourth, it's an easy to install system, and no electrical wires will be needed for outlet connection, so it's a safer system. We just connect the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> to the lights directly, and both are very close to each other, and that is it, no more.</li> <li>Fifth, because there will not be wires in solar light system, installation will be easy and system becomes safer than traditional solar light system. And you will not have subjected to protection system tripping due to wires or electrical outlets or connections, as they do not exist, so the system will be more reliable, its honestly win to win system.</li> <li>Sixth, its considered as one of renewable energy systems application, so it keeps our environment, and reduce the pollution.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:453 https://www.inverter.com/3-disadvantages-of-solar-light 3 Disadvantages of Solar Light <p>Using solar light in our premises, gardens and all other applications is a great project with many benefits, but it's like any perfect project, there will be few drawbacks. These drawbacks will not affect our solar light choice, but it will pay our attention to some points to keep in mind before purchasing and using the solar light system, so let us discuss three disadvantages of using solar lights as following.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-light-disadvantages.jpg" alt="Solar light disadvantages" width="526" height="350" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>First, actually the capital cost (upfront cost) of the solar lights is still higher than traditional lights system. But we can assure that the price difference is not very high. We just refer to high quality brands which lasts for longer life span with higher efficiency and reliable performance, but for those quiet good brands with medium efficiency, their prices will a bit little higher than standard light system.</li> <li>Second, solar light system is fully weather dependent, and although most of modern solar energy products are able to work on low sun light, the cloudy weather with low sun light will affect the solar light system. The solar light strongly depends at least on a certain basic level of solar daylight, so it can continue to lit for a certain time period, and if it goes below that level, the solar light will not power on. So, from the beginning, if you live in an area with poor sunshine during parts of the year, like Alaska and Russia, then using the solar light system will not be the best way for you, but if you line in a good sunshine area, in other word, if your living area has a good average number of sunshine hours per day, then it's okay, and the solar light will be the perfect way. In all cases, please note that solar light system will have some backup batteries that will store electrical energy for the future use.</li> <li>Third, some people doesn't admire with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> shape, they see them unattractive, in that case, you have to get tight and small solar panels and place them in a tide manner. The small and tight solar panel will be in a higher cost in compared with traditional one if it provides the same power capacity. If the appearance is an important matter, there will be no issue, as you will find many options in the market to choose from, and you have to carefully place the solar panels in a place in where they will not be very seen.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:452 https://www.inverter.com/what-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-solar-battery What Factors to Consider When Choosing Solar Battery? <p>The solar batteries are a main part in the solar off grid system, as they are the main source of power in night time and in cloudy weather time in which there is no sufficient solar energy to power our loads. So, we have to carefully choose the right batteries size, type and quality.</p> <p>Fortunately, nowadays, we have much developed batteries types that last many years with reliable performance in compared to past years, that is a results of scientists researches and solar batteries manufacturers efforts. There are 6 basics to be well considered when you decide to purchase a solar batteries system to make sure you get the best choice, as following.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ups-inverter-solar-battery.jpg" alt="UPS inverter solar battery" width="460" height="371" /></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Solar batteries power capacity. Actually the batteries capacity is measured in Ah (ampere-hour), and you have to make sure that batteries Ah meet your needs. Simple calculation has to be done to indicate the appropriate batteries Ah before purchasing, and such calculation is done based on your electrical equipment/appliances power capacity, and how long you will run them per day.</li> <li>Batteries charging time. The best solar batteries will charge in few hours, even they are gel or lithium type batteries. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a> is equipped with lithium and lead-acid battery.</li> <li>Solar batteries installation. The easy you can install, the better the solar batteries are, in other word, you have to choose the easiest solar batteries installation, so even you are not electrician, you will be able to install them safely, of course you have to get installation instruction from batteries supplier.</li> <li>Budget you consider for purchasing the solar batteries system. It depends on will you purchase batteries that affords long term or short term operating time period, if long term, then would the investment worth such extra paid prices? You have to well consider these factors.</li> <li>Batteries lifespan. When you will need to replace the batteries is an important factor to consider, and most of regular batteries in the marker has not less than 5 years' lifespan, but if you want long lasting batteries, then you have to plan and check carefully for best reliable brand.</li> <li>Batteries manufacturer warranty period. Different warranty periods, with different prices will be found in the market, and our advice is to get a battery with a good warranty period to be in safe side, also, check with your supplier the capability of extending such warranty period.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:451 https://www.inverter.com/how-long-can-solar-battery-last How Long Can Solar Battery Last? <p>Batteries life span is defined as the time period they are useful before they can no longer valid to be recharged or even hold a charge. We usually measure the batteries life span in terms of cycles or certain time limit in years or days or hours. Battery cycle refers to the number of times they can be discharge and re-charged again.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3000w-ups-inverter.jpg" alt="3000W ups inverter" width="402" height="219" /></p> <p>There are many factors affecting the batteries life span, like brand, batteries type and battery size. If you want to purchase the longest life span batteries in the market, then you would expect paying more money, as it will be more expensive than others in the market of course. We have to know that lithium batteries type has a higher life time span than lead acid batteries, but bear in mind that its price is several hundreds of dollars more than lead acid type. Not only the battery type that will affect the life span, but also the quality of the batteries manufacture and how he is in compliant with standard during manufacturing and testing stages, in addition to that, the battery size will also affect the life span. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a> on <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">home inverter</a> can choose lithium battery or front suspension battery, to provide you with different solutions.</p> <p>Our solar system expected life span varies between 20 years and up to 30 years, so when using batteries in our off grid solar system or hybrid solar system, we should take care to install the highest life span type, to maximize our technical and economic benefits, usually when using the best solar batteries type, we shall be needing to replace the batteries system once at least during the solar power system whole life span.</p> <p>Mainly, there are three factors affecting the batteries life span as following:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Our usage to the solar batteries, and in other word, how often we recharge after usage. And the over-voltage protection we installed in the system to protect the batteries.</li> <li>Solar batteries temperature which are effected by many factors.</li> <li>Required maintenance, we mean the maintenance type and frequency.</li> <li>Actually, the solar batteries life span varies between 5 years and up to 15 years' maximum, while solar panels have a higher life span of 20 years up to 30 years.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:450 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-batteries-needed-in-solar-system How Many Batteries Needed in Solar System? <p style="text-align: left;">We have to well know and understand the amount of energy that batteries will be able to store, so we can choose the solar panels that will be able to charge such batteries in a suitable rate, based on our usage pattern, or in other word, based on our load pattern.</p> <p>In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will introduce how many batteries are needed in a solar system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pwm-solar-charge-controller.jpeg" alt="Solar charge controller" width="325" height="325" /></p> <p>The batteries capacity is measured in ampere hour, denoted be "Ah", and it refers to the ampere you can get from the batteries in 1 hour. To physically understand this capacity, you have to convert Ah to watt-hour which refers the amount of watt you can get from batteries in one hour. Simply, the conversion can be done by multiplying Ah by the batteries voltage, so you get the watt hours.</p> <p>As an example, if we have 20Ah battery, with 24V, this means the battery watt hours is 20 x 24 = 480Wh, and this means the battery can supply 480W for 1 hour or 240W for 2 hours or 10W for 48 hours. That is the meaning, and you can use this formula for any case to determine the batteries number and capacity needed for your setup. Of course, if you will not be able to make such simple calculation, you can consult an electrician to do that on behalf.</p> <p>Our solar batteries should be well paired with the correct solar panels capacities and voltage. So, proper voltage and proper wattage have to be well matched between batteries and solar panels, consequently, the solar system can run our loads smoothly without interruptions. Not only batteries and solar panel will be used to make everything in the solar system works perfectly and smoothly, but there are other important components will be needed, like mainly the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>.</p> <p>The solar panels supply DC electricity over the day light, and that is the form of energy that will be stored in the batteries, so the solar inverter will be needed to convert DC electricity to AC electricity to be used on our AC appliances and equipment, generally in our homes, we need 120V AC or 230V AC to run our electrical devices. Also, we will be needing to a device to ensure that the energy generated by solar panels will not overcharge our batteries, and that is the role of the charge controller, which will also prevent the electrical power stored in the solar batteries over the day light from draining back into the solar panels in night times in which the solar panels do not generate any power.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:449 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-home-electrical-energy-monitor What are the Benefits of Home Electrical Energy Monitor? <p>It's an electrical equipment that provides us a feedback about the electrical energy usage on our home or building, it displays how much energy is used, and the cost of used energy. Many types of such monitors are existing in the market with different capabilities, but the best is the one displays the energy consumed by each appliances and indicate how often it consumed energy. Actually there are many benefits we harvest when installing such energy monitoring devices, especially for home owners who do not know their energy usage in the past, and are looking for energy saving. Here will introduce some of these benefits as following.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/home-electrical-energy-monitor.jpg" alt="Home electrical energy monitor" width="403" height="345" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>You and your family will be aware of how much energy you use, so you will have a strong incentive to do better with energy conservation, in other word, you will unplug devices when you are not use, you will turn lights off when you do not need, etc, those are simple instructions, but have much impact in reducing energy consumption and saving much money. So, we recommend to put the monitoring device in a visible place, so all family members can view it. And of course if you will be able to track all your home appliances individually, then you will be able to achieve much more energy saving.</li> <li>You will be fully aware of how much money you spend on electrical energy consumption per day, week or month.</li> <li>It helps us discovering the devices lift on if we did not realize that, as accidently we may leave a fan, or a lamp on while we do not need it, but as checking monitoring device becomes a routine action, we shall notice oddities, and correct such mistake quickly. Such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">solar on grid tie inverter</a>, it can connected to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, automatically adapt to different load power factor.</li> <li>You will re-consider high energy consumption appliances, as you will be aware of them, also, you may take a decision to no longer use a certain appliance or you may purchase a counterpart that consumes less electricity (higher efficiency).</li> <li>Because you become well aware of your energy consumption, you will change your appliances usage plan to save elasticity, like replacing inefficient old incandescent lamps with high efficient led lamps, reducing dishwasher using time, etc.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:448 https://www.inverter.com/what-kinds-of-batteries-can-be-used-in-solar-energy-system What Kinds of Batteries Can be Used in Solar Energy System? <p>Actually there are different batteries types we can use in our solar system with different prices, usage and benefits, that is why we should study well to select the best type for our system conditions. And here is a list for the existing 3 different types in the market: lithium ion battery, lead acid battery and gel battery. In this article, we will talk about these batteries.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/lithium-lead-acid-gel-battery.jpg" alt="Lithium and lead acid and gel battery" width="680" height="157" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Lithium ion Battery.</strong> This type is commonly used for most of solar systems. Its popular to be used in outdoor application, because it withstands harsh weather than other types, so, we use it in trail cameras, in remote areas, and many other outdoor applications. In addition, it has high performance, its capacity and life cycle is very good, and its compact with lower size and weight, compared to other types. Its stable, very safe and rarely needs maintenance. The only disadvantages of this type is its cost, as its price is around 3-4 times other types, but honestly it worth the extra price in most cases. Lithium batteries are often used in <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverters</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverters</a>.</li> <li><strong>Lead Acid Battery.</strong> It has been used since more than 150 years, and it has 2 big advantages; its affordable and recyclable. In addition, it's easy to take care about after its life span passed. Lithium batteries are often used in pure sine wave inverter and ups inverter. The lead acid batteries have 3 kinds (flooded, sealed, and AGM "absorbed glass mat". For flooded lead acid batteries, every battery cell is submerged in water, it emits gases, so should be well ventilated and it has daily charging cycle. They need regular maintenance, as you have to add water every 2 months in order to keep the plates submerged properly. For sealed lead acid batteries, they do Not need regular checkup, as it is self-contained battery system and its Not hazardous. For AGM lead acid batteries, it usually used when you want to place the batteries on its side to be used in electric vehicle or electronics or other application that requires this feature.</li> <li><strong>Gel Battery.</strong> Actually we do Not recommend to use this type because it has few advantages and many disadvantages compared to other types. As for the advantages, they require low maintenance, durable and withstand vibration, but for the disadvantages, they easily damage in case of overcharging or due to improper use, they have low ampere hour capacity, and tend to be expensive.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:447 https://www.inverter.com/why-are-solar-lights-the-best-choice Why are Solar Lights the Best Choice? <p>As solar light system is considered as one of the best solar system application which save energy and reduce pollution, there are some parameters we have to keep in mind when we decide to purchase such system, so we can get the most reliable, efficient and cost effective solar light, as following:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-light.jpg" alt="Solar-light" width="305" height="309" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>First, solar batteries charge time.</strong> Our target is to fully charge batteries in day light, so it will be sufficient to lit the whole solar light system on the night time. So, we have to take care about how long does it take for the batteries to be fully charged in direct and indirect sunlight to be sure we are in safe side.</li> <li><strong>Second, solar system lit hours.</strong> We want to be sure that lit hours will be sufficient for our average light needs, so it's important to know how long will our solar system stay lit on batteries full charge.</li> <li><strong>Third, solar lights brightness.</strong> We have to know how many lumens will our solar system put out, because with the higher lumens, the brightness will be higher. So in order to judge if the brightness will be sufficient to our application, we have to know the solar light system lumens. Actually for different applications, there will be different lumens requirements.</li> <li><strong>Fourth, automatic switching on and off.</strong> The question is, will we be needing monitoring system with sensor to switch on and off the solar lights or we can do that manually? Actually this differs from one application to another, keeping in mind that using automatic switching system will be a bit expensive, but more efficient and more energy consumption saving.</li> <li><strong>Fifth, solar light system mounting.</strong> Many mounting options are available on the market, and we choose the best based on our application, and requirements.</li> <li><strong>Sixth, solar light brightness mode.</strong> We can design our solar light system to be able to provide different brightness degree, to be one level (bright) or two level (too bright), etc.</li> <li><strong>Seventh, solar light system durability.</strong> And it based on the particular manufacturer reputation. In all cases, our solar light system should be durable, to able to withstand harsh weather, wind, rains, and snowfall.</li> </ul> <p>Besides having solar lamps is not enough, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> also offers a variety of high quality <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverters</a> that can charge solar lights. It can be used in the operation of TV, PC, laptop, refrigerator and other digital products and household appliances.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:446 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-solar-watch How to Choose a Solar Watch? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-watch.jpg" alt="Solar watch" width="300" height="270" />As solar watch is considered as one of the most important application for using solar renewable energy, we have to know how to choose the best solar watch. Actually, there are 7 quality parameters determining the best solar watch as following:</p> <ol> <li>Selecting the high-quality manufacturer and maker.</li> <li>Selecting companies will brilliant reputation.</li> <li>Selecting companies with brilliant reputation in customer service, as it will take care about you in case of faults.</li> <li>Selecting the high-quality manufacturing materials.</li> <li>Selecting companies/brands which highly recommended by real users, and which have good reviews on their products.</li> <li>Selecting the higher measuring accuracy watches with attractive shapes.</li> <li>Selecting the multifunction watch, because its more usefulness.</li> </ol> <p>Many durable solar watches brands are existing in the market, with fantastic characteristics, like Casio brand, and many others. As said, we always choose the accurate, highly functional, reliable, and the best price. For each solar watch brand, you will find many available colors schemes, like gray with yellow, black with red and many others, select the one that admires you, and making you happy.</p> <p>Many solar watches brand are easy to read their display, having many functions, not only time show, and approximately requires low maintenance procedures. High quality solar watch manufacture/supplier usually provide high quality internal battery, always its of lithium ion type, and provide water resistance feature up to 200-meter depth.</p> <p>There are many different technologies used in solar power watch, and it still develops day after day. Mainly solar watch development concentrates on the efficiency and internal storage capacity, and both become much greater than solar watches manufactured in the past. </p> <p>The  solar watch depends on sun to re-charge its internal battery, the internal <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> and batteries have long life span, and the solar battery can retain the charge for long time without any sun light, and as soon as the sun lights hit the internal solar cell again, the internal battery will start to re-charge, then when the solar watch needs to be charged again, it will automatically alert an alarm with 2 seconds increments.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:440 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-panel-cleaning-service What is Solar Panel Cleaning Service? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/advantages-of-solar-panels.jpg" alt="Solar panels" width="450" height="450" />Hiring a cleaning service is the easiest way to clean your solar panels, moreover using the cleaning service provided to you from your original solar panels provider will be better, more economical, and very easy as well.</p> <p>Most of solar panels suppliers provide the cleaning service fees as a part of their installation package, and that should be listed in the contract signed between the solar panels supplier and the solar system owner. So, its recommended to take care about cleaning service during your solar system purchasing and installation stage. If you already have the solar panels system, and you do not know if you have this service or Not, then simply revise the contract to see if you paid for it or not and how long you paid for.</p> <p>Usually if you have a roof-top <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, you have to consider this service, because the solar professionals are well trained dealing with the solar system, and they have the proper safety equipment specialized for this purpose. The cost of cleaning service will vary from case to case based on your setup and deal with your solar system supplier/installer. If your solar panels installed on the ground, then we recommend to Not pay extra for such cleaning service, and it would be better to do this service yourself unless you own some kind of solar farm or having challenges to do that.</p> <p>Let us clarify you how to clean your solar panels yourself in a simple, and proper way.</p> <p>At first, check your solar system manuals, to see if there are any kinds of cleaning instructions or directives or notes. If Not, then No issue, as most of solar panels share the same basic cleaning techniques, and in that case, just get a soapy water bucket and a soft clean sponge, and then start to wipe the panels down with the soapy water, just clean gently and that is all.</p> <p>Although cleaning solar panels is an easy work, and is Not costly, it represents the main solar system maintenance procedures, that have a very considerable impact on solar system electrical energy generation.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:444 https://www.inverter.com/what-colleges-can-do-to-support-sustainability What Colleges Can Do to Support Sustainability? <p>Sustainability means to reduce wastes and lower the emissions for any process/work/application we do. With the way our world currently continues, the fuel, clean water, food and many others will be run out unless we correct huge mistakes we do. We are in a bad need of using renewable energy and applying sustainability in all of our life aspects. And without doing that, our planet will be a destroying thing to human life. All universities, companies, families and individuals have to do their best to change our life towards sustainability in everything, using renewable energies, really, we must make a difference.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-efficiency.jpg" alt="Solar panel efficiency" width="500" height="336" /></p> <p>Colleges has an important role in making an impact, and here are some of what they can do to improve sustainability, solving environmental issues, and reduce the footprint as following;</p> <ol> <li>Universities provide supporting programs for sustainability, by encouraging using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, using passive lights "we mean natural light", material recycling, and having gray water system. They try to meet safety standard, and build a healthy and green environment.</li> <li>Universities usually provide environmental degrees in topics, like renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental aspects. They intend Not to only teach students, but also to spread the knowledge out into the world, and to apply these programs in homes, companies, and other infrastructures.</li> <li>Universities encourages people to live a greener life-style, providing them new ideas in how to implement them, like using alternative green transportation (using bike), and even to walk if its short distance instead of using the car.</li> <li>An important way, the universities assist in fighting the climate change is to encourage using alternative power sources, we mean the wide use of renewable energies, like solar energy and wind energy.</li> <li>College will engage in recycling programs and how to efficiently apply as a part of a comprehensive program.</li> <li>Universities will encourage using electronics devise in classrooms, like laptop and tablet instead of using paper and pen, to protect our environment from pollution.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:443 https://www.inverter.com/why-use-deep-cycle-battery-for-solar-energy-storage Why Use Deep Cycle Battery for Solar Energy Storage? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-solar-panels-work-and-where-they-store-electricity.jpg" alt="How Solar Panels Work and Where They Store Electricity" width="500" height="341" />Using solar systems to generate electricity is a great way to protect the environment from pollutions resulted from using traditional fossil fuel power generation stations. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> system consists of number of components, we have to install and connect all together, so the system can generate electricity in a reliable way. The most important part that the solar system should include, is the battery bank with high quality and reliability.</p> <p>Actually without such batteries, the whole solar system may be worthless, as although the solar system generates electricity without the presence of batteries, but how can we power our electrical devices at night time in which no solar energy, and how we can overnight operate/use our electrical derives? In addition, without batteries, we cannot make use of the extra generated electrical in day time, beyond our electrical equipment needs to run in day time. Also, without batteries, we shall not have backup power when we disconnected from the power grid for any reason.</p> <p>There are some different kinds of solar batteries in the market, and each kind has different specifications, price, and usage benefits than others. So, we have to check well in which type will be the most suited for our system than other, and which kind price can be covered by our budget, it is really differing from one situation to other.</p> <p>The four main types of solar system batteries in the market are lead acid batteries, lithium ion batteries, Nickel based batteries and flow batteries. And as said, each type has its own technology and characteristics. Approx., 80% of solar system usage in the market is form lithium ion batteries, because this type of batteries is stable, and compact, so it is popularly used in laptop, cell phones and other small electronic devices. </p> <p>Solar batteries with deep cycle (high capacity), and longer time duration will permit us to store all surplus electricity generated at the day time to be used after sunset providing us the ability to operate our electrical appliances when there is Not available solar energy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:442 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-you-need-solar-system-trackers Why do You Need Solar System Trackers? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-does-a-solar-photovoltaic-system-work.jpg" alt="How does a Solar Photovoltaic System Work" width="300" height="232" />To get the best solar panels installation tilt angle over the day, month and year, we use arising popular devices called solar system trackers. They are able to track sun angle and do automatic re-adjustment to solar panels tilt angle, simply they track the sun progress in the sky, so make a very considerable increase in the solar system output energy. Although, these trackers are very beneficial, they are complex and need to be well understood before deploying.  Let us know their advantages and disadvantages as following;</p> <p><strong>Solar Trackers Advantages</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>They produce much electricity than fixed mounting solar system. Because <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> will be exposed to the direct sun for a very long time, actually we shall harvest 15-25% increase in energy.</li> <li>With installing solar trackers, we shall Not lose any additional space, because it takes the same installation space of fixed mounting system.</li> <li>There are 2 types of solar tackers we can use one of them based on our situation (installation size, latitude degree, our weather pattern, etc.); Single axis trackers, and dual axis trackers. So, they enable us managing energy production amount increase.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Solar Trackers Disadvantages</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The most obvious disadvantage is that trackers are more expensive than the standard fixed mount system, in addition they are complex and require moving parts.</li> <li>We can use solar trackers with solar systems with no snow climate or very little snow, so fixed mounting system are more suitable for harsh environmental conditions with snow exist.</li> <li>They require more maintenance, because it includes a moving parts. But if you purchased a high quality tracking system with a good brand, there would Not be much required maintenance.</li> <li>Solar Trackers system is more complex, so it requires preparation before installation, and we shall need assistance from solar professionals.</li> </ol> <p>At the end we can say, although solar trackers system is an expensive and complicated system, it deserves to purchase and install, it is really worth to invest in if you are looking to harvest much increase in produced energy from the solar system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:445 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-solar-watch What is the Solar Watch? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-watch.jpg" alt="Solar watch" width="300" height="270" />In order to save our planet from pollution, we proceed different ways and techniques, like lights turning off when Not needed, water turning off when Not needed, keeping garden and planets, and using different kinds of renewable energy sources, like wind energy, nuclear energy, and solar energy. For using solar energy in generating electricity, we do not only use it as a backup generator when standard electricity shuts down, but we become depending on it as a main electrical power supply to our electrical equipment, and appliances. In addition, we become using the solar energy in direct application to increase the conversion efficiency, and reducing the price. One of the most important application is the solar watch. The watch is a small equipment we use every day, but we may not think about its energy usage, and if there is a way to save such energy, also, to what extent this thing will be beneficial for us.</p> <p>Solar watch is a very important application of using solar energy, it has many features and benefits, moreover, it is not more expensive than the traditional watch you purchase from online stores.</p> <p>In recent years, popular brands of watches focused on solar watches, like Citizen brand, they become providing high quality, beautiful and luxury models of solar watches, as they already have opened new departments in their facilities to take care about the solar watches long years ago.</p> <p>Actually the solar power watch incorporates small photo-voltaic cells and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> on the watch face, which make use of the sunlight, absorbing it and convert to useable electrical energy inside the watch, it’s really anew beneficial technology.  The solar watch production has actually been since the year of 1970, and since this time great improvement has been already done until the solar watch becomes less expensive, readily available with awesome shapes and colors.</p> <p>Nowadays, the solar watches become more affordable, and come with many attractive styles, colors, and different prices ranges, starting from cheap one up very high price of top brands.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:441 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-you-need-to-clean-solar-panels Why do You Need to Clean Solar Panels? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" />For solar panels installed at your business or home, you have to consider cleaning them up periodically, that is almost the only maintenance procedure required. Usually solar panels are installed on our roof, they are flat and tilted, so most of us think that we do not need to clean them, because the rain and the wind will do this job, but that is incorrect belief, because rains exists in winter, not whole the year, and sometime you have trees around the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, so leaves dropping, bird dropping in addition to other things may fall on the solar panels, like debris and dirt coming from other sources. So, we have to clean all these periodically to be rest assured we get the maximum effective output electrical power/energy from our solar system without any loss.</p> <p>Solar panels cleaning will remove all these layers of dirt and debris, and avoid us the possibility of panels damage due to the buildup of these dirties.</p> <p>The question is, How often we have to clean up our solar panels? Actually the answer for this question is different from one zone to another, based on zone weather, solar panels location, nearby trees and other outer effects, but the places with high wind and rains will need to be cleaned lesser than other places.</p> <p>Cleaning solar panel is an important matter that will not cost us much money nor much time, and although it is so easy, it does not need much skills, and we can do ourselves after check our solar panels periodically.</p> <p>There are 2 main issues happen if we do not clean our solar panels as following.</p> <ol> <li>Solar panels productivity will drop, and we shall get lesser electrical energy.</li> <li>Small and compound damages will occur on solar panels surfaces which we may not be noticed.</li> </ol> <p>There are 2 options in how we can clean our solar panels.</p> <ol> <li>Hire a solar panel cleaning service, and although it is an easy way, but its more expensive.</li> <li>Clean them ourselves which is more cost effective, and you can do it in your spare time. </li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:439 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-clean-solar-panels How to Clean Solar Panels? <p>Cleaning solar panels is the most important procedure of our solar system maintenance, it’s a periodic action that should be done continuously. There are some tips we have to put in mind when we cleaning our solar panels.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/80w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="80W portable solar panel" width="394" height="300" /></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>We should Not use pressure washer when cleaning <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, because such high pressure spryer can totally damage our panels.</li> <li>We should Not use chemicals, just we have to use water or even dish soap water, because using chemicals can damage solar panels coating.</li> <li>Sometimes we have debris on solar panels, like birds dropping and in that case, using the water or soap water can Not remove such debris, so you have to use nonabrasive cloth or nonabrasive sponge, and do Not use scratching surface equipment, because those can damage solar panels.</li> <li>As our solar panels are subjected to the sun all the day, they get extremely hot, and if we clean up panels when they are very hot, the residue on panels surface may not leave due to fast evaporation happened in hot sun, so we have to choose a cooler day to do a perfect cleaning. Simply we can know the cooler day from checking weather forecasting programs. </li> <li>For the case, you got an oil on your solar panels, you have to use alcohol to clean the oil, then start to rinse the panel with fresh and clean water, so everything will return to normal conditions.</li> <li>Sometime we confuse if we should clean the rooftop solar panels or hire a professional to do so, actually if you are Not familiar with rooftop works, and for your safety, we do Not recommend to do it yourself, and you have to hire a professional.</li> <li>If you want to clean your garden lights solar panels, you can use the same regular method in cleaning, bearing in mind the aforementioned tips, but do Not use soap, just simple cleaning with water and sponge or soft cloth.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:438 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-best-angle-for-solar-panels What is the Best Angle for Solar Panels? <p>Our target of installing the solar system is to harvest as much electrical energy as possible to power and run our home appliances, and electronic equipment. However, to do so, there are some factors affecting how much electricity we shall gain, like; solar panels tilt angle, solar panels sun directions, location, surrounding climate, location latitude, and the season. As we know, the tilt angle is the angle that <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> makes when installed with the horizontal roof or land direction, and it has a significant effect on electrical energy production, so it’s very important to install our solar system with the best tilt angle, it actually makes a huge difference on our solar panels energy generation efficiency if it is calculated and set up properly based on the environment, season and location.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" /></p> <p>Actually both solar panels sun orientation (the direction that solar system face) and tilt angle affect energy generation, but the orientation has a larger impact.</p> <p>There is a big effect of different seasons on our solar panels energy production, especially winter, in which the sun will be in lower position in the sky, and the snow may cover solar panels surfaces. These 2 conditions will reduce output power of sure. Dealing with these 2 issues, we can install our solar panels tilt angle lower than location latitude value, so they will face the sun directly, and work more efficiently, it worth to re-adjust the tilt angle in this case, however this position will Not be the best thing for snowaccumulation, as the tilt angle reduced, it prevents the snow from sliding naturally, so the snow stays longer time covering the solar panels surface and reducing electrical energy production. A simple solution for that is to manually clear the snow regularly, but if you can Not, then we recommend to not reduce the tilt angle in winter and keep it same as usual accepting lower energy production in winter, no problem.</p> <p>Solar system expert’s advice to re adjust the tilt angle seasonally in 4 times in the year; Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, so can get the max energy harvest. The best tilt angle will differ from one country to another, and there is no best angle for all countries and region. Generally, your solar system local experts will provide the optimal title angle range for the best energy production.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:437 https://www.inverter.com/installation-guide-of-rv-solar-panel Installation Guide of RV Solar Panel <p>The benefits of solar power for the RV are now clear, but how easy is the system to set up? The RV's portable solar panel installation can be done by a professional, but you can also do it yourself and save hundreds of dollars. If you follow this step by step guide and follow the instructions for your solar kit, the process is not difficult.</p> <p>In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> will cover the steps for installing solar panels in your RV.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="372" height="237" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Step 1: Mount The Solar Panels On The RV Roof.</strong> For rigid solar panels: fasten to the roof with screws. Use the mounting hardware that came with your solar kit. For flexible solar panels: adhesive is often used to secure these into place. The roof type determines what adhesive must be used, so you have to buy it separately from the solar kit. Position the panels as desired. Avoid the vent, air conditioning system or other locations that might obstruct the panel. Mark the locations and secure the panels.</li> <li><strong>Step 2: Run The Cable Wire Into The RV.</strong> The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> cable needs to get into the RV and connect to the solar charge controller. You have these options: Through the pumbing pipe: you can run the cable wire next to or through the plumbing pipe. You'll likely have to create holes so put sealant there. Through the fridge vent: this is the best method and the easiest. No need to drill holes. Drill a new hole: do this only if the fridge vent and plumbing pipe aren't possible.</li> <li><strong>Step 3: Connect The Cable To The Charge Controller.</strong> Place the controller as close to the solar battery as possible to reduce voltage losses. Check your instructions on how to mount the controller. Now connect the portable solar panel wires to the controller terminals. Each terminal should have an "input" label or a solar panel image. Connect the wires to the terminals. The black wire goes into the "-" terminal, and the red wire goes to the "+" terminal. Controller wiring procedures vary. Some require you to hook up the controller to the battery before the monocrystalline solar panel. Others say connect to the solar panel first then the battery.</li> <li><strong>Step 4: Install The Inverter.</strong> You can use the portable solar panels now. But if you want to run appliances on solar power you'll need to install an inverter. Solar power is DC, and the inverter converts this into AC so it's compatible with consumer electronics and appliances. The inverter size determines how many appliances you can run on solar power, so do your research first. Follow the installation instructions that came with your inverter. Place the inverter as close to the battery as possible. Follow any safety installation instructions that came with the inverter. Connect the negative and positive wires onto the inverter. Hook it up to your RV's electrical system.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:436 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-development-trends-of-sine-wave-inverter What are the Development Trends of Sine Wave Inverter? <p>Sine wave inverter is an electric energy conversion device that converts direct current into alternating current. It completes the inverter task by conducting and turning off power semiconductor devices according to specific rules.</p> <p>With the rapid development of power electronics technology and the improvement of inverter control performance requirements in various industries, sine wave inverter has also been rapidly developed. In this article, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> mainly talk about the development direction of sine wave inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpeg" alt="300W pure sine wave inverter" width="319" height="319" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>High Frequency.</strong> High-frequency refers to improve the working frequency of power switching devices, which can not only reduce the volume of the whole system, but also have a good inhibitory effect on audio noise, and improve the dynamic response ability of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> output voltage. The high frequency power switching device corresponds to the high frequency isolation transformer. The application of the high frequency isolation transformer further reduces the volume of the whole system.</li> <li><strong>High Performance.</strong> The effective value is the main parameter of inverter output voltage. The high performance inverter output voltage has stable effective value, high waveform quality and strong ability to adapt to nonlinear load. Because the load of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-pure-sine-wave-inverter">12V pure sine wave inverter</a> will change suddenly in many times, high performance inverter requires high transient response performance of output voltage. Another important parameter of AC output voltage is frequency. A good inverter requires not only stable RMS value of output voltage, but also stable frequency. Only the inverter with the above characteristics can be called a high performance inverter.</li> <li><strong>Parallel Connection Technology.</strong> Current inverter technology can produce high-power products, but in high-power applications once the inverter system failure, will lead to system breakdown. In the system composed of low-power inverters through parallel technology, the normal operation of each unit does not affect the work of other units, so the reliability of the whole system has been greatly improved.</li> <li><strong>Miniaturization.</strong> Miniaturization is the result of high frequency, because the main method of miniaturization of inverter is to improve the working frequency of switch tube and use high frequency transformer.</li> <li><strong>High Input Power Factorization.</strong> Many inverter systems use certain topological circuits to convert DC into high frequency AC pulses, and then rectifying to get the required DC voltage. The output current spikes will reduce the input power factor, and improving the input power factor can effectively solve the harmonic pollution caused by the inverter to the power grid.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:434 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-pv-power What is PV Power? <h2>What is photovoltaic power generation? </h2> <p>Photovoltaic power generation is the use of solar photovoltaic cells to convert solar radiation energy directly into electricity. Photovoltaic power generation is the mainstream of solar power generation today.</p> <p>Distributed photovoltaic systems are photovoltaic power generation facilities that are built near the customer's site, generally connected to a power grid with a voltage level lower than 35kV and below, with the power generated mainly for local consumption and balanced regulation in the distribution system as a characteristic. The operation mode of distributed photovoltaic systems is self-generation, residual power online, and full online in two ways. Self-generation, surplus power online means that the power generated by distributed photovoltaic power generation system is used by power users first, and the excess power is connected to the grid; full online means that all the power generated by distributed photovoltaic power generation system is connected to the grid.</p> <p>Distributed power generation follows the principles of localization, clean and efficient, decentralized layout and nearby utilization, making full use of local solar energy resources to replace and reduce fossil energy consumption.</p> <h2>What is a household-distributed photovoltaic system?</h2> <p>Household distributed photovoltaic system refers to the use of natural persons within the scope of the home base of buildings, such as their own homes, as well as the construction of an appurtenant distributed photovoltaic system. Household-distributed photovoltaic system usually has a small installation capacity, low voltage level grid connection, filing, and grid connection process is simplified.</p> <h2>How do photovoltaic cells generate electricity?</h2> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/photovoltaic-effect.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic effect" width="600" height="386" /></p> <p>A photovoltaic cell is a semiconductor device with light-electricity conversion characteristics, which directly converts solar radiation energy into direct current electricity, is the most basic unit of photovoltaic power generation. The unique electrical properties of photovoltaic cells are achieved by doping certain elements (e.g., phosphorus or boron, etc.) in crystalline silicon, thus causing a permanent imbalance in the molecular charge of the material and forming a semiconductor material with special electrical properties. When exposed to sunlight, a semiconductor with special electrical properties can generate free charges, which move in a directional manner and accumulate, thus creating an electric potential at its two ends and generating an electric current when the two ends are closed with a conductor. This phenomenon is known as the "photovoltaic effect", or "PV effect" for short.</p> <h2>What are the components of a distributed photovoltaic system?</h2> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/Components-of-distributed-photovoltaic-power-generation-system.jpg" alt="Components of distributed photovoltaic power generation system" width="446" height="441" /></p> <p> A distributed PV system consists of a PV array (PV array consists of PV modules connected in series and parallel), a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">PV inverter</a>, a PV rack, a PV grid-connected box, a controller (optional), a battery bank (optional), and an AC/DC cable.</p> <p>The core component of the PV power generation system is the PV module, which in turn is made of PV cells in series, parallel, and packaged, and it converts the light energy of the sun directly into electricity.</p> <p>The electricity produced by PV modules is direct current, which can be converted into alternating current by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverters</a> and then used, or all of it can be delivered to the public grid. From another point of view, the electricity generated by the PV power generation system can be used immediately, or the electricity can be stored in storage devices such as batteries and released for use at any time as needed.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:435 https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter-basics-introduction-functions-and-advantages Hybrid Solar Inverter Basics: Introduction, Functions and Advantages <p>Hybrid solar inverters are a new solar technology that combines the benefits of traditional solar inverters and the flexibility of battery inverters into a single device. Hybrid inverters are an emerging solution for homeowners looking to install a solar power system that has room for future upgrades, including a battery storage system.</p> <h2>What is a hybrid solar inverter?</h2> <p>A hybrid solar inverter is a single device that combines a solar inverter and a battery inverter to intelligently manage power from solar panels, solar batteries and the utility grid at the same time.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="350" height="auto" /></p> <p>A conventional solar grid-tie inverter converts the direct current generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system into alternating current to power your house, which also allows excess power generation to be transferred to the utility grid. A battery inverter handles the process of converting the DC power stored in the solar battery into AC power that can be used in your home.</p> <p>By combining these functions into a single device, a solar hybrid grid-tie inverter streamlines and improves the operations of the classic solar inverter. Even better, since the amount of solar power available may depend on weather and seasonality, the hybrid inverter can draw power from the grid to charge your battery storage system if needed.</p> <h2>What are the functions of hybrid solar inverter?</h2> <p>The basic purpose of an <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid solar inverter</a> is to convert the DC input from a solar panel into an AC output that can be used by the home. The ability to use hybrid solar inverters takes this process to a new level and includes the following benefits.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Bidirectional DC to AC power conversion:</strong> Typically, solar cells are charged by either DC power received directly from the solar panels (DC coupling), or DC power converted from AC power by the solar inverter (AC coupling). Then in order to release this power, the inverter needs to convert the stored DC power to AC power. With a hybrid inverter and battery, one device can fulfill both roles. A hybrid grid-connected inverter can convert DC to AC to power your home, but it can also take AC power from the grid and convert it to DC to be stored in a battery for later use.</li> <li><strong>Power Regulation:</strong> Depending on the time of day and weather patterns, solar power fluctuates as sunlight levels increase and decrease. The hybrid inverter regulates this power to ensure that the entire system operates within the desired parameters.</li> <li><strong>Power monitoring:</strong> Solar hybrid grid-connected inverters can be fitted with solar monitoring software to measure and monitor your PV system via a display or connected smartphone app to help identify any faults.</li> <li><strong>Power maximization:</strong> A hybrid inverter with a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) checks your solar power output and correlates it with the voltage of the batteries. This allows for optimal power output and converts DC power to the optimal voltage for maximum battery charging. MPPT ensures that your solar power system works efficiently under any conditions, such as varying amounts of solar light, solar panel temperature and electrical loads.</li> </ul> <h2>What are the advantages of hybrid solar inverter?</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Power Resilience:</strong> Having a solar power system doesn't always guarantee that you'll have power during a power outage. If your system uses a traditional solar grid-tied inverter, it will still automatically shut off power to the solar panel system during a power outage for safety reasons. A hybrid inverter paired with a solar cell storage system is a great solution in this case. It ensures that you have both off-grid and grid-tied capability, so you always have access to power, even during a power outage.</li> <li><strong>Easily retrofit battery storage:</strong> A complete solar power installation can be a significant investment, especially if you add an energy storage system to the other individual components. Hybrid inverters are designed to integrate storage at any time, allowing you to forego the cost of installing battery storage from the start. You can then more easily add battery banks later while still enjoying the full benefits of solar energy now.</li> <li> <p><strong>Simplify energy monitoring:</strong> Hybrid inverters simplify energy monitoring because you can check important data such as performance and energy production through the inverter's panel, or through a connected smart device. If your system has two inverters, you have to monitor them separately.</p> </li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:433 https://www.inverter.com/why-is-the-ups-inverter-not-synchronized Why is the UPS Inverter not Synchronized? <p>The ups inverter is a combination of ups and inverter. When the mains input is abnormal, the ups will invert the mains input according to the ups inverter frequency. The frequency of the generator's power generation is extremely unstable, and it may exceed the frequency range of the ups inverter to track the utility power.</p> <p>The unsynchronization of the ups inverter will also cause corresponding consequences, which will cause the ups inverter to not work. First we need to know what is the reason why the ups inverter in <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">home power inverter</a> is out of sync. In this article, we will introduce in detail.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3000w-ups-inverter.jpg" alt="3000W ups inverter" width="517" height="282" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>When the output voltage of the converter exceeds the specified upper or lower limit due to failure in operation.</li> <li>When fault signals are sent from the "System Fault" circuit on the ups logic control board, the fault may be caused by the low DC power supply voltage required by the ups inverter when the temperature rises too high for a long time.</li> <li>When the static switch logic control board detects an overload signal that lasts too long. After the load is switched from the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a> power supply channel to the AC bypass power supply channel, the ups automatically switches the load back to the inverter power supply state after a proper delay.</li> <li>The ups indicates that the inverter is out of sync with the bypass. When the ups inverter is working, the bypass has no power, if the bypass is working. Inverters don't work, there is a static transfer switch between them control! The ups provides synchronous and asynchronous modes. Synchronization means that the switching interval is 0 mm, which does not cause load power failure. If the power inverter not synchronized, there is a 10 mm time difference, which can cause the load to be cut off. So we usually want to synchronize it.</li> <li>The battery powers the inverter, which converts the battery's direct current into the required alternating current. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">3000W ups inverter</a> does not work without batteries. When the ups inverter starts, the battery discharge current is usually high. If the battery is often in high current, and the discharge state and the inverter power difference is large, it will affect the service life of the battery.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:432 https://www.inverter.com/3-methods-to-control-ups-inverter 3 Methods to Control UPS Inverter <p>The ups means uninterruptible power supply, that contains energy storage devices. It is mainly used to provide uninterruptible power supply for some equipment with higher requirements on power stability.</p> <p>When the mains input is normal, the ups will supply the mains voltage regulator to the load. At this time, the ups is an AC voltage regulator, and it also charges the battery in the machine.</p> <p>Inverter is the heart of ups. It converts direct current to alternating current required by the user. For ups, the quality of the inverter output voltage determines the overall performance of ups. The following is a brief introduction to the 3 control methods of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a>.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-ups-inverter.jpeg" alt="300 watt ups inverter" width="290" height="290" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Hysteresis control.</strong> Hysteresis control has fast response speed and high stability, but the switching frequency of hysteresis control is not fixed, so that the reliability of the circuit is reduced, the frequency spectrum of the output voltage is worse, and the system performance of the ups inverter is not good.</li> <li><strong>Predictive control.</strong> Predictive control can achieve small current distortion and strong anti-noise ability in the ups inverter. However, this algorithm requires accurate load model and circuit parameters, and the delay caused by numerical calculation is also a problem in practical applications.</li> <li><strong>Dead-beat control.</strong> Dead-beat control was first proposed by Kalman. It is a control method based on the precise mathematical model of the controlled object. The basic idea of beat free control is to calculate the PWM pulse width of the next switching period according to the state equation of the sine wave power inverter and the output feedback signal (usually the voltage and current of the output filter capacitor). The PWM pulse width is calculated from the state vector at the current time and the reference sine at the next sampling time.</li> </ul> <p>Therefore, it is theoretically possible to make the output voltage very close to the reference voltage in both phase and amplitude, and to correct output voltage errors caused by load changes or non-linear loads within one switching cycle. No-beat control requires that the control pulse width must be calculated and output during the beat, otherwise it will not only destroy the control characteristics, but also affect the system stability. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> provides ups inverter with different power, ups inverter is equipped with pure sine wave output and soft-start technology.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:431 https://www.inverter.com/what-should-be-consider-when-buying-ups-inverter What Should be Consider When Buying UPS Inverter? <p>An inverter, which is directly different from a transformer, means that the inverter can realize DC input and then output AC. The working principle is the same as that of a switching power supply. But the oscillation frequency is within a certain range, for example, this frequency is 50 Hz, and the output is AC 50 Hz. An inverter is a device that changes frequency. As an uninterruptible power supply, the ups can be perfectly combined with the inverter. So what should pay attention to when buying ups inverter? In this article, we will introduce in detail.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3500-watt-ups-inverter-and-structure.jpg" alt="UPS inverter" width="542" height="271" /></p> <p>The ups inverter is a device that provides backup power to electronic equipment. It is mainly used to provide uninterrupted power supply to some equipment which requires high stability of power supply. An uninterruptible power supply, offers guaranteed power protection for connected electronics. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">Pure sine wave ups inverter</a> can be used in PC, TV, refrigerator, digtial products and home appliances. Here are 7 points to look for when buying ups inverter.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Rated output voltage.</strong> Within the fluctuation range allowed by the specified input DC voltage, it represents the rated voltage value that the ups inverter should be able to output. The stability accuracy of the output rated voltage value is generally specified as follows: in steady state operation, the voltage fluctuation range shall be limited, for example, the deviation shall not exceed ± 3% or ± 5% of the rated value. The output voltage deviation shall not exceed ± 8% or ± 10% of the rated value under dynamic load mutation or other interference factors.</li> <li><strong>Output voltage imbalance.</strong> Under normal working conditions, the ups inverter output three-phase voltage imbalance should not exceed a specified value, generally expressed by "%", such as 5% or 8%.</li> <li><strong>Rated output frequency.</strong> Inverter output AC voltage frequency should be a relatively stable value, usually 50 Hz power frequency. The deviation should be within ± 1% under normal working conditions.</li> <li><strong>Rated output current.</strong> It represents the rated output current of the ups inverter within the specified load power factor range. Some power inverter products give rated output capacity, expressed in VA or kVA. The rated capacity of an inverter is the product of the rated output current when the output power factor is 1 and the rated output voltage is the rated output current.</li> <li><strong>Waveform distortion of output voltage.</strong> When the 3000W ups inverter output voltage is sinusoidal, the maximum allowable waveform distortion should be specified. Generally expressed as the total waveform distortion of the output voltage, the value should not exceed 5% (10% is allowed for single-phase output).</li> <li><strong>Load power factor.</strong> It represents the capacity of the inverter with inductive load or capacitive load. Under sinusoidal conditions, the load power factor is 0.7-0.9 and the rating is 0.9.</li> <li><strong>Protection.</strong> Such as over voltage protection. For ups inverter without voltage stability measures, there should be output over voltage protection measures to make the negative intercept from the damage of output over voltage. And over current protection, the ups inverter over current protection, should be able to ensure that the load short-circuit or current exceeds the allowable value of the timely action, so that it is not damaged by the surge current. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Home power inverter</a> provides ups inverter with different power, ups inverter is equipped with pure sine wave output.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:430 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-calculate-the-power-generation-of-a-solar-panel How to Calculate the Power Generation of a Solar Panel? <p>If you want to install a 100-300W solar panel, to calculate its power generation, you must first consider the following variables.</p> <h2><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" /></h2> <p><strong>1. Conversion efficiency of solar panels</strong></p> <p>Power (W) tells how much electricity the solar panel can produce, while efficiency tells how much sunlight the solar panel can convert into electricity. A simple example: If the efficiency of a solar panel is 15%, it means that the solar panel is able to convert 15% of sunlight into electricity. However, various factors can affect efficiency. The most common is the shaded area around the roof. If it is blocked by buildings or nearby trees, you can adjust the orientation of the solar panels and trim the branches of the trees. If there is a lot of dirt, contamination and dust. These are all harmful factors that can cause solar panel degradation over time, and you can clean your solar panels regularly. If it is rainy weather, this is inevitable.</p> <p><strong>2. Location (southern hemisphere, northern hemisphere, high latitude, low latitude)</strong></p> <p>The location determines how much electricity the solar panel can use. Solar power was first adopted in the sunny Southwest.</p> <p><strong>3. Installation direction of the solar panel</strong></p> <p>The direction the solar panel is facing also affects the amount of electricity produced. The recommended orientation for solar installations can be either south or west, depending on the region where your location is located.</p> <p><strong>4. Determine standard test conditions</strong></p> <p>Standard Test Conditions (STC), which are determined after testing solar panels in the laboratory. Standard test conditions for PV modules are 77 degrees Fahrenheit with 1000W of sunlight per square mile. If you achieve these perfect conditions, a solar panel rated at 250W will produce exactly 250W of electricity.</p> <h2>Calculation of solar power generation</h2> <p>The formula for calculating the power generation of a solar panel is average sunshine duration × solar panel wattage × 75% = daily watt-hours. 75% accounts for all the above variables.</p> <p>As an example: Let's say you live in a place with about 5 hours of average sunshine and the panels are rated at 200 watts. Calculate the power generation of the solar panel according to the above formula: 5hx200Wx0.75=750W/day.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:429 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-solar-panels-needed-for-camping How Many Solar Panels Needed For Camping? <p>Using a camping solar panel to charge auxiliary batteries has been known and done by camping enthusiasts for many years. But what most people want to know is just how much solar power is needed for camping. In this article, we will go into more detail that you need to know.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" /></p> <h2>What solar panel wattage do I need for camping?</h2> <p>If you have been asking the question above, the truth is there is really no fast answer to it. This is because no two camping set-ups are exactly the same. Your camping needs are different from your next door neighbour's. Add the fact that there are so many different types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> and portable solar panel accessories in the market, so it can be a little overwhelming to get started.</p> <p><strong>Find your amperage requirements.</strong></p> <p>The first and most important thing you need to learn is that all electric devices, from refrigerators to phone chargers, are measured in amps. Amps are the measure of how quickly electric current flows in the device. So, a bigger current equals more electricity.</p> <p>How does this relate to you? You have to determine just how much of an electrical load you will need and the total amount of amps that those electric devices will draw from your auxiliary battery. You can easily find this information in the device’s user manual or their packaging. Also, knowing the amperage will help you determine just how big an auxiliary battery you will need. Assuming of course, you do not have one yet. Rule of thumb: the bigger the current/amps, the bigger the battery.</p> <p><strong>Determine how long you will use the electric device.</strong></p> <p>You need to take note of how long you are going to use each electrical device over a period of 24 hours. This will give you the total daily amp hour requirements (Amp hours = Ah). So, Amp hours is the total number of amps drawn for the number of hours that you need to draw that electricity.</p> <p>This means that the amount of solar power you need (or number of solar panels to get) is determined by the total number of charge that you have to return to your auxiliary batteries during daytime hours every day.</p> <p>Just because you are camping doesn't mean you have to forego being comfortable and safe in your campsite. And using solar panels to charge your auxiliary battery that powers up electric devices is by far the safest and most eco-friendly way to go camping. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Home power inverter</a> provides different power of monocrystalline solar panels, You can buy with confidence.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:428 https://www.inverter.com/what-factors-will-affect-the-solar-inverter-life What Factors will Affect the Solar Inverter Life? <p>As the core of the power generation system, the solar inverter's life directly affects the normal operation of an entire power station. The life of the solar inverter has become a special concern for everyone. So what are the factors that directly affect the life of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>? Let's take a deep dive into the factors that directly affect the life of a solar inverter in terms of component life, design and installation overall.</p> <h2><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/10kw-hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="10kW hybrid solar inverter" width="300" height="300" />Component life</h2> <p>The solar inverter is theoretically a switching power supply, so most of its components can be divided into resistors, capacitors, diodes, power devices (IGBT or MOS tubes), inductors and transformers, current sensors, ICs, optocouplers, relays, etc.</p> <p>The service life of resistors, chip capacitors and ceramic capacitors can usually be more than 20 years. When designing inductors and transformers, as long as the temperature of their raw materials does not exceed, theoretically, they can operate for a long time without being ineffective. Low-power diodes and triodes can run for more than 100,000 hours. The mechanical life of the relay is usually more than 1 million times, and the electrical life is more than 10,000 times. As long as the power device IGBT or MOS meets the design specifications, the lifespan is usually not considered. Fans and fuses are fragile components, which will not directly affect the life of the solar inverter. If they are damaged, they can be replaced on time. The life of film capacitors is more than 100,000 hours, and the life of electrolytic capacitors is usually at 105 °C. In 2000-3000H, the longevity is only 5000-6000H, but with every 10℃ drop in temperature, the lifespan doubles. Therefore, in solar inverters, the biggest shortcoming of components is the life of electrolytic capacitors.</p> <h2>Design Factors</h2> <p>Component longevity is a fundamental element in ensuring the longevity of a solar inverter, but quality design is a core element in ensuring the longevity of a solar inverter. What design elements will seriously affect the life of solar inverters and are difficult to detect in the short term?</p> <p>Air temperature is one of the main factors that directly affect the life of solar inverters, especially for components such as electrolytic capacitors and optocouplers. Every time the temperature rises by 10°C, the life of electrolytic capacitors is reduced by half. Light loss, but the IGBT is usually driven by an optocoupler, so the ineffectiveness of the optocoupler will lead to the destruction of the IGBT.</p> <p>When the relay is switched at zero current, the lifetime is up to 1 million times, but with the increase of the current during switching, the lifetime is almost a coefficient loss. Accurate software control to make the relay switch in the direction of zero current is the main factor to ensure the lifetime of the relay.</p> <p>The environment of solar inverters is usually harsh and affected by many factors, such as poor power grid quality and large local inductive loads. If the driver is affected, it is easy to cause it to misconnect and cause the machine to explode.</p> <h2>Comprehensive factors</h2> <p>Although the string solar inverter is IP65 rated and can be installed indoors and outdoors, the quality of the installation environment has a great impact on the life of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a>. If the solar inverter is installed in an environment with high sun exposure, environmental humidity, and pH, the life of the solar inverter will be shortened, and at the same time, it will easily cause the solar inverter to overheat and reduce the load in an exposed environment, which will directly affect the power generation. . Therefore, choosing a suitable installation environment is also the main factor to ensure the life of the solar inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:427 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-solar-panel How to Choose a Solar Panel? <p>Solar panels are optoelectronic semiconductor sheets that directly generate electricity from sunlight. They play a huge role in various fields of new energy. They are widely used and are used in photovoltaic products. The quality of solar panel components is directly related to the energy efficiency of the products used. Nowadays, there are many manufacturers of solar panels, and some low-quality products are also mixed into them. It is not easy to choose good-quality <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>. Here we will tell you how to judge the quality of solar panels.</p> <h2><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" />Observe the front of the solar panel</h2> <p>First of all, carefully check the surface of the tempered glass, which is also where some solar panel manufacturers are careless. If the surface of the tempered glass is accidentally dripped with silica gel, it should be cleaned in time, otherwise it will affect the power generation efficiency of the battery panel.</p> <h2>Observe the battery of the solar panel</h2> <p>In order to save costs, many informal manufacturers actually use damaged cells to assemble them to form seemingly complete cells. In fact, there is a great risk. There may be no problems at the beginning, but the spliced cells are very easy. It will cause breakage under long-term use, thereby affecting the use of the entire battery panel. When the temperature is too high, fire will occur, threatening the safety of pedestrians.</p> <h2>Observe the back of the solar panel</h2> <p>The back of the solar panel should be marked with technical parameters, such as: open circuit voltage, short-circuit current, working voltage, etc. Secondly, it depends on the pressure-bearing effect of the back of the solar panel. Such solar panels are classified as substandard.</p> <h2>Observe the junction box</h2> <p>The junction box is a connector of the solar cell module. The main function of the solar photovoltaic junction box is to export the electric energy produced by the solar cell module through the cable. Whether the junction box is firm is also related to the working efficiency of the solar panel. The cover of the junction box should be firmly and tightly attached to the junction box, and the outgoing wire lock should rotate freely and tighten.</p> <p>When purchasing solar panels, you must pay attention to the above four points. In addition, you must choose according to the configuration you need, so that the quality of the selected solar panels is more guaranteed, safer and more secure.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:426 https://www.inverter.com/4-problems-to-consider-before-installing-solar-panels 4 Problems to Consider Before Installing Solar Panels <p>Whether you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint, lower your energy bills or increase your home's ROI, homeowners everywhere are considering the benefits of using solar power. However, the process can be daunting and sometimes costly. In this article, we can help break down the issues and factors that need to be considered when using solar energy.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-4-problems-consider.jpg" alt="4 problems consider before install solar panel" width="469" height="312" /></p> <h2>Are the Weather in My Area Conducive to Solar Energy?</h2> <p>Believe it or not, the climate and weather in your area can greatly affect your home's solar production. Remember, solar power relies on the sun to work. In turn, homeowners in cloudy and rainy areas may not see as much solar production unless their solar installations are tailored to their climate.</p> <p>If your state's weather is cloudy, you can still benefit from solar power, but with the help of extra panels to compensate for the cloud cover. Remember, if you live in a cloudy state, your energy usage is likely to be less than in a sunny state, which means the cost of solar production can still balance out. If you live where <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> can use extra power, consider using more efficient panels.</p> <h2>Is My Home Suitable for Solar Panels?</h2> <p>When measuring a home's solar viability, factors to consider include roof structure, roof orientation and nearby shade. Solar panels need some space to increase efficiency. The amount of space required depends on how big your home is and how much electricity you want to produce. Typically, the minimum area required for a roof is about 200 square feet. This space should be free of any obstructions, such as chimneys or pipes.</p> <p>The orientation of the roof and sunlight are also important factors for a home to use solar energy. For example, a north-facing roof sees much less sunlight than a south-facing roof. Roofs facing south, southeast and southwest are the best options for installing solar panels. Finally, homeowners should consider the amount of shade near the roof and how this might affect the amount of sunlight hitting the panels. Factors such as trees, neighboring houses, and other tall objects can affect the amount of sunlight a roof receives.</p> <h2>Will I Need to Get a New Roof?</h2> <p>You should inspect the roof to make sure it can handle the weight of the planned solar panels, especially if you will be replacing the roof within the next five years. Otherwise there is no need to add a whole new roof to this project. However, check to see if your roof will affect your warranty by having portable solar panels installed.</p> <h2>Will Solar Power Be My Only Source of Electricity?</h2> <p>If you opt for an online solar panel system, your home will be connected to your city grid to ensure a constant source of power when needed. This is especially useful if you live in an area with little sunlight.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:425 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-monocrystalline-and-polycrystalline-solar-panels Difference Between Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Solar Panels <p>Solar power, once a sideline of carbon-based energy, is growing rapidly, powering more homes than ever before. Therefore, it pays to scrutinize all aspects of your solar system, especially the choice between monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels. Performance, efficiency and durability depend on your choice of solar panel type. In this article, we will introduce the differences between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/monocrystalline-and-polycrystalline-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel" width="662" height="278" /></p> <h2>What is?</h2> <p>Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are made from monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Each cell is a piece of monocrystalline silicon grown to make solar panels. When solar cells are placed on a solar panel, the octagonal shape helps the solar panel to put the maximum number of solar cells into the array. Even with closely spaced arrays, there is space between them, but the octagons can be placed close together with little wasted space. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/40w-portable-solar-panel">40 watt monocrystalline portable solar panel</a> have typical efficiencies ranging between 15% and 20% due to their unique black color, and some newer experimental models have even reached efficiencies closer to 50%.</p> <p>Polycrystalline silicon solar panels are composed of individual polycrystalline solar cells. Just like monocrystalline solar cells, polycrystalline solar cells are made from silicon crystals. The difference is that instead of being squeezed into a single, pure chunk, the silicon crystals cool and shatter on their own. Therefore, many different crystals make up this amalgam. Compared to monocrystalline cells, its production process is less stringent, so more solar cells can be produced faster. The blue square polycrystalline cells are neatly placed side by side, eliminating any gaps between the cells. Polycrystalline silicon solar panels work less efficiently than monocrystalline silicon panels because the molten silicon fragments provide less room for electrons to move. Efficiency ratings for polysilicon panels are typically between 13% and 16%. While only a few percent lower than monocrystalline panels, this difference can make a big difference when compounded on many solar panels.</p> <h2>Pros and Cons:</h2> <p>Highly efficient at producing energy; panels require less space; black panels blend with darker shingles or foliage; better heat tolerance. Expensive and less sustainable production methods are the cons of monocrystalline <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a>.</p> <p>Less expensive than monocrystalline panels; lifespan comparable to that of monocrystalline panels yet at a lower cost. Panels require more space; less efficient at producing energy; less sustainable production; less heat tolerance are the cons of polycrystalline solar panel.</p> <h2>Application:</h2> <p>Mono solar panels are best for areas with limited space because they generate more electricity on a smaller scale than polycrystalline silicon panels. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels achieve maximum energy even in areas with low sunlight. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels tend to have better heat resistance than polycrystalline silicon panels. Therefore, they are a good choice for areas with extreme heat, such as desert environments.</p> <p>When you need to see the bottom line, polycrystalline solar panels are the best. Polycrystalline solar panels work better in sunny areas because they provide less wattage than panels. The blue and speckled look of polycrystalline panels may not be for everyone, especially when installed in large numbers in residential areas. But they work well in rural or urban areas where solar panels can be conveniently hidden, such as on a roof or behind a house.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:424 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-build-solar-panel-awning-on-rv How To Build Solar Panel Awning on RV? <p>There's a reason you can make a solar panel awning for your RV. Solar awnings serve two purposes. First, it keeps your RV cool. Second, this allows the solar panels to collect sunlight even at lower angles, which happens in the fall and winter. Awnings are important whether the weather is hot or cold.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-awning-rv.jpg" alt="Solar panel awning on rv" width="600" height="338" /></p> <h2>What Do You Need to Prepare?</h2> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Flexible Solar Panel.</strong> There are two types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, rigid and flexible. For awnings, flexible or semi-flexible awnings should be used. They are lighter, thinner and easier to install. Power delivery is good, they have gasket openings for quick installation. A 60W solar panel is ideal for small RV windows. If you need more energy, you can install more panels. You can use a 12V or 18V system. For larger windows or power needs, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100W solar panel</a> will work. You can also connect two <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60w-portable-solar-panel">60W portable solar panels</a>.</li> <li><strong>Charge Controller.</strong> You can choose MPPT or PWM charge controller. The rule of thumb is that the MPPT controller is better suited for high power needs because it is more efficient. MPPT controllers also have monitoring systems to track panel performance. The compact controller can handle up to 300W maximum output. Others will choose PWM controllers because they are more readily available and bundled with solar modules. It's up to you.</li> <li><strong>Locking Suction Cup.</strong> You can use these to set the frame anywhere in your RV. Here we will place the suction cup on the window.</li> <li><strong>Extension Cable.</strong> A 20-foot extension cable is ideal for RVs. But extension cords are available in different sizes, please choose the extension cord that meets your requirements. This also applies to the other materials here. Plan ahead where you will install the panels. That way, you won't suddenly stop work in the middle of construction.</li> <li><strong>Charge Controller Monitor.</strong> Some charge controllers have a built in monitor. If not you can buy one. Some controller attachments have bluetooth functionality, allowing you to monitor your solar panels’ performance on an Android or iOS device.</li> </ul> <h2>Steps for Building Awning Frame:</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Drill an opening into one of the corner L fittings. Attach to a corner with screws. Repeat this with the other three L fittings.</li> <li>Cut the PVC into four parts. Use the L fitting you just attached for the measurement. Overlap each fitting by 75 inches.</li> <li>Set the PVC pieces into the corner fittings.</li> <li>Cut two more short PVC sections. Use these and the T fittings to create a leg hinge point. Repeat for the other leg.</li> <li>Cut two more PVC sections. Set each one into the T fittings.</li> <li>Use a PVC section to join the L fittings to the legs.</li> <li>Cut a couple more PVC sections to join the T fittings.</li> <li>Place the suction cup on the frame with the holder.</li> </ol> <h2>Do you Really Need a Solar Panel Awning?</h2> <p>You might wonder if an awning is really necessary. Maybe you already have solar panels installed, so does that really make a difference? If your RV already has solar panels installed, the awning can act as an extra power source. No amount of solar energy is too much. The excess power is stored in the battery and you can use it at night. This excess energy is very useful during cloudy days and winters. If your RV roof can't support a large solar array, setting up panels as window awnings is a great solution. A regular awning provides shade, but if it's solar, it can also harvest energy. Things you can do at home can also be done in the RV.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:423 https://www.inverter.com/what-issues-do-you-need-to-know-before-buying-an-inverter-generator What Issues Do You Need to Know Before Buying an Inverter Generator? <p>When you are away from your main power supply, possibly due to a power outage, or when you are at an unpowered job site or camp, portable inverter generators provide the necessary power whenever and wherever you need it. The best time to buy an inverter generator is before you really need it. When buying an inverter generator, these are the three things you need to know.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/2000-watt-portable-inverter-generator.jpeg" alt="2000 watt portable inverter generator" width="311" height="311" /></p> <h2>How Does it Work?</h2> <p>Like traditional inverter generators, inverter generators generate electricity from a gas engine and can be started manually or remotely. This turns on a generator, producing electricity. Inverter generators come with electrical outlets so you can plug extension cords directly into appliances and power tools. Generally speaking, the higher the power of the inverter generator, the more its export combination.</p> <h2>How Portable is it?</h2> <p>They are very portable. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">Power inverter generators</a> are lighter than traditional generators. Some weigh less than 15kg, while some heavier, more powerful models have built-in wheels for easy transport.</p> <h2>What is the Wattage?</h2> <p>The key to choosing a generator is starting watts running watts. Let's take a refrigerator as an example. During normal operation, a refrigerator only needs 550W of power. On average, a refrigerator needs a 1350W surge to start working until it hits 500W when running. So <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-inverter-generator">2000W portable inverter generator</a> is the best choice. As a general rule, the higher the wattage produced, the more items the generator can power.</p> <h2>Three Uses of Inverter Generator:</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Power inverter generator for work.</strong> Generators with a maximum power output of more than 5000 watts are recommended for use in the workplace. It can run power tools and can be connected directly to an electrical panel. For safety, these powerplants have a transfer switch. As it is the heaviest and largest type of inverter generator, these built-in wheels are easy to transport around the job site.</li> <li><strong>Power inverter generator for home.</strong> A medium-sized inverter generator with a maximum output of 3500 watts is ideal for home backup power. Able to operate basic household appliances: electric stove, air conditioner, cooler, radio and TV. Suitable for sensitive devices such as laptops and mobile phones.</li> <li><strong>Power inverter generator for camping.</strong> A <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2500-watt-inverter-generator">2500 watt portable inverter generator</a> is more than enough for camping and outdoor recreation. Power is available for safety. Powers portable electric stoves and charges mobile devices. Very quiet and will not disturb nearby campers. Portable and can easily fit in a car.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:422 https://www.inverter.com/why-should-buy-inverter-generator Why Should Buy Inverter Generator? <p>Whether you're at home or on the road on an outdoor adventure, you rely heavily on electronic devices for communication and functionality. Unfortunately, electronic devices run out of energy over time and need to be recharged for continued use. Keeping your electronics powered up can be a problem if you're camping or at home without power.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/800-watt-portable-inverter-generator.jpeg" alt="800 watt portable inverter generator" width="282" height="282" /></p> <p>Inverter generators provide cleaner, safer power for your electronics. Traditional generators produce efficient and sufficient power to drive electronic equipment. The electricity produced is suitable for the devices you grew up with and use every day: kitchen appliances, fans, lights, electronic radios.</p> <p>However, modern electronics such as cell phones, laptops, desktops and televisions are sensitive to the spikes or surges that typically occur with traditional generators. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">Inverter generators</a> not only have higher power output, they have the ability to clean or refine electricity from fuel. This makes them a safer power source for modern electronics.</p> <p>Inverter generators are very fuel efficient. Like conventional generators, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/800-watt-inverter-generator">800 watt portable inverter generators</a> require gasoline or diesel fuel to generate electricity. The biggest difference is that portable inverter generators have the ability to adjust power output based on demand.</p> <p>Inverter generators of the past ran at one speed without regard to the power demands of the equipment connected to them, which made them very fuel-hungry. The portable solar generator supplies power up and down when the equipment is using or not using power. The result is a more fuel-efficient, greener energy source.</p> <p>The powerful portable inverter generator is light and portable. These inverter generators are designed to be taken almost anywhere. It's designed to be lighter and more portable than traditional generators, making it easier to bring power where you need it. These generators are also designed to fit easily in the trunk of your car or camper.</p> <p><strong>Some Safety Tips When Using Your Inverter Generator For the First Time:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>But as with everything else, there are some safety tips you need to heed before you start using your new machine.</li> <li>First, you should know the wattage of the appliances you will connect to your inverter generator to avoid overloading.</li> <li>Second, make sure to read the instructions that came with the generator.</li> <li>Lastly, do not use your generator indoors and keep it dry at all times. Do not use it in the rain or if you have wet hands.</li> </ul> <p>Overall, an inverter generator is a fantastic device. Whether you need it as a backup power source to charge your devices during a power outage; to provide a comfortable home while camping, many agree that these machines are worth the investment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:421 https://www.inverter.com/how-far-between-solar-panels-should-be-away-from How Far Between Solar Panels Should be Away From? <p>Installing solar panels on the roof is a challenge. There must be enough space on the roof, but you also have to make sure there is enough space between each panel. But how much space is needed and why is it necessary?</p> <p>There should be at least 4 to 7 inches of space between two rows of solar panels, to allow for proper passage in case of installation and maintenance. There should also be a centimeter-grade distance between two adjacent solar panels (the outer frame) in each row, as the panel frame contracts and expands with the weather. Additionally, there must be at least 12 inches of space between the solar panels and the edge of the roof to comply with building codes and ensure the safety of the array.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-apart-distance.jpg" alt="Solar panel apart distance" width="506" height="344" /></p> <h2>Why is There a Gap Between Solar Panels?</h2> <p>The frame and glass of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30w-portable-solar-panel">30W monocrystalline solar panel</a> are constantly contracted and expanded under the influence of temperature. If there is no space, the panels will press against each other, causing damage.</p> <p>It's tempting to place solar panels next to each other to accommodate as many solar panels as possible, but it's not advisable. Solar panels are designed to work in specific environments. Solar arrays can only stay a certain distance from the house before performance suffers, as is module spacing.</p> <p>Both the solar panel frame and the glass covering the battery are durable, but they don't bump into each other. Modules can also get quite hot depending on the weather, so make sure you have enough clearance between them.</p> <h2>Space Between Solar Panel Rails and Support:</h2> <p>There should be 12 to 16 inches of space between the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> track between the first support and the end of the track. Too much space between the rails and the panels can bounce back, dangerous during heavy rain or strong winds. Both track pieces must also have a track joint for stability and support.</p> <p>The average spacing of the rafters is 16 inches, while the spacing between each post is 48 inches. If you were to install four PV modules, each measuring 65 x 39 inches, the combined size would be 160 inches.</p> <p>Each solar panel must be fastened to two rails, and the rails must be long enough to accommodate all panels. In other words, the rails must be at least 160 inches long. If the rails are too long, you can cut them off, which is easier to deal with than getting stuck on short rails.</p> <p>The solar panel brackets must be secured with the correct flash panel bolts. This will prevent the track from moving and putting pressure on other parts. The clamps must also be the correct size and quantity to ensure proper fit. The thing to remember is that your panels are resting on the stand, so they have to be as strong as possible.</p> <h2>How Many Panel Rows Can Fit on My Roof?</h2> <p>For solar panels installed in vertical mode, divide the length of the array by the width of the panel in inches. To find the panels for each row, divide the array width by the panel length.</p> <p>Array length / Panel width = Number of panels per row</p> <p>Assuming each solar panel measures 5 x 3 feet, the available roof space is 14 feet wide x 38 feet long, and two rows can be installed. This assumes that the modules are installed in portrait style and at the same angle as the roof. At 3.5 feet wide, 10 panels can be installed.</p> <p>These formulas can give you a rough idea of how many panels can be installed. But those numbers have to be adjusted based on hardware specs. That's why you need a few inches of space at the end of each rail. The longer track is taken into account in the calculation as it can be sawn off at any time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:407 https://www.inverter.com/why-should-maintain-solar-panel Why Should Maintain Solar Panel? <p>We all know that solar panels are usually installed on the top of the rv, wind and rain, and long-term exposure to the outdoor environment, dust, sundries inevitably adhere to it, put it on the "thick clothes", resulting in the reduction of its power efficiency. In addition, the load resistance formed by partial shadow occlusion will reduce the power generation, which may even cause a fire for a long time, causing unnecessary trouble. So do solar panels need to be maintained? It will be mentioned in this article.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-proper-maintain.jpg" alt="Solar panel proper maintain" width="404" height="299" /></p> <p>Apart from the main advantage of solar panels; providing us with free electricity, they have another advantage and that is, they actually need a little maintenance as they hardly need any maintenance other than cleaning their surface. This means we have to make sure that the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> are clean and free of things like dust, leaves and any other debris, as these things can drastically reduce the output power produced.</p> <p>Another enemy that reduces solar panel power generation is snow, which creates a barrier between sunlight and the surface of the solar panel. Once we notice a reduction in the output power produced by the solar system, our first step should be to check the surface of the solar panel, usually a quick cleaning will return the solar panel to optimal power generation. Therefore, the installation location of the solar panels should be easily accessible. If you encounter an obstacle while climbing our roof, you must hire a professional maintenance person familiar with this operation so that you will be safe.</p> <p>Also, placing the solar panel at an angle will keep its surface clean from snow and most debris, a natural self-cleaning feature that will carry away dirt and debris as you will take advantage of rainwater, which will give you a free cleaning process that doesn't require any effort on your part.</p> <p>Power loss from a solar panel will not just be due to debris or snow or other obstacles, there are other issues that may require more in-depth troubleshooting, so it is highly recommended to install a monitoring system that monitors the output power produced by your solar system and energy and then when observing any irregularities you can take corrective action in time without losing too much power.</p> <p>Another advantage of the monitoring system is that it will alert you in the event of a solar panel failure, in other words, once the solar panel fails for any reason, the monitoring system will let you know there is a problem. So, you can investigate if there is a barrier preventing sunlight from reaching the solar panels, if not, then you have to call your solar system installer to check the connections, and all other possible causes of this type of problem.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:419 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-grid-tie-inverter-for-solar-systems-pv-system How to Use Grid Tie Inverter for Solar Systems/ PV System? <p>A grid-tie inverter (on grid inverter) converts direct current (DC) into an alternating current (AC) suitable for injecting into an electrical power grid, normally 120 V RMS at 60 Hz or 240 V RMS at 50 Hz. Grid-tie inverters are used between local electrical power generators: solar panel, wind turbine, hydro-electric, and the grid.</p> <p>Do you know how to ue <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid-tie inverter</a> for solar systems/ PV system? Today we will show you by using a 18VDC 150W photovoltaic panel and on grid inverter, in order to form a grid-tied system, grid-tie inverter, circuit breaker and engergy calculation tables.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-use-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="How to use grid tie inverter for sloar system" width="560" /></p> <h2>Wiring</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Conneting the output line of the PV panel to the input of the grid-tie inverter.</li> <li>Connecting the output AC directly to the grid.</li> </ol> <h2>How to use grid-tie inverter?</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Turning on grid-tie inverter, the red light is on to indicate that grid-tie inverter has not started working.</li> <li>When the green light flashes, it indicates that the grid-tie inverter is working normally.</li> <li>View the energy meter, the grid-tie inverter output voltage is 234VAC, the output useful power is about 10W.</li> <li>This is related to the light intensity. The currnet useful power is around 0.44. Output frequency is 50 Hz.</li> </ol> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-use-grid-tie-inverter-1.jpg" alt="How to use grid tie inverter for sloar system" width="560" /></p> <p>See more information by clicking the video below.</p> <p><iframe style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The use of grid tied inverter for solar systems/PV system" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iWTg4N2F11A" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:420 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-a-solar-generator How to Use a Solar Generator? <p>There are various life gadgets, accessories, gear, and essentials in the market today that can help in bringing more comforts and necessities to your van. These van life gadgets and essentials are designed with modern innovations that make them more reliable. They include: solar power generator, solar panel and so on.</p> <p>Solar power generator, this is an essential gear you need to install in the van when going out for a long journey. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">Portable solar generator</a> in Inverter.com will be the best option for you to consider. It will help you generate power and store it in your batteries for use at a later time. Especially if you want extra power for entertainment or heating. ln this article, we are gonna unbox a brand new portable power supply and tell you hoe to use.</p> <p>Let's first check out the foroduct spediffication. Then let's see what is indluded in the package. Here comes our star product which, as you can see is delicately packaged in the box. Besides it, we have a car charger, a cigarette lighter adapter, a power adapter and a user manual indluded in the package. The cigarette lighter socket and the car charger can be joined together.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-power-supply-package.jpg" alt="solar power supply package" width="560" height="312" /></p> <p>The instruction manual is written in multi-language for the convenience of users from different countries. The power supply comprises lithium ion batteries and it can switch between DC and AC outputs, allowing for flexible use.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/portable-solar-generator-parameter.jpg" alt="Portable solar generator parameter" width="560" height="294" /></p> <p>Here is the switch button and this is AC output button. These two ports represent DC input and output. Two USB ports are provided for digital connection. USB C port and TYPE-C output both adopt Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/portable-solar-generator-button.jpg" alt="Portable solar generator button" width="560" height="312" /></p> <p>Now let's see how to use a solar generator. Press switch button and you can see on the LED screen the, battery capacity shown in percentage. Press AC Output button to utilize alternation current. When the power supply is turned on, press the power switch twice to activate blink mode so that an ultra bright LED light wil flash for emergencies. You can recharge it using a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> with rated power 35-40W and voltage 18-22V.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/portable-solar-generator-use.jpg" alt="Portable solar generator use" width="560" height="311" /></p> <p>Everyone going out for a long journey always desires a safe and enjoyable trip. However, to have a safe journey, you need to prepare well. On the other hand, good preparation involves choosing the best life gadgets and essentials. Solar power supply in Inverter.com is a good choice. If you want to know more about this solar power supply, please click the video.</p> <p><iframe style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Portable Power Supply for Outdoor Activities" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PxT18g9YHn4" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:417 https://www.inverter.com/how-long-does-solar-panel-last How Long Does Solar Panel Last? <p>Installing solar panels system is some kind of a big and expensive project, and it is done in various scales (small – medium – large). So, it’s important to know how long will the solar panels last, so we can make our own return of investment study before purchasing and installing the solar panel system. Generally, solar panels last approx. 25 years up to 30 years, and may proceed working after that.</p> <p>Actually after the expected life time of solar panel ended, it still produces DC electricity, but the production rate will go down after the 25 years, it will not stop production as long as it is not damaged by outer effects, like wind or water, truly it has a very long life span. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-for-home.jpg" alt="Solar panels for home" width="557" height="367" /></p> <p>In order to extend the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> life time, our solar system installer have to serve/check the panels regularly, and if we need to get a better energy production rate of the solar panels, we have to do maintenance procedures regularly, so energy production will Not drop off so much over the years.</p> <p>If our solar panels exist in a good climate, and avoid debris danger, we shall enjoy a good energy production with a high life span, generally the solar panels designed to be durable. In addition, the solar panels can withstand some bad conditions, but their energy production may reduce a bit little under these conditions.</p> <p>As an example of bad conditions, is days with cloud coverage in which solar panels drop around 10% up to 25% of their production, and if you experience rain-fall in your area, you will get a decent generation, because the rain will clean solar panel from debris. Also, high speed wind will Not affect the solar panel much, because by design standards, the solar panels manufacturer tests the panel before leaving the factor to be able to withstand a wind speed of 140 miles/hour which is something close to hurricanes. One bad condition which will seriously affects the solar panels is the lightning which may damage the whole solar panels unless the solar system installer make the appropriate setup for lightening protection scheme, grounding the solar panels, and adding any required extra precautions based on our environment type.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:418 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-solar-water-pump-with-battery How to Install Solar Water Pump with Battery? <p>Solar water pumps are specially designed to utilize DC electricity from solar panels. The pumps must work during low light conditions, when power is reduced, without stalling or overheating. Low volume pumps use positive displacement (volumetric) mechanisms which seal water in cavities and force it upward. The submersible pump can realize working at sunrise and resting at sunset, no need any person look after it, no need diesel, no need power grid, and can be used with irrigation equipments to save water, energy and cost.</p> <p>So, today we will talk about how to install a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a> with battery.</p> <h2>Wiring</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Connecting the power cable of the motor to the W, V and U terminals.</li> <li>Conneting the DC power supply to P+, P-, (battery or solar panel).</li> </ol> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/wiring-diagram-ofsolar-water-pump.jpg" alt="Wiring diagram of solar water pump" width="560" /></p> <h2>How to install the solar water pump with battery?</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>We using a 48VDC battery, connecting the connector to the solar water pump outlet. If the pump will be put in deep water, it shold be lifted by ropes. (Becareful not to use the power cable to lift pump).</li> <li>Putting the pump into the water. When in pond/ pool/ river/ lake, the water inlet of the pump must below the water level.</li> <li>When the solar pump is putting into a narrow deep well, the water inlet of the pump should be 7-8 meters lowers than the water level so that the pump can pump enough water. The controller automatically recognizes that the pump is connected the battery or solar panel.</li> <li>Then press"ON", the controller starts to work.</li> <li>Press "switch" to view the current speed. The outlet bagan to spray water.</li> <li>Press ▼ to decrease the motor speed. (When the power supply is battery.)</li> <li>Press "Enter" to confirm the setting. Then the water discharge is obviously reduced. The mimimum speed that canbe set is 1000 rpm.</li> <li>Switching to check the current is 0.7A, power is 38W, and voltage is 49.9V.</li> <li>Press the "OFF" to stop pumping. (When the power supply is solar penel, the pump will automatically start or stop).</li> <li>Connect the level snesor according to the wiring diagram. It is often used in water tanks. The level sensor is onnected to the TH and COM terminals. <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-install-solar-water-pump-with-battery.jpg" alt="How to install solar water pump with battery" width="560" /></li> </ol> <p>When the float switch is lifted by water, the pump stops working. The TANK indicator light on the controller panel is always on. After 30 minutes, the solar water pump will automatically restart and pump water.</p> <p>If you want to know more details about the installing of solar water pump with battery, please check the video below.</p> <p><iframe style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Install solar water pump/submersible pump with battery" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AH125cTS17o" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:409 https://www.inverter.com/garden-solar-lights-troubleshooting Garden Solar Lights Troubleshooting <p>Installing solar lights in your garden is one of the best solutions, because you will not be worried about the electrical setup, and your garden will be beautiful and fresh. When your solar garden stop working, there are some troubleshooting steps you can do yourself, and in most cases, you will succeed to solve the issue without the aid of a specialist, and here we shall discuss as follows:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/garden-solar-lights.jpg" alt="Garden solar lights" width="250" height="250" /></p> <ul> <li>First action: Is to do an inspection of your lights themselves, and their attached on/off switch, make sure the bulb is good, and the switch is in on position. If all are okay, then look for signs of rust or moisture presence, as these may lead to connection corrosion which will lead to the light stopping working.</li> <li>Second action: Is to check around <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">the solar panels</a>, and see if they get sufficient solar light, or maybe there is a shadow from the trees and the solar lights are not truly exposed to the sun. If that is the case, then you will be needing to do tree trimming, and remove all obstacles to get full exposure to the sun.</li> <li>Third action: Is to check the batteries attached to solar lights, and replace them if they are faulty. Most garden solar lights have AAA or AA batteries, maybe one or more for each bulb. You will need to have just a screwdriver to open the battery's port, check them and replace them if needed. Not always you will need to replace them, as sometimes you just need to refresh them. Actually, there is an action we recommend to do monthly, it is to switch off the garden solar light for 1-3 days to allow for the solar light garden batteries to be fully charged.</li> <li>Fourth action: This action will be done in case all the aforementioned failed to solve the issue. It’s to contact your garden solar light supplier/manufacturer and ask them for help. If you are still in the warranty period, then it will be a free action.</li> </ul> <p>You might receive a defective light or maybe simple something went wrong, that may happen even for high-quality brands, so if you are still inside the warranty period, you can reach out to the customer service of your supplier and proceed based on their recommendations.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:415 https://www.inverter.com/why-do-we-need-snow-guards-for-solar-panels Why Do We Need Snow Guards For Solar Panels? <p>In the winter months, the snow may accumulate on our solar panels quickly, and with a high amount of accumulated snow, we and our visitors will be at risk of snow falling out. Yes, actually that is a possible danger, as solar panels are glass sheets that help the snow existing in a certain place on our roof to slide off in a huge sheet, so it can fall onto a passerby down below. Consequently, in such conditions, we have to use Snow Guards which can prevent this danger from happening to our family.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-in-the-winter.jpg" alt="Solar panels in the winter" width="600" height="400" /></p> <p>Snow Guard is simple hardware preventing the snow from sliding down on <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">the solar panels</a> in large sheets. Its installation is very simple and straightforward, it is just attached to the solar panels via a bracket system, and it is installed on the edge of the solar panel with multiple design selections available, so you can select the best design matching your home. In the end, the snow guard allows only a small amount of snow to slide off on the solar panels over time and that ensures keeping the panel free of snow and protects us from danger.</p> <p>There are some factors confirming your need for using the snow guard, the first is where you live? Is it an area with a warm climate or a very cold climate, also your observance of the solar panels in winter, like seeing a little snowfall, and in that case, you have to use the snow guard? So, you need to justify buying the cost of snow guards, as if you even observe snowfall, you have to ask yourself about the potential danger to people considering the amount of snow accumulation before you make the purchasing decision.</p> <p>Not only for people that may be at risk of snow falling, but also if you have cars parked by the solar panel system, so paying a little amount of money in buying the snow guard will protect your high-cost cars from major damage.</p> <p>In the end, we can advise if you will be interested in buying a snow guard, to look and think about your solar panel's location, see if the roof position facilitates snow sheet falls, and will affect the passerby or Not? If Not, then there is no need to buy the snow guard, also if you will install the solar panels on the ground, then it is useless to buy such a snow guard.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:416 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-make-full-use-of-solar-energy How to Make Full Use of Solar Energy? <p>The solar panel role in the solar photovoltaic system, is just to convert sun-light to DC electricity, it cannot store energy, so we use batteries to store electrical energy at the time of excess solar light to be used at the times of no solar light.</p> <p>Mainly in most of places, there are 2 types of solar photovoltaic systems to be used. The first is the grid tie solar system, in which extra generated electricity will be sent back to the electrical grid, and then the solar system owner takes credits from the electric grid to be used in his future bill, and saving his money. The second is the off grid solar system, in which you totally depend on your solar system to power your home, as the power grid is no longer works as a backup.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/make-full-use-of-solar-energy-in-pv-system.jpg" alt="Make full use of solar energy in PV system" width="600" height="288" /></p> <p>It is clear that off grid solar system is a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to be used in remote areas in which no power grid is available, while in grid tie system, you will not be worried of not getting sufficient solar power to run your home.</p> <p>The question is, for off grid solar system, where will the extra energy go, and how we can increase our batteries lifespan?</p> <p>There are 2 conditions affecting solar batteries badly, its over-charging an under-charging. The overcharging will overheat batteries and reduce its lifespan, also undercharging will affect batteries performance and reduce the lifespan. To avoid such 2 conditions, we use the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>.</p> <p>The charge controller will help regulating storage energy, as it charges batteries, and when it is full, it shuts the electrical charging current flow, but when it is undercharging, it switches on charging current to batteries. It’s an important part of the solar system, because it fully controls batteries, and once it is full, it diverts extra energy to other parts which is in need of it, based on your setup.</p> <p>Solar batteries are an essential part of the off grid solar system, and maintaining its charging level is acceptable condition is so important as well, so we have to think where we should send the generated energy after batteries is fully charged, because this helps in saving our money.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:408 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-remove-snow-from-solar-panels How To Remove Snow From Solar Panels? <p>There are incredible benefits we can get from solar panels, in addition, they represent a sustainable energy source and we can actually say, they represent the energy future in the world. As solar panels are exposed to direct weather (sun, wind, dust, snow, etc.), there are some disruptions affecting their life span and efficiency. One of these disruptions is the snow which will block the sunlight to hit solar panels, so they can not do their job, especially if the solar panels are on your roof.</p> <p>There are some important ways to remove such snow and re-get the electrical energy flowing in the system as follows:</p> <p><strong>First Way:</strong> Use a shovel to remove the snow, and you can purchase it from any online store, it will be long and flexible, so it can reach the whole solar panel's system surfaces. However, there will be a danger of snow falling down unless it’s some kind of powder.</p> <p><strong>Second Way:</strong> Make your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> on an angle, so the gravity will push the snow down, in other words, make the solar panels on a high tilt angle, so the snow can fall quickly. Actually, this technique will need to install solar panels on a tilted rack system.</p> <p><strong>Third Way:</strong> Spray the snow with water, and in this case, you will need a water hose, but this technique depends on the environmental temperature, and the roof height, if the environmental temperature is above freezing temperature, and your roof height is Not so high, then you can use even your garden hose to spay water on the snow to melt it quickly.</p> <p><strong>Fourth Way:</strong> Let us make the sun melt the snow, so we save money and effort. The snow will eventually be melt and fall down by nature and without intervention from you, the only concern with this approach, is that it takes time for the snow to melt, so we lose electrical generating energy during this time which will cost us some money, but this cost is very low if we compare to the cost of hiring someone to remove the snow manually, or. etc. Just you have to wait, and nature will do the job for you free of charge.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:404 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-modern-solar-photovoltaic-system What is Modern Solar Photovoltaic System? <p>Solar photovoltaic system consists of solar cell, solar controller and battery. Solar panel is the core part of solar photovoltaic system, the role of solar panel is to convert the sun's light energy into electric energy, output direct current into storage battery.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/modern-solar-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="Modern solar photovoltaic system" width="463" height="305" />Photovoltaics is an electronic process that occurs naturally in semiconductor materials. When sunlight hits semiconductor materials, electrons are released and can travel through circuits, producing electricity that powers our electrical devices. In certain types of solar systems, which we call grid solar systems, we send electrical energy into the grid, support it, so that the grid can provide more loads with higher capacity and more reliability.</p> <p>Photovoltaic systems can power any electrical device, from small electronic devices, such as road signs and electronic calculators, to homes and commercial buildings.</p> <p>Currently, the cost of solar photovoltaic systems has dropped significantly due to improvements in technology, adoption of new materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Also, installation costs have declined due to an increase in the number of trained solar installers, as well as an increase in experienced solar installers. Most suppliers and manufacturers working in the field of solar photovoltaics offer practical training courses for recently graduated engineers, students and technicians. Mostly, they offer free training courses.</p> <p>The United States is one of the largest markets for solar PV installation systems in the world and the third largest in the world. Modern solar cells are fabricated from crystalline silicon or thin-film semiconductor materials. The wide application of the two has different advantages. Silicon cells, while more efficient at converting solar energy into electricity, are more expensive to manufacture, while thin-film materials are less efficient but less expensive and simpler to manufacture. Thin-film panels are made by depositing a thin layer of conductive material on a backplane made of glass or plastic. If you've ever seen flexible <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> on an RV or boat, thin-film technology is what makes these possible.</p> <p>In modern solar systems, there is a special class of solar cells called multi-junction solar cells, which are used in military applications and satellites. Therefore, today there are a wide variety of applications and a variety of matching modern solar cell types. In fact, there are many models of solar panels for thousands of solar companies, and depending on our application, we can compare them based on output, efficiency, and warranty.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:405 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-solar-panels-on-a-sloping-roof How to Install Solar Panels on a Sloping Roof? <p>A great feature of solar panels, is the ability of installing them in different ways and in different places. We can install them on the ground, or on the roof, and even the roof is flat or pitched, we can install them on it, without any issue at all.</p> <p>Some people believes that we should install <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> on pitched roof to reap their benefits, but we can confirm that installing the solar panels on flat roof will be okay, and moreover, it is preferred for many cases, because flat roof enhance the solar panels ability to get much amount of sun light, so it generate electricity with the best efficiency, in other word, when installing solar panels on flat roof, we are free to face the solar panel to the best sunlight direction, with the best inclination angle. The fact is the flat roof is the excellent place to install solar panels, while the pitched roof in the more common, so in both installation arrangements, the solar system will work according to our design to get the highest efficiency.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/install solar-panels-on-pitched-roof.jpg" alt="Install solar-panel on pitched roof" width="600" height="402" /></p> <p>Although flat roof is better as we clarified above, many solar installers refuse to install flat roof solar panels system, because they always have stock of pitched roof solar system components. But it is Not an issue, easily you can do some extra effort to find out flat roof solar system installers, and you will find them of sure, just shop around to get even the best of them. And once you find the best installer, you can go ahead with him, and get the exceptional output power benefits of flat roof.</p> <p>In case of pitched roof installation, solar system installers will factor their design in both roof angle, and roof direction, so the homeowner will ensure the best performance of their solar system, and they will be aware of the approximate harvest they will get. While in flat roof installation, you can choose from versatile setting, and installation process will be easier, so there is No difficulties nor issues at all, in the same time, we shall get the best electricity production as well.</p> <p>One more advantage for flat roof over the pitched roof is the better performance for flat roof in case of potential shading coming from trees or any other outer obstacles, flat roof is doing better as it is more flexible in void shadows.</p> <p>At the end, we can say that there are some factors to consider when choosing solar panels installation on flat roof or pitched roof.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:399 https://www.inverter.com/when-to-repair-or-replace-the-solar-panels When to Repair or Replace the Solar Panels? <p>Solar panels are made from crystalline silicon type solar cells . These cells are composed of layers of silicon, phosphorous, and boron (although there are several different types of photovoltaic cells). These cells, once produced, are laid out into a grid pattern. Most of solar photovoltaic system owners do the normal cleaning to their solar panels periodically to ensure getting the prospected electrical energy harvest. But when a big issue happened to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, you might find yourself have to take a decision whether you need to replace the solar panels or doing a repair with the aid of a solar specialist.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/repairing.jpg" alt="Repairing" width="130" /></p> <p>When such issue happened, you have to hire a solar proficient specialist for your safety, especially if it’s a mechanical issue. And you have to consider of course if you are still under the warranty period or not. As if you are still under warranty period, then your solar panels manufacturer/ supplier will send you a professional to check the issue free of charge according to warranty terms between you, and he will be the most appropriate person to check the cause of such poor performance, because he has all technical details about your solar system.</p> <p>If the solar system expert/specialist sees that the problem can be solved, then you can go ahead in the repair option, but if he determines they can Not be repaired, the no way, and you have to do the replacement process. What we recommend is to Not trying to do this on your own, because you will put yourself in a danger, and you will be at a risk of voiding the warranty terms, especially it may be a manufacturing defect that causes such issue. In the same time, you have to mind that storms, falling trees branches and any other natural mishap, all these issues will Not be covered by the solar system manufacturer/supplier warranty. So, we advise when purchasing your solar system for the first time to check the supplier/manufacturer for extended warranty period and to pay for that, so you will be in a safe side and protected from such potentials.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel.jpeg" alt="Solar panel" width="280" /></p> <p>One other thing to avoid such issues, is to have home-owner’s insurance, and if it will cover such issue, that would be great, and in that case you have to get all knowledge in who to contact to file a claim if such issues happened, because the less time you get your solar system repaired, the less worry about running your home without a free electrical power.</p> <p>At the end, we can say that properly knowing how to handle your solar panels issues will resolve them in a timely manner, and also following maintenance practices will help in keeping the system works for many years without any issues.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:400 https://www.inverter.com/is-it-expensive-to-install-solar-panels-on-pitched-roof-than-flat-roof Is it Expensive to Install Solar Panels on Pitched Roof than Flat Roof? <p>Solar system installation costs will differ based on whether we install the system on a flat roof or a pitched roof. When we break down our solar system installation costs, we shall find that approximately 10% of total costs will go to labor installation cost.</p> <p>Actually, the labor costs will be higher in case of pitched roof, because there will be some danger in climbing on them, in addition, there will be much safety requirements for solar installers which will add extra costs, while in a flat roof, the installers will work in a safe area, so they walk around and do their duties with No concerns and with No need to much safety equipment, so it makes sense that the installation costs will be higher incase of pitched roof.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panels-on-pitched-roof .jpg" alt="Solar panels on pitched roof " width="650" height="435" /></p> <p>However, we unfortunately do not observe big difference in overall solar system installation costs between flat and pitched roof, because the flat roof will need extra special installation hardware to face the solar system right direction to the sun light, and to make the optimum inclination angle, so can get the best output electrical energy.</p> <p>When we install the pitched roof, we drill holes into the roof for mounting the solar panels, but we cannot do this when installing the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels </a>on the flat roof, because it will be difficult to drill into the flat roof, so the mounting in case of pitched roof will be stronger, and consequently safer. We always use special mounting hardware to make it possible installing the solar panels on the flat roof without drilling. Also, we sometimes use concrete blocks with solar system installation hardware in case of flat roof to make the solar system securely stay in place. Depending on the type of flat roof, we may need to make combination of concrete block and holes (if possible) to secure the solar panels.</p> <p>Consequently, finding the best solar system installer will be very important, because he is the only one that can provide best technical and economical installation plan for our roof type.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:402 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-make-solar-panel-last-longer How to Make Solar Panel Last Longer? <p>On roof solar panel is less expensive and takes up less space than an off roof solar panel, but it may be less efficient, depending on your roof and where it faces. Also, it's harder for us to maintain and troubleshoot the roof panel because of the barrier to entry. The lifespan of solar panel on roof is about 25-30 years.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-on-roof-and-off-roof.jpg" alt="Solar panel on roof and off roof." width="502" height="273" /></p> <p>Solar panel is a device that directly or indirectly convert solar radiation into electrical energy through photoelectric effect or photochemical effect by absorbing sunlight. Most solar panels are mainly made of silicon. Compared with ordinary batteries and rechargeable batteries, solar cells are green products with more energy saving and environmental protection.</p> <p>Putting your solar panel in the ground will have a longer lifespan as it will be more readily available, so you will be doing timely troubleshooting and maintenance. Also, it will be more efficient because the ground is cooler than the roof.</p> <p>Generally speaking, the size of the area where we live is the main factor in deciding whether we install on roof or off roof <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a>. Wherever we install solar panel we must consider how to make it last longer. There are some tips for you.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>First and foremost, making <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60w-portable-solar-panel">60W portable solar panel</a> last longer requires testing and certifying solar panels in extreme outdoor conditions. Testing and certification to qualified standards is very important, especially as solar panel will require very little maintenance as it is not moving part.</li> <li>The second thing is to take advantage of the services available on your solar installation to improve life time and performance rates for many years. And there is a warranty repair and replacement that lasts 25 years, we have to take advantage of it.</li> <li>The third thing is to keep your solar panel away from dust and leaves etc. These debris can reduce the output power produced by solar panel and damage panel over time.</li> <li>The fourth thing, is to keep portable solar panel safe from small animals to avoid physical damage to cells and wiring.</li> <li>Finally, you should ask your solar system installer what steps you have to take to make your solar panel last longer, if you follow them strictly, we can confirm that you will get a life span of about 30 years.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:403 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-protect-solar-panels-from-bad-weather How to Protect Solar Panels from Bad Weather? <p>Installing solar panels in your facility whether its commercial or residential is actually a great project, but it is also an expensive project. The solar panel generally works fine in bad weather with snow, rain and very hot sun, so there in No much worry about bad weather side effects, but when the weather is getting sever, there may be a little worry.<br />Although the solar panels are designed to work outside with a good capability to withstand bad weathers and with a life span of about 26 years, but with very bad weather in harsh areas, their life time may be affected. So, and because the solar panels system is expensive, and may be in some cases, it’s the main way of electricity generation, it is a must to protect them from bad weather.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-efficiency.jpg" alt="Solar panel efficiency" width="500" height="336" /></p> <p>One of solar panels protection ways, is to make sure doing the regular maintenance, starting form cleaning process, tighten connections, etc., because if there is any leaves on the solar panels like snow or dirt, then this will harm them. Actually, there is No need to make solar panels cleaning all the time, but we recommend to do it once per month or may be less than one month, according to your environment conditions.</p> <p>A second way of protecting the solar panels, is to cover them by a thin protective cover, that is thin enough to avoid messing up solar power harnessing.</p> <p>A third way of protecting the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, is to make an insurance on them, like you do for your car or house. Because we invest much money in solar panels project, so actually it is worth this.</p> <p>The fourth way of solar panels protection, is to keep informed on weather conditions predictions and whether there will be any bad weather condition coming soon, it will be much better if you can make some kind of registration in programs sending you an alert or message in daily basis, so you will be one step ahead.</p> <p>Installing solar panels system is a very perfect idea with many technical and economic advantages to you, but some people will scare on their invested money of being the solar panels destroyed early, but with knowing how to protect the system, you will be rest assured getting the best investment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:401 https://www.inverter.com/living-beside-solar-farm-is-good-or-bad Living Beside Solar Farm is Good or Bad? <p>Actually solar power becomes a big industry in USA and all over the world due to the financial and environmental benefits we can reap from it.</p> <p>Solar farm is some kind of power plants that generates electrical power from the sun light energy, it is a big plant with obvious effects on the nearby community. Usually we do Not construct such solar farm in large cities, because there will Not enough space to cover, as it takes very large land area to set up <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, inverters, and other accessories needed to make solar farm works for a long time.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/living-beside-solar-farm-is-good-or-bad.jpg" alt="Living Beside Solar Farm is Good or Bad" width="300" height="198" /></p> <p>One of the advantages of solar farm, is that it’s healthy and safe for wildlife, as there will Not be a dangerous electricity nor chemicals in the solar farm ground, and this is another advantage towards environmental aspects as well.</p> <p>One other main advantage is that for those people living around the solar farm, their electricity bill will be reduced or may be completely removed. So, this is a good idea to reduce your living costs, also, the carbon emission will be low, and that reducing the bad effects on the environment, it’s really a clean and healthy world with the spread of constructing solar farms.</p> <p>On the other hand, it may be some dis-advantages of solar farms from some people who live next to it point of view, they see that their homes view will Not be beautiful, so the home value will drop down. Also, they are worry about the possible noise that may generate from solar farm. But the great truth is that after the solar farm is fully setup, there will Not be any noise, as there will Not be no workers in the field, and normally the solar farm does Not have fans nor wind-turbine to generate noise.</p> <p>One other concern for people lives beside the solar farm is that they think the incoming electricity may be high which will be harmful for their home electrical appliances/equipment, and their health as well, but the truth is No, there will not be so much electricity or high voltage to make any harms, as the voltage and energy will be fully control via power transformers and other control/measurements equipment.</p> <p>At the end we can say that living beside the solar farm will Not be noisy, nor harmful, it will be safe and healthy in addition to much economical benefits we can reap from it. So, there is No reason to fear living beside the solar farm.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:398 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-wattage-in-solar-panel What is the Meaning of Wattage in Solar Panel? <p>Watt is the power unit, we use it in electrical circuit, and electricity mechanism. A simple example to clear the meaning; With the higher number of watts of electrical lamp, the brighter light it produces. So, with the higher number of solar panel watts, the more electrical energy it will be able to generate.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/wattage.jpg" alt="Wattage" width="200" height="173" /></p> <p>In <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a>, the watt is equal to amps multiplied by volts, it’s a simple power law helping us to know what solar panel rated output current (A) by knowing its rated output voltage and rated output power. The solar panel has an average wattage, same like others like light and resolution, etc. One of the dominant solar panels average power in the market is the 250W panel. This panel is the most efficient, and has a longer life time. However, the 100W solar panel are available in many places to purchase, like Amazon and other web stores.</p> <p>So, the question is what we can do exactly with this 100W solar panel? The answer for this question, is that you can use to run small power capacity equipment, like mobile charger or charging your personal computer or Wi Fi router, and many other small capacities applications. And usually it used in camps or outdoor, so people can get the electricity in places with No regular power grid.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100W solar panel</a> is usually come with other accessories in a kit, so you can set up, and use individually. It’s very small kit that helps you a lot carrying in your private car and install in a small place. This small kit may save our life in some hard conditions, so actually it is a great idea to buy this kit and keep it a place you may need or to keep in your car if you are camping lover.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/100w-portable-solar-panel.jpeg" alt="solar panel" width="300" /></p> <p>The 100W solar panel is much smaller than 350W solar panel which generally around 48 inches wide and 2 feet long, and its price is less than 50USD, so this will give you an approximation of how much area you would need to install.</p> <p>Of course the 100W solar panel kit price will be a little higher than the individual solar panel, due to accessories it includes, and also due the different solar panels brands, efficiencies and other parameters related to the technical specs and the manufacturer.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:395 https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller-working-principle-and-function Solar Charge Controller: Working Principle and Function <h2>How a solar charge controller works?</h2> <p>Although the control circuit of the controller varies in complexity depending on the PV system, the basic principle is the same. The diagram below shows the working principle of the most basic solar charge and discharge controller.<br /><br /><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-a-solar-charge-controller-works.jpg" alt="How a solar charge controller works" width="600" height="294" /></p> <p>Although the control circuit of the controller varies in complexity depending on the PV system, the basic principle is the same. The diagram below shows the working principle of the most basic solar charge and discharge controller.</p> <p>The system consists of PV module, battery, controller circuit and load. Switch 1 and Switch 2 are the charging switch and the discharging switch, respectively. When switch 1 is closed, the battery is charged by the PV module, and switch 1 also automatically resumes charging the battery according to a pre-set protection mode. When switch 2 is closed, the battery supplies power to the load. When the battery is charged again and reaches the pre-set resuming charging point, switch 2 can automatically resume power supply again.</p> <h2>Types of solar charge controllers</h2> <p>According to the controller on the battery charging regulation principle, the commonly used charge controller can be divided into.<br /><br /><strong>1. Series type charge controller<br /></strong><br /><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/series-type-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Series type charge controller" width="600" height="370" /></p> <p>The series controller circuit principle is shown in the figure, with a switching element connected in series between the PV module and the battery. The control detector circuit monitors the battery terminal voltage and when the charging voltage exceeds the battery set full disconnect value (HVD), the switching element cuts the battery charging circuit and resumes battery charging.</p> <p>Series charge controllers can use relays as fast shutoffs, currently most use power field effect tubes (MOSFETs), IGBTs, solid state relays, etc. Perfectly designed series charge controllers also have switching elements that can replace anti-reverse diodes to prevent "reverse leakage" at night.</p> <p>Series charge controllers have a large voltage loss in the circuit because the control switch elements are connected in series in the charging circuit, which reduces the charging efficiency, and when the switch elements are disconnected, the input voltage will rise to the level of the open circuit voltage of the power generation unit. Therefore, the series type charge controller should be designed with MOSFETs of low pass-state internal resistance and IGBTs of low saturation voltage drop.<br /><br /><strong>2. Parallel charge controller</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/parallel-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Parallel charge controller" width="600" height="334" /></strong></p> <p>The circuit principle of the parallel charge controller is shown in Fig. The switching elements of the parallel charge controller are connected in parallel at both ends of the PV module, so the power loss of the switching elements in the series charge controller can be solved.</p> <p>The controller detection circuit monitors the battery terminal voltage, and when the charging voltage exceeds the set full disconnect value (HVD) of the battery, the switching element turns on and bypasses the battery. When the battery terminal voltage drops to the set battery recharge voltage value, the switching element disconnects and turns on the battery charging circuit at the same time. The input circuit of the parallel charge controller is usually connected with a diode, which allows the current to flow to the battery during charging and prevents the battery current from flowing to the PV array at night or during cloudy days. Parallel type charge controller line is simple, cheap, but in the battery is full of protection and photovoltaic modules are still in the power generation state will allow the PV module to produce a large short-circuit current, resulting in "light spot", accelerate aging, the national standard is not recommended.</p> <p><strong>3. PWM type charge controller</strong></p> <p>In order to effectively prevent overcharging, the full use of solar energy to charge the battery, in recent years the development of pulse width modulation (PWM) charge controller. PWM charge controller to pulse mode switch PV module input, when the battery tends to be full, with its terminal voltage gradually rise, the frequency of the pulse or duty cycle changes, so that the on time is shortened, the charging current gradually tends to zero. When the battery voltage has a full point of decline, the charging current will gradually increase again. This charging process to form a more complete state of charge, it can increase the total cycle life of the battery annoying people in the photovoltaic system. Pulse width modulation charging protection of the charging state, it can increase the total cycle life of the battery in the photovoltaic system.<br /><br /><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/pwm-type-charge-controller.jpg" alt="PWM type charge controller " width="600" height="266" /><strong><br /></strong></p> <h2>What functions does the solar controller have?</h2> <p>The most basic function of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is to control the battery voltage and turn on the circuit. In addition, it stops charging the battery when the battery voltage rises to a certain level. Older controllers mechanically accomplish the task of controlling the opening or closing of the circuit and stopping or starting the power transfer from the power source to the battery. The detailed functions of the solar controller are shown below:</p> <p><strong>Load over-current and short-circuit protection</strong></p> <p>When the load current exceeds 10A or the load is short-circuited, the fuse wire melts and can be used again after replacement.</p> <p><strong>Over-voltage protection</strong></p> <p>When the voltage is too high, the output will be automatically turned off to protect the equipment from destruction.<br /><br /><strong>Lightning protection</strong></p> <p>In the event of a lightning strike, the varistor can prevent the lightning strike and protect the controller from being destroyed.<br /><br /><strong>Battery reversal protection</strong></p> <p>The battery "+" "-" polarity is reversed, and can be used after correction.<br /><br /><strong>Battery open circuit protection</strong></p> <p>If the battery is open circuit, if the solar cell is charging normally, the controller will limit the voltage at both ends of the load to ensure that the load is not damaged, if the solar cell is not charging at night or in the case, the controller itself does not get power and will not have any action.</p> <p><strong>Overcharge protection</strong></p> <p>When the charging voltage is higher than the protection voltage, the battery will be automatically disconnected from charging, after that when the voltage drops to the holding voltage, the battery will enter into the floating state, and when the floating charge is turned off after the low recovery voltage, it will enter into the even charging state.</p> <p><strong>Over discharge protection</strong></p> <p>In the case of low battery voltage over the protection voltage, the controller automatically turns off the output to protect the battery from harm; after the battery is charged again, it can automatically restore power supply.<br /><br /><strong>Self-test function</strong></p> <p>When the controller suffers from natural factors or personal operation, the controller can be self-tested, so that users know whether the controller is normal, reducing unnecessary man-hours.</p> <p>Recovery interval: the recovery interval made by the controller overcharge or over discharge protection, to prevent the line resistance or the self-recovery characteristics of the battery from causing the load to work jitter.</p> <p><strong>Temperature compensation</strong></p> <p>Monitor the temperature of the battery and make corrections to the charge and discharge values so that the battery works in the ideal state.</p> <p><strong>Light control</strong></p> <p>Mostly used in automatic lamps, when the environment is bright enough, the solar controller will automatically turn off the load output; and the surrounding environment will automatically turn on the load when it is dark, in order to achieve the function of automatic control.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-and-PWM-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="MPPT and PWM solar charge controller" width="803" height="362" /></p> <p>Inverter.com offers you two kinds of solar charge controllers, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controllers and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controllers. In addition, the all-in-one unit - solar inverter with MPPT charge controller is also available for off-grid solar system. The PWM solar charge controllers have <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">10 Amp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">20 Amp</a>...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/60a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">60 Amp</a> available with low price and high reliability, suitable for small systems. The MPPT solar charge controllers come with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20A</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">30A</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">60A</a> with high efficiency and long service life, a best choice to optimize your solar energy. The 700W to 6000W solar inverters with built-in MPPT charge controller perfoms both inverter and charge controller function in one device, a cost-effective solution for off-grid PV system. Find a right one here for utilizing your solar panel.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:396 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-the-solar-charge-controller How to Install the Solar Charge Controller? <h2>Installing a solar charge controller</h2> <p>The solar charge controller should be installed in a well ventilated place, avoiding direct sunlight, high temperature and should not be installed in a place where water can penetrate the solar controller.</p> <p>To choose the right screws to mount the solar controller on the wall or other platform, the screws should be M4 or M5, and the diameter of the screw cap should be less than 10mm.</p> <p>Please save enough space between the wall and the solar controller for cooling and connection sequence.</p> <p>The mounting hole distance is 20-30A(178*178mm), 40A(80*185mm), 50-60A(98*178mm), and the diameter of the mounting hole is 5mm .</p> <p>For better connection, all the terminals are very tightly connected when packing, please loosen all the terminals.</p> <p>To avoid short circuit, first screw the battery pack to the controller, then connect the solar panel, and then connect the load.</p> <p>If a short circuit occurs at the terminal of the controller, it will lead to fire or leakage and must be very careful. (We strongly recommend to connect the fuse on the battery pack side to 1.5 times of the rated current of the controller), after the correct connection is successfully made. When the sunlight is abundant, the LCD will show the solar panel and the arrow from the solar panel to the battery pack will light up.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-and-PWM-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="MPPT and PWM solar charge controller" width="803" height="362" /></p> <h2>Solar controller wiring method</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Battery connection</strong><br /><br />Before connecting the battery, make sure the battery voltage is more than 6V to start the controller. If the system is 24V, make sure the battery voltage is not less than 18V. The system voltage selection is only automatically recognized when the controller is started for the first time.<br /><br />When installing the insurance, pay attention to the maximum distance of 150mm between the insurance device and the positive terminal of the battery, and turn on the insurance after determining the correct wiring.<br /><br />Warning: A short circuit in the positive and negative battery terminals and the wires connected to the positive and negative terminals can cause a fire or explosion hazard! Please be sure to operate carefully!<br /><br /><strong>2. Load connection</strong><br /><br />The load side of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> can be connected to a DC power device with the same rated operating voltage as the rated voltage of the battery, and the controller supplies power to the load with the battery voltage.<br /><br />Connect the positive and negative terminals of the load to the load terminals of the controller. There may be voltage at the load terminal, so the wiring should be done carefully to avoid short circuits from time to time.<br /><br />A fuse should be connected to the load anode or cathode wire, and the fuse should not be turned on during installation. After the installation, the correctness of the fuse should be determined.<br /><br />If the load is connected through the switchboard, each load circuit has a separate connection insurance, all the load current can not exceed the rated current of the controller.<br /><br /><strong>3. PV array connection</strong><br /><br />The solar charge controller can be used for off-grid solar modules of 12V and 24V, and also for grid-connected modules where the open-circuit voltage does not exceed the specified maximum input voltage. The solar module voltage in the system should not be the minimum system voltage.<br /><br />Warning: Electric shock is dangerous! Photovoltaic arrays may generate very high voltages, so be careful when wiring to prevent electric shock.<br /><br /><strong>4. Check after installation</strong><br /><br />Check all the connections again to see if the positive and negative terminals of each terminal are correct and if all 6 terminals are tightened.<br /><br /><strong>5. Power on to confirm</strong><br /><br />When the battery supplies power to the controller, the battery LED indicator on the controller will light up when the controller is started, so pay attention to observe whether it is correct. <br /><br /></li> </ol> <h2>Solar controller installation please note points</h2> <p>Wiring order: first to the battery, then to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a>, and finally to the load. Note: Be sure to strictly comply with the prescribed wiring order. Due to the confusing order, some controllers may not be able to automatically identify the 12V/24V/48V system, thus making the controller unable to operate normally.</p> <p>It is better to string a fuse into the battery pack to ensure that the battery will not be short-circuited, otherwise it will cause serious consequences. The specification of the fuse must be 2~3 times of the rated current.</p> <p>The solar controller should be installed in a dry environment. Even if the controller is completely waterproof, it is best not to be buried in the soil.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:397 https://www.inverter.com/do-off-grid-photovoltaic-power-plants-need-batteries Do Off Grid Photovoltaic Power Plants Need Batteries? <h2>The difference between off-grid and grid-connected</h2> <p>The principle of off-grid photovoltaic power station is to store solar power to the battery, and then converted to 220V/380V through the inverter for home use. Grid-connected photovoltaic power station and the grid connected together, and no electrical energy storage devices, directly through the inverter into the national grid needs voltage requirements, and priority for home use, surplus electricity can also be sold to the state, to gain revenue.</p> <h2>Photovoltaic off grid system components</h2> <p>PV modules, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverters</a> (including PV chargers/inverters), energy storage batteries (lead-acid/colloid/lead carbon/tertiary lithium/ lithium iron phosphate and other types), PV brackets, cables, and distribution boxes are all important components of the PV off-grid system. The biggest difference between off-grid PV systems and grid-connected systems is that grid-connected systems are based on the premise of investment income, while off-grid systems are based on the basic need for power supply, so they will have a different focus in the selection of components.</p> <h2>Whether off-grid power plants should be equipped with batteries?</h2> <p>Off-grid photovoltaic power station is also known as independent photovoltaic power station, is not dependent on the grid and independent operation of the power generation system, mainly by solar panels, solar batteries, charge and discharge controller, inverter and other components. The working principle is that the electricity from the solar panel flows directly into the battery and is stored. When it is needed to power an appliance, the DC current from the battery flows through the inverter and is converted into 220V AC power, so that it can be used by the user.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/photovoltaic-power-generation-system-diagram.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic power generation system diagram" width="672" height="287" /></p> <p>This kind of power generation system is not restricted by geographical area and has a wide range of applications. It can be installed and used wherever there is sunlight, so it is very suitable for remote areas without grid, isolated islands, fishing boats, outdoor breeding bases, etc. It can also be used as emergency power generation equipment for areas with frequent power outages.</p> <p>Off-grid power station system must be equipped with batteries (battery cost occupies 30-50% of the cost of the power generation system, and the service life of the battery is generally 3-5 years, the cost is relatively high), so from the economic point of view, it is difficult to promote the use of the system on a large scale, and it is not very meaningful for the areas with convenient electricity.</p> <p>However, the system has a strong practicality for households in areas without a grid or in areas with frequent power outages. In particular, it is very practical to use DC energy-saving lamps simply to solve the problem of lighting during power outages. Thus, off-grid power generation systems are specifically designed for use in areas without a grid or in places with frequent power outages.</p> <p>We stock two versions of off grid solar power inverters to compelet your PV project. One version is a multi-function inverter / charger from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">700 watt</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">6000 watt</a>, 12V/ 24V/ 48V DC input to 120V/ 220V/ 230V AC output, combining functions of inverter, and battery charger to offer uninterruptible power support with portable size. Another version is three phase pure sine wave inverter with high power from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">8kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">200kW</a>, no battery storage design, smart LCD display setting, powerful protection functions. View competitive prices of our off grid inverters online and start your ordering.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:392 https://www.inverter.com/can-solar-panel-be-installed-on-rubber-roof Can Solar Panel be Installed on Rubber Roof? <p>Most RVs have rubber roofs, with rubber sheets fastened to wood or other materials. The question is, will this hold up the solar panels? Or do you need to add extra modules to provide support? You can actually put PV modules on a rubber roof, but it has to be done right. Solar panels can be installed on rubber roofs with tension bolts and sealant. Ballast mounting systems can also be used to secure solar panels.</p> <h2><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/60w-portable-solar-panel.jpeg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="393" height="393" />Solar Panel installting On A Rubber Roof</h2> <p>Solar panels can be mounted on rubber roofs using lag bolts. Attach mounting brackets to the panel frame and secure to the roof. Your solar mounting hardware provides mounting directions. Basically, you attach the frame of the solar panel to the mounting brackets and then attach them to the roof. The required hardware should be included in the kit for installation as directed. Note that the hardware will vary if you opt for angled <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>.</p> <p>Carefully align the solar panel when installing. Make sure there are no obstructions around the panel and enough space to clean the module or troubleshoot. Most solar installation kits have Z brackets for rubber roofs. Tilt hardware is also available, and you can even order custom stands. For most people, the set of Z brackets will suffice.</p> <h2>Things To Do Before Installing Solar Panels On Rubber Roofs</h2> <p>These recommendations apply not only to rubber roofs, but to any solar installation, be it a house, boat or jeep.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Size your solar needs.</strong> Once you know how much solar energy your RV needs, you can determine if the roof can support the number of modules needed. If not, you may need to find another power source or buy a battery pack. Can start with a small solar system and add it later if needed.</li> <li><strong>Check the roof.</strong> Check the RV owner's manual for details on roofing materials. What rubber is it, what does it rest on, how thick is the support, how many layers are there, etc.</li> <li><strong>Measure the roof.</strong> By measurement we mean the space available for installing solar panels. The thing to keep in mind is that these portable solar panels need to be spaced out so you can step on the roof to clean them. You should also decide whether you want to install the solar panels in series or parallel.</li> <li><strong>Buy the components.</strong> These includes the solar panels, mounting hardware, sealant and any tools required. You will also need a charge controller, connectors, cables and wires.</li> </ul> <h2>Tips For Installing Solar Panels On Rubber Roofs</h2> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Use the screws, nuts, and bolts that come with the solar installation kit. You can get these at any hardware store, but bundled with this kit is specifically designed for solar installations.</li> <li>Apply a generous amount of sealant. If your RV is passing rough roads or you are driving through strong wind and rain, make sure the reinforcement panels are installed. This only works with flat modules, as the angled solar panels have to be folded while driving.</li> <li>Use a stud finder if possible. This provides extra support for the roof especially when combined with sealant.</li> <li>Seek professional help if needed. If you're not sure how to proceed, let a professional installer do it for you. Installing solar panels is a serious undertaking, so don't hesitate to seek expert help.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:393 https://www.inverter.com/can-we-touch-solar-panel Can We Touch Solar Panel? <p>As solar panels become more common, so do questions about their safety. A topic related to solar panel electrocution is its handling. Just how safe is it to touch a solar panel? Will you burn if you touch it? Or is the panel safe?<br /><br />Solar panels are tested to work best in temperatures between 59 Fahrenheit and 95 Fahrenheit, but glass can reach 104 Fahrenheit to 149 Fahrenheit during the summer. A high-quality system can handle the heat, but obviously you won't want to touch those.</p> <p>149 Fahrenheit is extreme, the highest possible is 104 Fahrenheit. It won't burn you, but you will feel the heat and withdraw your hand. If the panel is too hot, it needs to be checked as it may arc. This can actually burn your system if left untreated, so it's important to check.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" />Solar panels are designed to handle extreme weather, so heat shouldn't be an issue. As long as the system is installed correctly, the components will function properly. Don't worry about getting burned even if the solar panel gets hot. Unless you touch the panel battery glass.</p> <p>The only thing you need to touch is to clean the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>. Rinse the surface first and let it cool down. Wait for the temperature to drop slightly before cleaning the module. If it rains a lot in your area, you don't even need to flush the panels. If it's hot, don't touch your solar panel even if it's not connected to anything, and if you have to clean it, wait for the temperature to drop a little. If your system monitor shows that the panel is running too hot, it's time to check for loose wires, problems with cables or inverters, charge controllers, or batteries.</p> <h2>Safety Tips of Solar Panel:</h2> <p>The solar panel itself cannot be turned off. As long as there is sunlight, there will be current flowing through the battery. The voltage may be negligibly low. The following are the most effective methods.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Ground.</strong> The risk of electric shock is eliminated if the solar panel is grounded with copper wire. Even though it is a high powered system, there is no risk of electrocution when properly insulated. Gloves worn by installers are also insulated for extra protection. Grounded solar panels are required. Whether your solar panel is large or small, it must be grounded.</li> <li><strong>Fast shutdown systems and microinverters.</strong> While the solar panels can't turn off on their own, a quick shutdown system does the job.</li> <li><strong>The system consists of a box and an on / off switch.</strong> Turn off the switch and the voltage supply on your solar array drops to zero, so it's good to remove the voltage at the panel.</li> <li><strong>Solar panel.</strong> Closing the lid also "turns off" the solar panel. If you don't have a quick shutdown system, here's a quick and easy fix. If you're cleaning or installing a solar panel, cover the other panels with a piece of paper, leaving only the one you're cleaning or working on.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:394 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-configure-the-power-of-solar-pv-modules-and-on-grid-inverters How to Configure the Power of Solar PV Modules and on Grid Inverters? <p>In the PV grid-connected system, the power of the module and the inverter are related, and the power matching between the module and inverter is not a fixed ratio of 1:1, but needs to be considered in conjunction with the specific conditions of the project. The main influencing factors are irradiance, system loss, inverter efficiency, inverter life, inverter voltage range, module installation angle, etc.</p> <h2><strong>Component installation tilt angle and orientation angle</strong></h2> <p>When the plane of the object and the light is completely perpendicular, the power received is the maximum. If the object is placed at an angle, the plane of the object and the light are at a certain angle, the power received will be discounted, and the power received will be much less for the same area, and the power is maximum when the component and the angle of the sun are perpendicular.</p> <h2><strong>Irradiance of the installation area</strong></h2> <p>The output power of the module and irradiance related. Solar energy resources in good areas, due to clear days with few clouds, good air quality, high atmospheric transparency, the sun's radiation reaching the surface of the module is much higher than the average value of poor resources.</p> <h2>Installation altitude</h2> <p>The higher the altitude, the thinner the air, the weaker the atmosphere on the solar radiation, the stronger the solar radiation reaching the ground. For example, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the strongest area of solar radiation in China. And the thinner the air is, the worse the inverter heat dissipation is, and the altitude exceeds a certain height, the inverter should be derated to run.</p> <h2>DC side system efficiency</h2> <p>Photovoltaic system, energy from solar radiation to photovoltaic modules, through the DC cable, converter box, DC distribution to reach the inverter, in which each link has losses,. Different design solutions, such as the use of centralized, string, decentralized and other programs, DC-side losses are very different.</p> <h2>Power inverter cooling conditions</h2> <p>The power inverter should generally be installed in a well-ventilated place to avoid direct sunlight, which is conducive to heat dissipation. If, due to site constraints, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> has to be installed in a closed place that is not conducive to heat dissipation, we should consider the derating problem of the inverter and allocate fewer components.</p> <h2>Component factors</h2> <p><strong>Power positive tolerance</strong><br /><br />In order to meet the PV module attenuation of 25 years not more than 20%, many component factories have 0-5% positive tolerance for components just leaving the factory, such as 265W components, just leaving the factory the actual power may have 270W.</p> <p><strong>Negative temperature coefficient</strong></p> <p>The power temperature system of the module is about -0.41%/℃, and the power of the module will increase when the temperature of the module drops. A 250W module, without considering the equipment loss, in the best sunny areas of China, such as northern Ningxia, northern Gansu, southern Xinjiang, etc., it is possible that the maximum output power may exceed 250W.</p> <p><strong>Double-sided modules</strong></p> <p>Double-sided components can not only receive the radiation power of sunlight on the front side, but also receive the reflected radiation power of sunlight on the back side. Different objects, in different spectral bands have different reflectivity of sunlight. Snow, wetland, wheat, desert, different features in the same band its reflectivity is different, the same feature in different bands reflectivity is also different</p> <h2>Power inverter factor</h2> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/1000w-12v-dc-to-110v-220v-ac-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Power inverter" width="425" height="354" /></p> <p><strong>Power inverter efficiency</strong><br /><br />Inverter efficiency is not a constant value, there are power switching device losses and magnetic losses, at low power, the efficiency is relatively low, at 40% to 60% power, the highest efficiency, more than 60%, the efficiency gradually reduced. Therefore, the total power of PV power should be controlled between 40% and 60% of the inverter power to obtain the best efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Life of power inverter</strong></p> <p>PV inverter is an electronic product, its reliability and inverter operating temperature has a great relationship, in which capacitors, fans, relays and other components temperature increase by 10 ℃, the failure rate can be increased by more than 50%. And the operating temperature is related to the power, according to statistics, the power inverter long-term work in power 80-100% than power 40-60%, life expectancy is about 20% lower.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers on grid inverters of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">300 watt</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">1000 watt</a> rated power, feature with pure sine wave output, no battery design, wide DC input (20V-50V DC) and AC output (90-140V AC/ 180-260V AC) range. For single phase 1500W to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">10 kW inverters</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-grid-tie-solar-inverter">three phase 5 kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">50 kW inverters</a>, feature with LCD dispaly, transformerless type, multiple inverters can be operated in parallel. Buy an on grid inverter for your solar panel now!</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:389 https://www.inverter.com/what-to-consider-when-buying-portable-solar-panel What to Consider When Buying Portable Solar Panel? <p>If you're looking to purchase a portable solar panel kit, you should consider many factors to help you make the best decision to meet your needs. Portable solar panels come with easier-to-install options for people who want to use the sun to power things like recreational vehicles or outdoor activities. In this article, we will talk about what to consider when buying portable solar panel.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/100W-portable-solar-panel-kit.jpg" alt="100W portable solar panel kit" width="600" height="301" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Power Output.</strong> Power output refers to the number of watts a solar panel can produce. This key factor determines the number of devices that can be powered at a given time. If you want to power a small boat's batteries, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100W portable solar panel</a> will provide you with reliable energy for up to 3 hours. Camping applications may require higher output, depending on what power you want in the woods. Generally, the higher the power output, the higher the price of the panel.</li> <li><strong>Efficiency.</strong> Solar panel efficiency refers to the amount of electricity a panel can absorb and convert into usable electricity. For example, a solar panel with a 20% efficiency rating can convert 20% of the total sunlight it receives into usable energy. Portable solar panels are typically between 10 and 15 percent efficient, compared to 15 to 20 percent for rigid panels and as high as 22 percent for high-efficiency solar panels. Likewise, the more efficient the solar panel, the higher the cost.</li> <li><strong>Longevity.</strong> Pay attention to the expected life of the panel. Service life usually depends on the type and quality of materials used to make solar panels. In general, panels made of plastic degrade faster than panels made of glass and aluminum, due to the nature of the material. For example, thin batteries mounted on metal surfaces typically last longer than solar panels mounted on plastic surfaces. However, plastics can offer some longevity advantages that metals cannot, especially in humid environments where plastics can prevent rust and corrosion. If you choose plastic, flexible panels made from ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) are generally more durable than those made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET).</li> <li><strong>Bend Angle.</strong> The reason people like <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">portable solar panels</a> is that they can be mounted on curved surfaces. However, the amount by which they can bend without breaking is called the bend angle. Portable solar panels can usually bend around 30 degrees, but if you have specific needs that require more extreme bend angles, some particularly flexible panels can bend up to 248 degrees.</li> <li><strong>Dimensions and Weight.</strong> Size and weight may seem like aesthetic preferences, but they are important factors when shopping for portable solar panels, and portability is a major consideration. While a 4 to 8 pound panel might be acceptable compared to portable solar panels used in RVs, the weight is too much if you want to hike with them.</li> <li><strong>Easy to install.</strong> Installing portable solar panels is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to traditional rigid panels. You need clear instructions, no matter how portable these panels claim to be.</li> <li><strong>Warranty.</strong> A strong warranty means a high quality solar panel. A shorter warranty may reduce costs, but if the panel stops working after a few uses, it's not a good deal.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:390 https://www.inverter.com/does-solar-panel-work-well-on-cloudy-day Does Solar Panel Work Well on Cloudy Day? <p>One of the biggest problems about solar panels is that solar technology doesn't work on cloudy days. Along this line of thinking, since solar panels need the sun to generate electricity, they only work in areas with more direct sunlight. With this article, we'll help you learn more about the effects of cloud cover on solar energy production, and how well solar panels work on cloudy days, so you can make an informed decision when it comes to installing solar panels.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40w portable solar panel" width="300" height="191" /></p> <p>Even the most indirect source of sunlight, solar panels can still generate electricity. They are designed to take advantage of every possible ray of sunlight. This includes generating electricity on partly cloudy and fully cloudy days.</p> <p>If you've ever gotten a sunburn while working outdoors, you know that the sun's energy can still penetrate the clouds, even with clouds covering them. Likewise, even if you can't see the sun, sunlight can still reach your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> and generate energy for your home.</p> <h2>How Well Does Solar Panel Work on Cloudy Day?</h2> <p>Solar panels also work well on cloudy days, although they are less efficient at generating electricity than on sunny days. According to research, even on partly cloudy and cloudy days, solar cells can still produce 80% of their maximum output potential.</p> <p>Homeowners in cloud covered areas realize that solar panels can still reduce their reliance on fossil fuel electricity and lower their electricity bills. They simply installed panels that met their overall energy goals, even if the numbers were higher due to regular cloud cover reducing efficiency.</p> <h2>What Happens When Solar Panel Does not Produce Enough Electricity?</h2> <p>Clouds are inevitable, so when you install solar panels, you need to be prepared for the local climate. Don't worry about poor performance after the panels are installed, you should focus on buying a solar system that meets your electricity needs.</p> <p>Obviously, you want your solar panels to get as much sunlight as possible. Solar panels work best in bright, cloudless, sunny weather. It would also help if they were angled to receive as much sunlight as possible during peak hours.</p> <p>Thus, you should get a solar panel design that accounts for factors such as:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Geography</li> <li>Local weather</li> <li>Peak sun hours</li> <li>Roof shape and orientation</li> <li>Current electricity use</li> <li>Future electricity needs</li> <li>Battery storage goals</li> <li>Net metering goals</li> </ul> <p>That said, if your solar panels don't generate enough power on a cloudy day, your home can still draw power from the grid to keep lights and appliances running. Your ultimate goal should be to install just the right amount of solar panels to ensure you get all the power you need during the day, regardless of cloud cover. Despite persistent myths about solar panels, they can still generate electricity on cloudy days. Solar panels work better on sunny days, but the possibility of cloud cover shouldn't scare you into getting your home on solar power.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:391 https://www.inverter.com/can-portable-solar-generator-run-air-conditioner Can Portable Solar Generator Run Air Conditioner? <p>Air conditioners require a lot of energy, which is why many people find it difficult to use them with solar energy. Battery costs have gradually fallen, and portable solar generators have become cheaper and more powerful. So, is it possible for these generators to keep the air conditioner running for a long time.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-generator-and-air-conditioner.jpg" alt="Solar generator and air conditioner" width="529" height="259" /></p> <p>A solar generator must have at least a 1000 watt inverter to run an AC for an hour. Check AC power requirements and solar generator inverter ratings. Some portable air conditioning units only require 800 watt, so running them is relatively easy.</p> <h2>How Many Watts Can A Solar Generator Produce?</h2> <p>A solar portable generator is a battery that can be used by electrical energy, solar energy, or both. It has an inverter and a charge controller. First we need to understand how much electricity a solar generator can generate.</p> <p>The solar generator must have enough power to run the air conditioner. In this case, we propose to design a quality system for this type of task. Its power output is the inverter rating. The inverter converts the generator's DC power to AC power (for homes and camping). The watt output of the inverter limits the output of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generator</a>, which is why the inverter rating is important.</p> <h2>Tips For Running An RV Air Conditioner:</h2> <p>Buying an RV's air conditioner and a solar generator that can run it is a considerable investment. Here are the most important points that should be considered.</p> <p>How much power does your RV need? How long are you going to leave the air conditioner on? Remember, you won't be able to use the generator for anything other than the air conditioner while it's running. Unless it's a low BTU unit or you have a strong inverter setup. The absolute minimum capacity of the battery is 700Ah.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Use only lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid batteries need to be recharged when the charge drops to 50%. Air conditioners run out of power quickly, and you'll be charging them repeatedly. Lithium-ion batteries can be used until almost exhausted.</li> <li>The portable solar generator uses solar panels. A 13000-15000 BTU air conditioner will quickly drain your generator. Power the generator with solar panels. A 13000 BTU AC unit requires a minimum of 1500W. There are so many solar panels in an RV. If each is <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-portable-solar-generator">300W solar generator</a>, you only need five.</li> <li>Buy a quality solar generator. Doing this will ensure you get the most out of your money and can last for years.</li> <li>If you want to run an AC with an inverter, do not use modified sine wave as it might not work.</li> </ul> <p>Air conditioners require a lot of electricity, but portable solar generators keep them running. To summarize, you need a solar generator with at least 800 to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1000W portable solar power generator</a>. Check your AC power needs and how long you want to run it. With the right settings, you can power your air conditioner to keep you cool in the summer.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:386 https://www.inverter.com/4-types-of-solar-panel 4 Types of Solar Panel <p>Solar panels are devices that absorb sunlight and convert solar radiation energy directly or indirectly into electrical energy through photoelectric effect or photochemical effect. The main material of most solar panels is "silicon", including monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon. There are also many kinds of solar panels. In this article, we will introduce four kinds of solar panels.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/60w-portable-solar-panel.jpeg" alt="60W portable solar panel" width="423" height="423" /></p> <h2>Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Panel</h2> <p>Monocrystalline silicon solar panels have a photoelectric conversion efficiency of about 15% and the highest of 24%, which is the highest among all kinds of solar panels, but the production cost is so high that it is not yet widely and universally used in large numbers. Because monocrystalline silicon is usually sealed with toughened glass and waterproof resin, it is durable and has a service life of up to 15 years and up to 25 years.</p> <p>At present, crystalline silicon material is the most important photovoltaic material, and its market share is more than 90%, and it will still be the mainstream material of solar cells for a long time in the future. Demand for monocrystalline silicon comes mainly from semiconductors and solar cells. According to different purity requirements, it can be divided into electron level and solar level. Inverter.com provides various high quality monocrystalline solar panel, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60w-portable-solar-panel">60W foldable solar panel</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100W portable solar panel</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120W portable solar panel</a>.</p> <h2>Polysilicon Solar Panel</h2> <p>The production process of polycrystalline silicon <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> is similar to that of monocrystalline silicon solar panels, but the photoelectric conversion efficiency of polycrystalline silicon solar panels is much lower, which is about 12%. In terms of production cost, it is cheaper than monocrystalline silicon solar panels, the material is simple to manufacture, saves power consumption, and the total production cost is low, so it has been developed in large quantities. In addition, the service life of polysilicon solar panels is shorter than that of monocrystalline solar panels. In terms of performance-price ratio, monocrystalline silicon solar panels are slightly better.</p> <p>Cell main effect is power generation, power generation main market is the mainstream in the crystalline silicon solar cells, thin film solar cells, both have pros and cons of crystalline silicon solar cells, equipment cost is relatively low, but consumption and cell costs are high, but the photoelectric conversion efficiency is high, outside the sun power is more suitable for thin film solar cells, relative equipment cost is higher, But the consumption and battery cost are very low, but the low-light effect is very good, and can generate electricity under ordinary lights, such as the solar cells on calculators.</p> <h2>Amorphous Silicon Solar Panel</h2> <p>Amorphous silicon solar panel is a new type of thin film solar panel appeared in 1976, which is completely different from monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon solar panel. The process is greatly simplified, silicon material consumption is very small, the power consumption is lower, its main advantage is that it can also generate electricity under weak light conditions. However, the main problem of amorphous silicon solar panels is that the photoelectric conversion efficiency is low and not stable. With the extension of time, the conversion efficiency decreases.</p> <h2>Polycompound Solar Panel</h2> <p>Polycompound solar panels are solar panels that are not made of a single element semiconductor material. There are many varieties studied in various countries, most of which have not yet been industrialized, mainly including the following: cadmium sulfide solar panels; gallium arsenide solar panel; copper indium selenium solar panels.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:387 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-run-a-welder-on-solar-generator How to Run a Welder on Solar Generator? <p>Welders are no longer limited to factories, as DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, almost everyone can buy a welder for their home workshop. But is it possible to drive a welder with solar power? Or will this tool consume too much energy?</p> <p>The welder power requirement formula is: voltage x amps / efficiency = watts / kilowatts</p> <p>To give an example: 24V x 150 amps / 0.85 efficiency = 4235 watts or 4.3kwh rounded off. A welder needs 4235 watts to run for 1 hour. For 30 minutes you need about 2200 watts and so on.</p> <p>From here it's easy to figure out what size of solar generator or number of solar panels you need. You may be using the welder for 15 to 20 minutes per hour, so the power consumption may be between 2000W and 2500W. It also depends on voltage, amperage and efficiency. The higher the voltage and amps, the more watts the welder will consume.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator.jpeg" alt="1500 watt portable solar power generator" width="304" height="304" />Compared with solar panels, the welding of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generators</a> is more convenient, and the power generation capacity of a single power station can reach 3000W. By contrast, you have to install several solar panels to produce the required power for a welding machine.</p> <p>There are many different soldering processes, so their power usage will vary. The same goes for a solar generator, as its output depends on its power and specifications. But here are some general guidelines you can follow.</p> <p>When looking for a solar generator to solder, check its amp and voltage support. A 1500W solar generator can handle 20A at 240V or 40A at 120V. This is just an example as the numbers depend on the system. Some solar generators and welders are measured in kVA. Multiply this by 800 to find its watt equivalent. A power station rated at 8 kVA is 6400W (8 × 800 = 6400).</p> <h2>Starting and Running Watts</h2> <p>Before you buy a solar generator, check for surges and operating power. Some appliances, such as refrigerators, require more power to start (surge watts) before it starts operating normally (running watts). Surge watts are higher than running watts, so don't confuse the two when looking for a solar generator for the welder.</p> <p>Solar generators can only provide a few minutes of power surge. The welder has no requirement for surge power, but the generator must run at or greater than the welder needs.</p> <p>A 2000W welder cannot use a solar generator with a surge power of 2500W and an operating power of 1000W. But a generator with a surge of 2500 watts and running at 2000W is fine. This is best if the generator has more than <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1500W solar generator</a> running watt capacity, but if you don't run the welder continuously it will do just fine.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:388 https://www.inverter.com/why-metal-roof-is-the-best-choice-for-solar-panel Why Metal Roof is the Best Choice for Solar Panel? <p>Enjoying the benefits of solar energy has never been easier. Continued technological innovation has made solar panels more affordable than ever, with many homeowners opting for solar panels, which can eliminate their financial and maintenance-related responsibilities for panels while cutting home energy bills. The efficiency of a solar power system installed on a roof depends entirely on the quality and longevity of the roof system on which it is installed. When installing solar panels, the quality of the roof matters.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-and-metal-roof.jpg" alt="Solar panel and metal roof" width="517" height="335" /></p> <p>Installing a solar installation on a past-looking roof is like building a house on a cracked or crumbling foundation. The structure of the house was damaged and the entire base structural unit required serious repair or replacement. That's why steel and metal roof options make the most sense if you plan to migrate a home's energy system to a PV array.</p> <p>Racks for placing solar panels are extremely durable and designed to handle strong winds as well as extreme rain and snow conditions. Therefore, it makes sense to install them on roofs that are designed to meet the same conditions, with similar longevity and warranties.</p> <p>Unfortunately, none of these are the best foundations for building a solar system, especially if the system is retrofitted on a 7+ year old roof. Roofs older than <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> run the risk of failing before the solar panel racks fail. This can mean that when you do a complete refurbishment or replacement of the roof, it will cost a fortune.</p> <p>Here are some reasons why metal roofs are considered the best choice for photovoltaic systems.</p> <p>They are better warranty match. The average lifespan of a solar panel is generally 20 to 25 years. Longer-lived asphalt shingles can have warranties of up to 20 years or so, but warranties typically don't cover high winds, hurricanes, or other extreme actions. Additionally, any major repairs may require deconstruction and reinstallation of the solar panels.</p> <p>The rack is easily installed on a standing seam metal roof. Most homeowners like the look of standing seam metal roofs, also known as hidden fastener metal roofs because the fasteners are hidden beneath the roof panels. This type of roof system works very well with solar mounts, which provide fastener options that will attach to standing seams. Hidden metal roof, secured at seams with rack locks, preventing any penetrations that would lead to water leaks or premature wear.</p> <p>Metal roofs can also accommodate laminates. Laminates are another option for solar panels, and thin-film solar panels are attached to the roof surface with an adhesive backing. While they don't produce as much power as crystal panels, they are still capable of producing enough energy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:384 https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter-basics-working-principle-and-function On Grid Inverter: Basics, Working Principle and Function <p>A grid-tie inverter (GTI for short) also called on-grid inverter, which is a special inverter. In addition to converting direct current into alternating current, the output alternating current can be synchronized with the frequency and phase of the mains. Can go back to mains. Grid-tied inverters are commonly used in applications where some DC voltage sources (such as solar panels or small wind turbines) are connected to the grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-grid-tie-inverter-6.jpg" alt="On grid inverter" width="600" height="167" /></p> <h2>Working principle of on-grid inverter</h2> <p>When the utility grid is powered off, the grid side is equivalent to a short-circuit state, and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> will be automatically protected due to overload. When the microprocessor detects the overload, in addition to blocking the SPWM signal, it will also disconnect the circuit breaker connected to the grid. At this time, if the solar cell array has energy output, the on-grid inverter will operate in a separate operation state. The control is relatively simple when running alone, that is, the negative feedback state of the AC voltage. The microprocessor detects the inverter output voltage and compares it with the reference voltage (usually 220V), and then controls the PWM output duty cycle to achieve grid-tie inverter and stability. pressure operation.</p> <p>Of course, the premise of operating alone is that the solar array can provide enough power at the time. If the load is too large or the sunshine conditions are poor, the inverter cannot output enough power, and the terminal voltage of the solar cell array will drop, thereby reducing the output AC voltage and entering a low-voltage protection state. When the power grid is restored, it will automatically switch to the feedback state.</p> <h2>Fuctions of on-grid inverter</h2> <p>The grid-tie inverter not only has the function of DC-AC conversion, but also has the function of maximizing the performance of the solar cell and the function of system fault protection. To sum up, there are automatic operation and shutdown function, maximum power tracking control function, anti-independent operation function (for grid-tie system), automatic voltage adjustment function (for grid-tie system), DC detection function (for grid-tie system), DC grounding detection Function (for grid-tie systems).</p> <ol> <li><strong>Automatic operation and stop function:</strong><br />After sunrise in the morning, the solar radiation intensity gradually increases, and the output of the solar cell also increases. When the output power required by the on-grid inverter is reached, the inverter starts to run automatically. After entering into operation, the inverter will monitor the output of the solar cell module all the time. As long as the output power of the solar cell module is greater than the output power required for the inverter to work, the inverter will continue to run; it will stop at sunset, even if it is cloudy and rainy. The inverter can also operate. When the output of the solar cell module becomes smaller and the output of the inverter is close to 0, the inverter will form a standby state.</li> <li><strong>Maximum power tracking control function:</strong><br />The output of a solar cell module varies with the intensity of solar radiation and the temperature of the solar cell module itself (chip temperature). In addition, since the solar cell module has the characteristic that the voltage decreases with the increase of the current, there is an optimum operating point where the maximum power can be obtained. The intensity of solar radiation is changing, and obviously the optimal working point is also changing. Relative to these changes, the operating point of the solar cell module is always at the maximum power point, and the system always obtains the maximum power output from the solar cell module. This control is the maximum power tracking control. The biggest feature of on-grid inverters for solar power systems is that they include the function of maximum power point tracking (MPPT).</li> <li><strong>Power grid detection and grid connection function:</strong><br />Before the grid-tie inverter is connected to the grid for power generation, it needs to take power from the grid, detect the parameters such as voltage, frequency, phase sequence, etc. of the grid power transmission, and then adjust the parameters of its own power generation to be synchronized with the grid electrical parameters. It will be connected to the grid to generate electricity.</li> <li><strong>Zero (low) voltage ride through function:</strong><br />When an accident or disturbance in the power system causes a voltage sag at the grid-connected point of the photovoltaic power station, within a certain voltage drop range and time interval, the photovoltaic power station can ensure continuous operation without being disconnected from the grid.</li> <li><strong>Detection and control of islanding effect:</strong><br />During normal power generation, the on-grid power generation system is connected to the large power grid and transmits active power to the grid. However, when the grid loses power, the grid-tie power generation system may continue to work and operate independently from the local load. This phenomenon is called the islanding effect. When the islanding effect of the inverter occurs, it will cause great safety hazards to personal safety, power grid operation, and the inverter itself. Therefore, the grid connection standard of the inverter stipulates that the grid-tie inverter must have the detection and control function of the islanding effect.</li> </ol> <p>Inverter.com offers on grid inverters of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">300 watt</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">1000 watt</a> rated power, feature with pure sine wave output, no battery design, wide DC input (20V-50V DC) and AC output (90-140V AC/ 180-260V AC) range. For <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">single phase 1500W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">10kW inverters</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-grid-tie-solar-inverter">three phase 5kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">50kW inverters</a>, feature with LCD dispaly, transformerless type, multiple inverters can be operated in parallel. Buy an on grid inverter for your solar panel now!</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:385 https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter-vs-off-grid-inverter Hybrid Solar Inverter vs. Off Grid Inverter <p>An inverter is often called the brain of a solar system because it converts solar radiation into useful energy. There are different types of inverters available in the market: on grid inverters, off-grid inverters and hybrid inverters are the types available in the market. In order to choose the right inverter, it is important to list your needs. The one you choose depends mainly on your solar installation and energy consumption.</p> <h2>What is off grid inverter?</h2> <p>Off-grid inverters are designed to work alone and cannot synchronise with the grid. They connect to the property in place of grid power and cannot work in conjunction with it. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">Off grid inverters</a> must supply power from DC to AC instantly to power the appliances. Off-grid inverters do not have any connection to the utility grid. In short, an off-grid inverter gets its DC power from a battery source that is charged using a solar array. Therefore, the main advantage is that it can operate even in the event of a grid failure. These inverters are also called stand-alone inverters. The attractive feature of off-grid inverters is that they are cheaper than hybrid inverters. The main problem with off-grid inverters is power outages. It does not work with the utility grid. As a result, the electricity generated through solar power alone may not meet the demand, especially if there is no sun exposure.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-solar-inverters.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter" width="450" /></p> <h2>What is hybrid solar inverter?</h2> <p>Hybrid inverters are also known as multimode inverters. A hybrid solar inverter is a mix of solar inverter and battery inverter into one device. This feature helps to easily control the power from solar panels, solar cells and utility grid at the same time. The biggest advantage of such inverters is that they offer a lot of flexibility in power delivery by choosing between solar, battery backup and grid connection. In addition to this, you can reduce the need for separate batteries by choosing a hybrid converter. This is possible because it can be used both as a battery and as an inverter. Hybrid inverters are commonly used in areas with frequent power outages, failures, and load shedding.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="250" /></p> <p>The main advantage of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid solar inverters</a> is that when the solar energy generated is not enough to run the load, the excess power can be drawn from the grid. In addition to this, the batteries provide backup power in case of grid failure. Thus, hybrid inverters provide a constant power supply and you do not have to worry about power outages.</p> <h2>Difference between a hybrid inverter and an off-grid inverter</h2> <p>A hybrid inverter generates electricity in exactly the same way as a regular string solar inverter. The difference is that it has a built-in battery connection that stores energy for later use. This battery backup capability allows most hybrid systems to operate as a backup power source even during a power outage.</p> <p>The off-grid inverter takes power from the batteries, converts it from DC, and outputs AC power. Off-grid inverters cannot be synchronized with the utility grid. These are designed to work independently. Off-grid inverters cannot feed power from solar or batteries into the utility grid. On the other hand, a hybrid inverter can feed power to the utility grid.</p> <h2>Differences in the operation of hybrid and off-grid systems</h2> <p>A hybrid system is a combination of solar and battery storage in the same device. The system is also connected to the utility grid. In this system, once the batteries are fully charged, the excess solar energy can be exported to the grid. When the batteries are depleted, the grid provides backup power. There is no utility grid in an off-grid system. Here, the excess power is stored in the battery pack. Once the battery is fully charged, it will stop receiving power from the solar system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:381 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-types-of-centrifugal-pumps What are the Types of Centrifugal Pumps? <p>Centrifugal pump is a pump that relies on the centrifugal force generated when the impeller rotates to transport liquid. Before the pump is started, the pump casing and suction pipe must be filled with water, and then the motor is started, which makes the pump shaft drive the impeller and water to do high-speed rotational movement, and the water will undergo centrifugal movement and be thrown to the outer edge of the impeller, and flow into the pressure pipe circuit of the pump through the flow channel of the worm-shaped pump casing. Let's introduce the types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pumps</a>.</p> <h3>Types of centrifugal pumps</h3> <p><strong>The number of impellers</strong></p> <ul> <li>Single-stage pump: There is only one impeller on the pump shaft.</li> <li>Multi-stage pump: there are two or more impellers on the pump shaft when the total head of the pump is the sum of the heads produced by n impellers.</li> </ul> <h3>Working pressure</h3> <ul> <li>Low-pressure pump: pressure below 100 m water column.</li> <li>Medium-pressure pumps: pressure between 100 and 650 meters of the water column.</li> <li>high-pressure pump: pressure higher than 650 m water column.</li> </ul> <h3>Impeller suction method</h3> <ul> <li>Single-side inlet pump: single-suction pump, with only one inlet on the impeller.</li> <li>Double-side inlet pump: double-suction pump with one inlet on both sides of the impeller.</li> </ul> <h3>&gt;Pump casing bonding</h3> <ul> <li>Horizontal center-opening pump: There is a bonding seam on the horizontal surface through the axis line.</li> <li>Vertical combination surface pump: the combination surface is perpendicular to the axis line.</li> </ul> <h3>Pump shaft position</h3> <ul> <li>Horizontal centrifugal pump: the pump shaft is located in the horizontal position.</li> <li>Vertical centrifugal pump: the pump shaft is located in the vertical position.</li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ato-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pumps" width="650" height="315" /></p> <h3>Impeller out of the way</h3> <ul> <li>Worm shell pump: water from the impeller out, directly into the pump casing with the shape of the spiral line.</li> <li>Guide lobe pump: water comes out of the impeller and enters the guide lobe outside, then enters the next level or flows into the export pipe.</li> </ul> <h3>Installation height</h3> <ul> <li>Self-inflating centrifugal pump: the pump shaft is lower than the surface of the suction pool, no need to irrigate when starting, can automatically start.</li> <li>Suction centrifugal pump (non-self-infusion centrifugal pump): the pump shaft is higher than the suction pool surface. Before starting, it is necessary to fill the pump casing and suction pipe with water, then drive the motor to make the impeller rotate at high speed, the water is thrown out of the impeller by centrifugal force, and the negative pressure is formed in the center of the impeller, and the water in the suction pool enters the impeller under the action of atmospheric pressure and is thrown out of the impeller into the pressure pipe by the action of the impeller rotating at high speed.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:379 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-the-working-mode-of-the-off-grid-inverter How to Choose the Working Mode of The Off Grid Inverter​? <p>In an off-grid system with utility power complementation, there are two types of energy output sides, photovoltaic power generation and utility power. The load is energy consumption, and the battery can not only absorb electricity, but also release electricity for the load. Therefore, in the off-grid system, there are three sources of electricity for the load: mains, battery priority, and photovoltaic; there are also three battery charging modes: Electric charging, photovoltaic charging, mains and photovoltaic charging. The application scenarios and requirements of photovoltaic off-grid users are very different, so different modes should be selected according to the actual needs of users to maximize photovoltaics and meet customer requirements as much as possible.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-off-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter" width="582" height="234" /></p> <h2>PV priority mode</h2> <p><strong>Working principle</strong></p> <p>PV gives power to the load first. When the PV power is less than the load power, the energy storage battery and PV together supply power to the load. When there is no PV or the battery is insufficient, if it detects that there is utility power, the inverter will automatically switch to Mains power supply.<br /><br /><strong>Applicable scenarios</strong></p> <p>It is used in areas without electricity or lack of electricity, where the price of mains electricity is not very high, and in places where there are frequent power outages, it should be noted that if there is no photovoltaic, but the battery power is still sufficient, the inverter will also switch to the mains The disadvantage is that it will cause a certain amount of waste of electricity. The advantage is that if the mains power fails, the battery still has electricity and can continue to carry the load. Users with high power requirements can choose this mode.</p> <h2>Grid priority power consumption mode</h2> <p><strong>Working principle</strong></p> <p>No matter whether there is photovoltaic or not, whether the battery has electricity or not, as long as the utility power is detected, the utility power will supply power to the load. Only after detecting the utility power failure, will it switch to photovoltaic and battery to supply power to the load.</p> <p><strong>Applicable scenarios</strong></p> <p>It is used in places where the mains voltage is stable and the price is cheap, but the power supply time is short. The photovoltaic energy storage is equivalent to a backup UPS power supply. The advantage of this mode is that the photovoltaic modules can be configured relatively less, the initial investment is low, and the disadvantages Photovoltaic energy waste is relatively large, a lot of time may not be used.</p> <h2>Battery priority mode</h2> <p><strong>Working principle</strong></p> <p>PV gives power to the load first. When the PV power is less than the load power, the energy storage battery and PV together supply power to the load. When there is no PV, the battery power supplies power to the load alone. , the inverter automatically switches to the mains power supply.</p> <p><strong>Applicable scenarios</strong></p> <p>It is used in areas without electricity or lack of electricity, where the price of mains electricity is high, and there are frequent power outages. It should be noted that when the battery power is used to a low value, the inverter will switch to the mains with load. Advantages The photovoltaic utilization rate is very high, but the disadvantage is that the user's electricity consumption cannot be fully guaranteed. When the battery's electricity is used up, but the mains power just happens to be cut off, there will be no electricity to use. This mode can be selected for users who do not have particularly high power requirements.<br /><br />The above three working modes can be selected when both photovoltaic and commercial power are available. The first mode and the third mode need to detect and use the battery voltage to switch. This voltage is related to the type of battery and the number of installations. , this voltage low point can also be set in the inverter. If there is no mains complement, the inverter has only one working mode, which is the battery priority mode.<br /><br />There are also four ways to charge the battery. If you choose to charge the battery with the mains, you should notice that the efficiency will be reduced, because the mains will charge the battery and then discharge it, there will be a certain amount of power loss, usually off-grid inverter charging. The efficiency of discharge is about 90%, so there will be about 10% power loss.<br /><br /><strong>Photovoltaic priority:</strong> Photovoltaic gives priority to charging the battery. Only when there is no photovoltaic, the mains will charge the battery. This mode is suitable for users whose mains electricity price is relatively expensive and the power supply requirements are not particularly high.<br /><br /><strong>Mains priority:</strong> the mains will give priority to charging the battery, and the photovoltaic will charge the battery only when there is no mains. This mode is suitable for scenarios where the electricity price of mains is relatively cheap but frequent power outages occur.<br /><br /><strong>Simultaneous charging of mains and photovoltaics:</strong> This mode is suitable for users with low mains electricity prices and high requirements for power supply.<br /><br /><strong>Photovoltaic independent charging:</strong> no matter whether there is mains power, only photovoltaic charging is used. This mode is suitable for users with particularly high electricity prices and low power supply requirements.<br /><br />The above four working modes can be selected when both photovoltaic and commercial power are available. If there is no commercial power complementation, the inverter has only one working mode, which is the photovoltaic independent charging mode.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers two versions of off-grid solar inverters to complete your PV project. One version is a multi-function inverter / charger from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">700 watt</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">6000 watt</a>, 12V/ 24V/ 48V DC input to 120V/ 220V/ 230V AC output, combining functions of inverter, and battery charger to offer uninterruptible power support with portable size. Another version is three phase pure sine wave inverter with high power from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">8kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">200kW</a>, no battery storage design, smart LCD display setting, powerful protection functions.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:380 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-an-off-grid-inverter How to Choose an Off-grid Inverter? <p>Off-grid inverters are designed to work alone and cannot synchronise with the grid. They connect to the property in place of grid power and cannot work in conjunction with it. Off grid inverters must supply power from DC to AC instantly to power the appliances.</p> <p>There are 8 tips to consider when choosing the right <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off-grid solar inverter</a>, let's look at it below.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-solar-inverters.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter" width="600" /></p> <h2>Tips of selecting an off-grid inverter</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The output voltage and frequency of the off-grid solar inverter. This will be based on your load requirements and will usually be the same as your country's standard mains voltage/ frequency.</li> <li>Installing a grid-tied solar inverter or hybrid inverter. Most off-grid solar inverters and hybrid solar inverters have an AC backup power connection, so the inverter can bypass it to power the load in the absence of sunlight and battery discharge. Additionally, you can use this AC backup power source to charge the battery via the internal off-grid solar inverter battery charger.</li> <li>Off-grid solar inverter output power. Just add power consumption of all loads together and take care of inductive loads like motors with high surge/surge current during startup, oversize to avoid underestimating and finally, off grid solar inverter The power of the device should be 110-120% of the total power of the load. Like your load is 5kW, then the power capacity of the off grid solar inverter should be 6000 watts, and so on.</li> <li>Off-grid solar inverter input DC voltage. After choosing the power capacity and brand/ manufacturer of the off-grid solar inverter, there will be a corresponding DC input voltage range in the off-grid solar inverter specification sheet, and we need to select the battery voltage that matches it.</li> <li>The inverter with built-in solar controller will be MPPT or PWM. MPPT is technically better because it converts the high voltage of the solar panel to a lower voltage, so it can charge the battery with low losses (high efficiency), but it costs more than the PWM type. On the other hand, if we can properly size the PWM solar charge controller type according to the specifications of the solar panel, then we can confirm that it works as well as the MPPT charge controller type.</li> <li>Battery charging requirements. These requirements are the maximum battery charging voltage and cutoff voltage, and these two values ​​should match the solar power within the grid inverter program range.</li> <li>Solar panel maximum output voltage and MPPT tracker. The PV maximum DC output voltage must not exceed the off-grid solar inverter maximum DC input voltage listed in its specifications, the MPPT tracker will refer to the number of inputs accepted by the inverter, which will indicate based on the size of your solar array, so that Better maximum power point tracking performance can be ensured.</li> <li>Backup power (generator) starter. When the off grid solar inverters are working in DC priority mode and the battery voltage is low, they are just 2 core dry contacts to start the generator, so it sends a signal to start the backup power source (generator).</li> </ol> <p>Inverter.com offers two versions of off-grid solar inverters to complete your PV project. One version is a multi-function inverter/ charger from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">700 watt</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">6000 watt</a>, 12V/ 24V/ 48V DC input to 120V/ 220V/ 230V AC output, combining functions of inverter, and battery charger to offer uninterruptible power support with portable size. Another version is three phase pure sine wave inverter with high power from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">8kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">200kW</a>, no battery storage design, smart LCD display setting, powerful protection functions.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:375 https://www.inverter.com/mppt-solar-controller-working-principle MPPT Solar Controller Working principle <p>The full name of MPPT is <strong>Maximum Power Point Tracking</strong>, which is an electrical system that adjusts the working state of the electrical module to enable the photovoltaic panel to output more electrical energy. It can effectively store the DC power emitted by the solar panel in the battery middle.</p> <h2>How does the MPPT solar charge controller work?</h2> <p>MPPT solar control is generally completed through the dc conversion circuit, and the photovoltaic cell array and the load pass through the dc circuit. connected, the maximum power tracking device continuously detects the current and voltage changes of the photovoltaic array, and adjusts the duty cycle of the PWM drive signal of the DC converter according to the changes.</p> <h2>Why use an MPPT solar charge controller?</h2> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/1224V-mppt-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="MPPT solar charge controller" width="261" height="300" /></p> <p>The instantaneous output power (U*I) of the solar cell module moves on this U-I curve. The output of the battery pack is affected by the external circuit. Maximum power tracking technology is to use power electronic devices with appropriate software to make the battery pack always output maximum power. If there is no maximum power tracking technology, the output power of the battery module cannot reach the optimal (large) value under any circumstances, thus reducing the utilization rate of the solar battery module.</p> <h2>Traditional Solar Charge Controller Vs. MPPT Solar Charge Controller</h2> <p>There are 2 LED lights on the MPPT controller, which are red and green. The red light means the battery is dead. The green light means it is fully charged. Real-time monitoring of load charging current, longer battery life.</p> <p><strong>Real-time tracking power is different</strong></p> <p>The traditional solar charge and discharge controller is a bit like a manual gearbox. When the engine speed increases, if the gear of the gearbox is not increased accordingly, it will inevitably affect the speed of the vehicle. That is, the traditional solar charge and discharge controller cannot track the maximum power point of the solar energy in real time.</p> <p>But for the MPPT solar controller, the charging parameters are set before leaving the factory, that is to say, the MPPT controller will track the maximum power point in the solar panel in real time to exert the maximum effect of the solar panel.</p> <p><strong>Different efficiency</strong></p> <p>Compared with the traditional solar system, the solar system with MPPT controller will increase the efficiency by 30-50%.</p> <p>Due to the influence of external factors such as light intensity and environment, the output power of the solar cell changes, and the light intensity produces more power. Inverters with MPPT maximum power tracking make full use of the solar cells to make them run. at the maximum power point. That is, under the condition of constant solar radiation, the output power after MPPT will be higher than that before MPPT.<br /><strong><br /></strong></p> <h2><strong>MPPT solar charge controller features</strong></h2> <p>The main functions of the MPPT controller: detect the DC voltage and output current of the main circuit, calculate the output power of the solar array, and realize the tracking of the maximum power point. The disturbance resistor R and the MOSFET are connected in series. Under the condition that the output voltage is basically stable, the average current passing through the resistor is changed by changing the duty cycle of the MOSFET, so the disturbance of the current is generated.</p> <p>At the same time, the output current and voltage of the photovoltaic cell will also change accordingly. By measuring the change of the output power and voltage of the photovoltaic cell before and after the disturbance, the disturbance direction of the next cycle is determined. When the disturbance direction is correct, the output power of the solar panel increases, and the lower The cycle continues to perturb in the same direction, on the contrary, perturb in the opposite direction. In this way, the perturbation and observation are repeated to make the output of the solar photovoltaic panel reach the maximum power point.<strong><br /></strong></p> <h2><strong>Solar Charge Controller Installation Precautions</strong></h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller </a>connects the solar panel leads first, and finally connects the load wires with the load off. For the safety of your use, please do not make too much load or increase the solar panel too large; use a power supply such as a power supply instead of a solar battery to charge the battery. Please remove the solar panel. ATO MPPT solar charge controllers come with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20A</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">30A</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">60A</a> with high efficiency and long service life, a best choice to optimize your solar energy. <br /><br /><br /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:377 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-an-off-grid-inverter What is an Off Grid Inverter? <p>A complete system solution for off-grid inverters using modular components consists of a number of manageable building blocks: inverter/charger, solar charge controller, automatic generator starter module, and system control board. The off-grid inverter is an electronic device that converts the 12V/24V/48V/60V/72V DC power provided by the battery into 220V AC, and at the same time converts the mains power into DC power to charge the battery. At the same time, it is used in the solar power generation system. The inverter is also an important part of the solar power generation system. Off-grid inverters can be used in remote areas without power network coverage, such as deserts, plateaus, and deep forests, providing power demand anytime, anywhere.</p> <h2>How Off-Grid Inverters Work?</h2> <p>The photovoltaic off-grid inverter is a power conversion device, which push-pull boosts the input DC power, and then inverts the DC power into 220V AC power through the inverter bridge SPWM sinusoidal pulse width modulation technology.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-off-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Diagram of off grid inverter" width="582" height="234" /></p> <h2>The scope of use of off-grid inverters</h2> <ul> <li>Areas where the voltage is unstable at ordinary times, or where the power is often cut off.</li> <li>Some friends need electricity (battery is connected to the inverter) for business, especially barbecue, small fruit stalls, night supper stalls and other types.</li> <li>In remote mountainous areas where mains electricity is difficult to reach.</li> <li>When going out camping, you need a lighted place.</li> <li>The place to charge the laptop and mobile phone in the car.</li> </ul> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-inverter-for-pv-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter" width="800" height="330" /></p> <h2>How to use grid-connected inverter off-grid?</h2> <p>The grid-connected inverter can be directly used as an <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off-grid inverter</a>.</p> <p>The grid-connected inverter sends energy directly to the grid, so it is necessary to track the frequency and phase of the grid, which is equivalent to a current source. Of course, some inverters are said to have low-voltage ride-through capability and can do PQ adjustment.</p> <p>The off-grid inverter is equivalent to establishing an independent small power grid by itself, mainly to control its own voltage, which is a voltage source.</p> <p>Grid-connected inverters do not require energy storage, but the energy cannot be controlled. As much photovoltaic power is generated, it can be sent to the Internet.</p> <p>Off-grid generally requires energy storage and does not send energy to the grid. The grid has no right to interfere.</p> <h2>Advantages of off grid inverter</h2> <p>A grid-tied inverter delivers energy directly to the grid, so tracking the frequency and phase of the grid acts as a current source. The off-grid inverter is equivalent to building an independent small grid, mainly to control its own voltage source. Grid-connected inverters do not require energy storage, but cannot be regulated. Off-grid inverter systems generally require energy storage and do not transmit to the grid, and the grid has no right to intervene.</p> <p>Off-grid inverters are used in photovoltaic off-grid power generation systems, which mainly convert DC power into AC power for AC loads. The photovoltaic off-grid inverter itself does not have an energy storage function, and usually requires a battery to be used normally. However, the battery is expensive and has a short lifespan, which makes the cost of the entire photovoltaic off-grid power generation system too high.</p> <p>The off-grid inverter can work independently after leaving the grid, which is equivalent to an independent small grid and mainly controls its own voltage source. It can carry loads such as resistance, capacitance, motor inductance, fast strain and anti-interference, strong adaptability and strong practicability. It is the first choice for power outage emergency power supply and outdoor power supply.</p> <p>Photovoltaic off-grid inverters are suitable for power systems, communication systems, railway systems, ships, hospitals, shopping malls, schools, outdoor and other places. Can be connected to the mains to charge the battery. Can be set to battery priority or utility priority. Generally, off-grid inverters need to be connected to batteries, because photovoltaic power generation is unstable and the load is unstable. Batteries are needed to balance the energy.</p> <p>We stock two versions of off grid solar power inverters to compelet your PV project. One version is a multi-function inverter / charger from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">700 watt</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">6000 watt</a>, 12V/ 24V/ 48V DC input to 120V/ 220V/ 230V AC output, combining functions of inverter, and battery charger to offer uninterruptible power support with portable size. Another version is three phase pure sine wave inverter with high power from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">8kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">200kW</a>, no battery storage design, smart LCD display setting, powerful protection functions.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:378 https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter-price-list Off Grid Inverter Price List <p>Off-grid inverters from Inverter.com are designed to work alone and cannot synchronise with the grid. They connect to the property in place of grid power and cannot work in conjunction with it. Off grid inverters must supply power from DC to AC instantly to power the appliances. The off-grid inverter can work independently after leaving the grid, which is equivalent to an independent small grid and mainly controls its own voltage source. It can carry loads such as resistance, capacitance, motor inductance, fast strain and anti-interference, strong adaptability and strong practicability. It is the first choice for power outage emergency power supply and outdoor power supply.</p> <p>Off-grid inverters are suitable for power systems, communication systems, railway systems, ships, hospitals, shopping malls, schools, outdoor and other places. The off grid can be connected to the mains to charge the battery and which can be set to battery priority or utility priority.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-solar-inverters.jpg" alt="Off grid inverters" width="800" height="320" /></p> <p>Inverter offers <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">low frequency off grid inverter</a> of wide range of rated power from 700W-200kW. If you want to know the price of off grid inverter, please check the table below.</p> <p><strong>Off grid inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="6" width="966" height="19">Off Grid Inverter</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Rated Power</td> <td>SKU</td> <td>Price</td> <td>DC Input Voltage</td> <td>AC Output Voltage</td> <td>Net. Weight</td> </tr> <tr> <td>700W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-700</a></td> <td>561.54 USD</td> <td>10.5V-15V DC/ 21V-30V DC</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>16kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-1000</a></td> <td>583.78 USD</td> <td>10.5V-15V DC/ 21V-30V DC</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>16kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1.5kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-1500</a></td> <td>638.46 USD</td> <td>21V-30V DC/ 42V-60V DC</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>17kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-2000</a></td> <td>776.15 USD</td> <td>21V-30V DC/ 42V-60V DC</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>20kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-3000</a></td> <td>892.07 USD</td> <td>21V-30V DC/ 42V-60V DC</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>23kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4000-watt-volt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-4000</a></td> <td>1242.88 USD</td> <td>42V-60V DC</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>40kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-5000</a></td> <td>1559.23 USD</td> <td>42V-60V DC/ 84V-120V</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>43kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-6000</a></td> <td>1620.77 USD</td> <td>42V-60V DC/ 84V-120V</td> <td>110V AC/ 120V AC/ 220V AC/ 230V AC/ 240V AC</td> <td>46kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-8kW</a></td> <td>5295.55 USD</td> <td>48V/ 72V/ 96V/ 192V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>140kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>12kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-10kW</a></td> <td>5777.89 USD</td> <td>96V/ 108V/ 120V/ 192V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>145kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-12kW</a></td> <td>7715.46 USD</td> <td>96V/ 108V/ 120V/ 192V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>165kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-15kW</a></td> <td>8745.08 USD</td> <td>96V/ 108V/ 120V/ 192V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>180kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-20kW</a></td> <td>9871.66 USD</td> <td>96V/ 108V/ 120V/ 192V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>190kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>30kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-30kW</a></td> <td>12886.15 USD</td> <td>240V/ 288V/ 300V/ 480V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>280kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>40kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-40kW</a></td> <td>17216.92 USD</td> <td>240V/ 300V/ 360V/ 480V/ 600V/ 800V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>350kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>50kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-50kW</a></td> <td>22801.54 USD</td> <td>240V/ 300V/ 360V/ 480V/ 600V/ 800V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>450kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>80kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/80kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-80kW</a></td> <td>35443.08 USD</td> <td>240V/ 300V/ 360V/ 480V/ 600V/ 800V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>620kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>100kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/100kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-100kW</a></td> <td>38670.79 USD</td> <td>240V/ 300V/ 360V/ 480V/ 600V/ 800V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>750kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>150kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/150kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-150kW</a></td> <td>55286.15 USD</td> <td>240V/ 300V/ 360V/ 480V/ 600V/ 800V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>900kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td>200kW</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-200kW</a></td> <td>65916.92 USD</td> <td>240V/ 300V/ 360V/ 480V/ 600V/ 800V DC</td> <td>3-phase 208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V</td> <td>1350kg</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em>Note: The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please contact us now.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:369 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel-working-principle Solar Panel Working Principle <p>In a solar photovoltaic power generation system, solar energy is directly converted into electricity. This makes the system more convenient and compact compared to thermal methods of solar energy conversion.<br /><br />Solar cell technology is the fastest growing power generation technology in the world. Because of this, solar cells with conversion efficiencies in excess of 40% become available.<br /><br />The working principle of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> is to use the photoelectric effect, also known as the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic effect refers to the phenomenon that an object generates electromotive force due to the absorption of photons. The photovoltaic effect occurs when sunlight or other light strikes the PN junction of a semiconductor. The photovoltaic effect causes a voltage to appear on both sides of the PN junction, which is called the photovoltaic voltage. By shorting the PN junction, a current will flow.<br /><br />Photovoltaic cells are also called solar cells. It is a semiconductor device that uses the photoelectric effect to convert sunlight into direct current. Virtually all solar cells are photodiodes made of semiconductor materials such as silicon.</p> <h2>Solar cells work in three steps:</h2> <ol> <li>Photons from sunlight hit the solar cell and are absorbed by the semiconductor material.</li> <li>Negatively charged electrons are separated from their atoms and begin to flow in the same direction to generate an electric current.</li> <li>A typical silicon solar cell can generate voltages up to 0.5 V and currents up to 6 A. Therefore, its maximum power is 3 W.</li> </ol> <p>Since the output of a single solar cell is very small, a large number of solar cells are connected to each other to form a solar module, the combination of solar modules is called a panel, and the combination of panels is called a solar cell array. This is done to obtain the desired power output from the photovoltaic system.<br /><br />When solar cells are connected in series, their voltage increases as much as the number of cells connected in series. But the current remains the same.</p> <p>When cells are connected in parallel, the voltage remains constant, the same as one cell, but the current is multiplied. Batteries, modules or panels can only be connected in parallel if they have the same voltage.</p> <h2><strong>The main components of a solar photovoltaic system</strong></h2> <p><strong>Blocking diode</strong></p> <p>The SPV array is connected to the battery. During sunny hours, the panels generate electricity to charge the battery. But when there is no sunlight or at night, the current will try to flow in the opposite direction, i.e. from the cell to the array. This could damage the array. Therefore, to avoid this reverse flow of current, blocking diodes are used.</p> <p><strong>Stabilizer</strong></p> <p>The voltage output of photovoltaic panels varies according to the intensity of sunlight. This causes fluctuations in the load current. A voltage regulator will ensure that voltage fluctuations are kept within specified limits.</p> <p><strong>Inverter</strong></p> <p>Since the electricity produced by the PV array is direct current, an inverter is used to convert it to alternating current so that we can utilize it easily. Inverter units installed with different protection devices ensure the safety of the system and automatically switch the load and available power.<br /><br /><strong>Battery</strong></p> <p>These are used to store solar energy. They are the most important components of a solar photovoltaic system. The success of a solar photovoltaic system largely depends on the battery storage system.</p> <p><strong>Battery controller</strong></p> <p>These are the devices that ensure battery charging is done in the right way. They control the charging current and protect the battery from overcharging. This is done by constantly monitoring battery current, voltage and temperature.</p> <h2>Types of Solar Photovoltaic Systems</h2> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/stand-alone-system.jpg" alt="Stand alone system" width="600" height="478" /></p> <p><strong>Stand-alone system</strong><br /><br />In this system, power is supplied to the load without using any public grid or connection to any other system, and can operate autonomously and independently. It is used for backup power which is very expensive to connect to the grid. It can be used to power a DC load, or it can be used to power an AC load using an inverter.<br /><br />There are different types of standalone systems. But the most commonly used are hybrid stand-alone systems. In a hybrid stand-alone system, one or more sources are used in addition to the PV panels. Sources such as generators, fuel cells, AC power can be used in conjunction with photovoltaic arrays. Hence reducing the reliance on any single source. This also reduces the battery storage capacity and size of the photovoltaic array.<br /><br /><strong>Grid-connected system</strong><br /><br />In this system, the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic array is directly supplied to the grid or to the AC load. When power generation exceeds the demand of the load, it is supplied to the commercial grid. Thus, the system becomes part of a larger network. In this system, power is fed to the grid when the power generated by the PV array exceeds local load requirements. An energy meter is used to monitor the energy provided.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:372 https://www.inverter.com/how-solar-panels-work-for-street-lights How Solar Panels Work for Street Lights? <p>Solar street lights can provide an eco-friendly solution for the community. Once you have solar street lights installed, you won't have to rely on grid power. Plus, it will bring about positive social change. If the long-term benefits are considered, the price of solar street lights is relatively low.</p> <h2>What is a solar street light?</h2> <p>Solar street lights are street lights powered by sunlight. Solar street lights use solar panels. Solar panels use sunlight as an alternative source of energy. Solar panels are mounted on poles or lighting structures. These panels charge rechargeable batteries that power street lights at night.<br /><br />In the current situation, solar street lights are well designed to serve uninterruptedly with minimal intervention. These lights are powered by built-in batteries. Solar street lights are considered cost-effective. Also, they don't harm your environment. The lights will illuminate streets and other public spaces without relying on the grid. Solar lights are highly appreciated for some advanced features. These are great for commercial and residential applications. They look impressive and last a long time without much maintenance.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-street-lights.jpg" alt="Solar street lights" width="600" height="400" /></p> <h2>How do solar panels work in solar street lights?</h2> <p>Currently, we are using solar energy to power our equipment and our home or office. Solar street lights will do the same. The unparalleled quality and high-efficiency ability of solar lights make them the best choice for outdoor use. Solar street lights can be installed in all public places.<br /><br />Solar panel solutions for street lighting can be the best choice for gardens, parks, schools and other places. There are different types of solar street lights to choose from. They can be used for decoration, lighting and other purposes. By using solar street lights, users can promote sustainable energy and reduce pollution significantly.</p> <p>As mentioned earlier, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> play a key role in solar street lights. Solar street lights have some components, including photovoltaic modules, controllers, GEL batteries, lithium batteries, and light poles.</p> <p>Solar panels are easy to install on street lights and easy to transport. During the day, solar panels store solar energy in batteries. They take energy and transfer it to the battery. At night, motion sensors will work to control the lights. It will start working automatically.</p> <h2>What are the benefits of solar street lights?</h2> <p><strong>Green alternative</strong><br /><br />In traditional lighting, people rely on the grid for energy. During a power outage, there will be no light. However, sunlight is everywhere, and many parts of the world have plenty of it. Sunlight is the world's leading renewable energy source. The upfront cost may be a little more. However, once installed, the cost is reduced. In the current situation, solar energy is considered to be the cheapest source of energy.</p> <p>Since it has a built-in battery system, you can power it on the street when there is no sunlight. In addition, the batteries are recyclable and do not harm the environment.<br /><br /><strong>Cost-effective solution</strong></p> <p>Solar street lights are cost-effective. There is not much difference between the installation of solar and grid systems. The key difference is that solar street lights do not have meters installed. Installing electricity meters adds to the final cost. Additionally, digging trenches for grid power increases installation costs.</p> <p><strong>Safe installation</strong></p> <p>When installing a grid system, some obstructions such as groundwater and root systems can cause interruptions. Power ditching will be a problem if there are a lot of obstacles. However, you will not encounter this problem when using solar street lights. Users only need to set up a pole where they want to install the street light and install the solar panel on the street light.</p> <p><strong>Maintenance free</strong></p> <p>Solar street lights are maintenance-free. They use photovoltaic cells, which greatly reduces maintenance requirements. During the day, the controller keeps the lights off. When the panels do not generate any charge during dark hours, the controller turns on the light. Plus, the battery has a five to seven year durability. Rainwater washes the solar panels. The shape of the solar panels also makes them maintenance-free.</p> <p><strong>No electricity bill</strong></p> <p>With solar street lights, there will be no electricity bills. Users will not have to pay monthly electricity bills. This will have different effects. You can save money by using energy without paying your monthly electricity bill.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:373 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel-troubleshooting Solar Panel Troubleshooting <p>In the process of using solar street lights, in order to ensure long-term and useful lighting effects, the function of solar panels must be guaranteed. If there is a failure, the use of the entire system of solar street lights will be affected. What kind of failures often occur? How to avoid and prevent it?</p> <h2>Hot spot problem</h2> <p><strong>Reason</strong></p> <p>During the use of solar street lights, some dust, leaves and other debris will inevitably fall on the solar panel, which will form part of the shadow on the solar panel. Changes occur as a result of partial heating, and over time some significant burn-out hot spots will appear.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-panel-application.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="600" height="351" /></p> <p><strong>Constitute the result</strong></p> <p>When the solar panel hot spot effect reaches a certain level, the welding points of the panel components will be melted, the grid lines will be destroyed, and the entire panel components will be gradually damaged, which will not only seriously affect the lighting system, but at least reduce the to 10% of its life.</p> <p><strong>Preventive measures</strong></p> <p>In the early design, when the cells of the panel are connected in series, a diode is connected in parallel, which has a good voltage dividing effect and can effectively avoid the hot spot effect of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a>, in addition, in the later stage, When installing, you should also pay attention to avoid installing it in a sheltered place, do not allow a little shelter, and pay attention to regularly cleaning up dust and other debris on it.</p> <h2>Crack problem</h2> <p><strong>Reason</strong><br /><br />Solar panels are made of crystalline silicon. Due to the characteristics of its own crystal structure, it is easy to crack, which constitutes the cause of cracking. Essentially, there are two types, one is mechanical stress and the other is thermal stress. , initially only some small cracks will appear in the cell, which is difficult to detect with the naked eye, but after a long time, it will develop into fragments, which are visible to the naked eye at this time.</p> <p><strong>Constitute the result</strong><br /><br />When the crack causes the grid line to be thick, the collected current will not be output normally, and the result will be partial or even complete failure of the cells, which will have a great impact on the power output of the solar street light, resulting in its incorrect attenuation, and then At the same time, the cracking problem of the battery board continues to expand under the mechanical load, which may also lead to open circuit damage, which will also cause a hot spot effect.<br /><br /><strong>Preventive measures</strong><br /><br />In the process of production, transportation, installation and protection of the solar panel, it is necessary to fully consider its simple cracking characteristics, avoid hitting or kneading with hard objects, and reduce the possibility of cracking of the components.</p> <h2>Snail pattern problem</h2> <p><strong>Reason</strong></p> <p>Solar panels tend to have some black or white linear patterns that look like the traces of a snail crawling over, which is called a snail pattern. This is often a crack in a battery component, and moisture enters the crack through the resin backplane and packaging material. This moisture will react with the silver in the desired finger electrode of the battery, resulting in the dispersion of silver ions.</p> <p>At this time, through the illumination of sunlight, silver ions will chemically react with other substances to generate silver oxide and silver sulfide, and then they will form the snail pattern we see along the crack, which is actually a photovoltaic circle.</p> <p><strong>Constitute the result</strong></p> <p>In fact, the snail pattern is accompanied by the cracking problem of the battery, so the result of the composition is the same. First, the aesthetics are greatly reduced, and secondly, when the crack reaches 8% of the battery surface area, it will be damaged. The panel itself constitutes a significant adverse effect, reaching 12% of the surface area, and the function of the panel will decrease linearly, resulting in the attenuation of the power and life of the panel.</p> <p><strong>Preventive measures</strong></p> <p>During the production, transportation, installation and protection of the solar panel, try to avoid bumping or kneading. Some manufacturers use glass packaging to replace the back panel during production, and may add a barrier layer to prevent moisture from passing through. The resin backplane can reduce the occurrence of snail patterns to a certain extent, but this time it will increase the cost.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:370 https://www.inverter.com/how-do-portable-solar-panels-generate-electricity How do Portable Solar Panels Generate Electricity? <p>Portable solar panels work by capturing sunlight and converting it into useful electricity through a device called a charge controller or regulator. The controller is then connected to the battery, keeping it charged.</p> <h2>What is a solar conditioner?</h2> <p>The solar conditioner ensures that the electricity generated by the solar panel is intelligently transferred to the battery in a way suitable for the battery chemistry and charge level.</p> <p>A good regulator will have a multi-stage charging algorithm (usually 5 or 6 stages) and provide different programs for different types of batteries. Modern, high-quality regulators will include specific programs for Lithium batteries, while many older or cheaper models will be limited to AGM, Gel and Wet batteries. It is important that you use the correct program for your battery type.</p> <p>A good quality solar regulator will include a number of electronic protection circuits to protect the battery, including reverse polarity protection, short circuit protection, reverse current protection, overcharge protection, transient overvoltage protection, and overtemperature protection.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-panel-application.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel application" width="600" height="351" /></p> <h2>Types of Solar Regulators</h2> <p>There are two main types of solar conditioners available for portable solar charging panels. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). They all have their own advantages and disadvantages, which means each is suitable for different camping situations.<br /><br /><strong>Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)</strong></p> <p>Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), the regulator has a direct connection between the solar panel and the battery and uses a "quick switch" mechanism to regulate the charge flowing into the battery. The switch remains fully open until the battery reaches the sink voltage, at which point the switch begins to open and close hundreds of times per second to reduce the current while keeping the voltage constant.</p> <p>In theory, this type of connection reduces the effectiveness of the solar panel because the panel's voltage is lowered to match the battery's voltage. However, in the case of portable camping solar panels, the practical effect is minimal, because in most cases the panel's maximum voltage is only around 18V (and decreases as the panel heats up), while the battery voltage Usually between 12-13V (AGM) or 13-14.5V (Lithium).</p> <p>Despite the small loss in efficiency, PWM regulators are generally considered a better choice for pairing with portable solar panels. The benefits of PWM regulators compared to their MPPT counterparts are lower weight and greater reliability, which are key considerations when camping for extended periods of time or in remote areas where service may not be easily accessible and may be difficult to find alternative regulator.</p> <p><strong>Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)</strong><br /><br />Maximum power point tracking MPPT, the regulator has the ability to convert excess voltage into additional current under the right conditions.</p> <p>An MPPT controller will constantly monitor the panel's voltage, which is constantly changing based on factors such as solar panel heat, weather conditions and the position of the sun. It uses the full voltage of the panel to calculate (track) the best combination of voltage and current, then reduces the voltage to match the charging voltage of the battery so it can supply additional current to the battery (remember power = voltage x current).</p> <p>But there is an important caveat that reduces the practical effect of MPPT controllers for portable solar panels. To get any real benefit from the MPPT controller, the voltage on the panel should be at least 4-5 volts higher than the battery's charge voltage. Given that most portable solar panels have a max voltage of around 18-20V, when they get hot it can drop to 15-17V, while most AGM batteries are between 12-13V and most Lithium batteries are 13-14.5V , the voltage difference is not enough for the MPPT function to have a real effect on the charging current.</p> <p>Compared with PWM controllers, MPPT controllers have the disadvantage of being heavier in weight and generally less reliable. For this reason, and their minimal impact on power input, you don't often see them used in <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">portable solar panels</a>.</p> <h2>4 Myths about solar panels</h2> <p><strong>1. Solar panels don't work well in cold weather.</strong></p> <p>This is not true. In fact, the modules draw their energy from light rather than heat. So cold weather has nothing to do with it not working. Solar panels work better in cold weather. It keeps them from getting hotter and absorbing less energy from the sun.</p> <p><strong>2. Solar panels will destroy my roof.</strong></p> <p>It's reasonable to worry about whether solar panels will affect the roof. But you don't need to. If the installer followed the manufacturer's instructions, there is no need to worry.</p> <p><strong>3. Solar panels require constant maintenance.</strong></p> <p>One of the biggest fallacies of solar power. Solar panels are designed to be durable. It requires little maintenance. You might have an annual inspection, but otherwise, a properly installed solar panel requires little maintenance.</p> <p><strong>4. Solar panels don't last long.</strong></p> <p>In fact these panels can withstand harsh weather conditions and last for decades.</p> <p>ATO offers portable solar panels that use high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells with a power generation efficiency of up to 22%. The inverter is available with 30W, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/40w-portable-solar-panel">40W</a>, 60W, 80W, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100W</a> and 120W solar panels. Portable solar panels can be paired with portable generators of different powers, durable and waterproof, with a long service life, making them ideal for outdoor use. Solar generators and portable solar panels are available for camping.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:371 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-applications-of-solar-panels What are the Applications of Solar Panels? <h2>Solar light</h2> <p>Solar powered lights have become ubiquitous and can be seen everywhere from home landscaping and security lights to road signs and more. These solar lighting technologies for homes are inexpensive and range from basic to high-end designs. These are also daily powers that use solar panels to charge the battery during the day and maintain the battery at night. Such as black lights, tapping lights, fishing lights, garden lights, mountaineering lights, street lights, portable lights, camping lights, energy-saving lamps, etc.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-for-TV-and-refrigerator.jpg" alt="Solar panel for TV" width="500" height="324" /></p> <h2>Rooftop solar photovoltaic</h2> <p>Solar power is becoming more accessible as the cost of solar panels falls and more and more people are aware of the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy. Distributed solar photovoltaic systems are usually installed on the roof of a home or business. The electricity generated by these solar power systems can offset the owner's usage and send any excess production to the grid. Solar panels can be connected to your solar power system, enabling you to use solar power after the sun goes down, to power an electric vehicle overnight, or to provide backup power in an emergency. Some homeowners may choose to go completely off the grid with a solar and battery system or a solar and generator system. In some cases, solar photovoltaics may be installed on adjacent structures such as barns, monitoring, etc. or installed on the ground and then connected to the electricity meter with underground cables.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="600" height="250" /></p> <h2>Portable Solar Power Bank</h2> <p>In our connected world, where phones and tablets are always with us, there are frequent low battery situations. Portable solar photovoltaic chargers can keep our electronic devices charged on the go. Like the solar power bank, the surface is made of solar panels, and the bottom is connected to the battery. In the daytime, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> is used to charge the battery, and the solar panel can also be used to charge the mobile phone directly. There are also convenient solar panels, which are generally used with energy storage, which solves the problem of difficulty in using electricity outdoors, sunlight is everywhere.</p> <h2>Communication/Communication Field</h2> <p>Rural carrier telephone photovoltaic system, small communication machine, GPS power supply for soldiers, solar unattended microwave relay station, optical cable maintenance station, broadcasting/communication/paging power supply system, etc.</p> <h2>Transportation</h2> <p>Such as high-altitude obstacle lights, beacon lights, traffic warning/sign lights, traffic/railway signal lights, street lights, highway/railway wireless phone booths, unattended road shift power supply, etc.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-energy-in-the-ocean.jpg" alt="Solar energy in the ocean" width="600" height="383" /></p> <h2>Petroleum, marine and meteorological fields</h2> <p>Oil pipeline and reservoir gate cathodic protection solar power system, marine detection equipment, life and emergency power supply of oil drilling platform, meteorological/hydrological observation equipment, etc.<br /><br />Of course, the above is only a part, there are many applications in our daily life. Renewable energy has also become a more familiar part of our lives, and innovation will continue to drive new applications of solar technology to improve our daily lives and help power a cleaner world, let's do it together.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:368 https://www.inverter.com/can-solar-generator-power-rv Can Solar Generator Power RV? <p>Solar generator, also known as solar power station, make it easier to run equipment and appliances in an emergency. But does it has enough power to the RV? Yes, but you have to make sure the generator has correct right specifications.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/recreational-vehicle.jpg" alt="Recreational vehicle" width="515" height="289" /></p> <p>In our daily life, it is necessary to have a high power generator. A 1500W solar generator can run RV appliances for 100 amp hours a day. That's more than enough for most RV users, and you can also add power by installing solar panels or batteries.</p> <h2>What Solar Generator Size Does Recreational Vehicle Need?</h2> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/1500-watt-portable-solar-generator.jpeg" alt="1500 watt portable solar generator" width="293" height="293" /></p> <p>You need to do three things. First thing is calculating the size of your solar generator; second thing is determining your electricity needs and the third thing is knowing how much solar energy you will be using. (Daily appliance watt usage = solar generator size)</p> <p>Daily appliance watt usage = solar generator size. If your RV appliances consume 1200 watts per day, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1500 watt solar generator</a> is the minimum requirement.</p> <p>Adding the total wattage your appliances consume and you can get the generator's capacity. If the appliance uses amps, use the following conversion: amps x volts = watts. Add up all the appliances you want to use solar energy. If it's 100, that's 1200 watts. (100 amps x 12 volts = 1200 watts)</p> <p>We used 12V as this is common in RVs. But you can also use 24V. You can also try these steps if you want to install a portable solar generator for your mobile home.</p> <h2>Calculating Daily Power Requirements</h2> <p>In our example, your RV is going to use 1200 watts or 100 amps for a day. But there are a lot of variables here to consider. For example, a 12V coffee maker might use 650W per hour. But that's just an hour of usage. If you drink coffee only once a day, your battery consumption will be lower.</p> <p>Adding up the total power and you get the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generator</a> size needed to run all of these devices at the same time. You probably won't do this very often, but it's good to have extra capacity. Obviously, the use of equipment varies by RV. Even within the same RV, its daily power consumption can vary. Get monthly average data and use that as a guide.</p> <p>The basic rule to remember is: if the power of the unit is greater than the size of the solar generator, there are two options. Buy a bigger solar power station, or reduce the number of household appliances. You sometimes see people debating which is better solar panels or generators. But you don't have to choose between the two. You can combine them for the best results.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:376 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-solar-remote-monitoring-system What is a Solar Remote Monitoring System? <h2>Composition of solar power supply system</h2> <p>The solar power generation system consists of a solar cell group, a solar controller, and a battery (group). If the output power is AC 220V or 110V and it is complementary to the mains, it is also necessary to configure an inverter and a mains smart switch.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Solar arrays are solar panels</strong><br /><br />This is the core part of the solar photovoltaic power generation system, and its main function is to convert solar photons into electrical energy, thereby driving the load to work. Solar cells are divided into monocrystalline silicon solar cells, polycrystalline silicon solar cells, and amorphous silicon solar cells. Because monocrystalline silicon cells are more durable than the other two types, have a long service life (generally up to 20 years), and have high photoelectric conversion efficiency, they have become the most commonly used cells.<br /><br /></li> <li><strong>Solar charge controller</strong><br /><br />The main job of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is to control the state of the entire system and at the same time protect the battery from overcharging and overdischarging. It also has temperature compensation in places where the temperature is particularly low.<br /><br /></li> <li><strong>Solar deep cycle battery pack</strong><br /><br />As the name implies, the battery stores electricity. It mainly stores the electrical energy converted by the solar panel. It is generally a lead-acid battery and can be recycled for many times.<br /><br />In the whole monitoring system. Some devices need to provide 220V, 110V AC power, and the direct output of solar energy is generally 1 2VDC, 24VDC, 48VDC. Therefore, in order to provide power for 22VAC and 11OVAC devices, a DC/AC inverter must be added to the system to convert the DC power generated in the solar photovoltaic power generation system into AC power.</li> </ol> <h2>Principle of solar power generation</h2> <p>The simplest principle of solar power generation is what we call a chemical reaction, that is, the conversion of solar energy into electricity. This conversion process is the process in which solar radiation energy photons are converted into electrical energy through semiconductor substances, which is usually called the "photovoltaic effect", and solar cells are made using this effect.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-energy-system.jpg" alt="Solar energy system" width="600" height="552" /><br /><br />When sunlight hits a semiconductor, some of the photons are reflected off the surface, and the rest are either absorbed by the semiconductor or transmitted through the semiconductor. Of course, some of the absorbed photons turn into heat, while others are the same The valence electrons that make up the semiconductor collide, creating electron-hole pairs. In this way, sunlight energy is converted into electrical energy in the form of electron-hole pairs, and then reacts with the electric field inside the semiconductor to generate a certain current. If the battery semiconductors are connected in various ways, multiple currents and voltages will be formed, so as to output power.</p> <h2>Application of solar energy</h2> <h3><strong><br />Disadvantages of traditional power supply</strong></h3> <p>Solar power generation and solar power supply technology are increasingly entering the occasion of civil applications. In forests, roads, rivers, mountains and other communication or audio and video electronic equipment applications, grid power supply and battery power supply are mainly used. Battery power supply can only solve temporary needs and cannot be used as long-term power supply. Many disadvantages:</p> <ul> <li>The power supply mode is cable transmission, the construction is difficult and the cost is high.</li> <li>The system is inconvenient to maintain, there are potential safety hazards in high-pressure transportation, and the operating cost is high.</li> <li>Installation and networking are difficult.</li> </ul> <h3>Advantages of solar power supply</h3> <p>The solar power supply system does not need water, oil, steam or fuel when it works. It can generate electricity as long as there is light. It is a clean, pollution-free renewable energy source. It is easy to install and maintain, and has a long service life. Favored by people, it is the leader of new energy. In recent years, the application of solar energy has become more and more extensive in the world, especially in the field of the field, the solar power system is gradually replacing some traditional power equipment, and it is more and more widely used.</p> <h3><strong>Advantages of solar energy</strong></h3> <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Safe and reliable, no noise, no radiation, no fuel consumption, no mechanical rotating parts, low failure rate and long service life.</li> <li>It is environmentally friendly and beautiful, not limited by geographical location, short construction period, random size, easy disassembly and assembly, and convenient movement.</li> <li>Ready-to-install, low cost of disassembly and damage, can be easily combined with buildings, no need to pre-embed high transmission lines, which can avoid the damage to vegetation and the environment and engineering costs when laying cables over a long distance.</li> <li>With stable voltage and high power quality, it is widely used in various electrical equipment. It is very suitable for power consumption in remote places such as villages, farms, mountains, islands, and highways. It is also an excellent emergency backup power supply.</li> <li>Easy to maintain, with a service life of more than 20 years, a variety of charging methods complement each other, and both solar energy and mains can charge the system.</li> <li>Compared with traditional power generation, solar power generation has inexhaustible resources and is the most abundant renewable energy source.</li> <li>The use of solar energy to generate electricity will not cause air pollution and will not cause the ecological environment to lose balance. It is a green and renewable energy source.</li> <li>The solar power generation system is simple to install, easy to maintain, and cost-effective.</li> </ol> <h3>Why use solar power for outdoor remote monitoring?</h3> <p>In electromechanical projects, the simplicity and complexity of equipment installation and wiring, and the convenience and difficulty of post-maintenance are also concerns of many owners and contractors. Compared with traditional cable power supply, solar power supply saves a lot of complicated wiring. Simple installation can be completed by loading on the column: for later maintenance, only cleaning the solar panel and replacing the battery is necessary.</p> <p>Due to the large number of cameras deployed in the whole monitoring system, the mileage involved is relatively long. If the traditional direct buried cable is used for power supply, considering the voltage drop of the cable along the line, a relatively thick copper core cable must be used. It keeps going up, which obviously adds a lot to the cost. If solar power is used, the process of intermediate cables and their laying is omitted, which has a good cost performance.</p> <h2>Solar power system</h2> <p>The solar wireless monitoring system is mainly composed of three subsystems: solar power supply system, wireless video transmission system and video monitoring system.</p> <p>The solar power supply subsystem is composed of solar modules, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a>, colloidal batteries, and intelligent charge and discharge controllers. Store it in the battery (charging); when power is needed, turn on the controller switch to connect the load, and supply the electric energy in the battery to the load (discharging). The main function of the intelligent controller is to manage the charge and discharge of the battery. When the battery power supply is insufficient during the working hours, the controller automatically cuts off the load power supply and protects the battery from over-discharge. Charge protection.</p> <p>The battery is the energy source required to maintain the system work in the absence of sunlight. When continuous cloudy and rainy days occur, the battery needs to have enough power to maintain the continuous operation of the entire system. Due to the high price of solar colloidal batteries, it cannot be considered There will be several long rainy days in a year and the battery configuration of the system will be increased, so that the battery configuration of the system will be in a state of waste most of the time. The result of configuring too many batteries will inevitably lead to a significant increase in cost. Therefore, the solar power supply application system should allow the phenomenon of power shortage with low probability, and the independent power supply time of the battery is generally 4-10 days.</p> <p>The wireless video transmission subsystem is composed of digital bridge, 4G wireless network, COFDM, etc.</p> <p>The video surveillance subsystem is composed of cameras, terminal video management equipment (such as digital hard disk video recorders) and so on. Other auxiliary functions can be added as needed, such as: front-end pickup, front-end speakers, front-end video recording, front-end sensing, video analysis, wireless broadcasting, motion detection, wireless signal relay station, etc.</p> <p>The solar control system has: environmental protection and energy saving, no need to dig trenches or erect power racks, no need for a large number of wires, no need for power transmission and transformation equipment, short construction period, no electricity consumption and no electricity charges, no geographical restrictions, low maintenance costs, There are many advantages such as low voltage, no risk of electric shock and flexible movement.</p> <h3><strong><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="zh-CN" data-phrase-index="0" data-number-of-phrases="9"><span class="Q4iAWc">Current data transmission methods for solar monitoring</span></span></span></strong></h3> <ul> <li><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="zh-CN" data-phrase-index="2" data-number-of-phrases="9"><span class="Q4iAWc">Microwave network based on wireless bridge.</span></span></span></li> <li><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="zh-CN" data-phrase-index="4" data-number-of-phrases="9"><span class="Q4iAWc">3G/4G network based on wireless platform operator.</span></span></span></li> <li><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="zh-CN" data-phrase-index="6" data-number-of-phrases="9"><span class="Q4iAWc">Wired transmission can be selected according to the actual situation and needs.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <h3>Solar video surveillance power supply system working principle</h3> <p>When the sunlight is strong, the current generated by the solar photovoltaic modules will converge to the controller, and the controller will monitor the power supply. The solar photovoltaic modules supply power to the video surveillance components through the controller, while storing the excess energy in the energy storage system.</p> <p>When the sunlight is weak and the power generation of the solar energy storage unit panel cannot meet the energy required by the video surveillance, the load will not only obtain energy from the solar energy storage unit panel, but the energy storage system will be in a discharge state at the same time to meet the stable operation of the video surveillance.</p> <p>When the sunshine conditions such as nighttime and cloudy days are not good, the energy storage system will be used to supply power to the video surveillance.</p> <h3><strong>The obvious advantages of the solar video surveillance system</strong></h3> <ol> <li>Determine the capacity of solar power generation according to the specific situation of solar energy resources in the region and the power consumption of the load.</li> <li>Ensure continuous and stable power supply for all monitoring equipment.</li> <li>The wireless monitoring equipment considers power supply throughout the day, and the maximum daily power supply time is: 24 hours.</li> <li>Economical, practical, reliable and safe.</li> <li>Continuous use in cloudy and rainy days (the number of days of continuous power supply can be designed according to the actual situation).</li> <li>Can provide DC12V 24V or AC220 power supply at the same time.</li> <li>The latest deep-cycle lead-acid maintenance-free waterproof battery is used as the energy storage device. The working temperature is between -40°C and +60°C, and it has the characteristics of long life and high performance.</li> <li>The operation of the equipment is automatically controlled, enabling unattended and wireless remote monitoring.</li> <li>The special control and inverter system for monitoring is adopted, which does not interfere with the normal monitoring and receiving signals, the management and maintenance are simple and convenient, and the operating cost is extremely low.</li> <li>One-time investment, long-term benefit.</li> </ol> <h3>Advantages of Solar Wireless Communication and Video Surveillance System</h3> <ol> <li>Independently powered by solar energy, wireless transmission, completely wireless.</li> <li>The components are flexible and compact, which is convenient for installation and networking.</li> <li>AC and DC power supply mode to meet the needs of various loads.</li> <li>Good safety, low maintenance cost and low construction cost.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:366 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-power-inverter How to Choose a Power Inverter? <p>The power inverter is a kind of convenient vehicle power converter that can convert 12V direct current into 220V alternating current which is the same as the mains power for general electrical appliances. The power inverter can use 220V power in the car to charge laptops, mobile phones and other devices, and can also be connected to electrical appliances within a certain power range.</p> <p>The general <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is mainly composed of an inverter bridge, a filter circuit, a control circuit, an oscillator, etc. Its working principle is to first convert the 12V DC power provided by the car battery through high-frequency PWM (pulse width modulation) switching power supply technology. Convert the 30kHz-50kHz, 220V AC into 50Hz, 220V AC using bridge rectification, filtering, pulse width modulation and switching power output technologies.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/power-inverter.jpeg" alt="Power inverter" width="300" /></p> <p>An excellent power inverter should have the following requirements:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Good ventilation and heat dissipation, workmanship and electronic components must be good.</li> <li>Providing enough power output interfaces and interface types.</li> <li>High conversion efficiency and clear product power identification.</li> <li>Providing various intelligent protection.</li> </ol> <h2>How to select a power inverter?</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Choose a metal shell inverter:</strong> The power inverter is relatively easy to generate heat due to its large power. If the internal heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will affect the life of components at light level, and cause fire in severe cases. On the one hand, the metal casing has good heat dissipation characteristics, and on the other hand, it also avoids the risk of fire.</li> <li><strong>For products of the same power and similar volumes, the heavier ones are preferred:</strong> the heavier weight of the product means that the outer casing is thicker, which is conducive to heat dissipation, and at the same time, it also means that the internal transformer has high power and can drive high-power loads for a long time.</li> <li><strong>Perfect protection function:</strong> A good power inverter should have perfect protection function, which can protect your car and power supply under various conditions, and should also have sound and light alarm function to remind you deal with the situation in a timely manner. Generally, the protection functions that should be provided are input under-voltage protection, over-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, output overload protection, and output short-circuit protection.</li> <li><strong>Conversion efficiency:</strong> The conversion efficiency is a very important indicator of the inverter. The higher the inverter efficiency, the longer the battery is used, and the less the inverter heats up. Generally, it should reach more than 90%.</li> <li><strong>Pay attention to the form of the output socket:</strong> the power inverter is necessary to be able to use the two-phase and three-phase plugs of the national standard.</li> </ol> <p>Inverter.com online store offers <a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-inverter">12V</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-inverter">24V</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-inverter">48V</a> inveters for your needs. DC to AC inverters with high quality and low price, this inverter is your best choice wherever AC power is needed. Get a power inverter for your car or home use from now.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:367 https://www.inverter.com/how-far-the-solar-panels-can-be-from-the-house How Far the Solar Panels Can be From the House? <p>If you don't have enough space on your roof to install solar panels, ground mounts are the best option. But the question is, how far can the solar panels be from your house? That's a question you need to answer before any setup. If you're too far away and you're not getting the results you want, what's the acceptable limit? In this article, we will tell you How far the solar panels can be from the house.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/house.jpg" alt="House" width="473" height="306" /></p> <p>You can install solar panels up to 500 feet from your home, but that will require long and expensive wires to prevent energy loss. A distance of 50 feet or less will keep the voltage drop at 2%, which is the acceptable limit for current.</p> <h2><strong>How Distance Affects Solar Panel Output?</strong></h2> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/60w-portable-solar-panel.jpeg" alt="60W portable solar panel" width="221" height="221" /></p> <p>There are many reasons why a solar panel's rating and actual output differ, but when it comes to distance, it's all about wiring. The farther the solar panel is from the house, the longer the cable will be. If you can maintain a distance of 100 feet or less, the energy and voltage drop will be 3% or less. If it's more than 100 feet, you'll need longer, thicker cables. When current flows in a circuit, voltage is lost due to wire resistance. Longer wires create more resistance and therefore greater voltage drop. With solar panels, you want to maximize output, so use the shortest possible wires to install.</p> <p>According to the electrical specification, the voltage drop should be 3%. A distance of 100 feet between the solar panel and the house can result in a voltage drop of 3% or less, which is acceptable. As you go down 900 feet and beyond, the drop can be as much as 3.7%. Let's say you're using big, thick wire. Thin, fragile wires can see more voltage drop. ATO provides high quality solar panels for you, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60w-portable-solar-panel">60W</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/80w-portable-solar-panel">80W</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120W portable solar panel</a>.</p> <h2><strong>How Far Can Solar Energy Transmit?</strong></h2> <p>In theory, you can install <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> from any distance as long as you have enough cable wires. If you are willing to use longer, thicker wires then you can set the panels hundreds of feet from your home.</p> <p>Suppose you want to run a barn with solar power. If the shed is 300 feet from your house, it may be better to install solar panels on the shed than to use 300 feet of cable. If the barn is not strong enough, it cannot support rooftop solar panels. At this point, you can choose to install solar panels on the ground.</p> <p>The direct current (DC) generated by solar power generation is susceptible to energy loss and voltage drop. The best way to prevent this is to shorten the distance between the house and the solar panels. High voltage solar systems are ideal because they produce lower amps.</p> <p>Low voltage solar systems are more likely to overheat from higher amps. Long cables generate more heat, so a 48V system is suitable. The further the solar panel is from the house, the higher the voltage.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:363 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-vs-ups Power Inverter vs. UPS <p>Today, electricity has become a necessity. All most all of our day to day works requires electricity. To smoothly run these devices even after the blackout of electricity and get uninterrupted, electrical power systems are discovered. UPS and Inverter are an example of such discoveries. Although these devices work for the same intention, however, people remain confused with the difference between a UPS and an inverter.</p> <p>Next, we will highlight the differences between these two devices so that you can make better use of them, having known their features. Before looking into their differences lets know more about there working.</p> <h2>What is power inverter?</h2> <p>The power inverter (car power) is a kind of convenient power converter that can convert DC12V direct current into AC220V alternating current which is the same as mains power for general electrical appliances. Inverter, it must be a kind of inverter device to make it so called. It is directly different from transformer, that is to say, it can realize DC input and then output AC. The working principle is the same as that of switching power supply, but the oscillation frequency is within a certain range, for example, if the frequency is 50HZ, the output is AC 50HZ. An inverter is a device that can change its frequency.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/modified-sine-wave-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Power inverter" width="800" height="263" /></p> <h2>What is UPS?</h2> <p>UPS (Uninterruptible Power System/ Uninterruptible Power Supply), that is, uninterruptible power supply, is a system equipment that connects batteries (mostly lead-acid maintenance-free batteries) with the host, and converts DC power into commercial power through module circuits such as host inverters. It is mainly used to provide stable and uninterrupted power supply to a single computer, computer network system or other power electronic equipment such as solenoid valves, pressure transmitters, etc.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/uninterruptible-power-supply.jpeg" alt="UPS" width="300" /></p> <h2>Functions of UPS and power inverter</h2> <p>The function and principle of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> and the UPS power supply system are basically the same, and they mainly have the following two functions:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Provide a way to adjust voltage changes, eliminate various electrical interference, and provide high-quality power supply;</li> <li>When the AC mains fails, it can ensure the necessary backup power supply capacity.</li> </ol> <h2>Differences between power inverter and UPS</h2> <p>The biggest difference between the two is that the UPS needs to be configured with a battery pack, the backup time is shorter, while the inverter power supply does not need to be configured with a battery, you can directly use the communication room of all levels of voltage DC screen, its capacity is larger, can be a long time to ensure uninterrupted operation of the network.</p> <ol> <li>The inverter power supply is converted from DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current), and the UPS power supply has three modes: bypass mode, mains mode, and battery mode.</li> <li>Generally speaking, the inverter is just a simple converter, and there is no impurity over electricity. A device that converts direct current to alternating current is called an inverter.</li> <li>The bypass mode of the UPS power supply is to directly use the mains power without passing through the UPS power supply host. The mains power supply mode is that the mains power passes through the rectifier of the machine to filter the impurities of the mains power, and then passes through the inverter that comes with the host. The output powers the device, while in battery mode, the DC power (battery power) is output to the device through the inverter. In this way, the equipment is well protected.</li> <li>The inverter power supply and UPS power supply system are roughly the same in function and principle, and they can achieve the following two functions: Provide a way to adjust voltage changes, eliminate various electrical interference, and provide high-quality power supply; When the AC mains fails, it can ensure the necessary backup power supply capacity. The biggest difference between the two is that the UPS needs to be equipped with a battery pack, and the backup time is short, while the inverter power supply does not need to be equipped with a battery, and can directly use the DC screens of various levels of voltage in the communication room. uninterrupted.</li> </ol> <p>If you need prolonged backup power for your home or business, or you wish to protect your sensitive equipment at all times, contact us  to get the best inverter on Inverter.com.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:364 https://www.inverter.com/benefits-of-portable-solar-generator Benefits of Portable Solar Generator <p>Solar power has moved beyond homes and large commercial establishments. Today, you can buy a portable solar generator for your next camping or RV trip. These generators come in different forms, but they are basically a unit that uses solar energy or electricity to produce and store energy.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/300w-portable-solar-generator.jpeg" alt="300w portable solar generator" width="302" height="302" /></p> <p>The benefits of portable solar generators include quiet operation, unlimited energy supply, low maintenance, ease of use and versatility. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">Portable solar generators</a> can be used with all types of electrical and electronic equipments.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Free energy.</strong> Free energy, who doesn't want it? If you're backpacking with your mobile device, how do you charge it without electricity? That is where a solar generator comes in. You can use solar energy to power your devices and appliances for free. If you want to stay off the grid, the benefits of free energy are even more pronounced. If you live in an RV or spend a lot of time in it, going solar will make your finances better. It's cheaper in the long run, and you can go off-grid and go wherever you want. As long as the sun is there, you have power to supply all your necessities.</li> <li><strong>Lightweight.</strong> Portable solar power station is easy to carry, suitable for hiking, camping and backpacking. Want to enjoy nature without giving up your laptop and phone? Do you want a lightweight power solution for your RV needs? A portable solar system can meet those needs. While portable solar generators are not as powerful as residential or commercial systems, they can still provide enough power for many campers. These systems also come with powerful batteries for long-term use.</li> <li><strong>Easy and safe to use.</strong> Solar generators are very simple. Once you've set up the system in the RV, it's all done automatically. Generators absorb energy or charge from the sun, and the energy is stored in batteries. The charge controller ensures the correct voltage and the inverter converts the current to 120V AC for electrical and electronic equipment.</li> <li><strong>Reduces need for other power sources.</strong> This is linked to the benefits mentioned above. When you turn to solar power, you can opt for full solar power or a combination of the two. The whole point of renewable energy is to reduce and ultimately eliminate our dependence on traditional energy sources. Those who live off the grid prove that you can really live with little or no electricity. Not only does that mean saying goodbye to high electricity bills, but it also means doing your part to protect the environment. People who live off the grid will tell you that solar also allows you to live your life on your own terms.</li> <li><strong>Endless applications.</strong> Do you like camping? Just bring a portable solar generator and you can place your cell phone, laptop and radio at home. Is your phone running low on battery? Do you want to listen to the music? The solar power station is plug and play, so it is easy to operate. Whether you want to rely entirely on solar power or just go camping on the weekends, a solar generator can do the trick. Whether it is at home, RV, on the road, work, entertainment, communication, etc, you can rely on solar power to generate electricity.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:365 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-a-pure-sine-wave-inverter-at-home How to Install a Pure Sine Wave Inverter at Home? <p>A pure sine wave inverter will transform direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) which can then be used to deliver high-quality electrical current to all sorts of home appliances. Inverter installation is a sensitive aspect of generating alternative energy sources (solar or electricity). These devices rely on electronics and are somewhat sensitive to external factors such as temperature, air pollution and moisture.</p> <p>When the cooling fan starts running, these contaminants are easily drawn into the interior compartment. The ideal inverter compartment should be a cool, clean, dry and well-ventilated area. Never share an inverter room where flammable or volatile vapors from the generator set can reach. If you do, the switch assembly may cause a fire. To install a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a>, follow the steps outlined below.</p> <h2>Steps of intstalling a pure sine wave inverter</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Planning work:</strong> The first step in installing a pure sine wave inverter is to plan the entire area. You must map the entire area taking into account where the unit and any auxiliary switches need to be installed. Inverters need all the ventilation they can get and need to stay away from heavy objects. For pure sine wave inverter installations, the closer the better. To get the most out of your installation, make sure the path between the inverter and battery system is the shortest possible.</li> <li><strong>Fuse holder installation:</strong> Battery wiring must be protected with an appropriately sized fuse located within 18 inches of the battery.</li> <li><strong>Wiring:</strong> Professional installation at the ends of the inverter is very important as they carry a lot of current. If you're not sure about the process, hire the services of a professional or go to a store that has the right crimping equipment. Pass the cable through the newly cut hole in the inverter, making sure the cable ends are protected with rubber boots. Check out the mounting kit to find the rubber boots. Whether you're an electrician or a simple DIYer, you should know the importance of having wire cutters in your toolbox.</li> <li><strong>Install the fuse box:</strong> Professional installation kits should install an inline fuse on the positive side of the DC cable. The kit should have a fuse and bracket that needs to fit in the battery compartment. If you need to buy these accessories separately, make sure you choose those that can handle pure sine wave inverter current loads. When installing the bracket for ventilation, allow enough space.</li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/how-to-install-a-pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="How to install a pure sine wave inverter" width="500" /></p> <h2>Precautions for installing pure sine wave inverter</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Make sure the inverter is close to the battery, but in a protected area free from battery fumes, moisture and dirt.</li> <li>Connecting all necessary cables and wires to the appropriate locations on the inverter. Make sure to screw them in with strong corrosion-resistant screws.</li> <li>Finally, protect the inverter with a sturdy protective cover without affecting the ventilation system.<br /><br /></li> </ol> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:360 https://www.inverter.com/importance-of-blade-maintenance-in-wind-turbine Importance of Blade Maintenance in Wind Turbine <p>Within the scope of blade maintenance, we can distinguish between preventive and corrective maintenance. The first is to implement periodic inspections to determine the state of the blade and to detect the presence of various damages or damages that require attention; minor damage (chipping, coating, surface cracks, oil or oil stains, etc.), severe damage (rolling damage, stringer removal, lightning strike, etc.)</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-turbine-blade-maintain.jpg" alt="Wind turbine blade maintain" width="321" height="321" />In order to achieve preventive maintenance, there are currently different methods to correctly collect data that, after thorough analysis, will result in the intact state of the blade. Among the different inspection methods, we can focus on the following and more common methods:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>High precision telephoto inspection from the ground.</li> <li>Vertical inspection by rope.</li> <li>Check by crane or lifting platform.</li> <li>Drone remote inspection.</li> </ul> <p>Each type of inspection has a number of advantages and disadvantages, including level of operation, speed of execution, cost, and results obtained. In the scope of preventive maintenance, we can include other tasks such as cleaning of supplementary materials (vortex generators, receivers, etc.) and polishing, painting, substitution to ensure and optimize blade efficiency throughout the life of the blade. Its maintenance and maintenance to maintain the best power curve throughout the operation cycle.</p> <p>With regard to the cleaning of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> blades, it is estimated that in parks where these types of surface defects are heavily controlled, good results can be achieved through appropriate preventive maintenance.</p> <p>There are other methods that are commonly used to detect more severe damage, and we can think of them as non-destructive methods for surface analysis. We're talking about using thermal imaging, ultrasound and coin tapping. These more complex inspection methods are commonly used to detect internal damage to valves and beams, absence of adhesive in joints, etc.</p> <p>Corrective maintenance, on the other hand, is characterized by the repair and/or reconstruction of blades and nacreages, mainly due to surface defects, severe damage, structural defects, lightning strike, bird strike damage, etc, collected during various processes, check the program.</p> <p>Experts stress the importance and necessity of carrying out appropriate preventive maintenance to ensure the health and longevity of wind turbines, thus avoiding the need for corrective maintenance, which is more expensive and complex, while being harmful to wind turbines. In this way, we can run wind turbines better, improve their efficiency, and have an impact on the larger economy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:361 https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter-price-list Hybrid Solar Inverter Price List <p>In today's world of diminishing fossil fuels and ecological damage, the exploration and utilization of renewable energy such as solar energy has become a hot topic of development. Solar inverters and hybrid inverters are widely used to convert photovoltaic solar energy into electricity. Even some hybrid solar inverters use a<img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/3kw-hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="350" height="368" /> combination of solar and wind energy, or off-grid and on-grid. Hybrid PV inverter has the advantages of both on-grid and off-grid inverter. It can work in three modes: on-grid, off-grid, and shutdown. It can automatically determine the off-grid/on-grid mode, connect to the smart grid, and achieve peak-shaving and valley-filling. Equipped with energy storage, the hybrid solar inverter can provide users with electricity in normal, abnormal and nighttime grid conditions.</p> <p>The hybrid solar inverter is an upgraded version of the solar inverter. It contains the functions of a solar inverter, which converts DC to AC. The hybrid inverter has a conversion efficiency of 92% and integrates a charge controller, an energy storage inverter and a photovoltaic inverter.</p> <p>The hybrid solar inverters can be used in home rooftop photovoltaic plants or in solar power supply systems in remote mountainous areas. They provide a stable AC power supply for the load and can automatically switch operating states depending on the state of the grid. Thus, the application of the inverter is greatly increased, and the reliability of the load power supply is improved.</p> <p>Hybrid solar inverters are provided on inverter.com online store which with rated power 3kW to 10kW. The price list of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid solar inverters</a> is in the table below, if you want to choose and purchase a specific product, please visit our product's page.</p> <table border="1" width="1043" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong><strong>Rated Power</strong></strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>3000W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3kw-infini-solar-inverter">ATO-HSI-3kW</a></td> <td>$1,562.31</td> <td>AC 170V-280V or DC 360V</td> <td>AC 208/220/230/240V</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19">5000W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5kw-hybrid-solar-inverter">ATO-HSI-5kW</a></td> <td>$2,270.95</td> <td>AC 170V-280V or DC 720V</td> <td>AC 230V</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5500W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/55kw-hybrid-solar-inverter">ATO-HSI-5.5kW</a></td> <td>$3,845.85</td> <td>AC 170V-280V or DC 360V</td> <td>AC 230V</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10000W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-hybrid-solar-inverter">ATO-HSI-10kW</a></td> <td>$5,648.56</td> <td>AC 170V-280V or DC 720V</td> <td>AC 230V(P-N)-AC 400V(P-P)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want a hybrid solar inverter that is not listed in the table, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:362 https://www.inverter.com/precautions-for-modified-sine-wave-inverter Precautions for Modified Sine Wave Inverter <p>Modified sine wave inverters are a cost effective choice to run appliances and equipment that is less sensitive to power fluctuations, such as lights and some tools. Modified sine wave inverters simulate AC power inverted from DC batteries.</p> <p>Next, we will talk about the precautions of modified sine wave <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/modified-sine-wave-inverter.jpeg" alt="Modified sine wave power inverter" width="300" height="300" /></p> <h2>7 precaution tips for modified sine wave power inverter</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>DO NOT plug small appliances into the inverter AC receptacles to directly recharge their nickel-cadmium batteries. Always use the recharger provided with that appliance.</li> <li>DO NOT plug in battery chargers for cordless power tools if the charger carries a warning that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals.</li> <li>Not all fluorescent lamps operate properly with a modified sine wave inverter. If the bulb appears to be too bright, or fails to light, do not use the lamp with the inverter.</li> <li>Some fans with synchronous motors may slightly increase in speed (RPM) when powered by a modified sine wave inverter. This is not harmful to the fan or to the inverter.</li> <li>Certain rechargers for small nickel-cadmium batteries can be damaged if plugged into a modified sine wave inverter. In particular, two types of appliances are susceptible to damage: Small, battery-operated appliances such as flashlights, cordless razors and toothbrushes that can be plugged directly into an AC receptacle to recharge. Certain battery chargers for battery packs that are used in some cordless hand-tools. Chargers for these tools have a warning label stating that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals.</li> <li>DO NOT use a modified sine wave inverter with the above two types of equipment.</li> <li>The majority of portable appliances do not have this problem. Most portable appliances use separate transformers or chargers that plug into AC receptacles to supply a low-voltage DC or AC output to the appliance. If the appliance label states that the charger or adapter produces a low-voltage DC or AC output (30 volts or less), there should be no problem powering that charger or adapter.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Safety Warning:</strong> 110 Volts of current can be lethal. Improper use of a power inverter will result in property damage, personal injury, or loss of life. Please read and follow carefully the instructions in the Owner's Manual provided with every inverter for important safety considerations and precautions.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:359 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-improve-efficiency-of-solar-panels How to Improve Efficiency of Solar Panels? <p><span lang="EN-US">The efficiency of a solar panel is the conversion of the solar panel's ability to convert solar radiation into usable electricity. It is the most commonly used criterion by consumers when evaluating the quality of solar panels. Taking two PV modules as an example, under the same sunlight for the same amount of time, the more efficient one produces more energy than the other.</span></p> <p>In a practical comparison, consider that one of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> is 35% efficient, while the other is 23% efficient. Under the same conditions, a 35% efficient solar panel can produce half as much power as a 23% efficient panel. Therefore, the efficiency of solar panels plays an important role in optimal use of energy and cost savings. Here are some factors that affect the efficiency of solar panels.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-efficiency.jpg" alt="Solar panel efficiency" width="500" height="336" /></p> <ol> <li><strong><span lang="EN-US">Hire professional to install<br /></span></strong>Correctly installed solar modules can maximize the absorption of the sun's radiation. As a result, the panels generate more power. Orientation and angle are the two main factors to consider when making an installation. Typically, solar modules get the best sunlight exposure at an angle of 18-36°.<br />Notably, temperature levels can affect the efficiency of solar panels. A rise in temperature can cause a decrease in the efficiency of the solar panel. There should be enough space between the roof and the panels to keep the system from overheating by allowing air to flow. All of these require skills and knowledge, and experts understand all of them and how best to do it.</li> <li><strong><strong><span lang="EN-US">Cleaning<br /></span></strong></strong><span lang="EN-US">The components of the solar panel are fixed, so it does not require a lot of maintenance. But dirt tends to collect on the surface, reducing efficiency. However, when there is dirt on the surface, the absorption of sunlight is also reduced.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">A few factors determine how often you should clean your solar panels. First, consider how often it rains in your area. Rain washes away dirt considerably, meaning you don't have to clean it. Dirt and dust don't have much effect on efficiency, but you shouldn't ignore it as it's probably around 5% over the course of a year. Depending on your region, yields may be reduced by more than 20%.</span></span></li> <li><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><strong>Use during peak sun exposure</strong><br />Solar panels are usually generated from the sun's rays. In other words, it can only generate energy during the day. For maximum effect, try to use it during the midday hours of the day, this way, you will increase the efficiency of your solar panel. Always make sure you adjust your solar heating and cooling equipment to your desired temperature during the day. At night, you turn them off to reduce electricity usage. If your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverters</a> have the ability to store energy, make sure they are fully charged to reduce wasted power.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><strong>Choose the right solar panel</strong><br /><span lang="EN-US">The solar panel you choose determines the efficiency it offers you. Before deciding on one type of solar panel to use, look at the different solar panel models. Learn and ask more questions about its power capacity and those other features to improve energy conversion.</span></li> <li><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><strong>Install a solar concentrator</strong><br /></span></span>This setup enables you to maximize the power from your solar panels. It helps to concentrate solar light and convert it into electricity. The main reason for installing this unit is to concentrate most of the radiation falling on the solar panels.</li> <li><span lang="EN-US"><strong>Proper placement of solar panels</strong><br />The angle and orientation of installing photovoltaic panels must be correct. Make sure your PV panels are set up in a location that allows them to receive maximum sunlight throughout the year. Pay attention to the tilt angle of the panels to ensure they are exposed to direct sunlight uninterrupted throughout the day.<br /></span></li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:354 https://www.inverter.com/solar-micro-inverter-price-list Micro Inverter Price List <p>A solar micro inverter is a plug-and-play device used in photovoltaics, which converts direct current (DC) generated by a single solar module to alternating current (AC). Micro inverters contrast with conventional string and central solar inverters, in which a single inverter is connected to multiple solar panels. The output from several micro inverters can be combined and often fed to the electrical grid.</p> <p>Micro inverters can achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT) at the panel level, which has advantages over central inverters. In this way, the output power of each module can be optimized to maximize the overall output power.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/350-watt-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Micro inverter" width="400" height="326" /></p> <p><strong>Why Choose Micro Inverter?</strong></p> <p><strong>High conversion efficiency:</strong> The conversion efficiency of the grid-connected inverter directly affects the efficiency of the entire power generation system. In order to ensure the high power generation efficiency of the entire system, the grid-connected micro-inverter is required to have a high conversion efficiency.</p> <p><strong>High reliability:</strong> Since the micro-inverter is directly integrated with the solar cell module, it is generally placed outdoors together with the solar cell module. Its working environment is harsh, and the micro-inverter is required to have high reliability.</p> <p><strong>Long life:</strong> The lifespan of a solar cell module is generally twenty years, and the lifespan of a micro-inverter should be comparable to that of a solar cell module.</p> <p><strong>Small size:</strong> The micro-inverter is directly integrated with the solar cell module, and the smaller the volume, the easier it is to integrate with the solar cell module.</p> <p><strong>Low cost:</strong> Low cost is the inevitable trend of product development, and it is also the demand for the marketization of micro inverters.</p> <p>Inverter.com provides you <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverters</a> of various power. The following is the price list of solar micro inverter, if you want to know more information, please go to our product's page.</p> <table style="height: 199px;" border="1" width="797" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Maximum Working Current</strong></td> <td><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>300W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-300</a></td> <td>$215.77</td> <td>11.5 A</td> <td rowspan="18">120V/ 230V AC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>350W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/350-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-350</a></td> <td>$231.18</td> <td>13.5 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>600W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-600</a></td> <td>$283.47</td> <td>23A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>700W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-700</a></td> <td>$299.65</td> <td>26.9 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1200W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1200-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-1200</a></td> <td>$427.23</td> <td>46A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1400W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1400-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-1400</a></td> <td>$453.84</td> <td>53.8 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1600W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1600-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-1600</a></td> <td>$469.92</td> <td>61.5 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2000W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-2000</a></td> <td>$492.15</td> <td>77A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2400W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2400-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-2400</a></td> <td>$966.92</td> <td>92A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2800W</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2800-watt-solar-micro-inverter">ATO-WVC-2800</a></td> <td>$1,016.92</td> <td>108A</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:355 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-wind-turbine-generate-electricity How Does Wind Turbine Generate Electricity? <p>A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. Hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, now generate over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each year. They are an increasingly important source of intermittent renewable energy, and are used in many countries to lower energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-turbine-generate-electricity.jpg" alt="Wind turbine generate electricity" width="352" height="352" /></p> <p>Wind turbines are common in many countries and regions around the world these days, but have you ever wondered how wind turbines generate electricity? In the follow, we will help you understand how they combine to convert wind energy into electricity.</p> <p>Wind turbines are manufactured in a wide range of vertical and horizontal axes. The smallest <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a> are used for applications such as charging batteries that assist in powering boats or caravans or powering traffic warning signs. Larger turbines can be used to contribute to powering homes. Compared with photovoltaic, hydro, geothermal, coal and natural gas, wind has the lowest relative greenhouse gas emissions and the lowest water needs.</p> <p>This process is initiated by turbine blades/ rotors. As the wind blows, the aerodynamic blades begin to rotate. As the blades of a wind turbine rotate, the kinetic energy of that motion is transferred to the interior of the turbine by means of a low-speed shaft that rotates at approximately 30 to 60 rpm.</p> <p>The low speed shaft is connected to the gearbox, which is a transmission device responsible for increasing the speed of rotation from about 30 rpm to 60 rpm, the speed required by the generator (usually between 1,000 and 1,800 rpm). The high speed shaft transfers kinetic energy from the gearbox to the generator, which then turns to produce electricity.</p> <p>Finally, the power generated will be fed down from the turbine tower via high voltage cables and will usually be fed to the grid or used as a local power source.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:356 https://www.inverter.com/working-principle-of-hybrid-solar-inverter Working Principle of Hybrid Solar Inverter <p>Hybrid solar inverters combine solar energy with another energy source. It operates as a unit. For example, solar inverters can combine solar energy with energy from batteries. When solar energy is combined with wind energy, greener hybrid solar inverters can be obtained.</p> <p>Do you know how does a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid solar inverter</a> work? Next we will talk about it.</p> <h2>How does a hybrid solar inverter work?</h2> <p>To understand how a hybrid solar inverter works, it is first necessary to understand how a solar inverter works. It is an important part of the solar system.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="200" /></p> <p>Solar inverters convert the energy produced by photovoltaic panels into a form that can be used in the home. Photovoltaic panels or solar panels of a solar system capture solar energy. Sunlight is made up of small packets of energy called photons. Photovoltaic panels absorb these photons and convert the light energy into electricity. The materials in photovoltaic panels have electrons that can be detached from their outer shells when photons strike them. Once electron photons knock electrons out of their shells, they become free. The electric field then pulls these free electrons in the desired direction. This is how it generates electricity. However, this electricity is direct current. Now, the job of the inverter is to convert this electrical energy into a usable form. It uses insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) to do the job. IGBTs are solid state devices, that is, they are solid state electronic tools that allow current to pass through them. Plus, they're durable and don't consume much power.</p> <p>In addition to this, the hybrid solar inverter has a backup system. Usually, this is a battery. It helps the inverter store energy in the battery as long as additional energy is available. It can use this energy when needed. Therefore, it can provide energy in an emergency.</p> <p>Hybrid solar inverters can also combine solar and wind energy. Also, it can have a backup battery. It manages electricity and switches to solar, wind or batteries when needed.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:357 https://www.inverter.com/is-the-car-inverter-safe Is the Car Inverter Safe? <p>Car inverters can also connect household appliances to the output of the power converter, enabling these devices to be used in the car. Such as mobile phones, laptops, cameras, shavers, power tools, etc. can be charged anytime, anywhere, very convenient. But some people are worried, will this kind of equipment be unsafe? Let us answer the following questions for you, whether the car inverter is safe or not, and what problems should be paid attention to when using it?</p> <p>In fact, as long as you buy a high-quality car inverter, it will have a good protection function. In the event of overload or short circuit, the car inverter will cut off the power supply at the first time to protect the power supply and passengers. So we also need to pay attention to many places in daily use.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0000494_75w-car-power-inverter-dc-12v-to-ac-110v220v_350.jpg" alt="Car power inverter" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>The car inverter can be connected to the car cigarette lighter. Its function is to convert the 12V DC in the car into a household 220V AC device through a smart chip. Compared with large motors, car inverters are more convenient to use and more convenient to carry. There are two mainstream connection methods for car inverters, one is directly connected to the car battery. The advantage of this connection method is that the power is higher, and it can be used for more high-power electrical appliances. The disadvantage is that the risk of danger is relatively high.</p> <p>The other is through the cigarette lighter power conversion. At this time, the output power of the car inverter is relatively small, but it is sufficient for most small electrical appliances. There are USB interfaces, three-pin plug interfaces, etc. on the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a>.  It can charge mobile phones, laptops, fans, cameras, etc. Car inverters are usually divided into two types: 12V and 24V. 12V is suitable for small cars, and 24V is suitable for large cars. In self-driving tours and long-distance driving, it plays a convenient and fast role.</p> <p>When the car is started, the car can always use the on-board inverter to convert the output, and it will not affect the car. But it's different if the car's engine is stopped. At this time, the electricity stored in the battery is used to generate electricity. Although using the battery for a short time will not have any adverse effects, if it is consumed for a long time, the battery will be exhausted and the service life of the battery will be reduced.</p> <p>The car inverter itself will generate heat, so it cannot be used in a place exposed to the sun all the time. If the car inverter is placed in the sun for a long time, the car inverter will not be able to dissipate heat, and if it is serious, the lines inside will be burned. Another point to pay attention to is not to let the inverter get wet. If the car inverter really encounters water, the car inverter should be disconnected immediately, otherwise it is easy to cause a short circuit of the line.</p> <p>Reasonable use of car inverters has safety issues. Due to the power limitation of the car inverter, the owner must remember not to connect electrical equipment with a power greater than 200W. The power of a car refrigerator is generally 120W. It is not recommended to continue to connect other electrical equipment when the car refrigerator is connected, because a certain amount of power must be reserved to ensure safe use. Using the car inverter with excessive power will damage the vehicle electrical circuit.</p> <p>It is recommended to start the car engine when using a device with a high power external to the car inverter on a daily basis. When the engine is running, the power supply of the electrical equipment is output by the generator, which can prevent the vehicle from being unable to ignite due to the direct power supply of the battery, or the battery cannot be ignited or the battery is over-discharged and the battery is scrapped.</p> <p>In general, if everything is normal, there is no safety problem when using the car inverter. If you want to use the car inverter to power the on-board electrical system after the car is parked, run the car engine as much as possible, otherwise it will cause the car battery to run out of power and cause damage to the car battery. At the same time, a sound car inverter should have the following maintenance functions: overvoltage protection, under voltage, overcurrent protection, high voltage maintenance and high temperature maintenance.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:358 https://www.inverter.com/failure-analysis-of-solar-inverter Failure Analysis of Solar Inverter <h2><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/10kw-hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="10kW hybrid solar inverter" />Low insulation resistance</h2> <p>Unplug all the strings on the input side of the solar inverter, and then connect them one by one. Use the function of the solar inverter to start up to detect the insulation resistance to detect the faulty strings. After finding the faulty strings, check whether the DC connectors are flooded with short-circuit brackets. Or burn the short-circuit bracket, and also check whether the component itself has black spots on the edge to burn, causing the component to leak to the ground grid through the frame.</p> <h2>Low bus voltage</h2> <p>If it occurs in the morning or evening period, it is a normal problem, because the solar inverter is trying to limit the power generation conditions. If it occurs in normal daytime, the detection method is still the exclusion method, and the detection method is the same as said above.</p> <h2>Leakage current fault</h2> <p>If the leakage current is too large, remove the input terminal of the PV array, then check the peripheral AC power grid, disconnect the DC terminal and the AC terminal, and let the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> power off for 30 minutes. To contact a professional engineer.</p> <h2>DC overvoltage protection</h2> <p>With the pursuit of high-efficiency process improvement of components, the power level is constantly updated and increased, and the open-circuit voltage and operating voltage of components are also rising. The temperature coefficient problem must be considered in the design stage to avoid hard damage to the equipment caused by overvoltage at low temperature.</p> <h2>No response to inverter startup</h2> <p>Please make sure that the DC input line is not reversed. Generally, the DC connector has a foolproof effect, but the crimping terminal has no foolproof effect. It is very important to read the solar inverter manual carefully to ensure that the positive and negative poles are crimped. The inverter has built-in reverse short-circuit protection, and starts normally after the normal wiring is restored.</p> <h2>Grid failure</h2> <p>It is very important to investigate the heavy load and light load of the power grid in the early stage. The main reason for grid overvoltage problems is that the light load voltage of the original grid exceeds or is close to the safety protection value. If the grid tie line is too long or the crimping is not good, the line impedance/inductive reactance is too large, and the power station cannot operate normally and stably.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:351 https://www.inverter.com/does-the-car-inverter-damage-the-car Does the Car Inverter Damage the Car? <p>As people spend more and more time in the car, the requirements for automotive electrical appliances also increase. Therefore, the ordinary 12V power supply is basically unable to meet the demand. At this time, the 12V DC on the vehicle can be converted into 220V AC through the car inverter, so that the car power inverter can play a greater role. But is it really safe to use a car inverter?</p> <p>The correct use of the on-board inverter is not harmful to the car. The vehicle has two power supply methods, one is the battery and the other is the generator. The car starts the engine with the power of the battery, and the motor starts to generate electricity after the engine rotates. Part of the generated electrical energy is used for the engine (mainly the spark plug) to work, and the excess electrical energy is stored in the battery. When the battery is full, the extra power is wasted. If only the battery is used to supply power to the car power inverter, it will cause the battery to quickly reach a depleted state. If the engine is started to drive the generator to generate electricity, then the use of the car inverter will not cause any adverse damage.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0000494_75w-car-power-inverter-dc-12v-to-ac-110v220v_350.jpg" alt="Car power inverter" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>If you want to use the car inverter to power on-board electrical appliances after the vehicle is parked, start the engine as much as possible. Otherwise, the car battery will be depleted, which will cause damage to the car battery.</p> <p>At the same time, a car inverter with perfect performance should have the following protection functions: overload protection, under voltage protection, overcurrent protection, high voltage protection and high temperature protection. This is why the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car power inverter</a> is safe.</p> <p>The working state of the car inverter is mainly divided into two situations, one is the state of starting the engine, and the other is the state of turning off the engine. In the starting state, the inverter basically uses excess power, which has no effect on the car at this time. However, in the stopped state, the battery is used to reserve power, which is easy to cause the battery to lose power and reduce its lifespan. It should be noted that the battery is always in a state of charge-consumption-charge-consumption. It doesn't hurt that the car inverter consumes a little power.</p> <p>However, if the power consumption time is too long, the engine should be started in neutral gear for 10-20 minutes to generate electricity to prevent the battery from running out. Most vehicle cigarette lighters are connected to fuses with a maximum current rating of less than 20A. That is to say, the maximum power is 230W, and the fuse will be burned if the maximum power is exceeded. This will also cause damage to the car's electrical system. Therefore, when using electronic equipment, you need to pay attention to the power. It is generally recommended to choose about 150W, preferably not more than 200W.</p> <p>The car inverter will generate a lot of heat during use, and the ventilation of the fan is mainly maintained at this time. If the temperature is too high, it will cause the car inverter to overheat and burn. This will also affect the circuit system of the vehicle, and even cause the vehicle to catch fire, which is very dangerous. It is best to unplug the car inverter after the vehicle is turned off. Because the cigarette lighter will not power off. Long-term operation of the cigarette lighter may also consume the battery power, causing the vehicle to lose power and not be able to start. It is recommended not to turn on the air conditioner after the flame is turned off, it consumes a lot of power. The air conditioner can drain the battery in a few minutes. There are other electrical appliances that should be used as little as possible after they are turned off. The battery is in a state of depletion and its lifespan will be reduced.</p> <p>If you just plug the car inverter into the cigarette lighter without connecting other electrical appliances, the battery is equivalent to no load. If a 65W laptop is plugged into the car, the battery is loaded. If the efficiency of the car inverter is 90%, it is equivalent to providing 72W of electricity from the battery. The life of the battery is related to the number of charges and discharges. The maximum number of times the electrical appliance is plugged in is to increase the number of times the battery is charged and discharged. Plugging in appliances definitely has an effect on the life of the battery, but it won't be huge. But for appliances with less power, its effect on the battery should be similar to the effect of turning on the radio on the battery. A good battery will be more durable and can withstand the toss of this load relatively speaking. There are batteries specially designed for the frequent use of electronic equipment in the car, which will cause less damage to the battery and the car.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:352 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-wind-turbine-work-better-behind-hills How Does Wind Turbine Work Better Behind Hills? <p>Engineers have gone to great lengths to make wind turbines as exposed as possible, placing their blades on high towers on hilltops or in desolate, unprotected seas miles from shore. A new study presents an interesting curveball that could open up new avenues for renewable energy generation, demonstrating that turbines placed behind hills can actually produce more energy than those in open areas.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-turbine.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="290" height="290" /></p> <p>The study was carried out at a university in the Netherlands. Scientists are trying to explore how <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a> could actually benefit from being placed behind hills in certain situations. The scientists achieved this through an aerodynamic modeling technique called large eddy simulation, which allowed them to simulate the effects of three-dimensional hills on downwind turbine performance.</p> <p>The simulation was based on a 90 meters (295 feet) turbine with 63 meters (207 feet) blades that was placed 756 meters (2500 feet) behind a hill 90 meters (300 feet) above sea level. In contrast, the team found that this particular arrangement actually increased the turbine's power output by about 24 percent under some conditions.</p> <p>Dr Stevens explained: "The wind speeds are slower close to the hills and this creates an area of low pressure. This area of low pressure draws in air from above, where winds are much stronger than near the ground. This means wind turbines don't need to be taller to take advantage of strong winds at high altitudes."</p> <p>This effect is combined with another related to the change in wind direction, which pushes up the strength of the forces sweeping through the turbines as the wind blows over the hills. "Also, the wind above the hill blows differently than the wind near the ground," Stevens said. "This causes the slow-moving air flow to change direction away from the wind turbines, allowing the turbines behind the hill to benefit from the strong airflow."</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-turbine-and-hill.jpg" alt="Wind turbine and hill" width="473" height="297" /></p> <p>While the study suggests that some turbines placed behind hills can produce more power in some environments, there are other factors to consider. The simulations showed that this increase in wind would lead to more turbulence, which would cause more wear and tear on the turbine. Scientists are continuing to study whether these benefits outweigh the types of damage that turbines can cause, and whether this performance boost can be replicated in a wider range of real-world settings.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:353 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-a-solar-photovoltaic-system-work How does a Solar Photovoltaic System Work? <p>Solar photovoltaic systems are mainly divided into off-grid photovoltaic power generation systems and grid-connected photovoltaic power generation systems. The off-grid photovoltaic power generation system is mainly composed of solar cell components, controllers, and batteries. To supply power to the AC load, an AC inverter needs to be configured. The grid-connected photovoltaic power generation system is that the direct current generated by the solar module is converted into the alternating current that meets the requirements of the mains grid through the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid tie inverter</a>, and then directly connected to the public grid.</p> <p>A solar photovoltaic system consists of solar panels, solar charge controllers, batteries and inverters. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> is the core part of the solar photovoltaic system. The function of the solar panel is to convert the light energy of the sun into electrical energy, and then output the direct current and store it in the battery. The solar panel is one of the most important components in the solar photovoltaic system, and its conversion rate and service life are important factors that determine whether the solar cell has use value. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is composed of a dedicated processor CPU, electronic components, displays, switching power tubes, etc. The function of the battery is to store the electrical energy emitted by the solar panel when there is light, and release it when needed. The direct output of solar energy is generally 12VDC, 24VDC, 48VDC. In order to provide power to 220VAC electrical appliances, it is necessary to convert the DC power generated by the solar photovoltaic system into AC power, so an inverter is required.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/how-does-a-solar-photovoltaic-system-work.jpg" alt="How does a Solar Photovoltaic System Work" width="300" height="232" /></p> <h2>How does the solar PV system work?</h2> <p>During the daytime, under the condition of illumination, the solar cell components generate a certain electromotive force, and the solar cell square array is formed through the series and parallel connection of the components, so that the square array voltage can meet the requirements of the system input voltage. Then, the battery is charged through the charge and discharge controller, and the electric energy converted from the light energy is stored.</p> <p>At night, the battery pack provides the input power for the inverter, and through the function of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a>, the DC power is converted into AC power, which is sent to the power distribution cabinet, and the power is supplied by the switching function of the power distribution cabinet. The discharge of the battery pack is controlled by the controller to ensure the normal use of the battery. The photovoltaic power station system should also have limited load protection and lightning protection devices to protect the system equipment from overload operation and avoid lightning strikes, and maintain the safe use of system equipment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:348 https://www.inverter.com/precautions-for-using-car-inverter Precautions for Using Car Inverter <p>As a DC-to-AC converter used in mobile, the car power inverter will bring a lot of convenience to our life. And it is a standing vehicle electronic equipment. Today, we will briefly introduce the precautions that should be paid attention to when using the car inverter.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Use the car inverter strictly in accordance with the user manual. In normal use, the input fuse of the car inverter is burned out, it is best not to replace it yourself. 99% of car inverter input fuse blows are due to input MOSFET breakdown. If you replace the fuse and continue to use it, it is easy to burn the fuse on the car. The correct way is to contact the dealer or the after-sales service of the manufacturer.</li> <li>The output voltage of the car inverter is 220 volts AC. And this 220 volt is in a small space and is mobile, so be extra careful. It should be kept in a relatively safe place (especially away from children!) to prevent electric shock. When not in use, it is best to cut off its input power.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0000494_75w-car-power-inverter-dc-12v-to-ac-110v220v_350.jpg" alt="Car power inverter" width="350" height="350" /></li> <li>The ambient temperature of the car inverter should not exceed 40℃. Do not place too many things around when the car inverter is working. In summer, do a good job of ventilation and heat dissipation of the car inverter. Do not place the car inverter in direct sunlight or near the heater outlet. In rainy days, you should also pay attention to protecting the car inverter from rain and water. The car inverter is afraid of water, so do not expose it to rain or water.</li> <li>The DC voltage should be the same. Each car power inverter has a DC voltage value, such as 12V, 24V, etc. The selection of battery voltage must be consistent with the DC input voltage of the car inverter. For example, a 12V car inverter must select a 12V battery.</li> <li>The output power of the car inverter must be greater than the power used by the electrical appliance. For electrical appliances with high power at startup, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, the output power of the car inverter should be left with a larger margin.</li> <li>The positive and negative poles of the battery must be correctly connected with the positive and negative poles marked on the DC voltage of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a>. Red is positive (+) and black is negative (-). The battery is also marked with positive and negative poles, red is positive (+), black is negative (-). When the two are connected, they must be connected to positive (red to red) and negative to negative (black to black). The diameter of the connecting wire must be thick enough, and the length of the connecting wire should be minimized.</li> <li>Charging and reversing cannot be performed at the same time. That is, the charging plug cannot be inserted into the electrical circuit of the car inverter output during reversing.</li> <li>The interval between two startups is not less than 5 seconds (cut off the input power).</li> <li>Please wipe with dry cloth or anti-static cloth to keep the machine clean.</li> <li>Before connecting the input and output of the machine, please ground the casing of the machine correctly.</li> <li>In order to avoid accidents, users are strictly prohibited to open the case for operation and use.</li> <li>When you suspect that the machine is faulty, please do not continue to operate and use it. The input and output should be cut off in time, and the maintenance should be checked and maintained by qualified maintenance personnel or maintenance units.</li> <li>When connecting the battery, make sure that there are no other metal objects on your hands, so as to avoid short circuit of the battery and burn the human body.</li> <li>The inverter suddenly ignites when using the car inverter in a parked state. When the vehicle is ignited, a high impulse voltage will be generated, which is easy to break down the MOSFET device of the car inverter and cause damage to the car inverter. The correct way is to turn off the car inverter first, then ignite, and then continue to use the car inverter after the car ignites.</li> <li>When using a high-power car inverter, such as electrical appliances above 150W, the car inverter must use the battery clip wire to directly draw power from the battery. The car cigarette lighter fuse is generally 15A, and it is only suitable for electrical appliances with a rated power below 150W. If it exceeds 150W, you must use the battery clip wire to directly draw power from the battery, otherwise it will burn the car wiring and fuse.</li> <li>Do not touch the output terminal directly with your hands. Although the power of the car inverter is very small, it will also get an electric shock.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:349 https://www.inverter.com/heat-dissipation-methods-of-solar-inverter Heat Dissipation Methods of Solar Inverter <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter-12v.jpg" alt="1000W 12V solar grid tie inverter" width="300" height="229" />The solar power inverter is the core equipment of the photovoltaic system. Its main function is to convert the direct current from the photovoltaic modules into alternating current that meets the requirements of the grid. As a power electronic device, inverters, like all electronic products, face challenges brought about by temperature. In all electronic product failure cases, up to 55% of them are caused by temperature. The electronic components inside the inverter are also very sensitive to temperature. According to the 10-degree rule of reliability theory, from room temperature, the service life is halved for every 10-degree increase in temperature, so the heat dissipation of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is very important.</p> <p>The solar inverter heat dissipation system mainly includes radiators, cooling fans, thermal grease and other materials. At present, there are two main heat dissipation methods for solar inverters, including free cooling and forced air cooling.</p> <p><strong>Free cooling</strong></p> <p>Free cooling refers to the realization of heat dissipation from local heating devices to the surrounding environment to achieve the purpose of temperature control without using any external auxiliary energy, which usually includes three main heat transfer methods: heat conduction, convection and radiation. Convection is the main method. Free heat dissipation or cooling is often suitable for low-power devices and components that do not require high temperature control, the heat flow density of the device is not high, and the sealed or densely assembled devices that are not suitable for other cooling technologies.</p> <p><strong>Forced air cooling</strong></p> <p>Forced air cooling is mainly a method of forcing the air around the device to flow by means of a fan, so as to take away the heat emitted by the device. This method is a simple and effective heat dissipation method. This cooling method is best used if the space between components within the part is suitable for air flow or for the installation of local heat sinks. The method of improving the forced convection heat transfer capacity increases the heat dissipation area and generates a relatively large forced convection heat transfer coefficient on the heat dissipation surface. Increasing the heat dissipation area on the surface of the radiator to enhance the heat dissipation of electronic components has been widely used in practical engineering.</p> <p><strong>Free cooling vs. forced air cooling</strong></p> <p>Free heat dissipation has no fan, low noise, but low efficiency, which is generally used for low-power inverters. Forced air cooling needs to be equipped with a fan, which is noisy but has a fast heat dissipation speed. It is generally used for high-power inverters.</p> <p>Through the comparison experiment of the heat dissipation capacity of string inverters, it is found that the heat dissipation effect of forced air cooling is better than that of natural cooling mode of string inverters with a power level of 50kW or above. The temperature is lowered by about 20℃, which can ensure the long-life and high-efficiency operation of the inverter. The temperature of the inverter using the natural cooling method increases, and the life of the components is reduced.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:350 https://www.inverter.com/why-you-need-a-pure-sine-wave-inverter Why You Need a Pure Sine Wave Inverter? <p>The output waveform of the pure sine wave inverter is good, the distortion is very low, and its output waveform is basically the same as the AC waveform of the mains grid. Pure sine wave inverter has little interference with radio, communication equipment and precision equipment, low noise, strong load adaptability, can meet the application of all AC loads, and the whole machine has high efficiency.</p> <p>The pure sine wave inverter outputs the same or better sine wave alternating current as the power grid we use every day. There is no electromagnetic pollution in the power grid. In short, it has a wide range of applications, strong load capacity and excellent stability. The same alternating current as the usual household. In the case of meeting the power, it can drive almost any kind of electrical appliances.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/12v-500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="12V 500 watt pure sine wave inverter" width="450" height="245" /></p> <h2><strong>Pure sine wave inverter feature</strong></h2> <ul> <li><strong>High stability:</strong> Because the system has complete protection functions such as overvoltage, undervoltage, overload, overheating, short circuit, reverse connection, etc., the stability of the system is ensured.</li> <li><strong>LCD display:</strong> LCD can display battery voltage and output voltage and status parameters.</li> <li><strong>Efficient conversion:</strong> The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> has high inverter efficiency and low no-load loss.</li> <li><strong>Digital intelligent control:</strong> The core device is controlled by a powerful single-chip microcomputer, which makes the peripheral circuit structure simple, and the control method and control strategy are flexible and powerful, thus ensuring excellent performance and stability.</li> <li><strong>Optional mains switching:</strong> If the mains switching function is selected, in the state of battery undervoltage or inverter failure, the device can automatically switch the load to the mains power supply, thus ensuring the power supply stability of the system.</li> </ul> <h2><strong>Pure sine wave inverter function</strong></h2> <ul> <li><strong>Inverter output function:</strong> After turning on the "inverter switch (IVT SWITCH)" on the front panel, the inverter converts the DC power of the battery into pure sine wave alternating current, which is output from the "AC OUTPUT" on the rear panel.</li> <li><strong>Automatic voltage stabilization function:</strong> When the voltage of the battery pack fluctuates between the voltage undervoltage point and the overvoltage point, and the load changes within the rated power, the device can automatically stabilize the output. Overvoltage protection function: When the battery voltage is greater than the "overvoltage point", the device will automatically cut off the inverter output, the front panel LCD will display "overvoltage", and the buzzer will sound an alarm for ten seconds. When the voltage drops to the "overvoltage recovery point", the inverter resumes work.</li> <li><strong>Undervoltage protection function:</strong> When the battery voltage is lower than the "undervoltage point", in order to avoid damage to the battery due to overdischarge, the device will automatically cut off the inverter output. At this time, the LCD on the front panel displays "undervoltage", and the buzzer gives an alarm sound for ten seconds. When the voltage rises to the "undervoltage recovery point", the inverter will resume work; if a switching device is selected, it will automatically switch to the mains output when undervoltage.</li> <li><strong>Overload protection function:</strong> If the AC output power exceeds the rated power, the device will automatically cut off the inverter output, the front panel LCD will display "overload", and at the same time, the buzzer will sound an alarm for ten seconds. Turn off the "Inverter Switch (IVT SWITCH)" on the front panel, and the "Overload" display disappears. If it needs to be restarted, it must be checked to confirm that the load is within the allowable range, and then turn on the "inverter switch (IVT SWITCH)" to restore the inverter output.</li> <li><strong>Short-circuit protection function:</strong> If the AC output circuit is short-circuited, the device will automatically cut off the inverter output, the front panel LCD will display "overload", and at the same time, the buzzer will sound an alarm for ten seconds. Turn off the "Inverter Switch (IVT SWITCH)" on the front panel, and the "Overload" display disappears. If you need to restart the machine, you must check to confirm that the output line is normal, and then turn on the "inverter switch (IVT SWITCH)" to restore the inverter output.</li> <li><strong>Overheating protection function:</strong> If the temperature of the internal control part of the chassis is too high, the device will automatically cut off the inverter output, the front panel LCD will display "overheating", and at the same time, the buzzer will sound an alarm for ten seconds. After the temperature returns to the normal value, the inverter output is restored.</li> <li><strong>Battery reverse connection protection function:</strong> The equipment has perfect battery reverse connection protection function. If the positive and negative polarity of the battery is reversed, the fuse in the chassis will be automatically blown to avoid damage to the battery and equipment. However, it is still strictly forbidden to reverse the battery connection.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:345 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-string-inverter-and-micro-inverter Difference between String Inverter and Micro Inverter <p>As the core equipment of the photovoltaic power generation system, the inverter is used to convert the variable DC voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules into the alternating current of the mains frequency, which is one of the important system balances in the photovoltaic array system. At present, the common <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverters</a> on the market are mainly string inverters and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverters</a>. Now, let us compare and analyze between them.</p> <h2>String inverter</h2> <p>The string inverter is based on the modular concept. Each PV string (1-5kw) has a maximum power peak tracking at the DC side through an inverter, and is connected in parallel at the AC side. The most popular inverter on the market. String inverters are mainly used in small and medium rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems and small ground power stations.</p> <p><strong>Advantages</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The string inverter adopts a modular design, each photovoltaic string corresponds to an inverter, the DC side has the maximum power tracking function, and the AC side is connected to the grid in parallel. The influence of shading, while reducing the mismatch between the optimal operating point of the photovoltaic cell module and the inverter, maximizes the power generation;</li> <li>The string inverter MPPT voltage range is wide, generally 250-800V, the component configuration is more flexible, and the power generation time is long in rainy days and foggy areas;</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">string grid tied inverter</a> is small in size and light in weight. It is very convenient to carry and install. It does not require professional tools and equipment, nor does it require a special power distribution room. It can simplify construction and installation in various applications. The floor space is reduced, and the DC line connection does not require DC combiner boxes and DC distribution cabinets. The string type also has the advantages of low self-consumption, small fault impact, and convenient replacement and maintenance.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Disadvantages</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>There are many electronic components, power devices and signal circuits are on the same board, which is difficult to design and manufacture, and the reliability is slightly poor.</li> <li>The electrical clearance of the power device is small, which is not suitable for high-altitude areas. Outdoor installation, wind and sun exposure can easily lead to the aging of the casing and heat sink.</li> <li>Without isolation transformer design, electrical safety is slightly poor, not suitable for the negative grounding system of thin-film modules, the DC component is large, and the impact on the power grid is large.</li> <li>When multiple inverters are connected in parallel, the total harmonic is high, and the THDI of a single inverter can be controlled to more than 2%, but if more than 40 inverters are connected in parallel, the total harmonic will be superimposed, and it is difficult to suppress.</li> <li>The number of inverters is large, the total failure rate will increase, and the system monitoring is difficult.</li> <li>There is no DC circuit breaker or AC circuit breaker, no DC fuse. When the system fails, it is not easy to disconnect.</li> <li>A single inverter can realize the zero-voltage ride-through function, but when multiple inverters are connected in parallel, it is difficult to realize the zero-voltage ride-through function, reactive power regulation, active power regulation, and other functions.</li> </ul> <h2>Micro inverter</h2> <p>Micro inverters can achieve maximum power point tracking at the panel level, which has advantages over central inverters. In this way, the output power of each module can be optimized to maximize the overall output power.</p> <p><strong>Advantages</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>When one or more modules fail, the system can continue to provide power to the grid, with high availability. Multiple redundant modules can be selected to improve system reliability.</li> <li>Flexible configuration. In the household market, the size of photovoltaic cells can be installed according to the user's financial resources.</li> <li>Effectively reduce the impact of shadows caused by local shading on output power.</li> <li>No high-voltage electricity, safer, simple and faster installation, low maintenance and installation cost.</li> <li>Improve the power generation of each inverter power module and track the maximum power. Due to the tracking of the maximum power point of a single module, the power generation of the photovoltaic system can be greatly increased by 25%.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Disadvantages</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Application is limited. The application of micro inverter is generally only suitable for roof households.</li> <li>The cost of micro inverters is higher than that of central inverters and string inverters.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:346 https://www.inverter.com/what-does-a-car-inverter-do What does a Car Inverter do? <p>With the development of the economy, the era of one car per person has arrived. After having a car, a trip that says go away is no longer the slogan of a few people, but the choice of more people. In this era where everything can be "mobile". Office, communication and entertainment can all be carried out in a mobile state. Especially when you want to use your home appliances outdoors, you need a magic box. Then car inverter appears. With it, you can a lot thing outside just like at home. Rice cookers, hair dryers, computers, and small refrigerators can all be used.</p> <p>Therefore, the car inverter, as a DC-to-AC converter used in mobile devices, will bring a lot of convenience to your life. Car inverter is a kind of standing vehicle electronic equipment supplies.</p> <p>You can buy a car inverter and put it in the trunk without taking up too much space. When you want to use electricity, you will find out how good it is. As we have said the car inverter is so helpful, would you be curious about the function of it? Today we will introduce it to you.</p> <p>The role of the automotive inverter is to give full play to the function of solar cell performance and system fault protection. It is an electronic device that converts low voltage DC into 220 volts alternating current. The automotive inverter has these functions: the car inverter not only has the function of DC to AC conversion, but also has the function of maximizing the performance of the solar cell and the function of system fault protection. To sum up, there are automatic operation and shutdown function, maximum power tracking control function, anti-independent operation function (for grid-connected system), automatic voltage adjustment function (for grid-connected system), DC detection function (for grid-connected system), DC grounding detection Function (for grid-connected systems). Here we briefly introduce the automatic operation and shutdown function and the maximum power tracking control function.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0000494_75w-car-power-inverter-dc-12v-to-ac-110v220v_350.jpg" alt="Car power inverter" width="350" height="350" /></p> <h2>Automatic run and stop functions</h2> <p>After sunrise in the morning, the intensity of solar radiation increases gradually. The output of the solar cell also increases accordingly. When the output power required for car inverter operation is reached, the car inverter will automatically start running. After entering into operation, the car inverter monitors the output of the solar cell module all the time. As long as the output power of the solar cell module is greater than the output power required for the inverter to work. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a> will continue to run until the sunset stops. Even in rainy days, the car inverter can run. When the output of the solar cell module becomes smaller and the output of the car inverter is close to 0, the car inverter will form a standby state. That is exactly the automatic run and stop functions of the car inverter.</p> <h2>Maximum power tracking control function</h2> <p>The output of the solar cell module varies with the intensity of solar radiation and the temperature of the solar cell module itself (chip temperature). In addition, since the solar cell module has the characteristic that the voltage decreases as the current increases, there is an optimal operating point where the maximum power can be obtained. The intensity of solar radiation is changing, and obviously the optimal working point is also changing.</p> <p>Relative to these changes, the operating point of the solar cell module is always at the maximum power point, and the system always obtains the maximum power output from the solar cell module. This control is maximum power tracking control. The biggest feature of car inverters for solar power systems is that they include the function of maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Therefore, that is the maximum power tracking control function of the car inverter.</p> <p>The above is our brief introduction to the function of the car inverter. The automatic operation and shutdown functions of the car inverter and the maximum power tracking control function are introduced. These two functions are the most prominent functions of the car. We hope you can make better use of your car inverter after understanding the functions of the car inverter. Or if you want to buy a car inerter, we have 75W car inverter, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/150w-car-power-inverter">150W car power inverter</a>, 300W car inverter for you to select. If you want to know more about it, welcome to our website.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:347 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-components-of-a-solar-power-system What are the Components of a Solar Power System? <p>The solar power generation system consists of solar panels, solar controllers, and batteries. If the output power is AC 220V or 110V, an inverter is also required. Here's what each part does.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/components-of-a-solar-power-system.jpg" alt="Components of a solar power system" width="400" height="255" /></p> <p><strong>Solar panel</strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> is the core part of the solar power generation system, and it is also the most valuable part of the solar power generation system. Its function is to convert the radiant energy of the sun into electrical energy, or send it to the battery for storage, or drive the load to work. The quality and cost of the solar panel will directly determine the quality and cost of the entire system.</p> <p><strong>Solar charge controller</strong></p> <p>The function of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is to control the working state of the entire system, and to protect the battery from overcharge and overdischarge. In places with large temperature difference, a qualified controller should also have the function of temperature compensation. Other additional functions such as light control switch and time control switch should be the functions that the controller should have.</p> <p><strong>Battery</strong></p> <p>Batteries are generally lead-acid batteries, but nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries or lithium batteries can also be used in small systems. Since the input energy of the solar photovoltaic power generation system is extremely unstable, it is generally necessary to configure the battery system to work. Its function is to store the electrical energy emitted by the solar panel when there is light, and release it when needed.</p> <p><strong>Inverter</strong></p> <p>In many occasions, it is necessary to provide 220VAC, 110VAC AC power. Since the direct output of solar energy is generally 12VDC, 24VDC, 48VDC, in order to provide power to 220VAC electrical appliances, it is necessary to convert the DC power generated by the solar power system into AC. power, so a DC-AC inverter is required. In addition, DC-DC inverters are also used when loads with multiple voltages are required, such as converting 24VDC power into 5VDC power.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:342 https://www.inverter.com/main-technical-indicators-should-be-considered-when-selecting-solar-inverters Main Technical Indicators should be considered When Selecting Solar Inverters <p><strong>Stability of output voltage</strong></p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1500w-single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="1500W single phase grid tie solar inverter" width="250" height="281" />In the photovoltaic system, the electric energy generated by the solar cell is first stored in the battery, and then converted into 220V or 380V alternating current through the inverter. However, the battery is affected by its own charge and discharge, and its output voltage varies widely. For example, for a nominal 12V battery, its voltage value can vary between 10.8 and 14.4V (exceeding this range may cause damage to the battery). For a qualified <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>, when the input voltage changes within this range, the change of the steady-state output voltage should not exceed 5% of the rated value, and when the load changes suddenly, the output voltage deviation should not exceed ±10% of rated value.</p> <p><strong>Waveform Distortion of Output Voltage</strong></p> <p>For sine wave inverters, the maximum allowable waveform distortion (or harmonic content) shall be specified. Usually expressed as the total waveform distortion of the output voltage, its value should not exceed 5% (single-phase output allows l0%). Since the high-order harmonic current output by the inverter will generate additional losses such as eddy current on the inductive load, if the waveform distortion of the inverter is too large, it will cause serious heating of the load components, which is not conducive to the safety of electrical equipment and seriously affects the operating efficiency of system.</p> <p><strong>Rated output frequency</strong></p> <p>For loads including motors, such as washing machines, refrigerators, etc., because the optimal frequency of the motor is 50Hz, the frequency is too high or too low, which will cause the equipment to heat up and reduce the operating efficiency and service life of the system. The output frequency should be a relatively stable value, usually the power frequency 50Hz, and its deviation should be within 1% under normal working conditions.</p> <p><strong>Load power factor</strong></p> <p>It characterizes the ability of the inverter to carry inductive or capacitive loads. The load power factor of the sine wave inverter is 0.7 to 0.9, and the rated value is 0.9. In the case of a certain load power, if the power factor of the inverter is low, the required capacity of the inverter will increase, which will increase the cost and increase the apparent power of the AC circuit of the photovoltaic system. As the current increases, the losses will inevitably increase, and the system efficiency will also decrease.</p> <p><strong>Inverter efficiency</strong></p> <p>The efficiency of the solar inverter refers to the ratio of the output power to the input power under the specified working conditions, expressed as a percentage. In general, the nominal efficiency of a solar inverter refers to pure resistance load or under 80% load efficiency. Since the overall cost of the photovoltaic system is high, the efficiency of the photovoltaic inverter should be maximized, the system cost should be reduced, and the cost performance of the photovoltaic system should be improved. At present, the nominal efficiency of mainstream inverters is between 80% and 95%, and the efficiency of low-power inverters is required to be no less than 85%. In the actual design process of the photovoltaic system, not only should high-efficiency inverters be selected, but at the same time, the system should be reasonably configured to make the photovoltaic system load work near the optimal efficiency point as much as possible.</p> <p><strong>Rated output current</strong></p> <p>It indicates the rated output current of the inverter within the specified load power factor range. Some inverters give the rated output capacity, which is expressed in VA or kVA. The rated capacity of the inverter is when the output power factor is 1, the rated output voltage is the product of the rated output current.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:343 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-grid-tie-inverter What is a Grid Tie Inverter? <p>The grid tie inverter is generally used in the system of large-scale photovoltaic power stations. Many parallel photovoltaic strings are connected to the DC input end of the same centralized inverter. Generally, 3 phase IGBT power modules with high power are used, and the power is relatively high. Small uses field effect transistors, while using a DSP conversion controller to improve the quality of the power produced, making it very close to a sine wave current.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter-12v.jpg" alt="1000W 12V solar grid tie inverter" width="300" height="229" /></p> <p><span lang="EN-US">The grid tie inverter module is to connect each PV module with an inverter, and each module has a separate maximum power peak tracking, so that the module and the inverter cooperate better. Usually used in 50W to 400W photovoltaic power stations, the overall efficiency is lower than that of string inverters.</span></p> <p>Because it is connected in parallel at the AC side, this increases the complexity of the connection on the AC side and makes maintenance difficult. Another problem that needs to be solved is how to connect to the grid more effectively. The simple way is to connect to the grid directly through an ordinary AC outlet, which can reduce the cost and installation of equipment, but the safety standards of the power grid in various places may not allow it. In doing so, the power company may object to the direct connection of the power generating unit to the ordinary outlet of the ordinary household user. Another safety-related factor is whether an isolation transformer (high or low frequency) is required, or the use of a transformerless inverter is permitted.</p> <h2>On grid inverter features</h2> <ul> <li><strong>High efficiency is required.<br /></strong>Due to the high price of solar cells at present, in order to maximize the utilization of solar cells and improve the system efficiency, we must try to improve the efficiency of the inverter.</li> <li><strong>High reliability is required.<br /></strong>At present, the photovoltaic power station system is mainly used in remote areas, and many power stations are unattended and maintained, which requires the inverter to have a reasonable circuit structure, strict component selection, and requires the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> to have various protection functions, such as: input DC polarity reverse protection, AC output short circuit protection, overheating, overload protection, etc.</li> <li><strong>The input voltage is required to have a wider range of adaptation.<br /></strong>Because the terminal voltage of the solar cell varies with the load and the sunlight intensity. Especially when the battery is aging, its terminal voltage varies widely. For example, for a 12V battery, its terminal voltage may vary between 10V and 16V, which requires the inverter to ensure normal operation within a large DC input voltage range.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:344 https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter-vs-micro-inverter On Grid Inverter vs. Micro Inverter <p>Solar inverter is the core power conditioning device of photovoltaic system, which accounts for 10-15% of system cost, and has high technical content. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverter</a> converts the direct current generated by solar cells into alternating current energy that can be directly integrated into the grid and load through power electronic conversion technology. However, what is the difference between a grid tied inverter and a micro inverter?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter-vs-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid tie inverter vs. micro inverter" width="800" height="330" /></p> <h2>Grid tied inverter</h2> <p>The on grid inverter is a special kind of inverter. In addition to converting direct current into alternating current, the output alternating current can be synchronized with the frequency and phase of the mains, so the output alternating current can return to the mains. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">Grid tied inverters</a> are commonly used in applications where some DC voltage sources (such as solar panels or small wind turbines) are connected to the grid.</p> <p><strong>Advantages</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Adopts modular structure. It can improve system efficiency and power quality to a certain extent, and has high reliability of parallel redundancy, convenient installation and maintenance, and saves land occupation.</li> <li>Reliability. When one or more modules fail, the system can continue to provide power to the grid, with high availability; multiple redundant modules can be selected to improve system reliability.</li> <li>Maintainability. It is easy to maintain, and module replacement time is less than 10 minutes, no professional technicians are required.</li> </ul> <h2>Micro inverter</h2> <p>A solar micro inverter is a device that converts direct current from a single solar cell module to alternating current. The DC power conversion of the micro-inverter is AC from a single solar module, each solar cell module is equipped with inverter and converter functions, and each module can perform current conversion independently. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">Micro inverters</a> can achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT) at the panel level, which has advantages over central inverters. In this way, the output power of each module can be optimized to maximize the overall output power.</p> <p><strong>Advantages</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Effectively reducing the impact of shadows caused by partial occlusion on the output power.</li> <li>In the case of uneven sunshine, diversified photovoltaic modules, and complex installation conditions, micro inverters can realize modular and distributed power generation.</li> <li>Easy installation and higher security.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:339 https://www.inverter.com/can-a-portable-solar-generator-power-refrigerator Can A Portable Solar Generator Power Refrigerator? <p>A modern, self-contained refrigerator requires 35-100W of power per hour to operate, while a 15-cubic-foot refrigerator requires 300-400W of solar power. The size, capacity and temperature of any refrigerator will affect its power consumption.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-generator-and-fridge.jpg" alt="Portable solar generator and fridge" width="560" height="283" /></p> <p><strong>What Solar Generator Size is Right For A Refrigerator?</strong></p> <p>If there is a 15 cu refrigerator. It needs 1200W and 150W to run. Home refrigerators run whole day, but they run intermittently, so they typically run 8 hours a day. (150W x 8 – 1200W)</p> <p>This is also the total required starting power. To be on the safe side, replace the 1200W starting power and 150W running power with a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1500W solar generator</a>.</p> <p>You can use the same calculation for any size refrigerator. Just remember that you should always leave some extra buffer for your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generator</a>. This is not a waste of money. It just means you are careful. After all, you never know how strong the sun will be today, tomorrow or the day after.</p> <p>The good thing about solar generators is that they come in different sizes and have a variety of power output options. If solar production is limited, you can connect the solar power station to an AC wall outlet.</p> <p><strong>How To Reduce Freezer Power Consumption?</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Pack The Freezer.</strong> The freezer works best when it is full. If you can't fill it with food, put some ice in the nooks and crannies. The opposite is true for refrigerators. You should make it 2/3 full at most. Filling it up will force the refrigerator to work harder and the air will circulate unevenly.</li> <li><strong>Proper Food Storage.</strong> The coldest place in the refrigerator should be poultry, meat, condiments, and protein. The rest can be stored in a cooler place inside, not necessarily the coldest place. This is where an upright freezer has an advantage over a cabinet freezer because there are shelves to organize.</li> <li><strong>Do not Put Hot Food in Refrigerator.</strong> Here's a simple rule: Wait until hot food cools before putting it in the refrigerator. The hotter the food, the more solar energy the refrigerator uses. The cooler the food, the less energy is required. Let it come to room temperature before putting food in.</li> <li><strong>Keep Refrigerator Lid Shut.</strong> If you must open the lid, do it quickly and close immediately. The longer the refrigerator door is open, the more energy is required to lower the temperature again. This also applies to refrigerators.</li> <li><strong>Defrost Regularly.</strong> If your refrigerator needs to be thawed, thaw it regularly. The more ice in the refrigerator, the more energy it uses. The general rule is: if the ice is one centimeter thick, it's time to thaw.</li> </ul> <p>Not only is the power of solar generators increasing, but the electricity demand for refrigerators is also decreasing. That's why they are such an ideal combination. Whether you need a powerful refrigerator and freezer combo, or a portable camping device, there's a solar generator for you.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:340 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter-troubleshooting Solar Inverter Troubleshooting <p>Solar inverter is the brain of the photovoltaic power generation system. In the process of photovoltaic power generation, the power generated by the photovoltaic array is DC power, but many loads require AC power. The DC power supply system has great limitations— it is inconvenient to convert voltage, and the load application range is also limited. Except for special electricity loads, inverters are required to convert DC power into AC power. The solar inverter is the heart of the photovoltaic power generation system, which converts the direct current generated by the photovoltaic modules into alternating current, and transmits it to the local load or grid. It is a power electronic device with protection functions.</p> <p>However, if the following problems occur in solar inverter, how can we discover and solve?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter-troubleshooting.jpg" alt="Solar inverter troubleshooting" width="600" height="412" /></p> <h2>Leakage Fault</h2> <p>When the leakage is too large, take out the input terminal of the PV array, and then check the peripheral AC power grid. Both the DC terminal and the AC terminal shall be disconnected, and the inverter shall be powered off for 30 minutes. If it resumes normal operation, continue to use. If it cannot be repaired, please contact a professional technician.</p> <h2>Low Insulation Resistance</h2> <p>By a process of elimination, unplug all the strings on the input side of the solar inverter, and then connect them one by one. Use the function of checking the insulation resistance to test the faulty strings. After finding the faulty strings, check whether the DC interface has submerged shorting brackets, or fused shorting brackets. In addition, check whether the component itself has spots burned at the edge, which causes component electric leakage to the ground grid through the outer frame.</p> <h2>No Response When Starting the Machine</h2> <p>Make sure that the DC input route is connected correctly. Usually, the DC interface has a fool-proof effect, while the through terminal hasn’t. It is very important to carefully read the instruction manual of the inverter to ensure that the positive and negative electrodes are crimped. The solar inverter has built-in reverse short-circuit protection, and can usually start normally after the wiring is fully restored.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/1500-watt-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar inverter" width="550" height="427" /></p> <h2>DC Over Voltage Protection</h2> <p>As components require higher efficiency, power levels continue to rise. In addition, component open circuit voltage also increased. The design of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">the solar inverter</a> must take the temperature coefficient into consideration to prevent the equipment from being hard damaged due to overvoltage at low temperature.</p> <h2>Power Network Fault</h2> <p>Investigate the grid voltage situation in advance and contact the solar inverter manufacturer to make a technical combination of grid conditions to ensure that the project design is within the effective range. Especially for rural grids, solar inverters have strict specifications for grid voltage, grid waveform and grid distance. Most of the reasons for grid over-voltage problems depend on the original grid light load voltage exceeding or close to the safety protection value. If the grid connection route is long or if the crimping is not good enough to cause excessive resistance/inductance, the power station will not be able to operate normally and stably.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:341 https://www.inverter.com/what-can-we-do-with-an-inverter-generator What Can We Do with an Inverter Generator? <p>An inverter generator is a generator that processes raw power into a feeder that resembles the power received over a power line. The generator portion of an inverter generator is usually powered by gasoline or diesel. 'Inverting' refers to the conversion of electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) in direct contrast to a rectifier that converts AC power to DC power.</p> <p>Both rectifiers and inverters are types of power converters that convert electrical current from one type to another type of device.</p> <p>So what is DC and how about AC? Direct current is current that flows in only one direction in a circuit. The battery is charged with direct current. Alternating current is the current that switches direction on a circuit. It is the type of electrical current that is distributed to homes and businesses over power lines.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0000754_500-watt-portable-inverter-generator_350.jpg" alt="Portable inverter generator" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>There are many things that <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">an inverter generator</a> can do. For example, a power inverter without a generator is a device that plugs into a car's cigarette lighter and outputs power through a standard electrical outlet. In this case, the inverter changes the DC power of the car battery. The car battery drains power when the car is not running. However, when the car is driving, it is still charged by the alternator. Advanced inverter generators can regulate power and provide smooth current for delicate electrical equipment.</p> <p>Different models of inverter generators use different methods to condition the power feed to simulate power line power. Typically, the AC power produced by the generator is converted to DC power. It rectifies the power and then converts it back into regulated AC power, reversing the power.<br />Inverter generators are very portable. They can be installed in recreational vehicles. Compared to traditional generators, inverter generators are often the preferred method of generating electricity. The reason is that they run quieter and produce a more reliable power supply. A stable power supply is key when operating sensitive equipment such as computers. These devices may lose data. If the power level changes too much, it will cause damage.</p> <p>Inverter generator equipment helps protect powered machines from damage due to power fluctuations or power outages.</p> <p>In situations where power changes could result in data loss, an inverter device is required to ensure the safety and continued functionality of the powered hardware. In cases where the power supply does not need to be regulated for use, a generator without inverter capability can be used.</p> <p>Without an inverter, power surges and fluctuations can occur. Therefore, in an emergency, it is best to keep only the generator power supply system.<br />An inverter generator is connected to an efficient alternator. The voltage from the generator is rectified and filtered by the capacitor to output DC. The output DC goes into a smooth capacitor, and then the DC is inverted. The standard sine wave voltage and frequency are output. The size of the load and the regulation of the voltage are regulated by the inverter. The inverter engine does not rotate at the same speed as a conventional generator, and its output is cleaner than a conventional generator.</p> <p>Nowadays, more and more electronic products such as computers, mobile phones, TVs, games, printers, DVD equipment, etc. use microprocessor MCU core devices, which are very sensitive to the quality and voltage of the power supply. If there is no stable power supply, it will cause damage to the equipment. Therefore, the sensitive electronic equipment of any application must be powered by a high-stability power supply, and inverter generator equipment is an ideal choice for them.</p> <p>The inverter generator can use multi-machine parallel output to adapt to larger load occasions. The system also has the power balance feature, which can evenly distribute the load to each generator. The inverter generator uses a communication line to connect the control terminals of each device to ensure that there is no impact and load balance when the system is paralleled, and there is no problem of generator circulation.<br />Above all, we introduce the use of inverter generator and we hope that you can know better about it. If you want to know more information about it or order inverter generator, welcome to our website.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:338 https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter-price-list Solar Pump Inverter Price List <p>The solar pump inverter is the control part of the solar water pump. It plays the role of maximum power tracking and speed regulation in the system. The solar pump<img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/3-phase-solar-pump-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar pump inverter" width="280" height="343" /> inverter converts the direct current generated by the photovoltaic array into alternating current, drives the water pump, and adjusts the output frequency according to the change of the sunlight intensity to realize the maximum power point tracking (MPPT).</p> <p>The solar pump inverter controls and regulates the operation of the photovoltaic pumping system. It controls the solar array, converts the direct current from the solar array into alternating current, drives the water pump, and adjusts the output frequency in real time according to the change of the sunlight intensity, so that the output power is close to the maximum power of the solar array. When the sunshine is sufficient, it ensures that the speed of the water pump does not exceed the rated speed; when the sunshine is insufficient, it will automatically stop running according to the set minimum operating frequency. Solar pump inverter is an off grid inverter. It does not rely on the power grid and can drive the load independently. However, the routine off grid inverter can work only when it is equipped with battery. But the lead-acid battery price is very high, accounting 30% of the total system cost. Besides, its service life is as short as 3-5 years, which will affect the system investment income.</p> <p>Inverter.com provides you <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar pump inverters</a> of various power. The following is the price list of solar pump inverter, if you want to know more information, please go to our product's page.</p> <table border="1" width="1043" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Product Name</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Rated Input Current</strong></td> <td><strong>Rated Output Current</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-4kw-solar-pump-inverter">0.4 kW Solar Pump Inverter, DC/AC Input to 3ph AC Output</a></td> <td>GK330-R4D-1B</td> <td>$261.58</td> <td>5.4 A</td> <td>2.1 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-solar-pump-inverter">0.75 kW Solar Pump Inverter, DC/AC Input to 3ph AC Output</a></td> <td>GK330-R7D-1B</td> <td>$305.85</td> <td>8.2 A</td> <td>4A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-solar-pump-inverter">1.5 kW Solar Pump Inverter, DC/AC Input to 3ph AC Output</a></td> <td>GK330-1R5D-1B</td> <td>$353.08</td> <td>14 A</td> <td>7A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-solar-pump-inverter">2.2 kW Solar Pump Inverter, DC/AC Input to 3ph AC Output</a></td> <td>GK330-2R2D-1B</td> <td>$389.69</td> <td>23 A</td> <td>9.6 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4kw-solar-pump-inverter">4 kW Solar Pump Inverter, DC/AC Input to 3ph AC Output</a></td> <td>GK330-004D-1B</td> <td>$476.10</td> <td>34 A</td> <td>17 A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">0.75 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-R7D-3B</td> <td>$272.59</td> <td>5 A at 220V, 3.4 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>3.8 A at 220V, 2.1 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">1.5 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-1R5D-3B</td> <td>$295.10</td> <td>5.8 A at 220V, 5 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>5.1 A at 220V, 3.8 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">2.2 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-2R2D-3B</td> <td>$317.94</td> <td>10.5 A at 220V, 5.8 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>9 A at 220V, 5.1 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">4 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-004D-3B</td> <td>$384.13</td> <td>14.6 A at 220V, 10.5 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>13 A at 220V, 9 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">5.5 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-5R5D-3B</td> <td>$491.78</td> <td>26 A at 220V, 14.6 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>25 A at 220V, 13 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">7.5 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-7R5D-3B</td> <td>$598.23</td> <td>35 A at 220V, 20.5 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>32 A at 220V, 17 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/11kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">11 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-011D-3B</td> <td>$769.60</td> <td>46.5 A at 220V, 26 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>45 A at 220V, 25 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">15 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-015D-3B</td> <td>$935.46</td> <td>62 A at 220V, 35 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>60 A at 220V, 32 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/18-5kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">18.5 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-018D-3B</td> <td>$1,149.35</td> <td>76 A at 220V, 38.5 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>75 A at 220V, 37 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/22kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">22 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-022D-3B</td> <td>$1,369.28</td> <td>92 A at 220V, 46.5 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>90 A at 220V, 45 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">30 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-030D-3B</td> <td>$1,638.39</td> <td>62 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>60 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/37kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">37 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-037D-3B</td> <td>$1,878.54</td> <td>76 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>75 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/45kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">45 kW Three Phase Solar Pump Inverter</a></td> <td>GK330-045D-3B</td> <td>$2,123.54</td> <td>92 A at 380/ 480V</td> <td>90 A at 380/ 480V</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. I<em>f you want to get the latest quotation, please contact us now. Generally, it's cheaper than the price in the table.</em></em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:337 https://www.inverter.com/functions-of-hybrid-solar-inverter Functions of Hybrid Solar Inverter <p>Hybrid solar inverters combine solar energy with another energy source. It operates as a unit. For example, solar inverters can combine solar energy with energy from batteries. When solar energy is combined with wind energy, greener hybrid solar inverters can be obtained. The basic purpose of an inverter is to convert the DC input of a solar panel into an AC output that your home can use. Using the capabilities of a hybrid solar inverter takes this process to the next level.</p> <p>Next we will talk about the functions of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">hybrid solar inverter</a>.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="350" /></p> <h2>Funtions of hybrid solar inverter</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>DC-AC Bidirectional Power Conversion:</strong> Usually solar cells are charged by DC electricity received directly from the solar panel (DC coupled) or by DC electricity converted from AC electricity by a solar inverter (AC coupled). Then to release that energy, the inverter needs to convert the stored DC power back to AC. Using a hybrid inverter and battery, one device can do both. A hybrid grid-tied inverter can convert direct current to alternating current to power your home, but it can also take alternating current from the grid and convert it to direct current that can be stored in batteries for later use.</li> <li><strong>Power Regulation:</strong> Depending on the time of day and weather patterns, solar energy fluctuates as insolation levels increase and decrease. The hybrid inverter regulates this power to ensure that the entire system operates within the required parameters.</li> <li><strong>Power Monitoring:</strong> Solar hybrid grid-tied inverters can be equipped with solar power monitoring software to measure and monitor your PV system via a display screen or a connected smartphone app to help identify any faults.</li> <li><strong>Power maximization:</strong> Hybrid inverters with maximum power point trackers (MPPT) check your solar output and correlate it with battery voltage. This allows for optimum power output and converts DC power to the optimum voltage for maximum battery charging. MPPT ensures that your solar system works efficiently under a variety of conditions, such as varying amounts of solar light, solar panel temperatures and electrical loads.</li> </ol> <p>Where feasible, the two technologies can be combined wind and solar. In this way, the hybrid inverter provides a reliable and consistent output. In addition to this, the hybrid inverter may have a battery backup. This ensures more consistent power. Also, they are low maintenance. They work in multiple modes and help use green energy. So, hybrid inverters are indeed a good technology.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:336 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-voltage-converter Voltage Converter: Basics, Types and Applications <p>A voltage converter is a static electrical device that converts an AC voltage of a certain value into a voltage with the same frequency but different values. Transformers are made of two or more sets of coils wound on the same bobbin or on the same iron core.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/500-watt-voltage-converter-110120v-to-220240v.jpg" alt="500 watt voltage converter" width="330" height="236" /></p> <p>Voltage converters are divided into single-phase converters and three-phase converters. Their internal structures are basically the same, which is composed of iron core, winding, insulating structure, lead wire and tap changer. The winding is the circuit of the converter, and the iron core is the magnetic circuit of the converter. The two constitute the core of the voltage converter, that is, the electromagnetic part.</p> <p>The primary winding and the secondary winding of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">the voltage converter</a> are equivalent to two inductors. When the AC voltage is applied to the primary winding, an electromotive force is formed on the primary winding, and an alternating magnetic field is generated. The secondary winding is affected by the primary winding. Then, the induced electromotive force with the same law of change of the magnetic field of the primary winding is also generated. So the secondary winding outputs an AC voltage, which is the conversion process of the voltage converter.</p> <p>The output voltage of the voltage converter is related to the number of turns of the winding. Generally, the ratio of the output voltage to the input voltage is equal to the ratio of the number of turns of the secondary winding (N2) to the number of turns of the primary winding (N1) ; the output current of the voltage converter is inversely proportional to the output voltage.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1000-watt-voltage-converter-220v-to-110v.jpg" alt="1000 watt voltage converter" width="330" height="215" /></p> <p>A common use of the voltage converter is for a device that allows appliances made for the mains voltage of one geographical region to operate in an area with different voltage. Such a device may be called a voltage converter, power converter, travel adapter, etc. Most single phase alternating-current electrical outlets in the world supply power at 210–240 V or at 100–120 V. A transformer or auto transformer can be used; (auto) transformers are inherently reversible, so the same transformer can be used to step the voltage up, or step it down by the same ratio. Lighter and smaller devices can be made using electronic circuitry; reducing the voltage electronically is simpler and cheaper than increasing it. Small, inexpensive, travel adapters suitable for low-power devices such as electric shavers, but not, say, hairdryers, are available; travel adapters usually include plug-end adapters for the different standards used in different countries. A transformer would be used for higher power.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:335 https://www.inverter.com/advantages-of-hybrid-solar-inverter Advantages of Hybrid Solar Inverter <p>A hybrid solar inverter is a combination of a solar inverter and a battery inverter into a single device that intelligently manages power from solar panels, solar cells, and the utility grid at the same time. A traditional solar grid-tied inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the photovoltaic (PV) system to the alternating current (AC) electricity that powers your home, which also allows excess generation to be diverted to the utility grid.</p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inverter">Hybrid solar inverters</a> have some significant advantages over other grid-tied inverter systems such as micro-inverters.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="300" height="300" /></p> <h2>Advantages of hybrid solar inverter</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Aerodynamic design<br />If you're adding a battery backup system to an existing solar PV system, you'll need to buy not only the battery pack itself and possibly a new inverter, but also a battery charger controller and maybe a performance monitoring system. These are extra hardware that takes up a lot of space - the cost adds up. Many hybrid inverter systems integrate performance monitoring, charge control, and bidirectional AC DC inverter functionality into a compact package that is more affordable.</li> <li>Smart Inverter/Charger Function<br />Hybrid inverters have built-in charge controllers that detect when it is best to supply power to the batteries from the grid (or solar panels). Several models can be programmed to allow load shifting and peak shaving. This means you can use your battery when the cost of grid electricity is highest and charge your battery when the cost of grid electricity is lowest - saving you a lot of money in the process.</li> <li>Mobile Application Cloud Monitoring<br />We're in the digital age, which means we can do a lot of cool things with our phones, not just talk.<br />Many hybrid inverters have the ability to send your system performance data to a company-branded portal in the cloud. There, you can log into the app to see how your system is performing, and get notified when and if your system isn't performing as well as it should.<br />Hybrid inverters also typically have configurable modes that can set your system to vacation or standby mode via an app. These ensure you make the most of the energy your solar panel produces, even when you're not on site.</li> <li>DC coupled option<br />Some hybrid inverters are designed with higher efficiency in mind. Whenever you have to convert AC to DC or back again, you lose some power due to conversion losses. There are many hybrid solar inverters that are DC coupled, meaning they take DC power from the solar panels and feed it directly into the batteries without converting it to AC and back in the process. This ensures you get the most value out of the electricity your solar panels produce in your battery backup system.</li> </ol> <p>Hybrid solar inverters are a great option for those who care about the environment. It meets your needs without polluting nature. Additionally, it addresses major issues associated with renewable energy equipment. Most of the time, it delivers solid power.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:334 https://www.inverter.com/types-of-solar-inverter Types of Solar Inverter <p>The solar AC power generation system is composed of solar panels, charge controllers, inverters and batteries; the solar DC power generation system does not include inverters. The process of converting AC power into DC power is called rectification, the circuit that completes the rectification function is called a rectifier circuit, and the device that realizes the rectification process is called a rectifier device or rectifier. Correspondingly, the process of converting DC power into AC power is called inverter, the circuit that completes the inverter function is called inverter circuit, and the device that realizes the inverter process is called inverter equipment or inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Solar inverter" width="400" height="400" /></p> <h2>Inverter function</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is a power conversion device whose main function is to invert the DC power of the battery into AC power. Through the full-bridge circuit, the SPWM processor is generally used to modulate, filter, boost, etc., to obtain the load frequency, rated voltage, etc. The matched sine wave AC power is supplied to the end user of the system.</p> <h2>Classified by application scope:</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Ordinary inverter<br />DC 12V or 24V input, AC 220V, 50Hz output, power from 75W to 5000W.</li> <li>Inverter/ charging machine<br />In this type of inverter, the user can use various forms of power supply to power the AC load: when there is AC power, the AC power is used by the inverter to power the load, or to charge the battery. When there is no AC power, use the battery to supply power to the AC load. It can be used in combination with various power sources such as batteries, generators, solar panels and wind turbines.</li> <li>Special inverter for post and telecommunications<br />Provide high-quality 48V inverters for post and telecommunications and communications. Its products are of good quality, high reliability, modular (module is 1KW) inverter, and has N+1 redundancy function, expandable (power from 2KW to 20KW).</li> <li>Special inverter for aviation and military<br />This type of inverter has a 28Vdc input and can provide the following AC outputs: 26Vac, 115Vac, 230Vac, its output frequency can be: 50Hz, 60Hz and 400Hz, the output power ranges from 30VA to 3500VA, and there are DC- DC converters and frequency converters.</li> </ol> <h2>Classified by output waveform:</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Square wave inverter<br />The AC voltage waveform output by the square wave inverter is a square wave. The inverter circuits used by this type of inverter are not exactly the same, but the common feature is that the circuit is relatively simple, the number of power switch tubes used is small, and the design power Generally between one hundred watts to kilowatts. The advantages of square wave inverter are simple circuit, low price and easy maintenance. The disadvantage is that because the square wave voltage contains a large number of high-order harmonics, additional losses will be generated in the load electrical appliances with iron core inductance or transformer, which will interfere with the radio and some communication equipment. In addition, this type of inverter also has shortcomings such as insufficient voltage regulation range, insufficient protection function, and relatively large noise.</li> <li>Step wave inverter<br />The AC voltage waveform output by this type of inverter is a staircase wave, and there are many different circuits for the inverter to realize the staircase wave output, and the number of steps in the output waveform varies greatly. The advantage of the ladder wave inverter is that the output waveform is significantly improved compared to the square wave, and the high-order harmonic content is reduced. When the ladder reaches more than 17, the output waveform can achieve a quasi-sine wave. When the transformerless output is used, the overall efficiency is very high. The disadvantage is that there are many power switch tubes used in the step wave superposition line, and some of the line forms also require multiple sets of DC power input, which brings trouble to the grouping and wiring of the solar cell array and the balanced charging of the battery. In addition, the step wave voltage still has some high frequency interference to radios and some communication equipment.</li> <li>Sine wave inverter<br />The AC voltage waveform output by the sine wave inverter is a sine wave. The advantages of the sine wave inverter are that the output waveform is good, the distortion is very low, the interference to the radio and communication equipment is small, and the noise is low. In addition, the sine wave inverter has complete protection functions and high efficiency of the whole machine. The disadvantage is that the line is relatively complex, the maintenance technology is required to be high, and the price is relatively expensive.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:333 https://www.inverter.com/can-a-wind-turbine-turn-so-slowly-to-generate-electricity Can a Wind Turbine Turn so Slowly to Generate Electricity? <p>Can a wind turbine turn so slowly to generate electricity? Wind energy is a renewable and clean energy. With the continuous increase of human demand for energy, human beings gradually began to increase the use of wind energy. Wind turbines are often found on vast grasslands, hillsides and even on the sea. Why the blades of wind turbines turn so slowly, can it generate electricity?</p> <p>Adjusting the wind turbine speed to what we see is actually a combination of many factors.</p> <h2>Wind turbine blades are heavy and laborious to rotate.</h2> <p>Many people think that a wind turbine is like a small windmill. It is not big, especially when we see a big wind turbine from a distance. We have this feeling but this is not the case. A wind turbine can be called a behemoth. The blade of the wind turbine is 60 meters long.</p> <p>We know that the wingspan of a medium-sized passenger plane is about 30 meters. The wingspan of an ordinary large passenger plane can hardly reach 60 meters. Although such a large blade uses high-strength and low-density materials, the mass is not too small. Usually, more than ten tons in weight, three blades of such high quality are naturally a bit difficult to turn.</p> <p>Some people might have a question. Since such a big blade is hard to turn, why not make it smaller? This is related to the windward area of the generator. When the blade is too small, the windward area is naturally too small. The wind on the blade is less and less, and the electricity generated by a single generator is less and less. If the number of generators increases, can it be compensated? In fact, the increase in the number also increases the construction cost.</p> <p>Generally speaking, small blade generators will cost more if they emit the same power. However, the fan cannot be too large. On the one hand, it is limited by the material, on the other hand, the installation will be more difficult. After comprehensive consideration, we now use large and small fans.</p> <h2>Higher RPM does not mean more power generation.</h2> <p>As the blades of the wind turbine rotate, it drives a huge internal gear to rotate together. When the big gear drives the small gear, the speed of rotation also changes significantly. We can express in the way that we are most familiar. This structure is equivalent to a gearbox. We see the blades spinning slowly, but the blade actually drives the generator through the gearbox to spin at high speed.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-w-350jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="218" /></p> <p>Of course, the power generated by the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> is not only related to the speed, but also related to the torque. Power is equal to torque speed. When the speed is small, the output power can also be increased by increasing the torque.</p> <p>Therefore, in order to prolong the durability of the wind turbine we won’t make the blades spin too fast. As the wind turbine blade is huge and the centrifugal force of high-speed rotation is also large, then long-term high-intensity centrifugal motion will also damage the life of the blade. Therefore, when the wind turbine encounters strong winds, it will turn on the protection mode and stop generating electricity to protect the fans.</p> <h2>Excessive speed will also affect the power generation efficiency.</h2> <p>In fact, when the blades of the fan rotate, they also impede the movement of the wind. The higher the speed, the stronger the obstacle. When a certain value is reached, the utilization rate of wind energy will also begin to decrease.</p> <p>To make it easier for everyone to understand, we can imagine two extreme examples. If the speed of the fan is close to infinity, the rotation of the blades is equivalent to directly forming a sealing plate, blocking the wind flow. At this point, the wind has to take a detour, so naturally this wind energy cannot be used very well. At this time, the utilization rate of wind energy is equivalent to zero.</p> <p>Another situation is that the blade speed goes straight to zero. At this point, wind energy is not being used at all. In the range of zero speed and infinite speed, the speed with the highest utilization of wind energy exists. This speed is related to many factors. There's just a lot of discussion here. Therefore, the blade speed we see is not much different from the theoretical optimal speed. By adjusting to the optimal rotational speed, the wind energy utilization rate at this time is also the highest.</p> <h2>Summarize</h2> <p>So the wind turbine looks slow and the actual airframe is doing efficient power generation. The seemingly simple fan generator actually considers the influence of various factors on the fan power generation efficiency at the beginning of the design. There are complex and strict scientific truths behind the simple phenomenon.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:332 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-ensure-the-safe-operation-of-wind-turbines How to Ensure the Safe Operation of Wind Turbines? <p>In the early 1970s, due to the problem of energy shortage because of the oil crisis, people realized the instability and limitation of conventional fossil energy supply. So people began to seek clean and renewable energy. As a renewable and pollution-free natural energy, wind energy has attracted people's attention.</p> <p>In long-term practice, we found that due to design problems, ordinary wind turbines are prone to have some accidents when the wind speed is high. In order to ensure the safe operation of wind turbines, the original design needs to be improved.</p> <p>The principle of the wind turbine is also relatively simple. The generator uses the wind to drive the blades of the windmill to rotate, and then the speed of rotation is increased through the speed-increasing machine to promote the generator to generate electricity. According to current windmill technology, a speed of about three meters per second can start generating electricity.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>A wind turbine consists of a nose, a swivel, a tail, and blades. Every part is important. The function of each part is that the blades are used to receive wind power and convert it into electrical energy through the nose. The empennage keeps the blades facing the direction of the incoming wind to obtain maximum wind energy. The swivel can make the nose turn flexibly to realize the function of adjusting the direction of the tail. The rotor of the machine head is a permanent magnet, and the stator windings cut the magnetic lines of force to generate electricity.</p> <p>The blade angle of ordinary wind turbines is fixed. When the wind wheel is strong, the wind wheel will rotate rapidly, resulting in bad phenomena such as blade flying and excessive instantaneous current, which is a safety risk. Therefore, the researchers improved the wind turbine, using paddle control technology and an automatic control system to provide double protection for the equipment.</p> <p>Wind turbine blades are also designed to be three-bladed in part for safe operation. From an aerodynamic point of view, more blades means more torque, so the rotation speed will be slower under the same wind speed. There is no doubt that the more wind energy is converted into electricity, the faster the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a> spin, the better. So it seems that the less blades the wind turbine is more efficient.</p> <p>From this point of view, a single-page wind turbine can seem to achieve maximum efficiency in generating electricity. But at the same wind speed, the rapid rotation of a single-blade wind turbine will cause a lot of noise and will cause the components to wear out faster. It is same to two-leaf wind turbines. In addition, when the blades are in the horizontal direction, the gyroscopic effect will cause the two-leaf wind turbine to produce a huge tremor effect, which will tear the turbine or cause wear.</p> <p>Finally, from an aesthetic point of view, the three-leaf turbine wind turbine is also the most comfortable design. Therefore, the three-blade wind turbine is a design that can minimize the chatter effect, while taking into account the durability, economy and aesthetics.</p> <p>When the ambient wind speed exceeds the rated wind speed of the wind turbine, the wind turbine will automatically adjust the stability of the rotor speed. At the same time, the system can also control the status of the equipment according to the actual situation.</p> <p>In fact, the slow speed of fan blades is related to safe operation. The weight of the wind turbine and the wind speed have a lot to do with it. The larger the fan, the longer the blade, the heavier it is, and the slower it spins. The 1.5-megawatt wind turbine blade weighs about six tons, which is 1.8 times that of the 0.75-megawatt wind turbine blade. But the blades only turn 18 times a minute, which is only three-quarters of the 0.75-megawatt wind turbine. The faster the wind speed, the faster the fan spins.</p> <p>When the wind speed reaches 3 meters per second, the 1.5 megawatt wind turbine can increase the speed by turning the gear, thereby driving the generator to generate electricity. So can the fan blade speed increase infinitely with the increase of wind speed? When the wind speed exceeds the wind speed limit, the blade will stop working. The reason is that if the rotation speed is too fast, the eccentricity is greatly enhanced, and the inertial tendency will break the balance of attacking itself, and the blade will be easily broken.</p> <p>Therefore, each type of blade has a maximum speed. When the wind speed is too fast, the speed limiting device in the background will stop the fan to reduce the damage and wear caused by its own inertia. Therefore, the fan blades rotate slowly, which can more effectively protect the aircraft from damage.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:331 https://www.inverter.com/5-working-modes-of-hybrid-solar-inverter 5 Working Modes of Hybrid Solar Inverter <p>A hybrid inverter is an upgrade based on a solar inverter. It contains the functionality of a solar inverter that converts DC to AC and also adds built-in solar controllers like MPPT or PWM types. So, to be precise, a hybrid inverter is a solar inverter with a built-in charge controller. It can also be a combination of off-grid and grid-tied inverters in one machine with the same description you would call a hybrid inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/hybrid-solar-inverter.jpeg" alt="Hybrid solar inverter" width="400" height="400" /></p> <p>Next we will introduce the five working modes of the hybrid solar inverter.</p> <h2>Photovoltaic high power mode</h2> <p>That is to say, the photovoltaic power generation exceeds the power of the home load and the battery energy storage power, and the excess power will be sent back to the grid in reverse. If you don't want to have reverse power, you can set the inverter to automatically reduce the photovoltaic power in this case, or increase the battery capacity.</p> <h2>Photovoltaic low power mode</h2> <p>When the photovoltaic power is lower than the load power at home, the battery will release part of the power. If the photovoltaic power and battery discharge power are still less than the load power at home, the grid will automatically supplement the power.</p> <h2>No photovoltaic power mode</h2> <p>For example, at night, when there is no sun, all power is provided by the battery. If the battery power is less than the load power in the home, the grid will automatically supplement the lack of power.</p> <h2>UPS mode</h2> <p>Natural disasters or accidents cause power outages. As long as the battery still has power, the inverter will provide emergency backup power, which is very suitable for places where disasters are frequent or power outages are frequent.</p> <h2>User setting mode</h2> <p>For example, in some places, the electricity bill is particularly cheap at a certain time of the night. At this time, you can set the machine to automatically draw electricity from the grid, and use it or sell it to the grid company when the electricity bill is particularly expensive. It can also be used in some places where there are frequent power outages, as long as there is electricity, the battery will be charged immediately, and electricity will be available when the power goes out.</p> <p>Let's just say, this is a very good solution for distributed energy and smart grids, especially in many places where there are too many people to build large power grids. It can allow more people to use green, low-carbon, environmentally friendly, safe and cheap renewable energy, greatly reduce the demand for fossil energy, and let the people in these war-torn energy producing areas live a peaceful life.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:330 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-troubleshooting Power Inverter Troubleshooting <p>If you live in a remote place with only DC power, then an inverter is essential. This also applies if you are camping in an RV or have only an SUV for power. Power inverters or digital inverters are very effective when using the battery as a larger power source. They will help you convert DC power from your car battery to AC power and allow you to charge devices, run your laptop, and more.</p> <p>However, if you end up with a faulty power inverter and have no choice but to repair it yourself, this article will help you understand how inverters work and you will also go through the process that should be followed to repair it. Stick to this process and get your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> repaired yourself.</p> <h2>What is a power inverter?</h2> <p>What is an inverter? A power inverter is a power converter device that converts DC power from a battery to AC power. It is an oscillator that quickly switches the polarity setting from DC to AC and produces a square wave. With a power inverter, you can use devices that require AC power instead of DC power. You can get 220 or 240 volt current output from the inverter to help you run any type of equipment.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter.jpeg" alt="Power inverter" width="300" /></p> <h2>How to repair the power inverter?</h2> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Troubleshoot the faulty power switch</strong><br />When the inverter does not start when the power switch is pressed, the switch may be the problem! First, you must check if it is OK and the process is simple. Unplug the power inverter from its power supply, plug another device into it, and turn it on. If it does not turn on, you must replace the power switch. Call a professional electrician and get a replacement unit for the switch to make the change. If you have no problem doing it yourself, you can also replace it yourself.</p> </li> <li><strong>Check the battery connection</strong><br />If you have been using the setting for a long time and the inverter does not work or does not turn on, the fault may be battery related. In most cases, the problem is a loose connection to the battery, which requires you to clean and tighten it. If the problem is not the connector, the battery may be rusted or corroded. Check the battery and check for corrosion, if there is corrosion, disconnect and remove the battery and clean it. To clean it, take some baking soda, mix it with hot water, take a stiff toothbrush and scrub the terminals with it after dipping it into the mixture. After removing the corrosion, clean the connectors and dry them with a paper towel. Reconnect them and try to turn the inverter again.</li> <li> <p><strong>Discharged or faulty batteries</strong><br />When your power inverter does not work, the fault may not lie with the inverter at all. The problem may also be with the battery, especially if you run it for a long time. The battery may have been weakened and discharged quickly, or there may be an internal fault. If your battery is low, you may have to replace it or repair it if possible. If the battery is a lead-acid battery and has run out of acid, you must replace the acid, and that will be sufficient.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Diagnosing the inverter</strong><br />If the problem is not with the power switch or the battery, it may be with the inverter itself, and you must perform a diagnosis to fix the problem. After understanding how the system works, the best way to do this is to get a diagram of the inverter. Once you have the diagram, you can check the contact points one by one after opening the housing. If you find that the contact points look good, proceed with the rest of the components. You must test the voltmeter, then the other components. Take extra safety precautions to ensure that you are out of danger by first disconnecting it from all equipment.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Testing the inverter</strong><br />Once you have installed the new components onto the old defective ones, and shouldered in those places if necessary, it is now time to test. Connect the inverter to the battery and plug it into a controlled and limited power source, such as a low-voltage lamp. Now, use a voltmeter to get a reading on the inverter output to see if it is working properly. If everything is working properly, the machine should work and the lights should come on. </p> <p> </p> </li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:329 https://www.inverter.com/working-principle-of-pure-sine-wave-inverter Working Principle of Pure Sine Wave Inverter <p>When you want to use a pure sine wave inverter to power electronic equipment in your home, you must understand how the equipment works. Inverters are not only used during power outages and power outages, but can also be used outdoors. The inverter has power sockets through which you can connect electrical appliances. However, what you can connect depends on the rating and load capacity the inverter can handle. When the inverter is connected and turned on, it converts the DC current to the AC current that the appliances work on. It can also power sensitive equipment and make it work at its best.</p> <p>The circuit or device connected to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> will have an effect on frequency, output voltage, power handling and various other factors. It provides clean and consistent power, which is required for equipment to operate without any interruptions and surges, especially when you connect equipment to the grid.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpeg" alt="Pure sine wave inverter" width="300" /></p> <p>The operation of the inverter is based on three distinct phases.</p> <h2>Oscillation phase</h2> <p>The inverter generates pulses as it passes through the IC circuit. The resulting voltage will have a specific frequency. Both negative and positive voltages will oscillate at a specific frequency. These weak signals are difficult to power high current output transformers. You can increase the strength of weak signals by setting up an amplifier. It improves the signal and allows the inverter to perform its tasks.</p> <h2>Booster or amplifier stage</h2> <p>The voltage produced by the oscillator will be amplified using an amplifier and bring the low current level to the operating level. The amplified power will be in AC form. However, the voltage is provided by the battery, which is too low for the appliance to operate. You can increase the voltage level to allow the device to function optimally by amplifying the voltage level. This increased voltage is passed to the secondary winding of the output transformer.</p> <h2>Output transformer stage</h2> <p>The transformer will lower the AC level with the help of magnetic induction. Transformers act as power inverters, but not vice versa. The lower AC power in the amplifier stage is passed to the secondary winding of the transformer in the output stage. The voltage rises, which the inverter uses to power the AC equipment connected to it.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:328 https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump-price-list Centrifugal Pump Price List <p>Centrifugal pumps are used to transport fluids by the conversion of rotational kinetic energy to the hydrodynamic energy of the fluid flow. Its basic components are a<img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/5-hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="360" height="240" /> high-speed rotating impeller and a fixed snail-shaped pump casing. Usually centrifugal pumps have impellers with several backward curved blades fastened to the pump shaft and driven by the motor to rotate at high speed along with the pump shaft. There are two ports on the pump casing, the inlet leading to the center of the impeller is connected to the suction line. The tangential side of the pump casing is the outlet, which is connected to the discharge pipeline.</p> <p>Centrifugal pumps are widely used for water, sewage, agriculture, petroleum, and petrochemical pumping. The advantages of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pumps</a> are high flow rate capabilities, abrasive solution compatibility, mixing potential, as well as their relatively simple engineering.</p> <p>Inverter.com provides you two kinds of centrifugal pumps, horizontal centrifugal pumps and vertical centrifugal pumps, which are single-stage single-end-suction booster pumps. The following is our centrifugal pump price list for your reference. If you want more information, please go to our product's page.</p> <table border="1" width="956" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>Horizontal Centrifugal Pump</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Weight</strong></td> <td><strong>Maximum Flow</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1 hp (0.75kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-0750W</a></td> <td>$956.51</td> <td>55kg</td> <td>5.2m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1.5 hp (1.1kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-1100W</a></td> <td>$1,184.13</td> <td>65kg</td> <td>4.9m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2 hp (1.5kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-1500W</a></td> <td>$1,279.37</td> <td>70kg</td> <td>13.5m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3 hp (2.2kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-2200W</a></td> <td>$1,396.83</td> <td>75kg</td> <td>15.2m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4 hp (3kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-3000W</a></td> <td>$1,530.16</td> <td>80kg</td> <td>16.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5 hp (4kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-4000W</a></td> <td>$2,083.49</td> <td>115kg</td> <td>15.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7.5 hp (5.5kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-5500W</a></td> <td>$2,381.98</td> <td>125kg</td> <td>7.8m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10 hp (7.5kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-7500W</a></td> <td>$2,518.44</td> <td>125kg</td> <td>8.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15 hp (11kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-011KW</a></td> <td>$3,492.73</td> <td>180kg</td> <td>16.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 hp (15kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">ATO-HCP-015KW</a></td> <td>$4,197.68</td> <td>230kg</td> <td>32.5m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>Vertical Centrifugal Pump</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong><strong>Rated Power</strong></strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Weight</strong></td> <td><strong><strong>Maximum Flow</strong></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1 hp (0.75kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-0750W</a></td> <td>$897.77</td> <td>55kg</td> <td>5.2m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1.5 hp (1.1kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-1100W</a></td> <td>$1,054.74</td> <td>65kg</td> <td>4.9m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2 hp (1.5kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-1500W</a></td> <td>$1,136.53</td> <td>70kg</td> <td>5.2m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3 hp (2.2kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-2200W</a></td> <td>$1,225.73</td> <td>75kg</td> <td>8.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4 hp (3kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-3000W</a></td> <td>$1,358.42</td> <td>80kg</td> <td>16.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5 hp (4kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-4000W</a></td> <td>$1,706.44</td> <td>115kg</td> <td>8.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7.5 hp (5.5kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-5500W</a></td> <td>$2,067.35</td> <td>125kg</td> <td>16.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10 hp (7.5kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-7500W</a></td> <td>$2,176.23</td> <td>125kg</td> <td>65m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15 hp (11kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-011KW</a></td> <td>$3,241.45</td> <td>180kg</td> <td>16.3m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 hp (15kW)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">ATO-VCP-015KW</a></td> <td>$3,668.12</td> <td>200kg</td> <td>65m<sup>3</sup>/ h</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:327 https://www.inverter.com/how-can-wind-turbines-withstand-typhoons How Can Wind Turbines Withstand Typhoons? <p>Frequent typhoons are a double-edged sword for offshore wind farms. A weaker typhoon can increase power generation and improve the economic benefits of the wind farm. However, a stronger typhoon will bring great harm to the wind farm. In order to better develop and utilize wind energy resources in offshore areas, how to reduce the damage caused by typhoons to wind farms will be an urgent issue to be considered in the development of offshore wind power.</p> <h2>How to Design a Typhoon-proof Wind Turbine?</h2> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/offshore-wind-farm.jpg" alt="Offshore wind farm" width="700" height="477" /></p> <h3>Avoiding Overall Overturning</h3> <p>The typhoon-proof wind turbine should avoid the subversive damage of overall overturning. In order to effectively avoid subversive damage, structural typhoon-proof design should be carried out. According to the time history of the typhoon wind speed measured on site, the random dynamic response analysis of the structure is carried out to obtain a more accurate dynamic amplification factor. If the conditions are not met, the strong non-stationarity of the typhoon wind speed should be considered, and a method for determining the dynamic amplification factor suitable for the typhoon wind speed should be proposed. Generally, the safety factors of foundation, tower, nacelle, hub, and blades decrease in turn. By improving the safety factor of the supporting structure (tower and foundation), the probability of tower damage and overall overturning is reduced, so as to avoid huge losses caused by overturning damage.</p> <h3>Coping with Transient Wind Speeds</h3> <p>The instantaneous change of wind direction has an important influence on the safety of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a>. When a typhoon passes, it usually brings higher wind speed, which is beneficial to the power generation operation of offshore wind turbines, but the large-scale changes in wind direction bring difficulties to the operation of offshore wind turbines. Therefore, when designing an offshore wind turbine, the wind direction, turbulence, and control parameters such as pitch and yaw should be considered in combination with the operating state of the wind turbine to conduct a comprehensive analysis.</p> <h3>Blade Optimum Design</h3> <p>Among the damaged blades in various wind farms, most of the blades are broken at the root, and some are partially detached. In order to reduce the damage to the blades caused by the typhoon, the following measures can be taken: for the problem of insufficient bonding strength between the main beam and the wing shell, adopt the addition of riveting devices to the connection of the rear wing of the blade; improve the local structure of the blade; In the process, the detection of local defects of the blade should be further strengthened to enhance the ability of the blade to resist typhoon; the material of the blade should be improved to improve its ultimate strength and anti-fatigue strength counting ability.</p> <h3>Intelligent Yaw Mechanism</h3> <p>Develop an intelligent yaw mechanism, which can control the yaw of the nacelle to reduce the wind force on the unit even if the unit stops running, so that the unit can be designed to withstand strong platforms. Wind At present, Japan has designed an intelligent yaw control device to reduce the crew load increased by strong winds. The application of the device can reduce the blade and tower loads by 25% and 30% respectively when strong winds come, thereby improving the reliability of the wind turbine.</p> <h2>Wind Farm Construction and Maintenance</h2> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-farm-construction.jpg" alt="Wind farm construction" width="700" height="475" /></p> <h3>Reasonable Location</h3> <p>The reasonable location of the wind field should avoid areas with high turbulence intensity such as steep hills, many obstacles, and severely uneven terrain.</p> <h3>Wind Farm Construction</h3> <p>When building wind farms in typhoon areas, it is recommended to use buried cables and install backup diesel generators, so as to maintain the yaw capability of the wind turbines in the event of a typhoon and power outages, and reduce risks by maintaining the basic survival power of the wind turbines.</p> <h3>Feathering</h3> <p>When a typhoon comes, keep the wind turbine in a stalling and feathering state, but the yaw suspension state is the key to preventing blade damage. When a typhoon strikes, the fan can actively yaw and feather the front wind, which can greatly reduce the probability of blade damage; maintain the yaw function of the fan, so that it can always be aligned with the typhoon wind direction, so that the blades are feathered with the least force state, which is key to reducing the risk of leaf damage.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:326 https://www.inverter.com/structure-of-a-pure-sine-wave-inverter Structure of a Pure Sine Wave Inverter <p>Pure sine wave inverter is a kind of inverter, which is a power electronic device that converts DC power (power battery, storage battery) into AC power (usually 220V, 50Hz sine wave). Inverter and AC/ DC converter is the opposite process. A sine wave inverter is an electric energy conversion device that converts direct current into alternating current. It completes the inversion task by turning on and off power semiconductor devices according to specific rules.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverter-structure.jpg" alt="Structure of pure sine wave inverter" width="950" height="340" /></p> <p>Next, let's talk about the basic structure of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a>.</p> <h2>Input circuit</h2> <p>The input of the inverter is usually direct current (or direct current obtained by rectifying and filtering the mains), and these direct currents include direct current power grids, storage batteries, photovoltaic cells and other direct currents. Usually, these electric energy cannot be directly used as the input side voltage of the inverter, but are used as the input of the inverter after passing through a certain filter circuit and EMC circuit.</p> <h2>Inverter main circuit</h2> <p>The main circuit of the inverter is a power conversion circuit composed of power switching devices. The structure of the main circuit is divided into many types. Under different input and output conditions, the main circuit forms are also different. Each power conversion circuit has its own advantages and disadvantages. , the most suitable circuit topology should be considered as the main circuit structure in the actual design.</p> <h2>Control circuit</h2> <p>According to the requirements of the inverter output, the control circuit generates one or more sets of pulse voltages through a certain control technology, and acts on the power switch tube through the drive circuit, so that the power switch tube is turned on or off according to the specified order, and finally the main power switch is turned on or off. The desired voltage waveform is obtained at the output of the circuit. The function of the control circuit is very important for the inverter system, and the performance of the control circuit directly determines the quality of the output voltage waveform of the inverter.</p> <h2>Output circuit</h2> <p>The output circuit generally includes an output filter circuit and an EMC circuit. If the output is DC, a rectifier circuit should be added later. For an inverter with isolated output, an isolation transformer should also be provided in the front stage of the output circuit. According to whether the output needs a voltage regulator circuit, the output circuit can be divided into open-loop and closed-loop control. The output of the open-loop system is only determined by the control circuit, while the output of the closed-loop system is also affected by the feedback loop, making the output more stable.</p> <h2>Auxiliary power</h2> <p>Some parts or chips of the control circuit and the input and output circuit have specific input voltage requirements, and the auxiliary power supply can meet the specific voltage requirements in the circuit. Usually, the auxiliary power supply is composed of one or several DC-DC converters. For the case of AC input, the auxiliary power supply is completed by combining the rectified voltage and the DC-DC converter.</p> <h2>Protect the circuit</h2> <p>Protection circuits usually include input overvoltage, undervoltage protection, output overvoltage, undervoltage protection, overload protection, overcurrent and short circuit protection. There are other protections for inverters working in specific occasions, such as temperature protection in very low or very high temperature occasions, air pressure protection in the case of certain air pressure changes, and air pressure protection in humid environments. Humidity protection, etc.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:325 https://www.inverter.com/function-of-pure-sine-wave-inverter Function of Pure Sine Wave Inverter <p>A pure sine wave inverter is a common inverter, an electric energy conversion device that converts direct current into alternating current. It consists of an inverter bridge, a control logic and a filter circuit. interrupt to complete the inversion task. Pure sine wave inverters are widely used in industrial electronic technology and semiconductor device technology.</p> <p>Today we will talk about the functions of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> in detail.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpeg" alt="Pure sine wave inverter" width="300" /></p> <h2>Function of pure sine wave inverter</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Input circuit<br />The input of the inverter is usually direct current (or direct current obtained by rectifying and filtering the mains), and these direct currents include direct current power grids, storage batteries, photovoltaic cells and other direct currents. Usually, these electric energy cannot be directly used as the input side voltage of the inverter, but are used as the input of the inverter after passing through a certain filter circuit and EMC circuit.</li> <li>Inverter main circuit<br />The main circuit of the inverter is a power conversion circuit composed of power switching devices. The structure of the main circuit is divided into many types. Under different input and output conditions, the main circuit forms are also different. Each power conversion circuit has its own advantages and disadvantages. , the most suitable circuit topology should be considered as the main circuit structure in the actual design.</li> <li>Control circuit<br />According to the requirements of the inverter output, the control circuit generates one or more sets of pulse voltages through a certain control technology, and acts on the power switch tube through the drive circuit, so that the power switch tube is turned on or off according to the specified order, and finally the main power switch is turned on or off. The desired voltage waveform is obtained at the output of the circuit. The function of the control circuit is very important for the inverter system, and the performance of the control circuit directly determines the quality of the output voltage waveform of the inverter.</li> <li>Output circuit<br />The output circuit generally includes an output filter circuit and an EMC circuit. If the output is DC, a rectifier circuit should be added later. For an inverter with isolated output, an isolation transformer should also be provided in the front stage of the output circuit. According to whether the output needs a voltage regulator circuit, the output circuit can be divided into open-loop and closed-loop control. The output of the open-loop system is only determined by the control circuit, while the output of the closed-loop system is also affected by the feedback loop, making the output more stable.</li> <li>Auxiliary power<br />Some parts or chips of the control circuit and the input and output circuit have specific input voltage requirements, and the auxiliary power supply can meet the specific voltage requirements in the circuit. Usually, the auxiliary power supply is composed of one or several DC-DC converters. For the case of AC input, the auxiliary power supply is completed by combining the rectified voltage and the DC-DC converter.</li> <li>Protect the circuit<br />Protection circuits usually include input overvoltage, undervoltage protection, output overvoltage, undervoltage protection, overload protection, overcurrent and short circuit protection. There are other protections for inverters working in specific occasions, such as temperature protection in very low or very high temperature occasions, air pressure protection in the case of certain air pressure changes, and air pressure protection in humid environments. Humidity protection, etc.</li> </ol> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:324 https://www.inverter.com/advantages-of-pure-sine-wave-inverter Advantages of Pure Sine Wave Inverter <p>Pure sine wave inverter is a kind of inverter, which is a power electronic device that converts direct current (power battery, storage battery) into alternating current (generally 220V, 50Hz sine wave). Inverter and AC/ DC converter is the opposite process. Because the AC/ DC converter or power adapter rectifies the 220V alternating current into direct current for use, and the inverter does the opposite, hence the name. Pure sine wave inverters are widely used in various communication systems, household, industrial equipment, satellite communication equipment, military vehicles, medical ambulances, solar and wind power generation and other places that require emergency backup power.</p> <p>So, today let's talk about the advantages of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a>.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverters.jpg" alt="Pure sine wave inverter" width="300" /></p> <h2>Advantages of pure sine wave inverter</h2> <ol> <li>Provides clean power:<br />Using a pure sine wave inverter will give you smooth, sharp and exactly the same power as pure AC. So if you want to get the exact same power as a power station, you have to buy a pure sine wave inverter. Since most of the appliances and devices we use in our homes are designed to use pure AC power directly from the power station, a pure sine wave inverter is the perfect choice.</li> <li>Ideal power supply<br />A pure sine wave inverter provides an output voltage in the form of a pure sine wave. Therefore, it has low harmonic distortion and therefore cleaner power. This is especially beneficial for utility power that can keep your equipment and appliances running smoothly. Due to the technical wave output, the inverter provides enough energy for your equipment, therefore, it makes it one of the most ideal power sources for all kinds of equipment.</li> <li>Better performance:<br />Inverters that use pure sine waves can place inductive loads on appliances such as microwave ovens. Thanks to this feature, the microwave oven works efficiently and cooks faster. So you save extra energy and get the job done quickly. In addition to this, the inverter's motor is also smoother and quieter than other inverters. Therefore, if you want to equip your microwave with backup power, you should consider buying a pure sine wave inverter.</li> <li>Extend the life of your equipment:<br />Since the device will get the right amount of waveform output with a pure sine wave inverter, your appliances and equipment will stay cool and work efficiently. This inverter also protects your computer and laptop from crashes and malfunctions. Therefore, for all those who use laptops, computers and digital equipment, it is better to choose a pure sine wave inverter as it reduces the chance of any machine failure.</li> <li>Low noise:<br />A pure sine wave inverter can also help you reduce noise in different equipment. So if you have noisy fans, audio amplifiers, or fluorescent lights that make irritating noises, you can use this inverter as a power source.<br />Once connected to this inverter, the performance of all noise-generating equipment can be optimized. Noise reduction is possible because the pure sine wave generated in the inverter provides higher power to the device without damaging it. So give your noisy equipment a chance to be quiet by using a pure sine wave inverter in its operation.</li> <li>Easy to maintain:<br />Pure sine wave inverters do not require much maintenance compared to other forms of power sources such as generators. All you need to do is check your car batteries regularly and make sure they are in good condition. Other than that, you don't have to think about the maintenance of that inverter. Generators, on the other hand, require regular and painstaking maintenance, just like an oil change after every 200 hours of use. So, from a maintenance standpoint, pure sine wave inverters offer a better deal.</li> <li>Small and lightweight:<br />Compared to generators and other emergency power sources, pure sine wave inverters are compact and lightweight generators. This feature makes it easy to take it anywhere you want. For anyone looking for emergency power while camping or boating outdoors, a pure sine wave inverter could be a perfect choice. If you want the best portable power for your devices and appliances, then this type of inverter is the way to go.</li> <li>Keep the voltage at a safe level:<br />In a modified sine wave inverter, the voltage fluctuates constantly. But this is not the case with pure sine wave inverters. Voltage fluctuations can cause dangerous damage to your equipment, so it's best to buy a reliable portable power supply. In most pure sine wave inverters, the voltage is kept around 230V, which is perfect for a variety of devices and also helps prevent any kind of crash.</li> <li>Use various equipment:<br />One of the most significant advantages of a pure sine wave inverter is that it can work and connect to any type of device you can think of. Unlike modified sine wave inverters, pure sine wave inverters will not damage equipment such as laser printers, battery powered appliances and stoves.</li> </ol> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:322 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-components-of-wind-turbine What are the Components of Wind Turbine? <p>A wind turbine is a power machine that converts wind energy into mechanical work. Generally speaking, it is a thermal energy generator that uses the sun's micro-heat source and the atmosphere as the working medium. Wind turbines use natural energy, which is much better than diesel power generation. But if it is used in an emergency, it is not as good as a diesel generator. Wind power cannot be regarded as a backup power source, but it can be used for a long time.</p> <p>Wind turbines are composed of nacelles, rotor blades, shafts, gearboxes and other components. Today we will introduce the role of these components one by one.</p> <p><strong>Nacelle:</strong> The nacelle contains the key equipment of the wind turbine, including the gearbox and generator. Maintenance personnel can access the nacelle through <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">the wind turbine</a> tower. At the left end of the nacelle is the rotor of the wind turbine, i.e. the rotor blades and the shaft.</p> <p><strong>Rotor blade:</strong> The blade is a unit that absorbs wind energy and is used to convert the kinetic energy of the air into the mechanical energy of the impeller rotation. It captures the wind and transmits it to the rotor shaft. Each rotor blade of the 600kW wind turbine measures approximately 20 meters in length and is designed to be the wing of an aircraft.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-w-350jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="218" /></p> <p><strong>Shaft:</strong> The shaft of the rotor is attached to the low speed shaft of the wind turbine.</p> <p><strong>Low-speed shaft:</strong> The low-speed shaft of the wind turbine connects the rotor shaft and the gearbox. The rotor speed of a 600-kilowatt wind turbine is rather slow, about 19 to 30 revolutions per minute. There is a hydraulic system conduit on the shaft that stimulates the operation of the pneumatic brake.</p> <p><strong>Gearbox:</strong> The left side of the gearbox is the low-speed shaft, which can increase the speed of the high-speed shaft to 50 times that of the low-speed shaft.</p> <p><strong>High-speed shaft and its mechanical brake:</strong> The high-speed shaft runs at 1500 rpm to drive the generator. It is equipped with an emergency mechanical brake for use in the event of a pneumatic brake failure or wind turbine repairs.</p> <p><strong>Generator:</strong> It is commonly known as induction motor or asynchronous generator. The maximum power output of wind turbines is usually 500-1500 kW.</p> <p><strong>Yaw device:</strong> The nacelle is rotated by the motor so that the rotor faces the wind. The yaw device is operated by an electronic controller, which can sense the wind direction through the wind vane. Typically, wind turbines only deflect a few degrees at a time when the wind changes direction.</p> <p><strong>Electronic controller:</strong> It includes a computer that continuously monitors the status of the wind turbine and controls the yaw device. To prevent any failure (like gearbox or generator overheating), the controller can automatically stop the wind turbine from spinning and call the wind turbine operator via a phone modem.</p> <p><strong>Hydraulic system:</strong> It is used to reset the pneumatic brake of the wind turbine.</p> <p><strong>Cooling element:</strong> It includes a fan that cools the generator. In addition, it includes an oil cooling element for cooling the oil in the gearbox. Some wind turbines have water-cooled generators.</p> <p><strong>Tower:</strong> The wind turbine tower carries the nacelle and rotor. Usually tall towers has an advantage because the higher the ground, the faster the wind speed. The tower height of the 600 kW wind turbine is 40 to 60 meters. The tower of the wind turbine can be a tubular tower or a lattice tower. Tubular towers are safer for maintenance personnel as they can reach the top of the tower via an internal ladder. The advantage of lattice towers is that they are less expensive.</p> <p><strong>Anemometer and wind vane:</strong> They are used to measure wind speed and direction.</p> <p><strong>Rudder:</strong> A small wind turbine (generally 10KW and below), which is common in the wind direction of the horizontal axis. It is located behind and connected to the rotating body.<br />To conclude, we introduce the structure of wind turbine to you. From this passage, you can know how does each part of wind turbine work clearly. The popularity and development of wind turbines are extremely rapid. The effect and function of wind turbines are also huge. We believe that you must learn a lot.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:321 https://www.inverter.com/3-common-troubleshooting-of-wind-turbines 3 Common Troubleshooting of Wind Turbines <p>As wind turbine is very important and when there is troubles, it is not an easy case to deal with. Today, we are going to introduce 3 common troubleshooting of wind turbines to you. We hope that this article can help you.</p> <h2>The orientation is ineffective or cannot be adjusted.</h2> <p><strong>Causes of failure:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The resistance of the damper for leeward or rudder adjustment is too high.</li> <li>The tension force of the balance spring for head-turning and head-up speed regulation is small or invalid.</li> <li>The steering motor is out of control or running sickly or its bearing is broken.</li> <li>Anemometer or tachometer generator of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> may be out of control.</li> <li>The bearing of the steering wheel enters the soil and is poorly lubricated. The resistance is too large or the bearing of the turntable is damaged and cannot be rotated.</li> <li>The instruction of the microcomputer is wrong, and the direction adjustment fails.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Troubleshooting methods:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Turn damper spring pressure down.</li> <li>Adjust the balance spring to the rated wind speed and turn your head upwards or tilt your head up. If the spring fails, it needs to be replaced.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></li> <li>If the electric control of the start-up steering motor is broken, replace it or replace the motor bearing, and re-install the steering motor. If the stator part of the motor is short-circuited or open, remove it for inspection, re-wire it, and re-install it after repairing. Check the anemometer and tachometer generator, replace if damaged.</li> <li>Check the slewing bearing, remove the soil, clean it and fill with oil, and replace the oil seal. If the turntable bearing is damaged and the nacelle needs to be removed for replacement. At this time, a major overhaul should be carried out, all bearings should be replaced, lubricating oil should be replaced, etc.</li> <li>Check each chip of the microcomputer, check the program, and check the magnetic starter or amplifier for control. If the chip is damaged and it needs to be replaced. If there is program error, you need to re-enter the correct program. If the starter is damaged or the amplifier is damaged, it needs to be replaced. If the shield is damaged, re-shield it. If the sensor fails, it needs to be replaced.</li> </ul> <h2>There is an abnormal sound when the wind wheel rotates.</h2> <p><strong>Causes of failure:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The engine room is loose or it touches the rotating parts after being loose.</li> <li>The rotor bearing seat is loose or the bearing is damaged.</li> <li>The speed increaser is loose or the gearbox bearing is damaged.</li> <li>The brakes are loose.</li> <li>Coupling damaged.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Troubleshooting methods:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>If there is an abnormal sound, you should shutdown inspection.</li> <li>Re-tighten the hood fastening bolts.</li> <li>Re-adjust the coaxiality of the wind wheel shaft and the speed increaser, and tighten the fixed bolts firmly. If the bearing is damaged, replace the bearing and re-rotate the bearing seat.</li> <li>Adjust the coaxiality of the speed increaser and re-tighten its fixed bolts. Remove the speed increaser, replace the bearing and oil seal, and re-install the speed increaser.</li> <li>Re-fix the brake and adjust the brake pad clearance.</li> <li>Readjust the coaxiality of the generator and tighten the bolts.</li> </ul> <h2>When the wind speed reaches a certain rated wind speed, but the wind rotor cannot reach the rated speed, the generator cannot output the rated voltage.</h2> <p><strong>Causes of failure: </strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Governor cuts out, stuck in one position.</li> <li>There is contract friction between generator rotor and stator.</li> <li>Gearbox bearing or rotor bearing get damaged.</li> <li>The brake pad return spring fails and the brake pads are in a semi-braking state.</li> <li>Microcomputer speed control failure.</li> <li>Pitch bearing gets damaged.</li> <li>Pitch synchronizer gets damaged.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Troubleshooting methods:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The balance of the aerodynamic speed regulation is broken. The tension (pressure) should be replaced or adjusted. Find out where the pitch drive system is stuck and eliminate it. If the hydraulically driven variable pitch cylinder is stuck or leaks oil, replace the cylinder or solve the oil leak.</li> <li>The generator bearing is damaged and it should be removed and replaced. If the generator shaft is bent, you need to remove the rotor for straightening or replacement.</li> <li>Remove and replace gearbox bearing or rotor bearing, re-adjust the coaxial angle and install it.</li> <li>Check the computer output signal, control system failure. The microcomputer may be disturbed and send commands by mistake, so as to eliminate the part being interfered. Or the speed sensor is damaged and needs to be replaced.</li> <li>Replace the bearing.</li> <li>Replace or repair pitch synchronizer.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:374 https://www.inverter.com/can-solar-panels-generate-enough-electricity-on-sunny-day Can Solar Panels Generate Enough Electricity on Sunny Day? <p>As more and more people begin to pursue the quality of life, solar panels are gradually being used in our daily life. So can solar panels generate enough electricity when it's sunny? The answer is yes, solar panels can provide enough power on sunny days. However, several factors must be considered first.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panels-generate-enough-electricity.jpg" alt="Solar panels generate enough electricity " width="453" height="286" /></p> <p>Do you just want something to help offset the cost? Or maybe it's possible to run a product with just solar power, like a charging station or swimming pool? Do you want to be completely off-grid and have enough power not to rely on the power company? Second is you How much are you willing to spend. Solar panels can be expensive, and you will need a large initial investment if you want to have enough solar panels to power your house. With the right space and funding, it's entirely possible to run whatever you want on a sunny day on solar power alone. Let's look a little deeper into some important factors.</p> <h2>How Much Sunlight Solar Panels Get in a Day?</h2> <p>If you put your solar panels in a place that only receives sunlight for half a day, you'll need more solar panels to make up for the lack of sun. It's best to place your solar panels facing south, in a location that isn't blocked by trees or other things, so they get plenty of sunlight. However, it depends where you live. In this case, your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> can still function, but you have to get more for the best benefit.</p> <h2>Solar Panel Efficiency</h2> <p>There are two types of panels available. They are monocrystalline and polycrystalline. In theory, monocrystalline boards are better because they are more efficient and more durable. However, their initial investment costs are very high. They are usually combined with silicon, which is also expensive, but they can be as high as 25 percent efficient and can handle a lot of temperature changes.</p> <p>On the other hand, polycrystalline panels are not as efficient. They do not have a homogeneous structure like single crystals, so efficiency above 16% cannot be obtained. They are the same size as single crystals, so you need more to get the same efficiency.</p> <h2>Electricity Storage</h2> <p>Another factor is whether you want to store your electricity. Investing in a battery pack will allow you to use your solar panels year-round, even without relying on the local grid all night.</p> <p>The size of the bank and the amount of electricity you use determine how long you can continue to use your solar panels after they stop generating electricity. The battery pack is undoubtedly the most expensive part of a solar system, with individual cells costing thousands of dollars. If you enough money dedicated to your solar system, focusing on the amount of storage you need is a good start, as you can always add more solar panels. However, if you can't afford batteries, your solar panels will still work, but they're only really active during the day when the sun is shining.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:320 https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator-price-list Solar Generator Price List <p>The solar generator is also known as the solar inverter integrated machine. It works by using solar panels (photovoltaic modules) to generate electricity under solar<img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/portable-solar-power-generator-solar.jpg" alt="Portable solar power generator" width="400" height="400" /> radiation. The electric energy is stored in the battery through the solar controller, and then the direct current is converted into a pure sine wave alternating current output by the power frequency inverter. In this way, solar generator supplies power to AC loads.</p> <p>Solar generators are suitable for remote areas without electricity and places where the power supply is extremely unstable. It operates independently from the grid, so it is also called a solar independent power generation system. According to the actual use environment and user needs, it adopts two different working modes: solar energy priority and mains priority, and can be switched freely.</p> <p>Solar generators are commonly used in deep mountain planting, mariculture, plateau families and schools, pastoral tents, forest dwellings, border posts, hydrological observation stations, communication base stations, temporary shantytowns at construction sites, etc. They can also be used in homes and public places as temporary emergency backup power supply.</p> <p>Inverter.com provides you <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generators</a> of various power. For more details, please move to the product page. Now we will show you the price list of solar generator below for your reference.</p> <table border="1" width="1043" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Product Name</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td><strong>Battery Capacity</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-generator">100W Portable Solar Generator with Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSG-100</td> <td>$451.38</td> <td>100W</td> <td>42000mAh / 3.7V 155wh, Lithium battery</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/200w-portable-solar-generator">200W Portable Solar Generator with Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSG-200</td> <td>$539.85</td> <td>200W</td> <td>60000mAh / 3.7V 222wh, Lithium battery</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-portable-solar-generator">300W Portable Solar Generator with Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSG-300</td> <td>$625.54</td> <td>300W</td> <td>80000mAh / 3.7V 296wh, Lithium battery</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-portable-solar-generator">500W Portable Solar Generator with Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSG-500</td> <td>$878.08</td> <td>500W</td> <td>135000mAh/3.6V 486wh, Lithium battery</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/700w-portable-solar-generator">700W Portable Solar Generator with Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSG-700</td> <td>$986.15</td> <td>700W</td> <td>180000mAh/3.6V 648wh, Lithium battery</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/portable-small-solar-power-generator">Portable Small Solar Power Generator</a></td> <td>ATO-DL-50</td> <td>$613.61</td> <td>50W, 100W</td> <td>50AH / 12V, 100AH / 12V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-power-generator">300 Watt Portable Solar Power Generator</a></td> <td>ATO-AL-300</td> <td>$905.07</td> <td>300W</td> <td>55AH / 12V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">500 Watt Portable Solar Power Generator</a></td> <td>ATO-AL-500</td> <td>$934.92</td> <td>500W</td> <td>55AH / 12V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1000 Watt Portable Solar Power Generator</a></td> <td>ATO-AL-1000</td> <td>$1,330.31</td> <td>1000W</td> <td>2*55AH / 12V, 2*100AH / 12V</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1500 Watt Portable Solar Power Generator</a></td> <td>ATO-AL-1500</td> <td>$2,521.46</td> <td>1500W</td> <td>2*100AH / 12V</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want a s</em><em>olar generator that is not listed in the table, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:317 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-protect-solar-power-system-from-lightning How To Protect Solar Power System From Lightning? <p>Thunderstorm is a threat to solar power system. Since there are many positive and negative charges in the cloud layer of cumulonimbus, the separation of positive and negative charges will produce many electric dipoles or multipoles, resulting in lightning.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/thunderstorm-weather.jpg" alt="Thunderstorm weather" /></p> <h2>What Kind of Damage Do Lightning Cause?</h2> <h3>Damage to Solar Panels</h3> <p>Solar photovoltaic panels are not only the core part of photovoltaic power generation equipment, but also the most valuable part of photovoltaic power generation equipment. It converts the radiant energy of the sun into electricity. However, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> have to be arranged in the open field, so they are extremely vulnerable to lightning strikes, resulting in the paralysis of the entire system.</p> <h3>Damage to Solar Charge Controller</h3> <p>The solar charge controller controls the working state of the photovoltaic system and protects the battery from overcharge and overdischarge. When <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">the solar charge controller</a> is damaged by lightning or overvoltage, the charging system will be charged all the time, but the discharging system will not discharge; or the charging system will not be charged, and the discharging system will be in the discharging state all the time. At best, the equipment cannot be used, or at worse, the battery will explode, causing damage to the entire system and casualties.</p> <h3>Damage to Batteries</h3> <p>Solar photovoltaic power generation equipment usually uses lead-acid batteries, nickel hydride batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries or lithium batteries to store electrical energy. When lightning strikes, overvoltage invades the battery, which might damage the battery, shorten the battery life cycle, or even cause the battery to explode, resulting in more serious system failures and casualties.</p> <h3>Damage to Inverter</h3> <p>The inverter can convert the direct current power from the solar photovoltaic power generation equipment into alternating current power. Once <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">the inverter</a> is damaged, there will be no voltage input to the user load, or the inverter cannot invert the voltage. So that the DC voltage generated by the solar photovoltaic panel is directly used by the load. Once the voltage of the solar panel is too high, the electrical equipment will be burned.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grounding-methods-of-solar-power-system.jpg" alt="Grounding methods of solar power system" width="650" height="449" /></p> <h2>Lightning Protection for Solar Power System</h2> <p>At present, the most effective and widespread method among the existing measures is to connect the metal parts of electrical equipment to the earth. The grounding system consists of four parts: grounding equipment, grounding body, lead-in wire and earth. Good grounding is the most critical step in lightning protection measures.<br />The most widely used grounding methods are the following three:</p> <h3>Common Grounding</h3> <p>First, dig a hole with a diameter of about 30cm in the ground, lay salt on the bottom of the hole, and then put the grounding body. After using the PVC pipe to cover the grounding body, fill the gap around the grounding body with soil and compact it, and finally put gravel on it and water it for reinforcement. Ground other grounding bodies in the same way, lay out an isosceles triangle, and connect them with 3.5cm copper wires to form a grounding body inside the photovoltaic field.<br />In this way, the metal equipment, lightning protection devices, and inverters of all equipment in the photovoltaic power station can be directly connected to the same grounding body. It can be used simply as ground protection and neutral line. Once a lightning strike occurs, it can be used as a lightning protection grounding device.</p> <h3>Single Point Grounding</h3> <p>Due to the influence of the geographical environment, the poles in the photovoltaic field are often struck by lightning and their positions are relatively fixed. For these special poles, we need to install lightning protection devices separately.</p> <h3>Combined Grounding</h3> <p>Combined grounding is a lightning protection device composed of multiple grounding bodies. This kind of lightning protection combination is often arranged in the form of ring, square, radial and so on. In order to reduce the mutual shielding effect, when the grounding bodies are arranged in a ring, it is necessary to ensure that there is no opening in the ring, and the actual distance between two adjacent grounding bodies cannot be less than 3m. The upper end of the grounding body should be reinforced with galvanized angle steel, and the distance from the ground should be less than 1m.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:319 https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller-troubleshooting Solar Charge Controller Troubleshooting <p>With the rapid development of the solar industry, solar charge controllers have now begun to spread all over the world, from our home power generation to street lighting, and finally to our transportation solar RV. The solar charge controller has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it is fully intelligent, fully automatic, and fully humanized. The disadvantage is that it is prone to failure. Buying a high-quality solar charge controller can reduce the occurrence of failures. Inverter.com has listed several reasons for the failure for you, hoping to help you.</p> <h2>The solar panel cannot charge the battery.</h2> <ol> <li>Confirm whether the solar panel is connected correctly, and whether the positive and negative poles are reversed.</li> <li>Whether the solar panel is blocked.</li> <li>Whether the specifications of the solar panel are correct. Whether the open circuit voltage meets the requirements of the controller.</li> <li>Whether the power of the solar panel exceeds the rated value of the controller. Too much power may cause the solar smart controller to burn out.</li> </ol> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/48v-mppt-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Solar charge controller" width="250" height="313" /></p> <h2>Solar charge controller battery full soon and dead</h2> <ol> <li>Whether the battery capacity design is reasonable, the capacity is too small, and the use time is naturally short.</li> <li>The battery is aging, the service life of the battery is generally 2-3 years, the capacity of the battery is attenuated greatly, and the battery needs to be replaced regularly.</li> <li>Check whether the battery is short-circuited during the installation process. The capacity of the battery damaged by the short circuit is greatly reduced.</li> <li>The load power exceeds the design power.</li> </ol> <h2>Solar charge controller load does not work.</h2> <ol> <li>Confirm whether the working voltage of the load is consistent with the output voltage of the controller.</li> <li>Whether the load is short-circuited and overloaded.</li> <li>Has the controller load output been manually turned off?</li> <li>Whether the battery voltage is too low or too high to cause the controller load protection.</li> <li>Whether the load output has a delay setting.</li> </ol> <p>Inverter.com sells high quality <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controllers</a> with 20A, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">40A</a>, 60A MPPT controllers and 20A, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">30A</a>, 40A PWM charge control options.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:318 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-peak-output-power-of-a-power-inverter What is the Peak Output Power of a Power Inverter? <h2>What is an inductive load?</h2> <p>High-power electrical products made by electromagnetic induction, such as motors, compressors, relays, fluorescent lamps, etc., require a much larger operating current than the current required to maintain normal operation during operation, such as a A refrigerator that consumes about 100W of power during normal operation can run more than 900W.<br /><br />Because the inductive load is connected to the power supply or cut off the power supply, there will be a back EMF voltage, the peak value of such a voltage is much higher than the voltage value that the inverter can carry, it is very easy to cause instantaneous overload of the inverter, affecting the The life cycle of the inverter. Therefore, these types of electrical appliances have higher standards for power supply waveforms.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter.jpg" alt="Power inverter" width="400" height="300" /></p> <h2>What is the efficiency of a power inverter?</h2> <p>The power inverter itself consumes part of the power during operation, and its input power is higher than its output power. In other words, the efficiency of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is the ratio of the input power to the output power of the inverter. An inverter takes in 1000W of DC current and outputs 900W of AC current, so its efficiency is 90%.</p> <h2>What is continuous output power and peak output power?</h2> <p>Some electrical appliances or equipment using motors, such as refrigerators, washing machines, electric drills, etc., require a very large current to advance at the moment of operation. If the operation is successful, only a small current is required to maintain its normal operation. For the device, there is also the concept of continuous output power and peak output power.</p> <p>The continuous output power is the rated output power, and the peak output power is generally twice the rated output power. It is worth mentioning that the operating current of air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. is equal to 3-9 times the normal operating current. There must be an inverter that can reach the peak power of electrical appliances to ensure normal operation.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:383 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-a-centrifugal-pumps-work Centrifugal Pumps Working Principle <p>Centrifugal pumps are composed of six parts: impeller, pump body, pump shaft, bearing, sealing ring, and stuffing box. A Centrifugal pump can transport liquid mainly by centrifugal force, so it is called a centrifugal pump.</p> <p>In the case of a pump filled with liquid, the impeller rotates to produce centrifugal force, and the liquid in the impeller groove is thrown to the periphery under the action of centrifugal force and flows into the pump casing to form a vacuum in the center of the impeller. The liquid will flow from the suction pool to the impeller under the action of atmospheric pressure. This way the liquid is constantly being sucked and beaten out. In the impeller to obtain the energy of the liquid out of the impeller has large kinetic energy, these liquids in the spiral pump casing are collected, and in the back of the diffusion, the tube will be kinetic energy into pressure energy.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/3-hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="3 hp Vertical Centrifugal Pump" width="250" height="250" /></p> <p>The centrifugal pump works by using the impeller to rotate and cause the water to have centrifugal motion. Before starting the pump, the pump casing and suction pipe must be filled with water, then start the motor, so that the pump shaft drives the impeller and water to do high-speed rotational movement, water centrifugal movement was thrown to the outer edge of the impeller, through the worm-shaped pump casing of the flow channel into the pump pressure pipe circuit. Above is the working principle of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">the centrifugal pump</a>.</p> <h3>Centrifugal pump working steps</h3> <p>Before the pump is started, the pump casing is filled with the liquid to be conveyed. After starting, the impeller is driven by the shaft to rotate at high speed, and the liquid between the vanes must also rotate with it. Under the action of centrifugal force, the liquid is thrown from the center of the impeller to the outer edge and gains energy to leave the outer edge of the impeller at high speed into the worm-shaped pump casing. In the worm casing, the liquid decelerates due to the gradual expansion of the flow channel and transforms part of the kinetic energy into static pressure energy, which flows into the discharge pipe at a higher pressure and is sent to the required place.</p> <p>When the liquid flows from the center of the impeller to the outer edge, a certain vacuum is formed in the center of the impeller, and the liquid is continuously pressed into the impeller because the pressure above the liquid surface of the reservoir is greater than the pressure at the entrance of the pump. So as long as the impeller keeps rotating, the liquid will be continuously sucked and discharged.</p> <h3>Tips for using a centrifugal pump</h3> <ul> <li>In order to make the pump full of liquid, usually installed in the bottom of the suction pipe with a screen bottom valve, the bottom valve until the valve, the function of the screen is to prevent solids into the pump to damage the impeller or prevent the normal operation of the pump.</li> <li>When there is air in the pump casing, the density of the air is much smaller than the density of the liquid and produces a smaller centrifugal force. Thus, the pressure difference between the liquid level above the reservoir and the pump suction inlet is not enough to press the liquid in the reservoir into the pump, so the centrifugal pump has no self-priming ability so that the centrifugal pump can not convey the liquid, this phenomenon is called "gas binding phenomenon"</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:315 https://www.inverter.com/what-do-wind-turbines-need-to-check What do Wind Turbines Need to Check? <p>With the development of science and technology, the types and numbers of wind turbine are increasing. As new units are continuously invested, the units must continue to age. The fault inspection of wind turbines is also becoming more and more important. Today, we will introduce common fault checks.</p> <h2>Main control system</h2> <p>The main control system is one of the core components of the wind turbine. It mainly controls the normal and stable operation of the wind turbine by sending logical judgments and action commands. After in-depth investigation and research, it is found that the most common wind turbine control system is mainly based on PLC modular design and backplane bus connection.</p> <p>Although the application of this control method provides strong technical support for the efficient operation of wind turbines, due to the practical application of this control method, various electronic devices are often affected by external factors. For example, the digital or analog signal input and output of the module itself is abnormal, and the module indicator light is off.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>In response to such failures, maintenance personnel mainly adopt the method of refreshing the program or directly replacing the components. In addition, for the diagnosis and maintenance of external faults during the operation of wind turbines, maintenance personnel mainly rely on the background monitoring of the alarm prompts issued by the SCADA system to quickly determine the fault location of external devices, and then take corresponding measures to deal with them.</p> <h2>Gearbox</h2> <p>The gearbox is one of the important components of the transmission chain of the doubly-fed <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a>. It mainly plays an important role in connecting the main shaft and the generator.<br />When maintaining the gearbox on a daily basis, maintenance personnel should not only pay full attention to the inspection of the tightness of the gearbox pipeline, end cover, center hole, cooler and other parts, but also carefully observe whether the gearbox has oil leakage or damage.</p> <p>Periodically open the gearbox observation hole or use tools such as endoscopes. Check the flow rate of the fuel injection pipe of the gearbox and the size of the fuel injection to avoid affecting the normal and stable operation of the wind turbine due to the failure of the gearbox.</p> <h2>Pitch system</h2> <p>The pitch system is not only the most important actuator of the wind turbine, but also a key factor affecting the speed control efficiency of the wind turbine system and the utilization rate of wind energy. As a kind of rotation, the pitch system imposes strict requirements on the torque of the bolts and devices in the hub and the tightness of the connection, so it increases the probability of the pitch system failure.<br />In order to ensure the normal and stable operation of the wind turbine, the maintenance personnel must do a good job in checking the faults of the components in the hub of the pitch system in strict accordance with the requirements during the daily maintenance process.</p> <h2>Generator</h2> <p>As an indispensable core component of wind turbines, generators play an important role in converting rotating mechanical energy into electrical energy and continuously supplying power resources to the electrical system. With the increasing capacity of wind turbines, the size of wind turbine generators is also increasing. These problems have increased the difficulty of the generator sealing protection work to a certain extent.</p> <p>Since the generator continues to work under different working conditions or electromagnetic conditions, there will be problems such as excessive generator vibration, bearing heating, rotor rod breakage, insulation damage, etc., so strengthen the daily inspection and maintenance of the generator. The timely discovery and resolution of problems arising during the operation of generators will greatly promote the improvement of the operating efficiency of wind power generators.</p> <h2>Blade</h2> <p>Blades are key components in wind power systems that absorb wind energy. In general, blades are made of fiber-reinforced composite materials.</p> <p>The detection of blades by wind power enterprises is mainly by analyzing the stress change and failure of materials in different stress environments, and using infrared imaging detection equipment to accurately determine whether there is a problem with the blades. Since cracks and peeling on the blade surface will affect the distribution of thermal radiation energy, the staff can accurately detect and analyze the cracks on the surface of parts with the help of infrared imaging detection method.</p> <p>And the staff can timely find out the operation process of the wind turbine. Then the stuff can take active and effective measures for maintenance to ensure that the safe and stable operation of the wind turbine is not affected.<br />In addition, if the surface of the blade is found to be falling off during the inspection process, the staff should first glue the part that has fallen off firmly. And after confirming that it is firmly bonded, grind the blade to make it consistent with the shape of the original blade.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:316 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-diagnose-wind-turbine-faults How to Diagnose Wind Turbine Faults? <p>The popularity and development of wind turbines are extremely rapid. The effect and function of wind turbines are also huge. If we can master some common fault judgments when using wind turbines, we may reduce unnecessary losses when the wind turbine fails. Next, we will introduce the fault diagnosis of wind power generation in detail.</p> <h2>Acquisition system and software design</h2> <p>The data acquisition system mainly converts the signals of various sensors into acceptable signals through A/D, and sends the signals back to the data storage module. The acquisition boards have different working modes, and the two commonly used are roving acquisition and synchronous acquisition. The former is that the acquisition card follows the corresponding rules and collects each signal in a targeted manner. The latter is the acquisition card through multiple channels, the signal is collected at the same time.</p> <p>In practical applications, the synchronous acquisition method can better complete the monitoring of wind turbines. In the aspect of implementing the design software, the key components of the software modules of the system are the fault diagnosis module, the signal preprocessing module, the feature extraction module, and the auxiliary function module.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-w-350jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="218" /></p> <h2>Important aspects of fault diagnosis of wind turbines</h2> <p>Wind turbines are usually located in environments with strong winds, generally in harsh areas such as wilderness and islands. However, the load generated by the wind has irregular characteristics, and it will produce a strong impact on thE <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> in the instantaneous state, which will cause the failure of the wind turbine. At present, the maximum speed of wind turbines can be as high as 1.500 revolutions per minute. During long-term high-speed operation, the gearbox will generate high temperature and heat. At the same time, under the action of the load, the gearbox will fail.</p> <p>At present, the common faults of gearboxes include local faults and distributed faults. Local failures include gear damage, bending fatigue, etc. Distributed faults are divided into tooth surface wear, bearing damage and so on.</p> <p>The types of failures that occur include the following:</p> <p>First, broken teeth. After the gear is subjected to periodic stress, cracks will appear at the root. However, after a long-term load, the gear will have broken teeth.</p> <p>Second, gear tooth surface fatigue. When the gearbox is in motion, under the action of mechanical mechanics, the generated force will cause the gear to slide relatively. And the tooth surface will appear pitting, destructive pitting and surface crushing. The gear tooth surface appears fatigued. The fault state is manifested as the meshing frequency of the vibration signal, the increase of the vibration energy and the increase of the energy amplitude.</p> <p>Third, the tooth surface is glued. After the gear is subjected to high speed and heavy load, the gearbox is in a state of high temperature. At this time, the tooth surface is affected by high temperature and pressure, and wear on the tooth surface will occur. When the gears are sliding relative to each other, the tooth surfaces are not sufficiently lubricated, resulting in a gluing failure on the tooth surfaces.</p> <p>Generator failure can be divided into stator winding failure and bearing failure. When a stator winding fault occurs, the windings are damaged, worn, and cracked. At this time, the winding cannot provide insulation. When a bearing fault occurs, different parts of the fault will generate different vibration signals. Taking rotor misalignment as an example, this type of problem will be classified as an eccentricity fault.</p> <p>In addition, the rotor and stator are supported by bearings, and the bearings will bear a large radial load, which will cause the bearing to fail under the action of a large load. Under normal circumstances, the inner and outer rings of the bearing will be damaged, pitted, and worn, and the probability of failure will increase when the bearing is in a vibrating state.</p> <h2>Conclusion</h2> <p>Power supply is a big deal. For the daily maintenance and maintenance of wind power plants, it is an inevitable requirement and basis to ensure the normal power supply. Therefore, the relevant wind power station must ensure a stable quality requirement during construction. At the same time, the relevant regulations and requirements should be followed during the operation of the power station, and the professional knowledge and skills training and professional knowledge learning of the staff should be continuously improved. Strictly abide by the serious overhaul and maintenance of the working units of the wind power station every day, and avoid the occurrence of problems and failures from the details.<br /><br /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:314 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-maintain-solar-power-system How to Maintain Solar Power System? <p>The maintenance of the solar power system is divided into daily inspection and regular maintenance. Maintenance personnel must have professional knowledge, a high sense of responsibility and a serious attitude. The overall operation of the photovoltaic power system should be checked every day, and the display data of the equipment and measuring instruments should be carefully observed. Patrol inspections should be carried out regularly, and inspection records should be kept.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-power-system-daily-inspection.jpg" alt="Solar power system daily inspection" width="600" height="351" /></p> <h3>Solar Power System Daily Inspection</h3> <p>During the normal operation of the solar power system, daily inspection is essential. Generally, the system with a capacity greater than 20kW should be equipped with an inspector, and the system with a capacity less than 20kW can be inspected by the user. Daily inspections are generally carried out once a day or every shift. The contents of daily inspection are as follows.</p> <ul> <li>Observe whether the surface of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">the solar panel</a> is clean, remove dust and dirt in time, rinse with clean water or wipe with a clean rag, but do not use chemical reagents to clean. Check to see if the panel wiring is disconnected.</li> <li>Observe the appearance of all equipment for corrosion, damage, etc., touch the equipment shell with the back of the hand to check whether there is abnormal temperature, check whether the exposed wires have insulation aging, mechanical damage, and whether there is water in the box. Check whether there are other situations such as intrusion of small animals on the equipment. Whether there is any abnormal sound when the equipment is running, and whether there is any peculiar smell in the operating environment. If there is, the reason should be found out and effective measures should be taken immediately to solve it.</li> <li>If a serious abnormality is found, in addition to immediately cutting off the power supply and taking effective measures, it is also necessary to report to the relevant personnel and make records at the same time.</li> <li>Observe whether the outer casing of the battery is deformed or cracked, and whether there is liquid leakage. Whether the charging and discharging state is good, and whether the charging current is appropriate. Check whether the ambient temperature and ventilation are good, and keep the room clean, and whether there is dirt and dust outside the battery.</li> </ul> <h3><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-power-system-regular-maintenance.jpg" alt="Solar power system regular maintenance" width="600" height="379" /></h3> <h3>Solar Power System Regular Maintenance</h3> <p>In addition to daily inspection, the solar power generation system also needs regular maintenance by professionals. Regular maintenance is generally carried out once a month or every half month.</p> <ul> <li>Check and understand the operation records, and analyze the operation of the solar power system. Maintenance personnel should judge the operating status of the photovoltaic system, and if problems are found, professional maintenance and guidance shall be conducted immediately.</li> <li>Check the appearance and interior of the equipment, mainly involving moving and connecting some wires, especially wires with high current density, power devices, places that are easy to corrode, etc.</li> <li>The inverter cooling fans should be cleaned regularly and checked for proper operation. Regularly remove the dust inside <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">the inverter</a>, check whether the screws of each terminal are fastened, whether there are any components damaged by overheating, and check whether the wires are aging.<br />Regularly check and maintain the relative density of battery electrolyte, and replace damaged batteries in time.</li> <li>When conditions permit, infrared detection methods can be used to check solar panels, circuits and electrical equipment to find out abnormal heat and fault points, and solve them in time.</li> <li>The insulation resistance and grounding resistance of the photovoltaic power system should be checked and tested once a year, and the power quality and protection function of the inverter control device should be checked and tested once a year. All records, especially professional inspection records, should be archived for safekeeping.</li> </ul> <p>In a word, the inspection, management and maintenance of solar power system is the key to ensure the normal operation. Only when problems are found and solved in time can the system be in a long-term stable operation state.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:311 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel-maintenance-and-cleaning-tips Solar Panel Maintenance and Cleaning Tips <p>Since the existence of life on earth, the sun has been continuously bringing energy to the earth. In order to make reasonable use of these inexhaustible energy, solar power generation is quietly emerging as a new type of renewable energy. Today, the solar photovoltaic power generation market is booming, and various solar energy products appear in our lives. But you must know that although solar panels are easy to use, solar photovoltaic panels require a lot of effort to maintain. The following are the tips for solar panel maintenance and cleaning.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-maintenance.jpg" alt="Solar panel maintenance" width="550" height="400" /></p> <h2>How to Maintain Solar Panels?</h2> <p>First, read the instructions of the solar photovoltaic power generation panel carefully. Periodically inspect and maintain PV components according to the instructions.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>When used for a long time, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> ccumulate dust or snow, which reduces the photoelectric conversion rate and causes insufficient charging. It should be cleaned up in time.</li> <li>Check the battery board for damage.</li> <li>Check whether the connection and ground wire in the solar panel junction box are in good contact and whether there is any abnormality.</li> <li>Check if there is any heat in the wiring of the combiner box.</li> <li>Check whether there are obstructions on the surface of the solar panel.</li> <li>Check for loose or broken solar panel brackets.</li> <li>In windy weather, the panels and brackets should be carefully inspected, and the panels should be cleaned in time to avoid snow and ice on the surface of the panels.</li> </ul> <h2>Cleaning Tips for Solar Panel</h2> <p>The solar panel should be kept clean. If there is a lot of dust or pollutants such as bird droppings, it is likely to affect its performance. When cleaning solar panels, it is recommended to:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Clean the components in the morning or late afternoon to avoid electric shock in high temperature and strong light.</li> <li>Clean up the sundries blocking the components in time, and remove the possible damage to the components in time.</li> <li>In areas with high levels of dustfall, solar panels should be wiped more frequently.</li> <li>In areas with heavy snowfall, the snow should be removed in time to avoid affecting the average power generation and uneven shading after the snow melts;</li> <li>Use a soft brush and clean water when cleaning the glass surface of photovoltaic modules. Avoid damaging the glass surface when cleaning. For components with coated glass, pay attention to the coating layer.</li> </ul> <p>Reasonable and regular cleaning of solar photovoltaic panels plays an important role in the power generation and life of the home solar power system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:313 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-inductor-of-solar-inverter What is Inductor of Solar Inverter? <p>Inverter inductor is generally composed of skeleton, winding, magnetic core or iron core, shielding cover, packaging material, etc. It is a component that can convert electrical energy into magnetic energy and store it. The structure of an inductor is similar to that of a transformer, but with only one winding. The biggest feature of the inductor is that the current cannot be changed suddenly, but can only gradually become larger or smaller. It is precisely by using this feature that the inductor can change the intermittent DC square wave current into a continuous sine wave current. Photovoltaic modules are DC sources and do not generate electromagnetic interference by themselves. In order to reduce costs, some inverter manufacturers cancel the inverter DC EMI common mode inductance. In fact, due to the very high switching speed of the inverter power devices, large common-mode interference currents are generated, which would be transmitted to the DC cables and components without the DC EMI common-mode inductance. At this time, the component will act like an antenna and generate electromagnetic interference, which will affect the normal use of the user's peripheral home appliances, such as televisions, radios and other equipment.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="1000W solar grid tie inverter" width="300" height="191" /></p> <h2><span lang="EN-US">What is the function of inductor in solar inverter?</span></h2> <p><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">Inductor is one of the most critical components in <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>, mainly for energy storage, boosting, filtering, EMI elimination, etc. Using glue-filled inductance can reduce the temperature inside the solar inverter and the inductance, and can also significantly improve the inductance performance and longevity. In a photovoltaic inverter, there are usually four kinds of inductors, DC common mode inductor, boost inductor, filter inductor, and AC common mode inductor.</span></span></p> <h2>Reasons for inductor of solar inverter heating</h2> <p>Solar inverter inductor heating may be due to excessive losses on the inductor. The losses of the inductor are the losses due to the coil resistance and the losses due to the magnetic core.</p> <p><strong>Loss of coil</strong></p> <p>The loss on the coil is related to the coil resistance and the size of the current. There is generally no way to reduce the current, so we can only find a way from the coil resistance. The measures can be taken are as following.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Increase the wire diameter of the wire. This method may be limited by the shape and size of the magnetic core. If it is too thick, it may not be able to wrap around;</li> <li>Shorten the length of the wire. This method will lead to a decrease in the inductance when the magnetic core material is unchanged. If the inductance is to be kept the same, the magnetic core with higher permeability must be replaced;</li> <li>If the inductor works at high frequency, there will be a skin effect on the wire, that is to say, the current flows on the surface of the wire, as shown in the figure below, in this case, the utilization rate of the wire is small, and the method that can be considered A single-strand wire is changed to a multi-strand wire and wound in parallel, which can also reduce the loss of the coil.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Loss of core</strong></p> <p>The core loss is mainly composed of hysteresis loss and eddy current loss. The hysteresis loss is related to the hysteresis loop of the magnetic core material, which is proportional to the size of the area enclosed by it. Br is the remanence, and Hc is the coercive force. These two are the inherent characteristics of the magnetic core. The two parameters are also determined to remain unchanged.</p> <p>The maximum magnetic flux density and the maximum magnetic field strength are related to the working state of the circuit. Reducing the ripple current of the inductor can reduce the inductor hysteresis loss. When the inductance is constant, the reduction of the ripple current requires the increase of the frequency, but the increase of the frequency will increase the core loss.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:312 https://www.inverter.com/tips-for-installing-solar-inverter Tips for Installing Solar Inverter <p>The solar inverter is one of the most important electronic components in the entire photovoltaic power generation system, but the wrong installation of the solar inverter will result in a decrease in the service life of the solar inverter. Then, the following is to introduce the installation and precautions of the solar inverter.</p> <h2><span lang="EN-US"><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Pure sine wave off grid solar inverter" width="300" height="307" />Tips for installing solar inverter</span></h2> <ul> <li>Before installation, check whether the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is damaged during transportation.</li> <li>When choosing the installation site, it should be ensured that there is no interference from any other power and electronic equipment in the surrounding area.</li> <li>Before making electrical connections, be sure to use opaque materials to cover the photovoltaic panels or disconnect the DC side circuit breaker. When exposed to sunlight, the photovoltaic array will generate dangerous voltages.</li> <li>All installation operations must be completed by professional and technical personnel only.</li> <li>The cables used in the photovoltaic power generation system must be firmly connected, with good insulation and suitable specifications.</li> <li>All electrical installations must meet local and national electrical standards.</li> <li>The solar inverter can be connected to the grid only after obtaining the permission of the local power department and completing all electrical connections by professional technicians.</li> <li>Before any maintenance work, the electrical connection between the solar inverter and the grid should be disconnected first, and then the electrical connection on the DC side should be disconnected.</li> <li>Wait at least 5 minutes until the internal components are discharged before maintenance work.</li> <li>Any fault that affects the safety performance of the solar inverter must be eliminated immediately before the solar inverter can be turned on again.</li> <li>Avoid unnecessary circuit board contact.</li> <li>Comply with electrostatic protection regulations and wear anti-static wristbands.</li> <li>Pay attention to and follow the warning signs on the product.</li> <li>Preliminarily visually inspect the equipment for damage or other dangerous conditions before operation.</li> <li>Pay attention to the hot surface of the solar inverter. For example, the radiator of the power semiconductor, etc., still maintains a high temperature for a period of time after the solar inverter is powered off.</li> </ul> <h2>Requirements for installation location of solar inverter</h2> <ul> <li>Do not install the solar inverter in direct sunlight. Otherwise additional internal temperature may be added and the solar inverter will derate to protect internal components. Even the temperature is too high to cause the inverter temperature failure.</li> <li>The installation site should be strong enough to support the weight of the inverter for a long time.</li> <li>The ambient temperature of the selected installation site is -25°C - 50°C, and the installation environment should be clean.</li> <li>The ambient humidity of the selected installation site does not exceed 95%, and there is no condensation.</li> <li>There should be enough clearance in front of the inverter to make it easy to observe data and maintain.</li> <li>Try to install it in a place far away from residents' living, and some noise will be generated during its operation.</li> <li>Ensure that the installation place will not shake.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:309 https://www.inverter.com/can-solar-panel-power-stove Can Solar Panel Power Stove? <p>We use our stoves every day, but many people don't even think about how much electricity it consumes. But it's different if you're using solar, because every watt counts. Two questions here, can one solar panel power the stove, and second, how many panels are needed?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-and-stove.jpg" alt="Solar panel and stove" width="453" height="229" /></p> <h2>How Many Solar Panels Take to Run a Stove?</h2> <p>Stoves come in different sizes, so they use different amounts of electricity. Also, how you use it determines the watt usage. When people use electricity, this is taken for granted. But like we said, using solar energy is another story. Conserving energy is essential for any <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> user, so an energy saving mode is ideal.</p> <p>Most stoves use 3000 watts, but some energy-saving models only consume 2000 watts. Small burners require around 1200 watts, and larger burners are rated at 3000 watts. It takes about 800 watts to clean an oven. The longer the stove is used, the more energy it consumes. (Stove power consumption=solar panel size)</p> <p>If you have a 3000 watt stove, it will need thirty <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100 watt solar panels</a> to run it. Any combination of solar panels will do, as long as the total power is at least 3000 watts. The more solar energy you can use, the better. 3000 watts is exactly what a stove needs, so if you can increase the size of the panel to 3200 or 3500, that's even better. It gives you a buffer against fluctuations in solar output.</p> <h2>Tips For Save Solar Power on Stove:</h2> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Cook Multiple Foods at Once. When you cook dishes at the same time, the stove uses less energy than one after the other. It is more efficient to cook food for a long time at a time than to cook it over several days. You don't want to fill up your oven and stove, but cook as much as possible.</li> <li>Use a Microwave. Microwave ovens consume much less power than ovens. If you just need to heat food, skip the stove and microwave it. This saves a lot of solar energy.</li> <li>Clean the Oven Immediately. You can initiate the cleaning cycle immediately after cooking, saving minutes of time and power. Clean your oven regularly. The remaining goo forces the oven to use more watts, and thus more solar energy. The longer the goo sits in the oven, the harder it is to clean and the more solar energy it uses.</li> <li>Buy an Energy Efficient Stove. This may be obvious, but it does make a big difference. Energy efficient appliances consume less power, which is a huge impact for solar users.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:310 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-solar-inverter-for-home How to Choose a Solar Inverter for Home? <p>A solar inverter is a power conversion device that converts direct current from a battery to alternating current. So, how to choose a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> for home PV system?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/1500w-single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="1500W single phase grid tie solar inverter" width="250" height="281" /></p> <p><strong>Equipped with reliable DC switch</strong></p> <p>The situation of the home PV system is complicated. If the components are short-circuited and grounded and the after-sales maintenance cannot be carried out immediately, it is likely to cause a fire or a safety accident. At this time, turn off the DC switch to prevent further escalation of the fault.</p> <p><strong>Reduce noise</strong></p> <p>Household solar inverters are installed in residential houses. If there is noise during operation, it will bring trouble to life. Its noise mostly comes from fans and inductors. An solar inverter with a fanless design can be selected to eliminate noise sources as much as possible. The inductor is filled with glue as a whole and placed in the aluminum case independently to reduce the current and vibration of the inductor.</p> <p><strong>Use LCD display</strong></p> <p>Choose a solar inverter with an LCD display to be able to query real-time power generation. By selecting the monitoring mode, you can query at any time and manage thousands or even tens of thousands of power stations in a unified manner. The two-way monitoring system can provide proactive services, including functions such as problem discovery, fault early warning, remote diagnosis of problems, and problem handling.</p> <p><strong>Factors leading to high power generation</strong></p> <ul> <li>The solar inverter is abnormal.</li> <li>The efficiency of solar inverter. Including larger efficiency, weighted efficiency and MPPT efficiency. It is the weighted efficiency that has a greater impact on the power generation, because the solar inverter operates at less than rated power for the most time.</li> <li>DC operating voltage range. The wider the voltage range, the earlier the start and the later stop. The longer the power generation time, the higher the power generation.</li> <li>The output voltage range of the solar inverter should also be wide, preferably between 180-270V, and exceeding 270V will affect household appliances.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:308 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-solar-charge-controller How to Choose a Solar Charge Controller? <p>The most common use of a solar charge controller is to provide load power for solar inverters and to charge energy storage devices in solar power systems. Before buying a solar charge controller, we need to have a general understanding of this product, so as to choose a great <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> with the most favorable price.</p> <p>We should choose a panel with a higher configuration, so that the voltage when exiting the protection can be set lower according to our own needs. In addition, good heat dissipation of the controller will prolong its service life. Line loss compensation is the most difficult function to control at this stage. It needs to be controlled by software equipment, and then compensated according to the length and diameter of different lines. In low voltage, the line loss function is very important. Because when the voltage is low, the line loss will increase, and then the output voltage will be lower than the input voltage, which will lead to a smaller capacity of the storage device. Therefore, we should choose a cable that is not very thin, and the length of the cable should also be moderate.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Solar charge controller" width="400" height="260" /></p> <h2>Tips for selecting a solar charge controller</h2> <ul> <li>A solar charge controller with lower power consumption should be selected. The controller works 24 hours a day. If its power consumption is large, it will consume part of the power. And it is best to choose a controller with a power consumption of less than 3 mA.</li> <li>It is necessary to choose a solar charge controller with high charging efficiency and three-stage charging control modes of strong charging, balanced charging and floating charging.</li> <li>Choose a solar charge controller with high precision control. Non-high-precision control solar charge controllers often lead to high repair rate and poor reliability due to unreasonable product design with poor material.</li> <li>The best choice is a solar charge controller with two separate controls, which is convenient for power regulation of lamps. At night, one or two paths of lighting can be automatically turned off for pedestrians to save electricity, and the power of LED lights can be adjusted. In addition, when setting the under-voltage protection value, try to adjust the under-voltage protection value greater or equal to 10.8V to prevent over-discharge of the battery.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:307 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-maintain-a-solar-inverter How to Maintain a Solar Inverter? <p>The solar inverter converts DC power into AC power, and the core of the inverter device is the inverter switch circuit. The circuit completes the inverter function by turning on and off the power electronic switch. The on-off of power electronic switching devices requires certain driving pulses, and these pulses may be adjusted by changing a voltage signal to generate and adjust the pulse circuit. In addition to the above-mentioned inverter circuit and control circuit, the basic structures of the solar inverter also include protection circuit, output circuit, input circuit, and auxiliary circuit.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="300 Watt solar micro inverter" width="330" height="330" /></p> <h2>How to maintain a solar inverter?</h2> <ul> <li>Strictly follow the requirements of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> operation and maintenance manual to connect and install the equipment. During installation, carefully check whether the wire diameter meets the requirements, whether the components and terminals are loose during transportation, whether the insulation should be well insulated, and whether the grounding of the system meets the regulations.</li> <li>It should be operated and used in strict accordance with the provisions of the solar inverter operation and maintenance manual. In particular, pay attention to whether the input voltage is normal before starting the machine, whether the order of switching on and off is correct during operation, and whether the indications of each meter and indicator light are normal.</li> <li>Solar inverters generally have automatic protection for items such as circuit breakage, overcurrent, overvoltage, and overheating, so when these phenomena occur, there is no need to manually shut down. The protection points of automatic protection are generally set at the factory and do not need to be adjusted again.</li> <li>There is high voltage in the solar inverter cabinet. Generally, the operator should not open the cabinet door, and the cabinet door should be locked at ordinary times.</li> <li>When the room temperature exceeds 30°C, measures should be taken to dissipate heat and cool down to prevent equipment failure and prolong the service life of the equipment.</li> <li>Regularly check whether the wiring of each part of the solar inverter is firm and loose, especially the fan, power module, input terminal, output terminal and grounding, etc. should be carefully checked.</li> <li>Once the alarm stops, it is not allowed to start the machine immediately. The reason should be found out and repaired before starting the machine. The inspection should be carried out in strict accordance with the steps specified in the maintenance manual of the solar inverter.</li> <li>Operators must be specially trained to be able to judge the causes of general failures and to eliminate them, such as being able to skillfully replace fuses, components and damaged circuit boards. Untrained personnel are not allowed to operate the equipment.</li> <li>If there is an accident that is not easy to eliminate or the cause of the accident is unclear, the accident should be recorded in detail, and the solar inverter manufacturer should be notified in time to solve it.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:306 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-pure-sine-wave-inverter How to Choose a Pure Sine Wave Inverter? <p>A pure sine wave inverter can convert direct current to alternating current. Unlike square wave inverters and modified sine wave inverters, pure sine wave inverters produce waveforms similar to those we get from commercial grid systems and can drive a variety of electronic devices including inductive loads. So, how to choose a pure sine wave inverter?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/12v-500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="12V 500 watt pure sine wave inverter" width="450" height="245" /></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>The output power</strong><br />The output power of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> should be greater than the sum of the power ratings of the appliances you need to run at the same time. Therefore, first determine the power requirements of your appliance. After determining the power requirement, give the inverter a certain expansion value. Our recommended scaling value is around 1.2 times the power requirement.</li> <li><strong>Battery voltage</strong><br />In addition to the total output power, the battery voltage also needs to be considered. If the battery voltage is 24 volts, you should choose a 24 volt pure sine inverter.</li> <li><strong>Conversion efficiency</strong><br />Pure sine inverters come in many forms, with different capacities and different efficiencies. The efficiency of the inverter is a key factor that you should pay close attention to. Conversion from DC to AC usually generates heat and causes losses. Therefore, before purchasing a pure sine wave inverter, be sure to read the instructions carefully. Inverters with conversion efficiency below 80% are not worth buying.</li> <li><strong>Run time</strong><br />Run time refers to the time the inverter can run. This largely depends on the capacity of the battery (measured in Ah) and the total power to run the device. Make sure the battery has enough power to run the inverter with the required electrical equipment.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:305 https://www.inverter.com/functions-of-solar-charge-controller Functions of Solar Charge Controller <p>The solar charge controller is a device used to control the solar panel to charge the battery and at the same time give the load control voltage to the voltage sensitive device. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> regulates and controls the charging and discharging conditions of the battery, and controls the power output of the solar cell components and the battery to the load according to the power requirements of the load. It is the main control part of the entire solar power supply system.</p> <h2>What are the functions of solar charge controller?</h2> <ul> <li><strong><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/48v-mppt-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="48V MTTP solar charge controller" width="250" height="313" />Load overcurrent and short-circuit protection:</strong> After the load current exceeds 10A or the load is short-circuited, the fuse is blown and can be used after replacement.</li> <li><strong>Overvoltage protection:</strong> When the voltage is too high, the output is automatically turned off to protect the device from damage.</li> <li><strong>Lightning protection:</strong> In the event of a lightning strike, the varistor can prevent lightning strikes and protect the controller from damage.</li> <li><strong>Reverse battery connection protection:</strong> The battery "+" and "-" polarity is reversed, and it can continue to be used after correction.</li> <li><strong>Battery open circuit protection:</strong> If the battery is open circuit, if the solar battery is charged normally, the controller will limit the voltage across the load to ensure that the load is not damaged. If at night or when the solar battery is not charged, the controller itself cannot electricity, there will be no movement.</li> <li><strong>Overcharge protection:</strong> When the charging voltage is higher than the protection voltage, the battery is automatically disconnected to charge the battery. After that, when the voltage drops to the holding voltage, the battery enters the floating charge state. When the recovery voltage is lower than the floating charge, the floating charge is turned off and enters the equalizing charge state.</li> <li><strong>Over-discharge protection:</strong> When the battery voltage is lower than the over-protection voltage, the controller automatically turns off the output to protect the battery from damage; after the battery is recharged, it can automatically restore the power supply.</li> <li><strong>Self-checking function:</strong> When the controller is affected by natural factors or improper personal operation, the controller can be self-checked to let the user know whether the controller is normal and reduce unnecessary man-hours.</li> <li><strong>Recovery interval:</strong> The recovery interval of the controller's overcharge or overdischarge protection to prevent the load from jittering due to the line resistance or the self-recovery characteristics of the battery.</li> <li><strong>Temperature compensation:</strong> monitor the temperature of the battery, correct the charge and discharge values, and make the battery work in an ideal state.</li> <li><strong>Light control:</strong> Most solar charge controllers are used in automatic lamps. When the environment is bright enough, the controller will automatically turn off the load output; and when the surrounding environment is dark, it will automatically turn on the load to realize the automatic control function.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:304 https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter-buying-guide Car Inverter Buying Guide <p>The car inverter is a power converter for vehicles, which can convert the 12V DC power of the car battery into 220V AC power. The car inverter can use 220V power supply in the car to charge laptops, mobile phones and other devices, and can also be connected to electrical appliances within a certain power range.</p> <p>The general car inverter is mainly composed of Inverter Bridge, filter circuit, control circuit, oscillator, etc. Its working principle is to convert the 12V DC power provided by the car battery through high-frequency PWM (pulse width modulation) switching power supply technology. And convert the 30kHz-50kHz, 220V AC into 50Hz, 220V AC using bridge rectification, filtering, pulse width modulation and switching power output technologies.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/75w-car-power-inverter.jpg" alt="75W car power inverter" width="450" height="350" /></p> <h2>How to choose a right car inverter?</h2> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The output power of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a> must be greater than the power used by the electrical appliances, and there must be enough margin for some electrical appliances with high starting power, otherwise it is likely to fail to start.</li> <li>At present, many electrical appliances use three-pin plugs, which requires a three-hole interface on the inverter. In addition, the USB interface is also useful. Therefore, it is best to choose a car inverter with three interfaces.</li> <li>According to the different output current waveform, the car inverter is divided into pure sine wave inverter and modified sine wave inverter. Among them, the pure sine wave inverter has stable power supply and can basically drive common electrical appliances well. The modified sine wave is actually closer to the square wave, and the quality of the output current is poor, which will cause certain damage to some electrical equipment. Although the price difference between the two inverters is large, if it is used for a long time, it is recommended to purchase a pure sine wave inverter.</li> <li>When purchasing a car inverter, please be sure to confirm whether it has functions such as overvoltage protection, undervoltage protection, overtemperature protection, overcurrent protection and short circuit protection. These functions can not only provide protection for the inverter itself. More importantly, they can avoid damage to electrical equipment.</li> <li>Choose a metal-cased vehicle-mounted inverter. Due to its high power, the vehicle-mounted inverter is relatively easy to generate heat. If the internal heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will affect the life of the components at light level, and cause fire in severe cases. On the one hand, the metal casing has good heat dissipation characteristics, and on the other hand, it also avoids the risk of fire.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:302 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel-for-backpacking Solar Panel for Backpacking <p>Wouldn't it be nice to spend a few days hiking trails, hills or biking in nature? Sure, but can you really leave your phone or GPS behind? For most of us, the answer No, because there may be an emergency and we need to call for help. With solar panels and battery packs, we do not have to.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-for-backpacking.jpg" alt="Solar panel for backpacking" width="456" height="342" />In the past, solar power was only used for homes and RVs, but now with portable solar panels and chargers, you can put them in a backpack. Now you can hike, boat and camp as much as you want without worrying about where to charge your phone and other electronic devices. Having the sun as your energy source is truly free energy.</p> <h2>What Size Solar Panel is Best for Backpacking?</h2> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Size, weight, and physical dimensions are important. After all, we're after portability, right? The answer is, it depends on what you're trying to do.</li> <li>It doesn't matter if you're traveling in an RV or yacht. You can carry a good sized solar panel with no problem with the battery and inverter.</li> <li>If it's biking, hiking or backpacking, it depends on how much you can carry comfortably. Your pack may look light now, but after a few hours of hiking you may not feel the same. Most backpackers prefer <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> for a pound or less, but that's up to you.</li> <li>Check the weight and dimensions of the product. The dimensions given may refer to when the panels are folded or laid out. Weight may also refer only to panels, not accessories.</li> </ul> <p>Solar panels may be light, but they are durable enough to handle rough terrain. You don't want to drop the panels, be careful, but there are bound to be some bumps when you pack. A high-quality panel should be able to handle it without cracking. Some panels are waterproof, but do not submerge them in water. Waterproof means the panels will work even when it rains. But don't make it a habit. Continued exposure to rain reduces the efficiency of the panels.</p> <h2>How To Calculate Solar Power Requirements?</h2> <p>For example, you have a cell phone with an 8Wh (watt hour) lithium-ion battery. If you run out of battery every day, you'll need more than 8 hours to recharge. Solar charging is not perfect and there will always be some energy loss in the process. For an 8Wh phone, you'll need about 9.6 watt hours for a full recharge. Next you have to consider how much sunlight is available. Sunlight varies by location and season.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:303 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-solar-generator What is a Solar Generator? <p>The solar generator generates electricity by direct sunlight on the solar panel, and charges the battery, which can supply power for DC energy-saving lamps, tape recorders, TVs, DVDs, satellite TV receivers and other products. It has protection functions, including overcharge, over discharge, short circuit, temperature compensation and reverse battery connection. The solar generator can provide 12V DC and 220V AC output. It can provide electricity for remote areas without electricity, wild places, field activities, household emergency, remote areas, villas, mobile communication base stations, satellite ground receiving stations, meteorological stations, forest fire stations, border posts, islands without electricity, grassland and pastoral areas, etc. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generator</a> can also replace part of the energy of the grid, non-polluting and safe.</p> <p>The solar generator consists of three parts, including solar cell components, computer monitoring or other power electric equipment and batteries or other energy storage equipment. The solar cell components include charge and discharge controllers, inverter and test instrument. The solar cell as a key component has a long service life, and the life of the crystalline silicon solar cell can reach more than 25 years.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-power-generator.jpg" alt="Portable small solar power generator" width="550" height="300" /></p> <h2>Solar generator advantages</h2> <ul> <li>Independent power supply, not limited by geographical location, no fuel consumption, no mechanical rotating parts, short construction period, and arbitrary scale.</li> <li>Compared with thermal power generation and nuclear power generation, solar power generation has no environmental pollution. It is safe and reliable, with no noise, low failure rate and long service life.</li> <li>It is easy to disassemble and assemble, easy to move, and low cost of engineering installation. It can be easily combined with buildings. There is no need to pre-embed high transmission lines, which can avoid the damage to vegetation and the environment and engineering costs when laying cables over a long distance.</li> <li>It is widely used in various electrical appliances, and suitable for households and lighting appliances in remote areas such as villages, grasslands and pastoral areas, mountains, islands, highways, etc.</li> <li>As long as the sun exists, the solar generator can be used for a long time with one investment.</li> <li>The solar power generation system can be applied in a medium-sized power station of one million kilowatts and a small solar power generation group, which is unmatched by other power sources.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:301 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-solar-panels-are-needed-for-tv-and-refrigerator How Many Solar Panels are Needed for TV and Refrigerator? <p>There's nothing better than watching TV with a cold drink from the fridge in hand, and with solar energy, you can do just that. But how many <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> do you need to run a TV and a refrigerator at the same time? No doubt it's possible, but how many panels do you need? Do you need batteries?</p> <p>A 110V fridge and TV requires at least 500 watt solar panels and 200ah batteries. But a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120 watt solar panel</a> can run a 12V refrigerator and a 50 inch LED TV for 2 to 3 hours.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-for-TV-and-refrigerator.jpg" alt="Solar panel for TV and refrigerator" width="476" height="308" /></strong></p> <p><strong>How To Calculate Solar Panel Needs:</strong></p> <p>TVs have no problem with solar panels. Even a 50 inch TV is only 100 watts, and most RV TVs are smaller than that. The refrigerators here are more powerful, but you have other options as well. The one that uses a lot of solar energy is the refrigerator.</p> <p>A standard 17 cubic centimeters. ft refrigerator needs 150 to 200 watts, but it needs 1000 to 1500 watts to start. An energy efficient model may require 1200 watts or less at its peak surge.</p> <p>Running a 110V refrigerator on solar panels alone is unrealistic and consumes too much energy. 12V refrigerators are more ideal. To know how many solar panels you need, add up the total wattage of your TV and refrigerator. If your TV is 80 watts and your 12V refrigerator is 20 watts.</p> <p>You'll need a 120 watt solar panel to run both appliances. You can use the refrigerator and TV for about 5 hours, depending on the sun exposure in your area. You could theoretically use a 100W PV module, but solar panels are rated based on peak output and the system doesn't produce 100W all the time. A <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100 watt solar panel</a> can only produce 80-90 watts per hour, which is far from enough. A 120 watt module will give you 100 watts, which is exactly what you need. The larger the solar panel, the longer the appliance will last.</p> <p>Without a doubt, there is no single answer to the question of how many solar panels you need. TVs and refrigerators come in different sizes, so naturally their demands on electricity also vary. Pairing a small TV with a refrigerator will consume less solar power, but even a large TV and kitchen refrigerator can run at the same time if set up properly.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:299 https://www.inverter.com/precautions-for-handling-broken-solar-panel Precautions for Handling Broken Solar Panel <p>It's a common misconception that once a solar panel is broken, it can't work, and therefore can't generate any electricity, but this experiment shows that's where the danger begins.</p> <p>How scary are solar panels? We took a damaged components to do the experiment, the photovoltaic modules, dense, crack, there are many staff to solar panels are connected to circuit, damaged the photovoltaic modules output 9 Ann's current, voltage is 650V, it is fatal to human body, and also can produce the same as the flame between positive and negative wire of electric arc.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-handling-precautions.jpg" alt="Solar panel handling precautions" width="502" height="235" /></p> <p>If only the surface toughened glass is damaged, it does not affect the battery, the panel can output power is normal, if the battery is also damaged, it can not be used? We also considered the problem, they prepared a was burned in the fire more than half of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, but test found that the panel is still leakage, and the voltage between the 12V to 15V, 12V voltage under the action of water flow to jump to 300V, so the solar panel once break, will pay attention to, don't wash with water.</p> <p><strong>Precautions for Handling:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>When solar panels are damaged and piled up with debris such as houses, they may generate electricity when sunlight hits them, and they may be electrocuted when touched by bare hands.</li> <li>Don't touch with bare hands.</li> <li>In the process of rescue and recovery work to contact the damaged solar panels, wear dry wire gloves or rubber gloves and other insulating gloves.</li> <li>When multiple solar panels are connected with cables, unplug or cut off the connected cables. If possible, cover the panels with blue tarpaulin or cardboard, or face down to avoid sunlight.</li> <li>If possible, wrap the exposed copper wire in the cable section with plastic tape.</li> <li>When the solar panels are transported to the abandoned place, be careful to smash the glass with a hammer. In addition, the components of the panel are as follows: semi-strengthened glass (thickness of about 3 mm), battery unit (silicon plate: 10-15 cm square, 0.2-0.4 mm thick, silver electrode, solder, copper foil, etc), transparent resin, white resin plate, metal frame (mainly aluminum), wiring materials, resin box, etc.</li> <li>At night and after sunset, when the sun is not shining, although the solar panels do not generate electricity, they should operate the same as when the sun shines.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:406 https://www.inverter.com/is-your-solar-panel-water-proof Is your Solar Panel Water Proof? <p>The solar panel is an electronic equipment which stays all its life time outside, subjected to outdoor weather conditions of sun, dusty wind and rains, in addition, the expected life time of solar panel is high, around 25-30 years or even more, and, as we want to be sure that it will work for such long time without damage, the solar panel must be water proof otherwise it will be damaged once for example it gets rained on. Fortunately, all solar panels are designed and manufactured to be protected by many water proofing measures, actually it has a special strong sealant and a glass cover preventing water entering internally in case of even strong/much rains.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-panel-and-metal-roof.jpg" alt="Solar panel and metal roof" width="517" height="335" /></p> <p>Be rest assured that for any purchased solar panel brand from the market, it will be normally waterproof, and even its somehow damaged by water, you can contact its manufacturer/supplier getting a replacement free of charge, as it covered by a warranty period of Not less than 10-15 years. The internal water proofing components inside the solar panel need to be of high quality to last such long time, so we can say that good brand solar panel water proofing system will last more than 20 years with no problems at all. However, there are some ways to increase your solar panel life time by reinforcing its waterproof capability.</p> <p>One of the important ways to support <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> against water damage is the pitched roof or pitched mounting structure, which your solar installer will take care about when setting up your solar system, surely he will take care of adjusting the solar panel slant, to push rains water out, preventing it from staying on solar panel surface for a long time, so keeping solar panel internal structure safe and without harm. A second way to improve waterproof feature of the solar panel is to raise the waterproof seal (a barrier keeping the water out).</p> <p>Generally, the solar panel is waterproof, and no worries of water damages risk, it even can be submerged with no harm, as long as it’s of high quality and good brand. The solar panel is protected by aluminum frame, glass, and aback panel which is vacuum sealed. So, you do Not be stressed out about solar panel waterproof protection feature.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30w-portable-solar-panel">30W</a>, 40W, 60W, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/80w-portable-solar-panel">80W</a>, 100W and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120W</a> solar panels. The portable solar panels can be paired with portable generators of different wattages, durable and waterproof, long life and water resistance, perfect for outdoor use. Solar generators and portable solar panels can be used for camping.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:300 https://www.inverter.com/the-importance-of-solar-inverters-in-solar-systems The Importance of Solar Inverters in Solar Systems <p>As a conversion device for solar power generation, the function of solar inverter plays a key role in the overall power station. The solar inverter converts the direct current generated by the solar module into a sinusoidal waveform current, which is connected to the load or integrated into the power grid. It is the core component of the solar power generation system.<br /><br />However, the solar inverter is not only a DC-AC conversion function, but also has an active operation and deactivation function, a maximum power tracking MPPT function, and an islanding effect inspection and control function.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-energy-systems.jpg" alt="Solar energy systems" width="600" height="400" /><br /><br />Actively activate and deactivate functions. After the sun rises in the early morning, the amount of solar radiation gradually increases, and the output of the solar panel also increases. When the power required by the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">solar inverter</a> is reached, the inverter will run actively. The inverter will always monitor the output power of the solar panel components. As long as the power of the solar panel components is greater than the power required by the inverter target, the inverter will continue to run until sunset. When the output of the solar panel assembly becomes smaller and the output of the inverter is close to zero, the inverter will automatically enter standby.<br /><br />Maximum power tracking MPPT function when the light intensity and temperature changes, the solar module input power presents a linear change, the solar module is not a constant voltage source, nor is it a constant current source, its power will shift with the output voltage shift, and there is no direct relationship with the load. Its output current along with the voltage rise is a horizontal line at first, and when it reaches a certain power, it decreases with the voltage rise, and when it reaches the module open circuit voltage, the current decreases to zero.<br /><br />Inspection and control function of islanding effect under normal power generation, the PV grid-connected power system is connected to the grid and delivers effective power to the grid, however, when the grid loses power, the PV grid-connected power system may still be working and in independent operation with the local load, this situation is called islanding effect. When the islanding effect occurs in the inverter, it will cause great danger to life safety, grid operation, and the inverter itself, so the standard specification of inverter into the grid, PV grid-connected inverter must have the inspection and control function of islanding effect.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:298 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-eliminate-electromagnetic-interference-from-solar-inverters How to Eliminate Electromagnetic Interference from Solar Inverters? <p>For solar power generation systems to have electromagnetic compatibility problems, these three elements must be met, namely electromagnetic interference sources, coupling paths, and sensitive equipment. In the electromagnetic compatibility test, it is necessary to start from the following elements and solve one of the elements to solve the electromagnetic compatibility problem. The electromagnetic interference source of the solar inverter is a power circuit with high frequency change, which is also difficult to solve. The sensitive equipment is external and will not be affected by the inverter control, so the key is to disconnect the coupling path. There are three methods of interference transmission, such as transmission and radiation sources. The commonly used methods include grounding, filtering and shielding.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Off grid solar inverter" width="480" height="350" /></p> <h2>Ground</h2> <p>No matter which method is used to suppress the EMI interference source, the grounding must be used to discharge the static electricity, so the grounding of the solar inverter is very important. Grounding includes grounding, signal grounding, etc. The design of the grounding body, the arrangement of the grounding wire, and the impedance of the grounding wire at different frequencies are not only related to the coverage of the product or system, but also related to the electromagnetic compatibility test and measurement technology.</p> <h2>Filter</h2> <p>The input port and output port of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">solar inverter</a> are designed with an EIM filter. The purpose is to control EMI transmission interference and only allow the use of ideal low-pass current at DC and power frequency. In addition, it is a bidirectional filter, which can not only to avoid noise interference from the inverter to the outside world, and to prevent the introduction of external interference into the system, the filter includes X and Y capacitors and common mode inductors. The common mode inductance is on the same magnetic ring, which is composed of two windings with opposite directions and the same number of turns, so that the magnetic field generated when the flow passes through the windings is superimposed, and presents a large inductive reactance to the interference current. Mode interference, the common mode capacitor will introduce the common mode current to the ground without passing through the power grid.</p> <h2>Shield</h2> <p>Through various types of conductive materials, various types of shells are manufactured and connected to the ground to disconnect the electromagnetic noise propagation path formed by electrostatic coupling, inductive coupling or alternating magnetic field coupling using space, and shielding can reasonably prevent the use of Space-borne interference sources. There are two factors for shielding. One is to restrict the electromagnetic kinetic energy of the radiation source inside from leaking out of the control leakage, and the second is to prevent the electromagnetic kinetic energy of the external radiation source from entering the inner control area. The solar inverter is packaged with conductor metal such as aluminum or iron. , so as to achieve the purpose of shielding.</p> <p>In order to reduce the interference caused by the radiation source on the wire, a magnetic ring is usually added to the high-current wire and the input and output wires, such as the connection wire of the filter inductor, so as to avoid the signal interference from being transmitted to the outside. Isolation mainly uses components such as relays, isolation transformers or optoelectronic isolators to disconnect the transmission of electromagnetic noise in the form of transmission.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:297 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter-applications Solar Inverter Applications <p>The solar inverter is a device that can convert 12V/24V DC power into 220V AC current. It is used for general electrical appliances. The solar inverter is a convenient power converter. So what are the applicable scopes of solar inverters?</p> <h2>Outdoor equipment</h2> <p>In outdoor activities, most of the power is supplied by digital electronic products such as lighting, fans, tablets and mobile phones. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">solar inverter</a> adopts a portable design, which has the characteristics of small size, light quality, high performance, strong practicability, and durability.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/caravan.jpg" alt="Caravan" width="631" height="414" /></p> <h2>Household equipment</h2> <p>Usually direct current is directly converted into alternating current, and then power is supplied to the device. Electrical appliances that can be used include desk lamps, fans, computers, rice cookers, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, soybean milk makers, electric kettles, ovens, projectors, and hair dryers, induction cooker and most other household appliances.</p> <h2>Farm and pasture</h2> <p>Irrigation is a particularly important job in the agricultural industry, especially in arid areas, where water sources are relatively limited, but in addition, the light intensity and time in arid climates are high, so it is suitable to use solar power generation systems to efficiently carry out farm work.</p> <p>The use of solar photovoltaic panels to absorb light radiation, with the help of inverter conversion, directly supplies power to agricultural equipment, so that farm work is no longer limited by distance, terrain and power, which greatly reduces agricultural operating costs, which is ideal. The integrated green new technology energy that integrates economy, reliability and environmental protection benefits.</p> <h2>Remote areas</h2> <p>It is suitable for small and medium-sized households, especially those in remote villages, plateau areas, mountains, islands, farming and pastoral areas, border guard posts, etc. that are far away from the power grid or in areas with underdeveloped electricity. They do not need to be integrated into the power grid, implementation of the solution to solve the basic living electricity for the military and civilians in areas without electricity.</p> <h2>Power generation field</h2> <p>Solar power generation can be installed in a portable way and does not easily occupy too much soil resources. It has the characteristics of cost saving, safe and reliable power generation, etc. In addition, it can effectively reduce the cost of energy input such as communication bases and monitoring systems, and reduce carbon emissions to minimize energy costs. Invest in and reduce your environmental impact.</p> <h2>Transportation</h2> <p>With the help of installing solar power generation systems, it can provide power protection for RVs, ships and other means of transportation. Use solar panels to absorb the sun's light, charge the reserve battery, and then convert it to AC current for daily use with the help of an inverter. The system has simple design, easy installation, easy transportation, zero pollution, no noise, green energy, safe and reliable operation, and the solar power supply system is stable and reliable, and can meet power problems at any time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:296 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-the-operating-mode-of-solar-inverter How to Choose the Operating Mode of Solar Inverter? <p>Usually solar inverters have three working modes, PV (battery) priority, mains priority and ECO mode. So which working mode can maximize the use of photovoltaic energy and meet customer requirements as much as possible?</p> <h2>What are the working modes of solar inverters?</h2> <p><strong>Battery (solar) priority mode</strong></p> <ul> <li>When the solar inverter battery is fully charged, the load will be powered by the battery even if the mains is normal. When the battery is at low voltage and the mains is stable, the inverter will switch to the mains priority mode.</li> <li>The solar inverter load preferentially uses the energy provided by the photovoltaic. When the photovoltaic power generation rate is less than the load, the insufficient part is supplemented by the battery, and the photovoltaic and the battery share the load to supply power.</li> </ul> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-inverter-mode.jpg" alt="Solar inverter mode" width="680" height="440" /></p> <p>Application area: This mode is used in areas with no or less electricity. Mains electricity is expensive and frequent power outages. It is important to note that the inverter will switch to utility power when it needs to use the battery to a lower value. The advantage of this mode is that the solar energy can be fully utilized. The disadvantage is that the user's electricity consumption cannot be fully guaranteed. When the battery voltage is low and the mains is abnormal, no electricity can be used. If the user's demand for electricity is not particularly high, this mode can be selected.</p> <p><strong>Mains priority mode</strong></p> <p>When the utility power is normal, the utility power charges the battery, and the load provides a stable power supply after the utility power is stable. When the mains is abnormal, the load is powered by the battery. Application field: This mode is used in places where the mains voltage is stable, the price is cheap, but the power supply time is short. Solar energy storage is equivalent to a backup UPS inverter.</p> <p>The advantage of this mode is that the system can be equipped with fewer solar panels, and the initial investment is low. The disadvantage is that photovoltaic energy wastes a lot, and it may not be used in many cases.</p> <p><strong>ECO (Energy saving) mode</strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">solar inverter</a> works in battery mode, and the load capacity is lower than 10% of the rated power of the inverter, the inverter will start and stop regularly to achieve energy saving effect. When the frequency load is greater than 10% of the rated power of the inverter, the inverter will exit the energy-saving mode.</p> <p>Application: In the case of low power consumption, the inverter energy saving mode can be selected.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:294 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-a-wind-solar-hybrid-system How to Install a Wind Solar Hybrid System? <h2>Off grid power generation systems vs. grid connected power generation systems</h2> <p>Compared with the grid-connected power generation system, the cost of the off-grid power generation system is higher than that of the grid-connected power generation system because it needs to be equipped with a battery as an energy storage device. The size of the power generation system generally needs to be smaller than that of the grid connected system, and the power generation efficiency is low, but the off-grid power generation system exists independently from the national grid, which can save the cable lines connected to the power grid, so that the length of the cables used in the entire system is much less than grid-connected power generation system, so the off-grid power generation system can be installed faster and more conveniently on site.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/grid-connected-system-topology-diagram.jpg" alt="Grid connected system topology diagram" width="650" height="447" /></p> <p>Compared with the traditional solar photovoltaic power generation system and wind power generation system, the solar hybrid system integrates the advantages an characteristics of the two systems, and can simultaneously promote solar photovoltaic power generation and wind power generation, and make the best use of solar and wind energy resources.</p> <p>A complete solar hybrid system is mainly composed of five parts: <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a>, solar panels, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">controllers</a>, inverters and batteries. Based on these five basic components, solar hybrid systems also have very different advantages. For example, the controller and inverter are centrally installed in an integrated equipment box; or the controller and the battery are glued and sealed together and installed on the back of the solar panel to reduce costs.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-solar-hybrid-power-supply-system.jpg" alt="Wind-solar hybrid power supply system" width="680" height="408" /></p> <h2>3 Ways to Install a Solar Hybrid System</h2> <p><strong>Tower Installation</strong></p> <p>The tower installation is mainly suitable for the installation environment where the transmission line or the forest environment base is unstable, which can resist the resonance force generated by the wind power generation during operation to the greatest extent. Under normal circumstances, in the tower installation, the installation height of the solar panel is 3m above the ground, but it needs to be higher than the surrounding obstructions; the installation height of the fan is 6m perpendicular to the ground, and at the same time it is higher than the surrounding cover to avoid the wind being too low.</p> <p><strong>Floor mounting</strong></p> <p>Floor installation, floor installation is mainly for high-power power generation systems. Foor installation only refers to the installation of solar panels directly on the ground through specially arranged brackets; while wind turbines are installed by inclined rods, through a The main rod and three sub-rods are fixed. The system using floor installation generally requires more than 15 solar panels in a single point, so the space required for this installation method is much larger, and because a large amount of concrete is required as the material to build the foundation, the cost required for floor installation is caused It is the highest of the three installation methods.</p> <p><strong>Pole installation</strong></p> <p>Pole installation is mainly suitable for low-power systems and the environment where the crane can work. Pole installation requires very little space because there is only one pole, and the speed of installation and the difficulty of transportation are also very low. However, because there is only one pole, the pole installation has a weak ability to resist the resonance force generated by the wind turbine during operation, and cannot undertake high-power wind turbines and solar panels. But the pole installation is the most convenient and the lowest cost among the three installation methods.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:295 https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine-working-principle Wind Turbine Working Principle <h2>Components of a wind turbine</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Blade.</strong> A blade is a unit that absorbs wind energy and is used to convert the kinetic energy of the air into mechanical energy for the rotation of the impeller.</li> <li><strong>Pitching system.</strong> The pitching system changes the pitch angle of the blade, so that the blade is in the best state of absorbing wind energy at different wind speeds, and when the wind speed exceeds the cut-out wind speed, the blade is feathered and braked.</li> <li><strong>Gearbox.</strong> Gearbox transmits the power generated by the wind rotor under the action of wind to the generator, and makes it get the corresponding speed.</li> <li><strong>Generator</strong>. A generator is a component that converts the mechanical kinetic energy of the impeller rotation into electrical energy. The rotor is connected to the frequency converter, which can provide voltage with adjustable frequency to the rotor circuit, and the output speed can be adjusted within the range of ±30% of the synchronous speed.</li> <li><strong>Yaw system.</strong> The yaw system adopts the form of active gear drive to the wind, and cooperates with the control system, so that the impeller is always in the windward state, making full use of wind energy and improving the power generation efficiency. At the same time, the necessary locking torque is provided to ensure the safe operation of the unit.</li> <li><strong>Hub system.</strong> The function of the hub is to hold the blades together and to take the various loads transmitted on the blades, which are then transferred to the rotating shaft of the generator. The hub structure is fitted with 3 radial flares.</li> <li><strong>Base assembly.</strong> The base assembly is mainly composed of a base, a lower platform assembly, an inner platform assembly, and a cabin ladder. It is connected with the tower through the yaw bearing, and drives the engine room assembly, the generator assembly and the pitch system assembly through the yaw system.</li> </ol> <h2>How wind turbines work?</h2> <p>A wind turbine is a power device that converts wind energy into mechanical work, which drives the rotor to rotate, and finally outputs alternating current. The structure of the generator is generally composed of the nacelle, rotor blades, shaft center, high-speed shaft and its mechanical brake, generator, yaw device, electronic controller, hydraulic system, cooling element, tower, anemometer and wind vane, tail rudder. Wind turbines are generally composed of wind turbines, generators (including devices), regulators (tails), towers, speed-limiting safety mechanisms, and energy storage devices.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/wind-turbine.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="495" height="323" /><br /><br />The working principle of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> is to drive the impeller to rotate through the wind, and then increase the speed of the transmission system to achieve the speed of the generator, and then drive the generator to generate electricity, which effectively converts the wind energy into electricity. According to current windmill technology, it is about three meters per second of breeze speed (the degree of breeze) to start generating electricity.</p> <p>The simplest wind turbine can be composed of two parts: an impeller and a generator, and it is built on a tower trunk of a certain height. This is a small off-grid wind turbine. When the electric energy emitted by the original wind turbine changes with the wind, sometimes there is no voltage and frequency instability, and there is no practical application. Value To solve these problems, modern wind turbines add gearbox yaw system, hydraulic system, braking system and control system, etc.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:292 https://www.inverter.com/precautions-for-choosing-a-car-inverter Precautions for Choosing a Car Inverter <p>Car inverter is a kind of convenient car power converter that can convert 12V direct current into 220V alternating current which is the same as mains power for general electrical appliances.</p> <p>From the output waveform, the car inverter can be divided into sine wave output and square wave output. The former outputs the same sine wave alternating current as the power grid we use every day, which can adapt to various loads, but the circuit structure is more complicated and the volume is larger. The latter circuit is simple, but it is picky about the load and cannot drive the inductive load.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/caravan.jpg" alt="Caravan" width="631" height="414" /></p> <h2><strong>Power selection</strong></h2> <p>Looking at various inverters, how should we choose a car inverter? First of all, we need to know which electrical equipment is needed in the car, and then select the inverter specification according to its power. Also consider the fusing current of the car's cigarette lighter fuse.</p> <p>If the power of the electrical appliance to be used exceeds 180W, the high-power inverter can be directly connected to the battery through the battery connection cable. But this method can only be used in emergency, not for a long time, otherwise it will cause damage to the battery itself. The output power of the on-board inverter must be greater than the electrical power used, so to ensure that it can fully start.</p> <h2><strong>Output Interface</strong></h2> <p>After selecting the specifications of the inverter, let's take a look at the output interface of the inverter itself. At present, many electrical appliances use plugs. This requires a 3-hole interface on the inverter. In addition, there are also many USB interfaces. Therefore, it is best to choose 3 types of interfaces to have an inverter.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/car-inevrter-output-waveform.jpg" alt="Car inevrter output waveform" width="600" height="400" /></p> <h2><strong>Output waveform</strong></h2> <p>In addition, according to the difference of output current waveform, car inverter is divided into pure sine inverter and modified sine inverter. Among them, the pure sine inverter has stable power supply, and ordinary electrical appliances can basically be driven well. However, the modified sine wave is actually closer to the square wave, and the quality of the output current is poor, which will cause certain damage to some electrical equipment.</p> <p>Although the price difference between these two inverters is very large, if it is used for a long time, we still recommend that you choose a pure sine inverter. Because no matter what type of electrical equipment it is, you don't have to worry too much when using a pure sine inverter to power it.<strong><br /></strong></p> <h2><strong>Protective function</strong></h2> <p>When choosing a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a>, be sure to check whether it has over-temperature protection, over-current protection and short-circuit protection. These functions do not only provide protection for the inverter itself. More importantly, it avoids damage to electrical equipment.<br /><br /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:293 https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter-load-types Off Grid Inverter Load Types <p>The off grid inverter can work independently after leaving the grid, which is equivalent to an independent mini-grid and mainly controls its own voltage source. It can carry loads such as resistance, capacitance, motor inductance, fast strain and anti-interference, strong adaptability and practicality. It is the preferred power supply product for power outage emergency power and outdoor power supply.</p> <p>In a PV off-grid system, the power of the off-grid inverter is usually determined according to the customer's load type and power.</p> <h2>Load type</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Resistive load.</strong> The load with no voltage phase difference is a resistive load, such as rice cooker, light bulb, electric furnace, electric ferrochrome, etc.</li> <li><strong>Inductive load.</strong> When the current lag voltage is a phase difference, the load is an inductive load, such as washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators, water pumps, range hoods and other loads with motors, transformers, relays, compressors, etc.</li> <li><strong>Capacitive load.</strong> The load with the phase difference of the voltage ahead of the current is a capacitive load, such as compensation capacitors, computers, TVs, etc.</li> </ul> <p>The starting power of inductive loads such as motors is 5-7 times the rated power. The starting power of these loads should be considered when estimating the power of the inverter.<br /><br />If the load is an elevator, etc., it cannot be directly connected to the output end of the inverter. When the elevator falls, the motor reverses, and back electromotive force will occur, which will enter the inverter and the inverter will be easily damaged. In case of disconnection, the mains system must be used, it is recommended to add a frequency converter between the frequency converter and the elevator motor.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/off-grid-inverter-load.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter load" width="680" height="453" /><br /><br />The waveform of the inverter can be mainly divided into two categories, one is pure sine wave inverter, and the other is modified wave inverter. The modified sine wave inverter uses the PWM pulse width modulation method to generate the modified wave output. Due to the harmonic distortion of about 20%, it cannot carry inductive loads such as air conditioners, but can carry resistive loads such as lights.<br /><br />The rectified sinusoidal inverter uses a non-isolated coupling circuit, which is simple in installation and high in efficiency. Pure sine inverters are designed with isolated coupling circuits, which are complex and costly, and can be connected to any common electrical equipment (including TVs, LCD monitors, etc., especially inductive loads such as refrigerators) without interference.<br /><br />The inverter can be divided into high frequency machine and power frequency machine according to the degree of isolation. The back of the inverter is equipped with a 50Hz power frequency isolation transformer, which is called a power frequency inverter; The isolation transformer replaces the power frequency transformer in the inverter, which is called a high frequency inverter.<br /><br />The advantages of the power frequency inverter are that the power components are stable and reliable, the overload capacity is strong, and the shock resistance is strong. The disadvantages are low efficiency, heavy weight and high price. There are two types of high-frequency inverters: high-frequency isolation and low-frequency isolation. The advantages are small size, high efficiency, and low price. The disadvantage is that the impact resistance is slightly lower.<br /><br />The output power of the inverter is greater than the load power. For applications with strict requirements such as monitoring stations and communication stations, the output power is the sum of all load powers. But for a normal family, considering that all loads cannot be turned on at the same time, in order to save costs, the coefficient 0.7-0.9 can be multiplied by the sum of the load power.<br /><br />If you are building a PV off-grid system and do not know how to choose an <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a>, please contact us, and we will choose the most suitable inverter for you according to your needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:291 https://www.inverter.com/portable-solar-panel-price-list Portable Solar Panel Price List <p>A solar panel is a device that absorbs sunlight and converts solar radiation directly or indirectly into electrical energy through the photoelectric effect or photochemical effect. Compared with ordinary batteries and rechargeable batteries, solar batteries are more energy-saving and environmentally friendly.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/80w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="394" height="300" /></p> <p>Materials that can produce photovoltaic effects include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, gallium arsenide, indium copper selenide, etc., and their power generation principles are basically the same. The main material of most solar panels is silicon. P-type crystalline silicon can be doped with phosphorus to obtain N-type silicon and form a P-N junction. When the light hits the surface of the solar cell, part of the photons are absorbed by the silicon material; the energy of the photons is transferred to the silicon atoms, causing the electrons to transition and become free electrons that accumulate on both sides of the P-N junction to form a potential difference. When the external circuit is turned on, under the action of this voltage, a current will flow through the external circuit and generate a certain output power.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">reasonable price portable solar panels</a> with high efficiency monocrystalline silicon cell. The price list of portable solar panels is in the table below, if you want to choose and purchase a specific product, please visit our product's page.</p> <table border="1" width="1043" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Product Name</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Working current (Imp)</strong></td> <td><strong>Working Voltage (Vmp)</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30w-portable-solar-panel">30W Portable Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSP-30</td> <td>$216.77</td> <td>1.67A</td> <td rowspan="6">18V</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40w-portable-solar-panel">40W Portable Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSP-40</td> <td>$233.69</td> <td>2.22A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/60w-portable-solar-panel">60W Portable Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSP-60</td> <td>$283.61</td> <td>3.33A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/80w-portable-solar-panel">80W Portable Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSP-80</td> <td>$324.23</td> <td>4.44A</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-panel">100W Portable Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSP-100</td> <td>$360.62</td> <td>5.56A</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120W Portable Solar Panel</a></td> <td>ATO-PSP-120</td> <td>$360.62</td> <td>6.67A</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note:</strong> The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want a portable solar panel that is not listed in the table, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:289 https://www.inverter.com/portable-solar-panel-selection-guide Portable Solar Panel Selection Guide <p>A solar panel is a device that directly converts light energy into electrical energy through the photoelectric effect or photochemical effect. With the development of solar technology, the application of portable solar panels in our life is more and more extensive. Here are a few things to consider when selecting portable solar panels.</p> <h2><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-selection.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="640" height="355" /></h2> <h2>Selection of Solar Cell Material</h2> <p>At present, solar cells on the market are divided into amorphous silicon and crystalline silicon. Among them, crystalline silicon can be divided into polycrystalline silicon and single crystal silicon. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the three materials is: monocrystalline silicon&gt;polycrystalline silicon&gt;amorphous silicon. However, crystalline silicon basically does not generate current under low light, while amorphous silicon is better in low light.</p> <h2>Selection of Portable Solar Panel Packaging Form</h2> <p>There are two main packaging forms of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">portable solar panels</a>, lamination and glue. The lamination process can ensure that the working life of the solar panel lasts for more than 25 years. Although the glue solar panel is aesthetically pleasing, its working life is only 1~2 years. In addition, there is a silicon gel solar panel that is said to have a working life of 10 years. In the case that the working life is not required, the low-power solar lawn light below 1W can be packaged with glue. For solar lamps with a specified lifespan, it is recommended to use laminate package.</p> <h2><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/portable-solar-panel-selection.jpg" alt="Portable solar panel" width="640" height="351" /></h2> <h2>Selection of Portable Solar Panel Power</h2> <p>When we buy portable solar panels, the first consideration is the power of the solar cells. Generally speaking, the power of a solar panel is proportional to the area of the solar wafer. But the area of the solar cell wafer is not exactly equal to the area of the solar encapsulation panel. Although some solar panels are large, the gaps in the arrangement of single solar wafers are very wide, and the power is not necessarily high.</p> <p>Theoretically, the higher the power of the solar panel, the more current it generates in sunlight, which can quickly fill its built-in battery. But in reality, we need to balance the power of a solar panel with the portability of a solar charger. It is generally believed that the minimum power of the solar charger cannot be lower than 0.75w, and the solar panel of the secondary power can generate a current of 140mA under the standard strong light. The current generated under the general sunlight is about 100mA. If the charging current is too small, there will be no obvious effect.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:290 https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine-charge-controller-price-list Wind Turbine Charge Controller Price List <p>Wind turbine charge controller is an intelligent controller specially designed for wind power generation system. Making full use of wind energy resources to generate electricity, the equipment can not only efficiently convert the electrical energy generated by the wind turbine to charge the battery, but also provide powerful control functions. The wind turbine charge controller can effectively improve the efficiency of wind power generation. The controller can effectively prevent the loss of control when the wind speed is too fast, and it can also prevent the danger to the wind turbine when strong wind occurs.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001353_300w-wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller-12v24v_350.jpg" alt="Wind turbine mppt charge controller" width="351" height="350" /></p> <p>The wind turbine charge controller can regulate and control the electric energy generated by the wind turbine. It sends the adjusted energy to the DC load or the AC load. Besides that, the wind turbine charge controller charges the battery bank with the excess energy according to the characteristic curve of the battery.</p> <p>When the generated electricity cannot meet the needs of the load, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">the wind turbine charge controller</a> sends the electric energy of the battery to the load. After the battery is fully charged, the controller should control the battery not to be overcharged.</p> <p>When the electric energy stored in the battery is discharged, the controller should control the battery not to be over-discharged to protect the battery.</p> <p>The wind turbine charge controller has the following functions:</p> <p>The performance of the wind turbine charge controller directly affects the service life of wind power.</p> <p>The wind turbine charge controller will directly affect the service life of the energy storage battery.</p> <p>The wind turbine charge controller will directly affect the working efficiency of the system.</p> <p>If the wind turbine and the charge controller do not match, it may cause the entire equipment of the entire system to be destroyed.</p> <p>We have Wind turbine charge controllers of different specifications for you to choose from. Power ratings from 300W to 1000W. Please move to the wind turbine charge controller price List below.</p> <table style="height: 400px;" border="1" width="836" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>Wind Turbine Charge Controller</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Model</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Product</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rated voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dimension</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WTCMPPT-300</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">300W Wind Turbine MPPT Charge Controller, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$76.02</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12V/24V (Automatic recognition voltage)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">80*80*15mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19">ATO-WTCMPPT-400</td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/400w-wind-turbine">400W Wind Turbine MPPT Charge Controller, 12V/24V</a></p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;">$76.92</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12V/24V (Automatic recognition voltage)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">80*80*15mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WTCMPPT-500</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">500W Wind Turbine MPPT Charge Controller, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$99.82</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12V/24V (Automatic recognition voltage)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100*80*15mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WTCMPPT-600</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600w-wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">600W Wind Turbine MPPT Charge Controller, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$104.61</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12V/24V (Automatic recognition voltage)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100*80*15mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19">ATO-WTCMPPT-800</td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/800w-wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">800W Wind Turbine MPPT Charge Controller, 12V/24V</a></p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;">$99.82</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12V/24V/48V (Automatic recognition voltage)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100*80*15mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WTCMPPT-1000</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-wind-turbine-mppt-charge-controller">1000W Wind Turbine MPPT Charge Controller, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$178.46</td> <td style="text-align: center;">24V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100*80*15mm</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The prices of our wind turbine charge controllers listed in the table are reasonable and for reference only. If you want to learn more, please visit the wind turbine charge controller product page.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:288 https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator-price-list Inverter Generator Price List <p>For buyers, they don’t know how to determine whether the inverter generator is suitable for their own use. We summarize some points that they need to pay attention to:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Confirm the power of the electrical appliance.</li> <li>Determine its peak power.</li> <li>Noticing input voltage, current, frequency.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Peak power:</strong> It refers to the power used by the electrical appliance to be turned on at the moment when the device is turned on.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0000754_500-watt-portable-inverter-generator_350.jpg" alt="Inverter generator" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>For example, TVs, electric drills, when you turn them on, you will hear sounds, voltage jumps and other phenomena. This is the shock phenomenon at the moment when the appliance is turned on. Therefore, the peak power is different from the rated power. Generally speaking, resistive loads, such as light bulbs, do not have peaking problems. But for some appliances, there are generally 3 to 5 times the peak. Therefore, we should pay attention to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">the inverter generator</a> when we buy it, because the inverter is double peak. Such as a TV, the nominal rated power is 75W, but the peak value is 5 times. Then its peak value is 350W. In this way, you can't start it with a 100W inverter since the 100W inverter mainly has a peak value of 200W. So we have to use the 300W machine first, it has a peak value of 600W, and it can be turned on immediately.</p> <p><strong>Appliance Peak:</strong> The bulb does not have peak power. A 100W inverter can light a 100W bulb. TV sets have 3 to 5 times the peak power. For 75W TV, you need to use more than 300W machine to start. The electric drill has 3 times the peak power, and the peak power of the computer monitor is generally more than 6 times. So it is still a bit difficult to start the 300W confidential.</p> <p>The peak power of the laptop is generally 70W, and it can be started with a 150W inverter, because it is generally 3 times the peak power. For digital products such as mobile phone chargers and cameras, a 100W inverter is generally sufficient.</p> <p>We have inverters of different specifications for you to choose from. Rated DC voltage is 12V, peak power from 650W to 5500W. Please see the inverter generator price list below.</p> <table style="height: 200px;" border="1" width="735" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong><span style="font-size: 11px;">Inverter Generator</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11px;">Model</span></strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11px;">Product</span></strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11px;">Price</span></strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11px;">AC Rated voltage</span></strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11px;">Max Power</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">ATO-IG-500</span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500-watt-inverter-generator">500 watt portable inverter generator</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$1,592.29</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, 240V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">650 Watt</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19"><span style="font-size: 11px;">ATO-IG-800</span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/800-watt-inverter-generator">800 watt portable inverter generator</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$1,882.06</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, 240V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">ATO-IG-2000</span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-inverter-generator">2000 watt portable inverter generator</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$2,576.15</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, 240V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2200 Watt</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">ATO-IG-2500</span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2500-watt-inverter-generator">2500 watt portable inverter generator</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$3,082.92</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, 240V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2800 Watt</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19"><span style="font-size: 11px;">ATO-IG-3000</span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000-watt-portable-inverter-generator">3000 watt portable inverter generator</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$3,821.07</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, 240V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3300 Watt</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">ATO-IG-5000</span></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-inverter-generator">5000 Watt Portable Inverter Generator</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$5,564.23</td> <td style="text-align: center;">100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, 240V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">5500 Watt</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The prices of our inverter generators listed in the table are reasonable and for reference only. If you want to learn more, please visit the inverter generator product page.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:287 https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine-price-list Wind Turbine Price List <p>A wind turbine first uses wind energy to generate electricity, and is a device that converts wind energy into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy. And wind energy, as a clean and renewable energy, is inexhaustible.</p> <p>Therefore, wind power can not only supplement conventional power sources, but also an environmentally friendly energy source.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>The wind rotor of the wind turbine rotates under the action of the wind force to complete the transformation from the kinetic energy of the wind to the mechanical energy of the wind rotor shaft, and then the generator is driven by the wind rotor shaft to obtain the final electrical energy.</p> <p>During this process, the rotation speed of the wind rotor under the action of the wind is indeed not fast. Generally, the blades of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a> turn about 20 to 30 times per minute, which is less than 1/10 of the speed of electric fans in life. However, the slow speed means it is really inefficient? The answer is no.</p> <p>The size of the wind turbine is very large. A conventional power generation blade can reach 30 meters long, and the diameter when rotating is 60 meters, which is a full 20 stories high. According to this data, its circumference is 188.4 meters, so the rotational speed is as high as 135 kilometers per hour, which is faster than the car on the highway. With such a large fan blade, the torque generated when it rotates is also very large. All a wind turbine has to do is convert it into high-frequency mechanical energy.</p> <p>We have wind turbines of different types for you to choose from. Specifications from 100W to 1000W and so on. Please move to the wind turbine price list below.</p> <table style="height: 180px;" border="1" width="682" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>Wind Turbine</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Model</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Product</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rated Wind Speed</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wheel Diameter</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WT-S100</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-wind-turbine">100W Wind Turbine, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$267.69</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.2m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19">ATO-WT-S200</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/200w-wind-turbine">200W Wind Turbine, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$267.69</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.3m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WT-S300</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-wind-turbine">300W Wind Turbine, 12V/24V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$331.84</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.35m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WT-400M2</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/400w-wind-turbine-12v-24v-48v">400W Wind Turbine, 12V/24V/48V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$331.84</td> <td style="text-align: center;">11 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.75m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19">ATO-WT-500M2</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-wind-turbine-12v-24v-48v">500W Wind Turbine, 12V/24V/48V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$564.92</td> <td style="text-align: center;">11 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.75m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WT-600M4</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600w-wind-turbine-12v-24v-48v">600W Wind Turbine, 12V/24V/48V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$723.08</td> <td style="text-align: center;">11 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.85m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WT-800M5</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/800w-wind-turbine">800W Wind Turbine, 24V/48V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$846.15</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12.5 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2.2m</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">ATO-WT-1000M5</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-wind-turbine">1000W Wind Turbine, 24V/48V</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">$987.69</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12.5 m/s</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2.4m</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The prices of our wind turbines listed in the table are reasonable and for reference only. If you want to learn more, please visit the wind turbine product page.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:284 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-carry-out-daily-maintenance-of-wind-turbines How to Carry out Daily Maintenance of Wind Turbines? <p>No matter what kind of tools, there will be a life limit. The service life of wind turbines is usually twenties years. But does this mean that we can use wind turbines without worrying about their maintenance? The answer is negative. Even if the lifespan of a wind turbine is twenties years, we still need to do some regular maintenance. Today we will introduce the basic maintenance of wind turbines.</p> <h2>Basically checking</h2> <p>Daily operation and maintenance include troubleshooting and inspection. But before that, let's understand what it basically checks.</p> <p>First of all, carefully check whether the safety platform and ladder inside the blade are firm.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-to-extend-the-service-life-of-wind-turbines-350.jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbines" width="350" height="245" /></p> <p>Whether the lift is working properly?</p> <p>Whether the lighting in the tower is good?</p> <p>Whether the gauge pressure of the hydraulic station is normal?</p> <p>Whether the hydraulic oil and gearbox oil levels are in normal positions?</p> <p>Whether there is wear and tear between the rotating parts?</p> <p>Whether the indication of the gear oil and hydraulic oil filter is in the normal position and the running sound, etc.</p> <p>The second is listening. Listen to the control cabinet to see:</p> <p>If there is a discharge sound or abnormal sound?</p> <p>If there is a sound, there may be loose terminals or poor contact, and you must check carefully.</p> <p>Listen to whether the sound during yaw is normal?</p> <p>Whether there is a dry grinding sound?</p> <p>And listen to the gear box, whether there is any abnormal sound?</p> <p>Listen to whether there is any abnormal sound between the brake disc and the brake pad?</p> <p>Listen to the working sound of the generator and whether there is any abnormal sound of the bearing?</p> <p>And listen to whether the wind cutting sound of the blade is normal?</p> <p>Third, clean up the work site after work, so as to observe whether there is leakage in future work.</p> <h2>Daily operation and maintenance</h2> <p><strong>Troubleshooting</strong></p> <p>Daily operation and maintenance include troubleshooting and inspection. Now, let’s move to the troubleshooting of the wind turbine. Troubleshooting is mainly to predict, detect and eliminate wind power equipment faults. Troubleshooting is not easy to determine in terms of time, and there is no fixed work content. It requires personnel to have relatively strong technical strength, especially with professional skills in electrical and communication. This work is also one of the most technical and challenging tasks in the operation and maintenance of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a>.</p> <p>People are the key factor. The work experience, technical level and knowledge reserve of personnel determine the speed and effect of processing, which directly affects the normal operation of wind power. Excellent troubleshooting personnel generally need the technical skills (or equivalent experience) of an engineer or above, and have about 2 years of work experience in similar models. The training of troubleshooting personnel takes a long time, and the personnel cost is relatively high.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-to-solve-the-wind-turbine-shaft-wear-350jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="245" /></p> <p>Nowadays, personnel in this area are mainly employed by complete machine manufacturers and some key component manufacturers. Now, due to the different models of different manufacturers and different control systems, the cross-company mobility of technicians is not great. Even for excellent engineers, it takes more than half a year to adapt after changing a model. Therefore, such personnel need to focus on long-term training.</p> <p><strong>Inspection</strong></p> <p>Inspection refers to the regular inspection of equipment during routine maintenance. It is about once a month (or once in February), and each unit takes about 4 working hours. The working method is mainly visual, or simple testing, sometimes combined with troubleshooting.</p> <p>The work content is relatively fixed, the main content includes checking the tightness and testing of small connectors, observing oil level, pressure, wear of moving parts, checking cable layout, component sound, and smell inside the unit. <br />The inspection work is conducive to the mastery of the operation of the equipment, and can timely deal with the small problems in the operation of the wind turbine to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the wind turbine.</p> <p>The inspection work is not difficult and the technical requirements are not strict, but it is difficult to have a fixed requirement to summarize all the work content. The experience of the inspector is very important, generally more than 1 year of work experience. As far as possible, arrange personnel who have a better understanding of wind turbines to participate, or engineers with certain fault handling experience to conduct inspection work.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:283 https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbines-regular-maintenance Wind Turbines Regular Maintenance <p>Wind turbine operation and maintenance mainly refers to the regular maintenance and daily maintenance of wind turbines. Today we will talk about regular maintenance.</p> <h2>Regular maintenance</h2> <p>Regular maintenance refers to the regular inspection, maintenance, and maintenance of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> according to the technical requirements of the wind turbine and the operating time.</p> <p>Generally, the regular inspection plan is formulated according to the running time, such as three months, six months, one year... The content of the regular inspection work is relatively fixed, and there are generally relatively standard procedures and requirements.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-w-350jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="218" /></p> <p>Each unit needs about 80 hours for each scheduled inspection. (The time varies according to the requirements of different units and the frequency of regular inspections). One engineer can lead several skilled workers to participate. Due to great amount of regular inspection equipment and the heavy workload, there are certain requirements for the physical strength of the personnel. And some work (such as connection bolt torque inspection) has safety risks, and certain safety training is required.</p> <p>The operating environment of the wind turbine is relatively harsh, and the regular inspection can keep the equipment in the best state and prolong the service life of the wind turbine, so this work is very important. Depending on the different of time, the work content also varies.</p> <p>Regular inspection mainly includes torque inspection of connectors (including connection), lubrication performance inspection, component function test, oil level and electrical equipment inspection, equipment cleaning, etc. The technical requirements are not strict.</p> <p><strong>Replacement of major components and overhaul of specific components</strong></p> <p>The replacement of large parts mainly includes the replacement of large equipment such as blades, gearboxes, motors, and electric control cabinets. Generally, large and professional equipment is required, and the specific work needs to be carried out by companies and professionals with relevant qualifications, such as installation qualifications, cable operators, etc.</p> <p>At present, most of the work in this area is undertaken by professional companies. The replacement of large components in wind power equipment is often expensive, but the probability of large equipment needing to be replaced is relatively low. At present, most operation and maintenance companies and manufacturers do not have, nor do they need to have the technology and personnel in this area. Only a few people who are familiar with wind turbines and understand the work are required to participate in the guidance.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p><strong>Overhaul of specific components</strong></p> <p>The overhaul of specific components mainly refers to the overhaul of some integrated or specialized components, such as blades, gearboxes, motors, etc. These are modular, integrated components that are often overhauled by the component manufacturer, requiring professionals and equipment. At present, neither wind turbine equipment manufacturers nor wind turbine operating companies are directly involved in this work.</p> <h2>Two aspects of regular maintenance</h2> <p>The following is a detailed introduction to the two aspects of regular maintenance.</p> <p><strong>Impeller</strong></p> <p>The impeller consists of blades and a hub. The impeller has a diameter of 77 meters and a total of three blades. The blades are made of fiberglass. Each piece weighs 6 tons.</p> <p>Inspection content, quality requirements and processing methods:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The blade surface and edges should be free of cracks, damage and cracks.</li> <li>Check whether the initial installation angle of the wind turbine blade has changed.</li> <li>Visually inspect the blade bearing gear and seal.</li> <li>Check the surface of the hub for corrosion, cracks, spalling, wear and deformation.</li> <li>Check and tighten all bolts within the installation range according to the torque table.</li> <li>Check the pitch bearing grease.</li> <li>Check the oil level of the pitch gearbox to see if there is any leakage.</li> <li>Check whether the pitch motor carbon brushes and fans are abnormal.</li> <li>Check whether the impeller grounding system is normal.</li> </ul> <p>NOTE: The impeller must be locked during inspection.</p> <p><strong>Spindle</strong></p> <p>Inspection content, quality requirements and processing methods:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Check whether the main shaft components are damaged, worn, corroded, and whether the bolts are loose or cracked.</li> <li>Check the spindle for abnormal sound.</li> <li>Check the shaft seal for leakage and the lubrication of the shaft seals at both ends of the bearing.</li> <li>Tighten the main shaft bolts, bushings and machine base bolts according to the torque table.</li> <li>Check the cover of the rotating shaft (front end and rear cover).</li> <li>Check whether the spindle lubrication system is abnormal and fill in oil as required.</li> <li>Check whether the oil level of the oil filling tank is normal.</li> <li>Check the connection between the main shaft and the gearbox.</li> <li>Check the lightning protection system. Visually inspect the brush and air gap, the minimum length of the brush: 20mm. If necessary, they need to be replaced. Check the contact surface and spring force to ensure a secure fit. Visually inspect the flatness of the front surface of the shrink disk.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:278 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter-functions Solar Inverter Functions <p>The solar power inverter not only has the function of DC-AC conversion, but also has the function of maximizing the function of solar cells and system maintenance. This article mainly focuses on solar power inverter’s automatic operation and shutdown function and maximum power tracking control function.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/functions-of-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Functions of solar inverter" width="700" height="373" /></p> <h2>Automatic operation and shutdown function</h2> <p>After sunrise in the morning, the solar radiation intensity gradually increases, and the output of the solar cell also increases. When the output power required by the solar power inverter is reached, the inverter starts to operate automatically. After entering the operation, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> will take care of the output of the solar cell module all the time. As long as the output power of the solar cell module is greater than the output power required by the inverter task, the inverter will continue to operate. The inverter can also run on rainy days. When the output of the solar cell module becomes smaller and the output of the inverter is close to 0, the solar inverter will form a standby state.</p> <h2>Maximum power tracking control function</h2> <p>The output of the solar cell module changes with the solar radiation intensity and the temperature of the solar cell module itself (chip temperature). In addition, because the solar cell module has the characteristics that the voltage decreases with the increase of the current, there is an optimal task point where the maximum power can be obtained. The intensity of solar radiation is changing, and so is the apparent optimal mission point. Regarding these changes, the task point of the solar cell module is always at the maximum power point, and the system has always obtained the maximum power output from the solar cell module. This control is the maximum power tracking control. The biggest feature of inverters for solar power systems is that they include the function of maximum power point tracking (MPPT).</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:281 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-solve-the-wind-turbine-shaft-wear How to Solve the Wind Turbine Shaft Wear? <p>Wind turbine is an important equipment in the process of energy conversion. Shaft is a very important part of wind turbine. And the shaft wear of wind turbine is a common problem of this equipment. Once this problem occurs, the user needs to face a series of problems in disassembly, return to the factory or repair welding. The repair cycle of wind turbine shaft wear is relatively long. So can the wind turbine shaft wear be repaired online on site?</p> <p>The answer is yes! So how can we do that? Let's first look at two classic cases of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> shaft wear.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p><strong>Case 1:</strong></p> <p>During the regular inspection of a wind turbine in a power plant, it was found that the bearing position on the transmission side was abnormal. After dismantling and inspection, it was found that the diameter of the bearing seat was worn by 2mm. And there were many pits in some parts. The motor power is 1500kw, the bearing model is 6330M/C3, the motor speed is 1700r/min, and the transmission ratio is 1:99.7.</p> <p>The reason for the wear of the shaft diameter of the wind turbine is that the pits on the shaft are caused by electrical corrosion. And the equipment uses an insulating end cover instead of an insulating bearing.</p> <p><strong>Case 2:</strong></p> <p>A company's 1.5MW wind turbine rotor shaft support side bearing has serious wear. Generator power: 1500KW. Bearing model: 6330-M-J20C-C3. Bearing diameter: 150mm. Bearing width: 65mm. Wear depth: 1.5mm. Equipment speed: 1800r/min. Operating temperature: 60°C~70 °C.</p> <p>The wear is due to the damage of the shaft diameter during maintenance and replacement of bearings. After the operation, the axial movement of the bearing is caused by the vibration of the rotor shaft, which causes wear on the bearing position. The manifestation is that the bearing temperature rises abnormally during operation. And at the same time it causes wear to the outer gland of the bearing.</p> <p>The above two cases are common problems with wind turbines. So how these problems should be solved? There are actually two ways to repair the wind turbine shaft without disassembly. Next, we will introduce these two methods one by one.</p> <h2>Method 1: On-line repair process of wind turbine shaft wear.</h2> <p>Surface treatment: The surface is treated with oil until the oil is carbonized. Polish the repaired surface with a sander to ensure that the surface is roughened to increase the adhesion. Clean the repaired surface with absolute ethanol.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-to-solve-the-wind-turbine-shaft-wear-350jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="245" /></p> <p>Air test tooling: Check whether there is a gap on the joint surface, and whether the tooling can be rotated after it is installed in place, so as to ensure that there is no error in the matching of the tooling. Disassemble the tooling and brush the inner surface with release agent SD7000 for spare.</p> <p>Reconcile the coating material: Mix carbon nano-polymer materials according to the proportion, and blend until it is uniform and has no color difference. Apply the blended material on the repair surface and install the tooling in place.</p> <p>Material curing: Heating and curing, improve material properties and speed up material curing time.</p> <p>Grind the size, and the repair is completed: Disassemble the tooling, verify the repair size, assemble the bearing after confirming that it is correct, and the repair is completed</p> <p>There is one more method you can have a try.</p> <h2>Method 2: Repair the shaft diameter wear of the wind turbine without disassembly.</h2> <p><br />Preliminary cleaning of the shaft surface, wipe off the oil on the worn surface, and remove high spots, burrs, rust layers, etc.</p> <p>The carbon nano-polymer material is blended in proportion until it is uniform and no color difference.</p> <p>Apply the blended material on the repair surface, and install the tooling in place.</p> <p>Heat curing, improve material properties and speed up material curing time.</p> <p>Disassemble the tooling, verify the repair size, assemble the bearing after confirming that it is correct, and the repair is completed.</p> <p>Although we have introduced two methods about solving wind turbines shaft wear, it is not an easy case to work. Just as we have mentioned at the beginning, wind turbine’s shaft is very important for the equipment. You can’t be too careful in this matter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:280 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-extend-the-service-life-of-wind-turbines How to Extend the Service Life of Wind Turbines? <p>Each item has a different lifespan. How long the service life of wind turbines is, this is also a question that many people want to know. Generally speaking, the service life of wind turbines is more than 20 years. But if we can maintain the wind turbine, its service life can be extended.</p> <p>With the gradual aging of the in-service wind turbines, coupled with extreme weather, unpredictable load fluctuations and other factors, the wind turbine pitch bearing may fail unexpectedly, resulting in a reduction in the life of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a>. Through the design upgrade of the pitch bearing, the life of the pitch bearing can be extended by up to 10 years. While extending the service life of the wind turbine, it can improve the operating efficiency of the wind turbine and reduce the downtime.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/0001184_100w-wind-turbine-12v24v_550.jpg" alt="Wind turbine" width="350" height="350" /></p> <p>Pitch bearings are designed to last 20 years (approximately 175,000 hours) and typically consist of gothic arched raceways with deep grooves and the largest balls. The balls are evenly distributed by disc-shaped spacers or cage dividers. Single-row four-point or double-row eight-point contact designs provide excellent load capacity, and bearing races allow the balls to simultaneously carry loads from any direction.</p> <p>However, the characteristics of the fan under some operating conditions may lead to a decrease in the service life of the pitch bearing. Ideally, a pitch bearing would never rotate more than 90° over its entire life. However, in reality a pitch bearing will suffer very little under heavy loads.</p> <p>The geographical location of the wind turbine is remote and the environment is complex, and the position of the pitch bearing is at the top of the wind turbine tower. Routine inspections and observations do not reveal the problem. Only during regular maintenance every 6 to 12 months, the pitch bearing can be directly observed and the problem can be found.</p> <p>There are reasons for the failure of the pitch bearing. Now, let’s move to its reasons.</p> <h2>One of the reasons for the failure of the pitch bearing: lubrication.</h2> <p>The classical failure modes (i.e. fatigue spalling and Brinell spalling) predicted by standard bearing calculation models are not actually common causes of pitch bearing failures. Common failures are usually caused by poor lubrication.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-to-extend-the-service-life-of-wind-turbines-350.jpg.jpg" alt="Wind turbines" width="350" height="245" /></p> <p>Lubrication-induced failures include vibratory wear (false Brinell wear), corrosion, debris settling, and surface-induced fatigue. Damaged separators, peeling raceways, split balls, and bearing locking can all be signs of poor pitch bearing lubrication. Many failures classified as load-based may actually be due to problems caused by grease degradation.</p> <p>As wind turbines are subjected to harsh weather conditions, proper lubrication methods must be designed to ensure maximum machine uptime and minimum maintenance.</p> <p>Proper selection of grease is the first and most important step. Pitch bearing grease must be resistant to water washout and contain a durable additive package that protects against high loads and vibrations.</p> <p>Using a continuous feed lubrication system also enables the field to add or adjust grease fill as needed without a technician climbing.</p> <h2>Another reason for the failure of the pitch bearing: overload operation.</h2> <p>Although lubrication is the main reason, overload operation failures are also an area that we need to pay attention to. Overloading usually occurs due to the bearing lacking the rigid support of the hub assembly. It results in an imbalance where a portion of the raceway carries the majority of the load.</p> <p>Load and operation-induced failures include broken components (rolling ball elements, ball separators, races), separator lock-up and crushed raceway cores. As mentioned above, lubrication conditions can also exacerbate these failures.</p> <p>In pitch bearings, the contact area between the balls and the raceway forms an ellipse centered on the raceway contact angle. Under large thrust or overturning loads, the contact ellipse overflows the physical limit (truncation) of the raceway.</p> <p>The probability of contact cut-off increases with the ratio of bearing diameter to thickness, or with a decrease in external support. Severe contact truncation can create stress rises that can cause path edges to snap or balls to break into pieces.</p> <p>Finally, a bearing in a clean room with new seals, fresh grease, and mounting it on a solid, perfectly flat surface can last for decades.</p> <p>All in all, if you hope the wind turbines work well and as long as possible, you need to pay attention to its maintenance.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:286 https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller-price-list Solar Charge Controller Price List <p>The solar charge controller is a device in the solar off-grid independent power supply system that can automatically control multiple solar panels to charge the battery. It coordinates the work of solar panels, batteries, and loads, monitors the charging status, and tells us the current, voltage and battery conditions that the solar panels charge the battery pack. It can effectively prevent battery overcharge, and has anti-reverse and anti-short circuit functions.<strong><img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/1224V-mppt-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Solar charge controller" width="261" height="300" /></strong></p> <p>Solar charge controller coordinates the work of solar panels, batteries, and loads to ensure the stable operation of the entire solar off-grid independent power supply system. It is the power supply center of the entire power station, and its operation status directly affects the reliability of the entire power station. It is a key part in the process of system design, production and installation.</p> <p><strong>What is the function of the solar charge controller in the system?</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Power adjustment function.</strong></li> <li><strong>Communication function:</strong> simple indication function and protocol communication function, such as RS485 Ethernet, wireless and other forms of background management.</li> <li><strong>Protection functions:</strong> electrical protection, reverse polarity protection, short circuit protection, overcurrent protection, overcharge protection, overdischarge protection, etc.</li> </ul> <p>Inverter.com offers you two kinds of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controllers</a>, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers and pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers. In addition, the all-in-one unit solar inverter with MPPT charge controller is also available for off-grid solar system. The following is our solar charge controller price list for your reference. If you want more information, please go to our product's page.</p> <table style="height: 319px;" border="1" width="956" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>MPPT Solar Charge Controller</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rated Current</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Rated Voltage</strong></td> <td><strong>Maximum PV Input Power</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-20IR</a></td> <td>$257.69</td> <td>12V/24V/48V Auto</td> <td>12V: 280W, 24V: 550W, 48V: 1100W</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19">30 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-30IR</a></td> <td>$295.62</td> <td>12V/24V/48V Auto</td> <td>12V: 420W, 24V: 840W, 48V: 1650W</td> </tr> <tr> <td>40 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-40IR</a></td> <td>$388.46</td> <td>12V/24V/48V Auto</td> <td>12V: 570W, 24V: 1130W, 48V: 2270W</td> </tr> <tr> <td>40 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40-amp-96v-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-40A96</a></td> <td>$653.85</td> <td>96V</td> <td>5540W</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19">50 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/50-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-50IR</a></td> <td>$439.83</td> <td>12V/24V/48V Auto</td> <td>12V: 700W, 24V: 1400W, 48V: 2800W</td> </tr> <tr> <td>50 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/50-amp-96v-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-50A96</a></td> <td>$692.31</td> <td>96V</td> <td>5600W</td> </tr> <tr> <td>60 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-60IR</a></td> <td>$488.23</td> <td>12V/24V/48V Auto</td> <td>12V: 900W, 24V: 1700W, 48V: 3400W</td> </tr> <tr> <td>60 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-96v-mppt-solar-charge-controller">ATO-MPPT-60A96</a></td> <td>$730.77</td> <td>96V</td> <td>6800W</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>Solar Inverter with MPPT Charge Controller</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rated Capacity</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td><strong><strong>Output Voltage</strong><br /></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>700W (1kVA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/700w-24v-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-700</a></td> <td>$553.31</td> <td>12V/ 24V DC</td> <td rowspan="8">110/ 220/ 230/ 240V AC ±3%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000W (1500VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-24v-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-1000</a></td> <td>$682.31</td> <td>24V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1500W (2000VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-1500</a></td> <td>$850.48</td> <td>24V/ 48V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2000W (3000VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-2000</a></td> <td>$1,231.54</td> <td>24V/ 48V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3000W (5000VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-3000</a></td> <td>$1,334.28</td> <td>24V/ 48V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4000W (6000VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-4000</a></td> <td>$1,688.45</td> <td>24V/ 48V/ 96V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5000W (7000VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-5000</a></td> <td>$1,996.38</td> <td>48V/ 96V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6000W (8000VA)</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">ATO-IC-6000</a></td> <td>$2,158.63</td> <td>48V/ 96V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><strong>PWM Solar Charge Controller</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rated Current</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Rated Voltage</strong></td> <td><strong>Max Solar Input<br /></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>10 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">ATO-PWM-10</a></td> <td>$58.26</td> <td>12V/24V Auto Adapt</td> <td rowspan="3">&lt; 41V</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">ATO-PWM-20</a></td> <td>$68.26</td> <td>12V/24V Auto Adapt</td> </tr> <tr> <td>30 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">ATO-PWM-30</a></td> <td>$78.26</td> <td>12V/24V Auto Adapt</td> </tr> <tr> <td>40 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">ATO-PWM-40</a></td> <td>$86.59</td> <td>12V/24V/48V</td> <td rowspan="3">50V (12V/24V), 100V (24V/48V)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>50 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/50a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">ATO-PWM-50</a></td> <td>$92.46</td> <td>12V/24V/48V</td> </tr> <tr> <td>60 Amp</td> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/60a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">ATO-PWM-60</a></td> <td>$101.26</td> <td>12V/24V/48V</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:285 https://www.inverter.com/types-of-solar-charge-controller Types of Solar Charge Controller <p>The solar charge controller is an automatic control device used in the solar power generation system to control the multi-channel solar cell array to charge the battery. It regulates and controls the charging and discharging conditions of the battery, and controls the power output of the solar cell components and the battery to the load according to the power demand of the load. It is the core control part of the entire photovoltaic power supply system.</p> <p>The solar charge controller continuously switches and adjusts the working state of the battery pack according to the change of sunlight intensity and load, so that the battery can run alternately under various working conditions such as charging, discharging or floating charging, so as to ensure the continuity and stability of the photovoltaic power station. In addition, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> also has a variety of protection and monitoring functions. By detecting the state of charge of the battery pack, it issues instructions to the battery pack to protect the battery pack from overcharging and discharging.</p> <p>There are three main types of popular solar charge controllers on the market: ordinary solar charge controller, PWM solar charge controller and MPPT solar charge controller.</p> <h2>Ordinary Solar Charge Controller<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/ordinary-solar-controller.jpg" alt="Ordinary solar controller" width="300" height="215" /></h2> <p>Ordinary solar charge controller is the first-generation technology. The working principle is to directly connect the output of the solar panel to the battery port. When the battery is full, it will be disconnected. Because of the internal resistance of the battery, it can’t be fully charged. So the solar panel is not fully utilized, and the charging conversion efficiency is only 70-76%. Nowadays, ordinary solar controller has been eliminated from the market.</p> <h2>PWM Solar Charge Controller<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1224v-pwm-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="PWM solar charge controller" width="300" height="184" /></h2> <p>PWM solar charge controller is second-generation technology. PWM, or pulse width modulation, refers to the use of the digital output of the microprocessor to control the analog circuit, which is a method of digitally encoding the level of the analog signal. Controlling analog circuits digitally can greatly reduce the cost and power consumption of the system. Compared with ordinary solar controller, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">PWM solar charge controller</a> has made a lot of progress and can solve the problem of battery dissatisfaction. Its charging conversion efficiency is 75-80%, but the solar panels are still not fully utilized.</p> <h2>MPPT Solar Charge Controller<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1224V-mppt-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="MPPT solar charge controller" width="261" height="300" /></h2> <p>MPPT solar charge controller is the third-generation technology and the most high-end solar controller. MPPT solar charge controller refers to a solar controller with maximum power point tracking function, which is an upgraded product of PWM solar charge controller. The maximum power point tracking system is an electrical system that enables the solar panel to output more electrical energy by adjusting the working state of the electrical module, and can effectively store the DC power emitted by the solar panel in the battery. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">The MPPT controller</a> can detect the power generation voltage of the solar panel in real time, and track the highest voltage and current value (VI), so that the system can charge the battery with the maximum power output.</p> <p>The conversion rate of the MPPT controller to the solar panel is relatively high. When the sunshine changes frequently or in cloudy weather, it absorbs at least 30% more power than the PWM controller. It is the best controller solution for the power generation efficiency of the current off-grid system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:282 https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump-price-list Solar Water Pump Price List <p>Solar water pumps are commonly used in residential and commercial applications. They are a clean alternative to fossil fuel powered windmills and generators. There are two main types of solar water pumps, surface pumps and submersible pumps. Surface pumps are located on the ground and move water through pipes, which can move large quantities of water slowly.<strong><img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/110v-dc-solar-water-pump.jpg" alt="Solar water pump" width="350" height="477" /></strong> Surface pumps are typically found on farms or large irrigation systems where water needs to be moved from lakes to fields. The submersible solar water pump is located underground and the solar panels are attached to the ground. Submersible pumps are used to move water from the well to the surface.</p> <p><strong>Why choose our solar water pump?</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Reliable. </strong>Solar photovoltaic power supplies rarely use moving parts and work reliably.</li> <li><strong>Safe, silent and noise-free.</strong></li> <li><strong>Environmental friendly.</strong> Solar water pumps do not produce any harmful substances such as solids, liquids, gases, etc., so they are more widely used.</li> <li><strong>Low operation and maintenance costs.</strong> Micro DC solar pumps require little maintenance. It has high reliability, simple installation and maintenance, and is suitable for unattended operation.</li> <li><strong>Good Compatibility.</strong> Photovoltaic power generation can be used in conjunction with other energy sources, and can also be expanded according to actual conditions.</li> </ul> <p>At Inverter.com, we offer reliable and economical <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a> for you, rated power from 80 W to 1500 W. The following is the price list of solar water pump, if you want to know more information, please go to our product's page.</p> <table style="height: 409px;" border="1" width="1043" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Product Name</strong></td> <td><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td><strong>Price</strong></td> <td><strong>Maximum Head</strong></td> <td><strong>Maximum Flow</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/80w-12v-solar-water-pump">80W 12V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-12V80</td> <td>$727.27</td> <td>28m (90ft)</td> <td>132 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-24v-solar-water-pump">120W 24V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-24V120</td> <td>$727.27</td> <td>56m (180ft)</td> <td>317 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/200w-24v-solar-water-pump">200W 24V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-24V200</td> <td>$816.74</td> <td>35m (115ft)</td> <td>1057 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/210w-36v-solar-water-pump">210W 36V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-36V210</td> <td>$727.27</td> <td>77m (250ft)</td> <td>317 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="19"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-24v-solar-water-pump">300W 24V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-24V300</td> <td>$727.27</td> <td>35m (115ft)</td> <td>800 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/400w-48v-solar-water-pump">400W 48V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-48V400</td> <td>$861.76</td> <td>47~50m (154~164ft)</td> <td>800~1000 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-48v-solar-water-pump">500W 48V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-48V500</td> <td>$839.83</td> <td>45~109m (145~355ft)</td> <td>449~1321 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600w-48v-solar-water-pump">600W 48V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-48V600</td> <td>$783.55</td> <td>42~80m (135~260ft)</td> <td>800~1585 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600w-72v-solar-water-pump">600W 72V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-72V600</td> <td>$802.31</td> <td>42~80m (135~260ft)</td> <td>800~1585 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/750w-48v-solar-water-pump">750W 48V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-48V750</td> <td>$877.34</td> <td>56~95m (180~310ft)</td> <td>925~1585 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/750w-72v-solar-water-pump">750W 72V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-72V750</td> <td>$896.10</td> <td>56~95m (180~310ft)</td> <td>925~1585 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1100w-72v-solar-water-pump">1100W 72V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-72V1100</td> <td>$947.76</td> <td>110~123m (360~400ft)</td> <td>1004~1268 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1100w-110v-solar-water-pump">1100W 110V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-110V1100</td> <td>$982.40</td> <td>84~123m (275~400ft)</td> <td>1004~1585 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1300w-110v-solar-water-pump">1300W 110V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-110V1300</td> <td>$926.12</td> <td>80~155m (260~510ft)</td> <td>1004~1849 gallons per hour</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-110v-solar-water-pump">1500W 110V DC Solar Water Pump</a></td> <td>ATO-SWP-110V1500</td> <td>$982.40</td> <td>34~203m (110~665ft)</td> <td>1000~5000 gallons per hour</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em>Note: The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please contact us now. Generally, it's cheaper than the price in the table.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:279 https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump-selection-guide Solar Water Pump Selection Guide <p>In remote areas where water resources are scarce and power grids cannot fully cover, people's lives, drinking water, and agricultural production are severely affected. In recent years, due to the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry, the cost has dropped year by year, and solar products have entered people's lives. Among them, the solar pumping system combines solar products with pumping water, and innovatively applies it to domestic water, agricultural irrigation, ecological restoration, grassland animal husbandry, etc. It not only avoids a large amount of capital investment in the construction of grid infrastructure, but also solves the problem of lack of electricity and water in agricultural production.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-in-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="Solar water pump " width="1000" height="420" /></p> <p>In the solar water pump system, the water pump is the core component. Different types of pumps have different working characteristics and different efficiencies. Therefore, choosing the right water pump is one of the ways to optimize the system. The following are two important parameters for <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">choosing a solar water pump</a>.</p> <h2>Flow Rate</h2> <p>The flow rate of the pump, also known as the water delivery rate, is mainly determined according to the customer's water consumption and local light conditions. The calculation formula is:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Q=Pη/ 2.73H</em></p> <p>Where Q is the flow, P is the shaft power, η is the efficiency of the pump, 2.73 is a constant, H is the delivery head. The flow is inversely proportional to the head, that is, the lower the head, the larger the flow.</p> <h2>Delivery Head</h2> <p>The delivery head refers to the height that the pump can lift water, and is an important working performance parameter of the pump. It should be measured according to the actual situation of the project. The following is the calculation method of the head:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>H=z+hw</em></p> <p>Where H is the lift, and z is the lift height, that is, the elevation difference between the water surface at the entrance and the water surface at the exit. And hw is the head loss, including the head loss hf along the way and the local head loss hw.</p> <p>When selecting a pump, the lift of the pump needs to be enlarged by 1.3 to 1.5 times to avoid the loss of the pipeline and the problem that the pump cannot pump water when the sunlight is insufficient. If pumping water in a deep well, it is also necessary to consider that the size of the pump is smaller than the diameter of the deep well.</p> <p>According to the different requirements of flow (Q) and head (H), the power level of the pump can be determined. In the solar water pump system, since the working frequency of the water pump varies with the output power of the photovoltaic array, the traditional water pump method alone cannot meet the demand. The selection can be optimized according to the H-Q curve of the pump under different operating conditions.</p> <p>Our company provides you with reliable and economical <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pumps of various power</a> and helps you make better choices in purchases.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:277 https://www.inverter.com/applications-of-solar-water-pump Applications of Solar Water Pump <p>Solar water pump (also known as photovoltaic water pump) is mainly composed of photovoltaic pumping inverters, water pumps and solar panels. It is a powerful water supply method in remote areas with little electricity. Utilizing the inexhaustible solar energy that can be obtained everywhere, the system automatically works at sunrise and rests at sunset, without the need for guards and excessive maintenance. It is an ideal green energy water extraction system integrating economy, reliability and environmental protection benefits.</p> <p>Solar water pumps are widely used in agricultural irrigation, desert control, grassland animal husbandry, urban water features, domestic water, etc., reflecting the modern concept of low carbon, energy saving and environmental protection. The following will introduce the application of solar water pumps in production and life.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Cash-crops-and-farmland-irrigation.jpg" alt="Cash crops and farmland irrigation" width="600" height="338" /></p> <h2>Cash Crops and Farmland Irrigation</h2> <p>In arid and semi-arid areas, the lack of water resources makes it difficult to irrigate crops. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">The solar water pump</a> system is used to irrigate crops, achieving the purpose of low energy consumption and environmental protection. At the same time, the cost of pumping water is reduced, and the economic benefit is significant. The photovoltaic water pump system has broad application prospects and significant social, economic and ecological benefits in commercial crops and farmland irrigation.</p> <h2>Management of Barren Hills</h2> <p>The deterioration of the environment causes frequent occurrence of severe weather such as sandstorms, which seriously threatens the living environment of human beings. In the process of greening of barren hills, vegetation irrigation has become a big problem, and the high cost of power grid erection and electricity consumption has become the bottleneck of greening of barren hills. Solar water pump system uses solar energy resources and groundwater resources according to local conditions, and configures drip irrigation and intelligent control system, which is an effective way to solve vegetation irrigation in the process of barren hills management.</p> <h2>Soil Erosion Protection</h2> <p>In areas with soil erosion, solar energy is used to pump water from rivers ashore without the need for power supply to irrigate soil erosion-proof vegetation on both banks and hillsides. Solar water pump systems play an important role in the governance of soil erosion protection.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/Solar-water-pump-land-management.jpg" alt="Solar water pump land management" width="600" height="385" /></p> <h2>Desertification Land Management</h2> <p>Photovoltaic water pump system is also widely used in afforestation, returning forest and grassland, curbing the spread of desertified land and desertification grassland management, protecting and restoring desertification grassland grassland vegetation, comprehensive management of small watersheds and water sources, construction of water-saving irrigation projects, small water conservancy and water conservation projects, farmland and artificial grassland irrigation, etc.</p> <h2>Livestock Water and Pasture Irrigation</h2> <p>Drought and water shortage will cause serious damage to grasslands, large areas of forages will dry up, and animal husbandry production will be severely impacted. Livestock in pastoral areas will be killed or injured due to lack of grass and water. At present, grassland irrigation mainly relies on groundwater, and the utilization of groundwater is restricted by two factors, one is the limitation of water resources, and the other is the limitation of energy and power. These areas are scattered with scattered settlements, inconvenient transportation, and difficult to supply energy. In addition, the power grid construction has caused energy shortage due to high line losses and large spans, which makes it impossible to solve the problem of water-lifting power. The solar water pump system combines the characteristics of rich solar energy resources and long sunshine time in the grassland, and effectively uses the solar panel to convert the solar energy into electricity, drives the water pump to extract groundwater, and transforms the natural grassland into artificial grassland.</p> <h2>Domestic Water</h2> <p>Photovoltaic water pump systems can effectively provide safe and secure water supply solutions for households in remote areas with insufficient water supply due to power shortages. It can effectively meet various household water needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:276 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-pure-sine-wave-inverter What is a Pure Sine Wave Inverter? <p>The pure sine wave inverter is a device that can invert the DC power of the battery into a sine wave AC power with a rated voltage output for the user's load. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">12/24/48V pure sine wave inverter</a> is suitable for home appliance equipment, air conditioning equipment, single-phase power equipment, industrial equipment, etc.</p> <h2>Functions</h2> <p>The pure sine wave inverter has the functions of inverter output, automatic voltage regulation, under-voltage protection, overload protection, short circuit protection, overheat protection, battery reverse connection protection, and optional mains switching.</p> <h2>Features of pure sine wave inverter<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="Sine wave inverter" width="300" height="300" /></h2> <ul> <li>The output waveform of the pure sine wave inverter is good, and the harmonic distortion is very low. The output waveform is consistent with or higher than the AC current waveform of the mains grid. Pure sine wave inverter has little impact on communication equipment and precision equipment, low operating noise, strong overload adaptability, can achieve all AC overload applications, and the overall work efficiency is relatively high.</li> <li>The output power of the pure sine wave inverter is the same as that of the power grid usually used, or even better than the sine wave AC current. There will be no electromagnetic pollution in the power grid. In short, it has a wide range of applications and a strong overload capacity. The performance is stable, which can provide the same AC current as of the usual household. In the case of sufficient power, it can drive almost any household appliance.</li> <li>The pure sine wave inverter has high stability because it has overvoltage protection, under-voltage protection, overload protection, overheating protection, short circuit protection, and reverse connection protection.</li> <li>High-efficiency conversion, the high-efficiency inverter of the whole machine, and low no-load consumption.</li> <li>Intelligent control: The core device is controlled by a powerful single-chip microcomputer, which simplifies the structure of the peripheral circuit, and the control method and control strategy are flexible and strong, thereby ensuring excellent performance.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:275 https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-inverter-applications Pure Sine Wave Inverter Applications <p>The pure sine wave inverter does not have the problem of electromagnetic pollution in the power grid, and the output is the same pure sine wave alternating current as of the mains. It has stronger load capacity, can carry the inductive load and any type of general-purpose AC load, has low noise with inductive load, and has no effect on the performance and life of the load.</p> <p>In contemporary times, we now need a large amount of power supply, and the convenience brought to us by pure sine wave inverters is obvious. Protection devices make us safer when using electricity.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/12v-24v-48v-pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt=" Pure sine wave inverte" width="250" height="250" /></p> <p>Pure sine wave inverters are also used in transportation systems, small passenger cars, cars, RVs, large trucks, motor trains, trains, airplanes and other transportation vehicles. Generally, the above types of transportation equipment are the operation of DC power. With the improvement of our quality of life, users can pick up some AC loads to meet our new needs when choosing equipment. These all require the conversion of direct current to the alternating current through an inverter. The direct supply of these devices has also brought us some convenience.</p> <p>In fact, there are many applications for <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">12/24/48V pure sine wave inverters</a>. They are also widely used in railways, industrial control, communication and exchange vehicles, civil offices, industrial and agricultural fields, military medical fields, transportation, etc. Pure sine wave inverter not only brings convenience to current conversion but also brings us different protection measures, such as over-voltage protection, overload protection, over-current protection, over-temperature protection, short circuit protection, positive and negative protection, etc. The safest and most perfect experience for our users. It also protects the safety of users.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:274 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-test-off-grid-solar-inverters How to Test Off Grid Solar Inverters? <p>Solar inverters are used in solar energy systems to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) to provide stable power for household appliances. Solar inverters are mainly divided into off-grid solar inverters and grid-connected solar inverters. Grid-tied inverters must be connected to the grid to work, while off-grid inverters can independently generate electricity anytime, anywhere without being connected to the grid.</p> <h2>How does an off-grid inverter work?</h2> <p>A complete system solution for off-grid inverters using modular components Xantrex XW consists of a number of manageable building blocks: XW inverter/charger, solar charge controller, automatic generator starter module, and a system control board.<br /><br /><strong>Working principle diagram of off-grid inverter</strong></p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/blog/diagram-of-off-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Diagram of off grid inverter" width="560" height="315" /></p> <h2>120 kW Pure Sine Wave Off Grid Solar Inverter Test</h2> <p>1. Commercial power priority mode.</p> <p>2. Disconnect commercial powerand.automatically switch to battery mode.</p> <p>3. When commercial power is restored, the equtpment wif automatically switch to commercial powerpriority mode.</p> <p>Inverter.com has two kinds of solar off-grid inverters, one is a multifunctional inverter/charger, from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">700W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">6000W</a>, DC12V/24V/48V input, 120V/220V/230V AC output, combined with inverter and battery charger function. Another version is a 3-phase with power from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">8kW</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">200kW</a>. If you have any questions about off-grid inverter testing, check out the video below:</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hXbBw_qHINM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:273 https://www.inverter.com/will-winter-conditions-affect-solar-panels-badly Will Winter Conditions Affect Solar Panels Badly? <p>Using solar panels to electrically feed our loads will greatly reduce carbon emission, and reduce the rely on electric utility, so save us much money by cutting our monthly utility bill. In winter, our solar panels will get lesser direct sun light, and sometimes they will be covered by snow, so the question is; Will this affect solar panels badly?<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/will-winter-conditions-affect-solar-panels-badly.jpg" alt="Will Winter Conditions Affect Solar Panels Badly" width="550" height="327" /></p> <p>The answer is; There will be very low effect, and may be no effect at all, especially with new solar panels which designed to keep their efficiency in such cold conditions.</p> <p>In winter, the solar panels may have subjected to be covered by snow which reduces their efficiency because there will Not be much light reaching to them, but it’s a temporary problem, and rarely happened, its actually uncommon. And because our solar panels are always tilted “having angle with the ground, and not installed flat”, the solar panels will catch more light when they are facing southern direction, because the snow will slide off, and falls. In addition, you can use a smooth brush to remove the snow off the solar panels top side. After the snow is melt, solar panels will get more light, over the direct sun light, it is also the reflected light coming from the snow on the ground, as the snow is very good reflector.</p> <p>The second issue in winter is the low temperature and whether it will affect the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> efficiency or not. The good news is that cold weather increases the efficiency of most of electronics, and our solar panels do not depend on heat in generating electricity, it depends mainly on light.</p> <p>The third issue in winter is that the sun light will be less direct than summer months, which makes the harvest is lower, as the solar panel will generate less electricity, but there will Not be obvious reduction in solar panels efficiency due to modern designs which makes the solar panels still generate electricity efficiently even under these conditions, actually modern solar panels require less sun light to produce electricity.</p> <p>At the end, we can say that solar panels performance will be almost the same in summer and winter, and despite less direct sun light, and shorter days in winter, our solar panels will do good, so do not be worry if you live in rainy/snow place as this will not prevent your solar panels from generating electricity.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:272 https://www.inverter.com/things-to-consider-when-installing-solar-panels Things to Consider When Installing Solar Panels <p>Solar panel is the main element in the solar photovoltaic system, because it takes the main role of converting solar light to direct current electricity.</p> <p>Almost all solar panels manufactures provide the same solar panels dimensions, but the weight will differ from one manufacturer/brand to another. Actually, when installing the solar panels on the roof, we have to take care about their total weight, because if they are so heavy, then they will badly affect the roof structural over the time. But if your will Not install the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> yourself, and you will install via a solar installation company, then you have not to be worried about that point, because the solar company will do their own calculation and technical inspections during design/planning stage and make sure the roof structure will be able to handle the solar panels total weight. So, regardless of solar panels type/brand, we recommend to contact a solar system consultant or solar installation company to do an inspection to your roof before the installations, as they will advise properly for many things, and one of the important advices will be related to your roof structure ability to handle the solar photovoltaic system weight, and if your roof needs somethings to be changed/modified, they will advise for as well and of course this will make your solar system installations be done smoothly, and without any damage to your roof.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/things-to-consider-when-installing-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Things to Consider When Installing Solar Panels" width="500" height="313" /></p> <p>One important thing to mind, is that your roof may not be the suitable place to install the solar system although it can safely bear the solar panels weight. As if there are obstacles, like trees or any others causing shadow on the solar panels on the roof, then finding another place in your house/facility will make more sense, also, our purpose is to make the solar panel gets much sun light, so our solar installation company may find that installing on the ground will be better than the roof.</p> <p>Finally, we can confirm that by thoroughly checking our available solar panels installation options, our solar panels will provide us with the best electrical energy saving performance all over year.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:271 https://www.inverter.com/number-of-solar-panels-to-fit-your-roof Number of Solar Panels to Fit Your Roof <p>The solar panels are required for communities who are looking forward to keep the environment clean without pollution, and to save energy costs. Actually, the solar panel is large in size, so we have to have lot of space on our building roof to install them. There are many different power capacities of the solar panel in the market, but the most dominant capacity is 350 watts, which has approximate length of 5 feet and five inch and approximate width of 3 feet, so it around 16.5 square feet.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/number-of-solar-panels-to-fit-your-roof.jpg" alt="Number of Solar Panels to Fit Your Roof" width="500" height="383" /></p> <p>Installing one <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> on our roof will not make a noticeable difference, and we have to install more than 6-8 solar panels in order to get beneficial solar system power capacity.</p> <p>There are some factors affecting how much energy we can harness from the solar panels, like our installation location climate as the solar panel needs sunshine to create much power, and like shadow coming from trees coverage or high neighbor building, as we can Not get much power in case of such shadow presence, also time zone due to earth movement makes some places in the world perfect to get a lot of sun energy by nature. Based on these factors, and number/power capacity of your solar panels you plan to install, you can know how much power your solar system will generate and the approximate annual yearly electricity you can harvest.</p> <p>In order to know how many solar panels, you are needing to power your home, you can simply get your whole appliances/electrical equipment energy usage per hour then multiply it by your location peak sun hours, then divide the result on the solar panel power capacity you selected. By doing multiple calculations based on different solar panels capacities and number/power capacity of your electrical equipment, you can know the best cost effective choices for your solar system installation with keeping in mind to have extra room for both our roof space and solar system power capacity.</p> <p>Different buildings and homes have different roofs abilities, shape and angle, so there is No fixed rules about how much space you should have to install the solar system, however we can roughly say that in order to fit 6 solar panels of 350W capacity, you would need an area of not less than hundred square feet, and more space margin would be more okay.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:270 https://www.inverter.com/how-solar-panels-work-and-where-they-store-electricity How Solar Panels Work and Where They Store Electricity? <p>The solar panels will generate DC electricity once the sun hits their surfaces, but they do not store electricity, they need batteries to store such generated electricity inside.</p> <p>The solar panels are manufactured from semiconductor materials like silicon, and they produce DC electricity through a process called photovoltaic.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-solar-panels-work-and-where-they-store-electricity.jpg" alt="How Solar Panels Work and Where They Store Electricity" width="500" height="341" /></p> <p>Under photovoltaic process, the semiconductor materials will exposure when the sunlight hit it, so the DC current will be generated. But we can not use DC current directly to power our home appliances, so a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is used to convert DC current to AC current which is suitable to power our home appliances. And based on our solar system type, weather it connects to the grid or stand alone, we decide the type of the solar inverter to be used on our system. Most of home-owners prefer to connect their solar system to the grid, so in case of insufficient solar energy, their appliances can automatically be fed from grid electricity, and that called net metering system.</p> <p>The solar panels generated electricity will be stored on Lithium ion batteries for future need, because this battery have the ability to reverse their chemical reactions and feed our loads with electricity in night time or insufficient solar energy day time. Of course, the amount of energy the batteries can store depends of their capacities, and what makes us prefer lithium batteries types, is that they are low cost and light weight in comparison with other batteries types.</p> <p>Using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> plus batteries will not enable us to export electricity to the grid and get accredit from the electric utility, but it helps us saving money in 2 cases;</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>When the electric utility charges us based on time of use.</li> <li>When the electric utility does Not provide Net Metering tariff in our living area.</li> <li>When the electric utility supply is Not stable in our area, so it disconnects in most of time, and we usually lose the power.</li> </ol> <p>Solar batteries always store DC electricity, and dispense it over long time period, so we have to use the most powerful and reliable type, so we can confidently depend on them.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:269 https://www.inverter.com/does-solar-panels-installation-take-so-long Does Solar Panels Installation Take So Long? <p>If you are thinking of owning solar photovoltaic system, you will be needing to know how long does it take to completely install such solar panels system. Actually installation time differ from one customer to another based on some factors, and here is what we shall briefly discuss.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/does-solar-panels-installation-take-so-long.jpg" alt="Does Solar Panels Installation Take So Long" width="450" height="338" />The first factor is the solar installation company, and whether you are dealing with small or large company, as for big companies, they have larger number of worker, and set of crews, so they can handle more jobs at once and save much of installation time. Also, these big companies have contractors, so they can depend on if they want to expedite installation. However, we do not recommend to use such big companies if you are not in a big hurry to get your solar system installed, because you can get better deal if you contracted small company, so you have to check options carefully if you have time.</p> <p>The second factor is the inspections and permits, as your solar installation company will almost needs to get permits from your local officials before the work begins, like photovoltaic permit and construction permit, etc. These permits differ from one state to another, so depends on how many permits you will be needing, how long your local permit office takes to issue the permits, you should expect several weeks before you will be allowed to start solar system installation.</p> <p>In addition to that, your local government will take some time to inspect the solar system and allow you to use after you complete the installation, but fortunately it does not take long, and usually it takes around 1 week or less.</p> <p>The third factor is how many <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> will be installed for your solar photovoltaic system, as although the typical installation time for home owner solar system is a little, it takes around 1-3 days, but you would expect slight more time if several solar panels will be installed. Also, for business and commercial solar system installation, it usually takes more time than home installation, you have to expect 1-2 moths as installation time, and if you install aground mounted solar system, then you would expect more time than business and commercial buildings, because it takes time to prepare land and installing underground cables. Moreover, there will be more expected installation time if your residence is far away from your new installed solar system.</p> <p>The last factor is your property readiness for installation, as if your roof is ready and does not needs any kind of works like reinforcements or installing electrical panels, you will be able to cut down much of the installation time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:268 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-solar-panel-need-for-fan-and-tv How Many Solar Panel Need For Fan and TV? <p>Due to the large power consumption of air conditioning, electric fan has become a popular choice for solar energy users. It's nice to watch TV with a cool breeze in summer, but how many solar panels do you need?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/TV-and-fan.jpg" alt="TV and fan" width="571" height="264" /></p> <p>TV watts + fan watts = number of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> needed (plus 10% to 20% for extra power) This formula is the same as you try to use solar energy to run your TV and refrigerator, except this time you will need fewer solar panels.</p> <p>These two appliances consume about 200 watts per hour. A 250 or two <a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120W solar panel</a> can produce 200 watts or more, depending on the weather and available sunlight. The operating time is obtained by multiplying watt hours by the number of available sunlight.</p> <p>Compared with air conditioning, fans consume less power and will not divert too much power during operation.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Ceiling fans: 50 to 90 watts. The larger the blade, the greater the power required. Easy to install. It's also cheaper than the fan of the whole house.</li> <li>Whole house fans: 120 to 600 watts. It can cool the whole house. This is the most expensive type, but it is still cheaper than buying and running solar air conditioners.</li> <li>Window fans: 35 to 100 watts. This is the perfect choice for one or two people who want to watch TV nearby. It is the cheapest choice.</li> </ul> <p>As you can see, each fan type has a wide range. The larger the blade and motor, the greater the power of the fan, and more solar energy is also required.</p> <p>The use of Watts may vary depending on the calibration of your TV. Today's TVs have many options to change the display, which affects power consumption. For example, 22 inches TV needs 40 watt, 30 inches needs 60 watt.</p> <p>With the widespread use of energy-saving TVs and fans, you don't need to allocate so many solar panels to run them. You usually use electric fans in summer, which happens to be the peak of solar power generation. Even better, a small battery is enough.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:267 https://www.inverter.com/portable-solar-panel-and-electric-car Portable Solar Panel and Electric Car <p>Electric vehicles and portable solar panels are undoubtedly the perfect combination. With the rapid decline of renewable energy costs, is it unreasonable to combine the two?</p> <p>In summer, you can expect solar panels to generate more energy, so charging the battery will be faster. In winter, less sunlight is available, so the charging time will be longer.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/electric-car-and-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Electric car and solar panel" width="386" height="312" />Can you charge the car directly with solar panels? For example, can you install solar panels on your car and let it run on solar energy?</p> <p>You can charge an electric car with 8 to 12 <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>. But this is not practical because these cars are too heavy and there is not enough space available. Using solar panels to charge car batteries is more effective.</p> <p>An electric car consumes about 30 kwh per 100 miles. Of course, some cars are more efficient than others, but we use this number to make a simplified calculation.</p> <p>30 miles is about 10 kilowatts or 1000 watts. So you need 8 to 12 × 250W solar panels to make a car run 30 miles a day. Five 250 watt Solar panels, each generating 1 kwh per day, can generate 1000 watts of electricity. However, we recommend using 12 to consider energy loss and fluctuations in sunlight intensity.</p> <p>Flexible solar panels are less efficient than rigid photovoltaic modules. They are portable, but at the cost of efficiency. If you charge your mobile device, it’s no big deal, but charging your car is no big deal.</p> <p>The weight of solar panels is too large, which will put too much pressure on the roof. Driving in the city means that the panels are blocked by buildings and other structures.</p> <p>It is feasible and practical to charge electric vehicles with solar panels. With the decline in the cost of solar panels and the improvement of efficiency, it will not be long before we will see electric vehicles use this method more frequently.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:266 https://www.inverter.com/9-reasons-for-solar-inverter-and-batteries-failure 9 Reasons for Solar Inverter and Batteries failure <p>Because the solar inverter and batteries considered as 2 main parts in any solar system, we have to take care about some reasons makes them are not working properly in some conditions, and if there will be quick solutions in such cases, making them come back to work quickly. Here we will shed light on 9 reasons, and remedies as well:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/5kw-hybrid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="5kW Hybrid Solar Inverter" width="250" height="250" />May be the solar batteries are not connected to the solar system, and in that case we have to ensure that connections are made properly.</li> <li>May be the solar batteries terminals are loosening, and in that case we have to make sure all terminals are well tightening and fit.</li> <li>The solar inverter is tripped, may be for temporary error/fault, and in that case, you just press re-set button, so everything will work normally again.</li> <li>May be one of the solar batteries have faults, and in that case the only solution is to replace the faulty battery.</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> terminals or batteries terminals may be rusty, and in that case, just clean them from corrosion, then re-connect all again.</li> <li>The solar inverter terminals may be reversed, so get the inverter guide/user manual, and re-connect the right terminals according to manufacturer recommendation.</li> <li>The solar batteries become weak, so they are either very old and need to be replaced, or they may be completely discharged, so you need to re-charge them again for few hours before switching on the solar inverter.</li> <li>The batteries may not function properly due to their fuses are melt, so you need to replace them.</li> <li>The solar inverter internal rectifier may be burnet, and in that case you have to take the solar inverter to its service center.</li> </ol> <p>So, in all cases, we have to keep monitoring our solar system, so can take a quick correction action in the right time, so can avoid losing much energy.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:265 https://www.inverter.com/6-tips-to-keep-solar-panel-clean 6 Tips to Keep Solar Panel Clean <p>Is your solar panel as efficient as before? Before calling customer service, please check the cell for leaves, dirt, dust or bird droppings. It usually takes only one thorough cleaning to get the system running again. Although the maintenance cost of solar systems is low, don't ignore them. Here are some tips to keep solar panels clean when they look and run.</p> <ul> <li><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-clean-tips.jpg" alt="Solar panel clean tips" width="446" height="279" /><strong>Buy a Solar Power Cleaning Kit</strong></li> </ul> <p>If you haven't bought a cleaning tool for your solar system yet. Instead of having a brush at hand, have a kit that meets all your needs. The kit should include biodegradable soap, wipers and brushes.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Clean During Overcast Days</strong></li> </ul> <p>It is difficult to clean the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> on the roof in hot weather, but it's dangerous when raining heavily. Cloudy days are the best time. Usually morning is the best time, because the sun has just risen. Cleaning solar cells should not take long time, so when the sun reaches its peak, your panels should be ready.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Avoid Powerful Soaps</strong></li> </ul> <p>Do not use powerful soap or abrasive sponge as it may scratch or break the glass. Using the cleaning set soap, if not, use a clean, soft cloth. Immerse the rag in water and wipe the battery clean. And do not use soap. As long as you stick to biodegradable soap, solar panels will be fine.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Do Not Press The Glass Too Hard</strong></li> </ul> <p>Solar panel glass is durable, but harsh wiping and scrubbing may lead to cracks. Powerful detergents will do the same, so avoid using them. Whether it's a portable solar panel in your RV or a large array in your house, always clean the panel gently. If the dirt doesn't wash off, add more soapy water.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Long Handle Wipers are Best For Large Solar Panel</strong></li> </ul> <p>For convenience and safety, experts recommend using long handle wipers. If you want to clean a large panel, this is the best choice. Many people say that solar panels are best cleaned from the ground, which is true for safety reasons. But sometimes you need to go to the roof for a more thorough cleaning. This is where the long handle wiper works. You can walk on the roof and clean the solar panels with a wiper instead of kneeling on the ground and wiping them with a rag.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Don't Let Dirt Build Up</strong></li> </ul> <p>Cleaning solar panels is easier when the accumulation of dust and dirt is minimal. Excess dirt accumulation, dust, dirt, bird droppings, leaves, etc. take longer to clean up. Don't wait for garbage to pile up before you start cleaning up.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:264 https://www.inverter.com/4-main-jobs-of-the-solar-inverter 4 Main Jobs of the Solar Inverter <p>The solar inverter with all of its different types constitutes as the second most important part in solar system, because its responsible of major main jobs. It is responsible of the safety, quality and quantity of the AC output power (AC electricity) generated for the solar system, and its responsible of AC output power optimization at different conditions the solar system encounters over the day and year, so it plays an important role in increasing the electrical energy harvest.</p> <p>Actually, there are 4 main jobs of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> as following;<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/1500w-single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="1500W Single Phase Grid Tie Solar Inverter" width="250" height="281" /></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Converting DC electricity to AC electricity:</strong> <br />The electricity generated form the solar panels array is DC (direct current), and in order to use it running our electrical appliances/equipment, the solar inverter converts it to AC electricity, mostly the DC electricity voltage coming for the<a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel"> solar panel</a> array varies between 200-600VDC, and AC electricity differs from one country to another, in Europe countries, its needed to be 220/230/240V, 50Hz and in USA/Canada, it is needed to be 110/120V, 60Hz, etc.</li> <li><strong>Regulating AC &amp; DC electricity, and protect the whole solar system:</strong><br />As the sun shines up and down, the solar intensity varies, and DC electricity generated form the array varies, the solar inverter will handle this, and provide reliable/stable AC output with high quality to keep our electrical equipment running safely. If the solar system is grid tie type, the solar inverter will do the whole synchronization matter alone without any help from other components. Also, the solar inverter protects the solar system and our electrical appliances in case of faults to ensure the safety.</li> <li><strong>Increase the AC output power:</strong><br />The solar inverter has a maximum power point tracker which always monitor and hunt the maximum power point for the solar array where it products its maximum power capacity, so it increases the output power.</li> <li><strong>Monitoring:</strong><br />The solar inverter monitors the whole solar system, measure and display parameters on its screen, also it can transmit these data to your smart phone or laptop, so you can check system performance and be able to diagnose faults.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:263 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter-quality-and-location Solar Inverter Quality and Location <p>The solar inverter is an electronic equipment, like any other electronics, its price varies from one manufacturer to another, one brand to another, and even one country to another, etc based on its quality and performance, because high quality inverter will be translated to longer life time expectancy. Actually in general the high quality solar inverter will be more expensive than lower quality one. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/15kw-three-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="15kW Three Phase Grid Tie Solar inverter" width="200" height="200" />So, when we intend to purchase our new solar inverter we have to decide whether we need the high performance and robustness or the cheaper one.</p> <p>The specialized solar engineer will assist us in choosing the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">high quality solar inverter</a>, however there are some general indices of high quality, like inverter manufacturer commitment, transparency and experience, the quality of solar inverter internal components and its ability to withstand harsh weather, the inverter enclosure protection to insect’s entry, does the inverter has sufficient cooling fans to maintain its internal operating temperature within the safe level, so we can assure longer life time, and are these quality features real or spam?</p> <p>In general, the solar inverter quality will be assured via features like high operating efficiency, and ability to provide maximum power under various conditions. Although the solar inverter prices decrease dramatically recently, we actually get what we pay for, so its strong relation between the quality and price. </p> <p><strong>Where we should install the solar inverter?</strong></p> <p>We should carefully consider where to mount/install the solar inverter to avoid noise, and vibration. As although the solar inverter is an electronic device, it produces a little noisy sound from time to time due to its internal cooling fans, especially for transformer based inverter, its noisier and more resonant, but it’s cheaper. So, for locations and areas in where disturbances like vibration and noise is not allowed, we have to search for another installation location, especially for light weight walls which easily vibrate than the solid brick wall.</p> <p>Also, we have to install the solar inverter on the best ventilated and coolest location, as actually with the lower operating temperature, the higher efficiency and good performance we can get from the solar inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:262 https://www.inverter.com/will-the-solar-inverter-be-noisy Will the Solar Inverter be Noisy? <p>This is a frequently asked question by many customers when they intend to buy their new solar inverter, especially if they will install the solar inverter near a window or near their bed room or a studying room.</p> <p>Actually, the high quality manufactured <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is always very quiet, and you will not hear any noise, because it actually made of electronics component and it does Not have an internal transformer inside (transformer-less). On the other side, old solar inverters and cheaper brands produce a noise of buzz and hum, because they have a transformer inside, additionally, this noise will be higher at the time of high loading on the inverter. So, in all cases, and to be aware of how much noise the solar inverter will generate, you have to check the solar inverter name plate "tag" and data sheet to get noise data, then take a decision of purchasing this brand/model or Not according to solar inverter installation location in your facility.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/25kw-three-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="25kW Three Phase Grid Tie Solar Inverter" width="375" height="300" /></p> <p>Solar inverter noise may not be an issue for some of cases, because the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> will be switched off at the night times, so will Not disturb your sleeping nor studying at night time, however, we still recommend to buy the high quality solar inverter, and not to install it direct inside windows or bedrooms. You have to talk with your solar inverter installer, and suggest him your preferred installation position, also take care it’s Not recommended to install the inverter exposed to direct sun for long times over the day, because this will make it overheated and will affect badly its performance and life span. It will be also more technically and economically better if you install the solar inverter near to or directly beside your electrical switchboard.</p> <p>Generally, the hum noise that may generate from the solar inverter will be with No effect if we simply place the inverter in a remote place in our homes, like the garage.</p> <p>The maximum noise generated from central and string solar inverter will be approx. 50-60 decibels, and approx. no noise will be generated from the micro grid solar inverter, however we advise if a noise arise from your solar inverter, then you have to check your manufacturer/installer the soonest.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:261 https://www.inverter.com/when-the-solar-inverter-makes-beeping-sound When the Solar Inverter Makes Beeping Sound? <p>Sometimes the solar inverter beeps as a part of its normal operation, other times it beeps to indicate fault condition. So, it’s important to understand these conditions, and to know how to deal with each one. Usually, they are four cases:</p> <p><strong>Case No 1:</strong></p> <p>The solar inverter works normally on the AC grid standby supply, and due to AC supply cut off, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> will transfer to battery operation, the beeping sound will be released at such transition, but it is just an indication, and no problem.</p> <p><strong>Case No 2:</strong></p> <p>The solar inverter will beep if the batteries charge goes off, and this is just an indication that the inverter will shut down very soon if the battery has Not been re-charged. Usually the beeping sound will be released before the inverter shutting down by 2-3 minutes and of course the solution of such issue is to re-charge the batteries for few hours.</p> <p><strong>Case No 3:</strong></p> <p>The solar inverter will release a beeping sound in case overloading. We mean you are loading the solar inverter with too many appliances and electrical equipment until its load reaches above the solar inverter capacity, so it alarms you with a constant beeping sound. The solution of such issue is to disconnect some non-important loads from the inverter output or to purchase anew larger solar inverter capacity to be sufficient to handle all your loads, as the correct size solar inverter never beeps due to over loading capacity.</p> <p><strong>Case No 4:</strong></p> <p>The solar inverter will release the beeping sound when it does a failed self-test. Every certain number of days, the solar inverter makes self-testing, to test batteries integrity, and when the batteries are near to their life end, it will beep. And in that case, the solution is to replace your batteries the soonest to avoid such beeping sound and to achieve reliable operation to your solar system. </p> <p>At the end, we can say the beeping sound of the solar inverter will refer to simple issue with simple solution, and if the recommended solution listed above did not solve the issue, then you have to contact with the solar inverter supplier/manufacturer repair center.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:260 https://www.inverter.com/will-the-solar-system-be-noisy Will the Solar System be Noisy? <p>In normal operation and in general, the solar panels do not generate noise, as they are manufactured and designed to be noise free equipment, especially in night time, but even at day time where the sun hits the solar panel and it works to generate electricity, there will not be a noise.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-system.jpg" alt="Solar System" width="468" height="291" /></p> <p>The solar panel is a stationary equipment, it does Not move and even it is attached to any kind of moving part, they are very quiet when moving.</p> <p>Once exceptional for such fact, is that for only some kinds of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a>, they produce a hum noise during the day time when they powered by the sun, but this is Not usual, and the hum noise is usually not loud at all, it’s barely noticeable. You may only notice such noise if you are very near from the solar panel, say within 15 meter or less.</p> <p>So, now we can judge that the solar panels as a main component of the solar system are Not a source of noise, but there could be other components in the solar system generating such noise, like the solar inverter.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> will be the source of the hum noise, as it works in converting DC power supply to AC power supply, so you can run your household appliances and other electrical equipment.</p> <p>Not all solar inverters brands hum, as for high quality and good brands, there will Not be a generated hum noise, and honestly even there will be hum noise it will not be loud and not disturbing at all, it’s a soft hum.</p> <p>If you see that solar inverter hum will affect you badly, then you can place your solar inverter in closed place like garage or so, so it does Not bother you anymore.</p> <p>The hum noise may happen for central solar inverter and string solar inverter, but it should not happen in solar micro inverter.</p> <p>At the end, if you hear a noise from the solar panels or solar inverter, and you feel that this noise will be disturbing, you have to contact your solar system installer or manufactures for additional recommendation.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:259 https://www.inverter.com/the-best-place-to-install-the-solar-inverter The Best Place to Install the Solar Inverter <p>The solar inverter is the main part of the solar photovoltaic system, so taking care about the best installation position is important to achieve more efficiency, reliability and longer life span for not only the solar inverter, but for the whole solar photovoltaic system.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-grid-tie-inverter-and-single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar Grid Tie Inverter and Single Phase Grid Tie Solar Inverter" width="600" height="300" /></p> <p>The solar inverter is like any electrical machine; It generates heat during its normal operation, and the higher the amount of temperature it releases, the higher losses, which means low operating efficiency. Generally, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> efficiency is above 90% for all brands/models exist in the solar market, however as a general rule, the lower inverter operating temperature, the higher efficiency it works, and the low stress on its internal components during operation. So, we have to install the solar inverter on a cooled and ventilated location to increase its efficiency and performance.</p> <p>We have to look into the solar photovoltaic system location, and choose the best installation position, avoiding direct exposed to the sun light, and looking for shaded area with a good ventilation. For example, you can install the solar inverter in the garage as long as it will be away from direct sunlight during the day time. Your solar system installer will recommend the best installation place based on his experience after he will review the installation site/location.</p> <p>We can confirm that using the high quality solar inverter, with a high water proof protection degree (IP 65 or higher), installing it away from direct sunlight to avoid adding more heat will increase your solar photo voltaic system reliability, efficiency and expected life span. </p> <p>So, now we can consider the following aspects when selecting the best place for installing the solar inverter:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Easy accessible location for maintenance and regular checkup.</li> <li>10-15 cm free space around all its sides for ventilation and air circulation.</li> <li>Away from moisture and direct sunlight.</li> <li>Away from the floor by approx. 1-meter height.</li> <li>Finding the place for an easy connection with your electrical equipment/power grid.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:258 https://www.inverter.com/solar-photovoltaic-system-gross-metering Solar Photovoltaic System Gross Metering <p>The connection of the solar photo-voltaic system to the power grid has multiple ways, based on electric utility regulations, and solar system owner installation purpose.</p> <p>One of these connection ways is the gross metering scheme. In this scheme, the whole electricity generated form the solar photo-voltaic system will go directly to the grid, and not to our home. So, all the harvest will be sent back to the grid on a pre-determined feed in tariff we agreed for with our local electricity supplier.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-photovoltaic-system-gross-metering.jpg" alt="Solar Photovoltaic System Gross Metering" />The gross metering scheme was popular in the past where governments all over the world were the sponsors of high rate of feed in tariff, on that time countries governments goal was to create a high incentive for customers to install <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> on their homes roofs. But now this scheme has been stopped in most countries, and exchanged be net metering scheme in where you use the electricity generated from your solar system in feeding your home electrical equipment/appliances as apriority and the surplus electricity will go to the grid, so you will be only paid for such amount of exported energy. For all cases, you have to check with your local solar system installer in which scheme will be better for you, is it Net metering or gross metering scheme? And which one is available in our area.</p> <p>The electricity regulator is in charge of indicating the minimum and max power capacity limit for gross metering solar plant, also he indicates the tariff for electricity sale. The major problem of gross metering is that if you have a roof-top solar plant, you have to pay a considerable amount of money to connect it to the grid, as you will need to put cables and distribution circuit boards from the solar inverter up to gross energy meter.</p> <p>Regulators had thought that gross metering will be simpler and paying better, but they have discovered afterwards, it is not so simple as they though.</p> <p>Finally, we can say that gross metering can be considered as a business, and actually no body install a roof-top solar plant to sell power, but they want to use the solar generated electricity for their self-consumption, and the surplus can be sold out.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:257 https://www.inverter.com/can-we-put-solar-panels-flat-on-roof Can We Put Solar Panels Flat on Roof? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/40w-portable-solar-panel.jpg" alt="40W Portable Solar Panel" width="300" height="191" />In photo voltaic Solar system, there are 2 positions of installations we have to take care about in order the solar panels can produce most of their rated power, in other word, we can get the max generation efficiency of our solar panels when we properly install them in two positions. The first position is the orientation of the solar array, we mean to point out the solar array to the sun directly, whether the array will face north, south, or whatever based on the country location, we just aim to get a best position to collection most of sun radiation over the day and the year. The second position is the installation angle of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> reference to horizontal which called tilt angle or pitch angle and this position has a great effect on the solar photovoltaic system annual electrical energy production. Generally, the best pitch angle is equal to the latitude of the solar system installation location, and always there is a good margin around the latitude value, we mean it will be No efficiency loss if we increase or reduce the pitch angle by 5-10 degree, but in all cases we do Not recommend to make the pitch angle as zero degree (flat installation) to ensure the solar panels capability of self-cleaning in rainy days, so we can get rid of dusts and dirties via rainfalls. </p> <p>We can make the pitch angle as zero, but in that case, we have to consider cleaning the solar panels periodically by hand, however this installation position is Not recommended and we recommend to make the pitch angle as 10 degrees at least.</p> <p>Sometimes homes roofs are flat and sometimes they are slope with an angle which may be far away from the best pitch angle, so in all cases our solar panels installer will advise the best pitch angle and orientation, as the solar system installer will have most solution options, like installing tilt frame, or keeping the same slope position, or any other option. </p> <p>At the end, we confirm that placing the solar panels at No angle is Not the ideal case, and having a flat roof will give us the possibility to install our solar system in the best angle and direction to get the biggest exposure to the sun.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:256 https://www.inverter.com/what-can-solar-panel-directly-connect What can solar panel directly connect? <p>The working principle of solar power system is basically the same. Solar panels absorb the energy of the sun. It is converted into electrical energy and stored in batteries. The inverter converts current into power compatible with electronic equipment. But can you connect the solar panel directly to the load? Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-connect.jpg" alt="Solar panel connect" width="534" height="257" /></p> <p>Connecting solar energy directly to the load brings many potential problems to electronic products. Let's review the most important reasons.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Risk of Overload:</strong></li> </ul> <p>It is likely that the demand will overload the panel. If the load demand is too large, the panel may be overloaded and damaged. In the worst case, the panel and load are damaged.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>No Load Protection:</strong></li> </ul> <p>Solar panels are exposed to lightning and sudden surges. Nothing can protect your load from charge, overload, sudden surge, sudden power drop and so on. The load is completely exposed to fluctuating current.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Limited Power Draw:</strong></li> </ul> <p>The load cannot absorb the maximum energy from the solar panel. This is impossible regardless of the size of the solar panel.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Direct Current Only:</strong></li> </ul> <p>Solar panels produce only direct current. Many consumer electronics and appliances operate on AC 220V. If you want to run a kitchen appliance like a refrigerator, you need an inverter and a charging controller, not a direct connection.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Wear and Tear:</strong></li> </ul> <p>Direct connection requires the loader to unload, reload, restart, restart, etc. This will wear the load, resulting in faster wear and tear.</p> <p>Motors can withstand current and voltage fluctuations better than electronic equipment, but there are some conditions. Specifically, the rated current of the motor must be higher than that of the solar panel. If the current and power of the solar panel are sufficient, a direct load will work. You only need a DC motor and your water pump can run.</p> <p>If the rated current of the motor is low and the power generated is less than that of the solar panel, the motor will not run. When measuring the power of solar panels, the peak output is always used to get accurate results.</p> <p>Solar panel is omnipotent. As long as you know what you're doing, you can deal with different situations.</p> <p>If you plan to use electronics or appliances with your solar panel, direct load is not desirable. There is no guarantee that it will work, you may damage the panel and or load.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:255 https://www.inverter.com/will-a-40-watt-solar-panel-charge-a-battery Will a 40 Watt Solar Panel Charge a Battery? <p>To get the most accurate estimate, you must consider the size of the battery and how many hours of sunlight is available. Here are some examples.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/40-watt-solar-panel-12V-battery.jpg" alt="40 watt solar panel charge a 12V battery" width="680" height="226" />A 40 watt solar panel can provide 40 watts of electricity per hour. This is the maximum output you can expect, but depending on the weather, it may fall below this value.</p> <p>It will take a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/40w-portable-solar-panel">40 watt solar panel</a> 7 days to charge a 100ah 12V battery. This is assuming the solar panel produces 200 watts a day. If the battery is discharged at 50%, it will take 3 to 4 days to charge. But again this assumes the solar panel produces peak output consistently.</p> <p>If you camp in summer and get 5 hours of sunshine, the charging time will be close to this time. If you have 6 to 7 hours of sunlight and you don’t fully discharge the battery, charging may be faster. But unless the weather is perfectly sunny, it may take longer than expected to charge the battery.</p> <p>What Battery Can Charge With A 40 Watt Solar Panel?</p> <p>A solar panel can charge any battery as long as the panel voltage is equal to or higher than the battery. You should also install a charging controller to prevent battery overload.</p> <p>The maximum cell size you should use a 40 watt solar panel is 200ah. There are no technical restrictions, but 200ah may be too much. Even if the battery board generates 17 amps of current every day, it takes 12 days to charge the 200ah battery.</p> <p>It depends on portability and the weight you are willing to carry. If you have a camper with enough space, you can bring several <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> and a large battery pack. If you travel light, you don't need too much solar energy. A 40W photovoltaic module and small battery are enough.</p> <p>Therefore, while the output of photovoltaic modules continues to increase, portable 40 Watt Solar panels are still attractive to those who do not need a lot of power. If you have reasonable expectations, this panel can charge the battery without problem.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:254 https://www.inverter.com/7-steps-domestic-solar-panel-installation-guide 7 Steps Domestic Solar Panel Installation Guide <p>The installation process of solar panels must be carried out correctly to obtain the maximum solar panel system, otherwise your panels will not achieve their maximum efficiency. In order to let you know the installation process of solar panels, please follow the 7-step guide:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-installation.jpg" alt="Solar panel installation" width="453" height="300" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 1: Erect the Scaffolding. To ensure the safety of the installation team, scaffolding will be built around your house.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 2: Attach Roof Anchors. After the scaffold is built, the installation team will arrive. The team first installed roof anchors to fix the base of solar panels. The type of anchor used depends on the type of roof tile in your home.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 3: Attach the Frame. After the anchor is installed, it is time to install the frame composed of aluminum bars. The steel bars must be installed in a straight line and parallel to each other.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 4: Install the Solar Panels. Once the frame is installed, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panel</a> can be installed. The panel is clamped to an aluminum frame, but not too tight at first so that there is some room for a slight adjustment later. Once all panels are set in their position, they are firmly fixed to the frame.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 5: Wire the Solar Panels. Now that the panels are firmly fixed to the frame, the next step is to fix them with wires. In most cases, these panels are connected by the manufacturer’s wires. However, these wires must be connected to the inverter, which is usually in the attic. The inverter is a component of the solar array that converts the absorbed energy from the panels into AC electricity, which can then be used by household appliances.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 6: Make Final Connections to the Consumer Unit. After the panel is connected to the inverter, the final connection to the consumer unit will be manufactured. In addition, a power meter will be connected to measure the actual power generated by your panel. Smart meters work well with solar panels to make meter reading easier.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Step 7: Test the Solar Panels. After the wiring of panel, inverter and generator meter is completed, installation test shall be carried out. Once completed, the installation process of the solar panel is successfully completed.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:253 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-a-portable-solar-charger How to Use a Portable Solar Charger? <p>The solar charger can also be used for MP4 and MP3 players, digital cameras, laptops, headphones, smart watches and other USB devices. Solar charger is easy to use, but if you want to make the most of solar charger and your mobile phone, please continue to read. There are two options, charging directly with solar energy or charging with a battery charger.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-generator-use.jpg" alt="Portable solar generator use" width="623" height="207" /><strong>How to Charge With A Solar Charger?</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Power up the charger first. Before you use the device, charge it on USB, solar power or electricity until it is at full power. If you can charge it overnight that's better. Indicator lights will flash, letting you know the device is fully charged.</li> <li>Plug in your mobile device. Connect the phone to the solar charger with the USB cable provided.</li> <li>Press the power button on. Your phone starts charging. LED indicator lights will appear, letting you know your phone is charging. These lights will disappear when the phone is charged.</li> <li>When the phone is fully charged, the charger will automatically turn off. You can also turn off the charger manually by pressing the off button.</li> </ul> <p>That's all there is to charging a mobile phone with a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar power charger or generator</a>. You use the same steps for a tablet, notebook or any other compatible device.</p> <p><strong>How to Recharge A Solar Charger With Sunlight?</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Follow these steps to recharge your device with the sun.</li> <li>Unplug any device still connected to the charger. Turn it off.</li> <li>Find a place in direct sunlight. When charging outdoors, make sure there are no obstructions or obstacles on the road.</li> <li>Place the charger so that the solar panel faces the sun directly.</li> <li>Do not put the charger near other objects to avoid overheating.</li> <li>Fully charge the device. Please pay attention to the LED light because it will tell you whether the device is still charging or fully charged.</li> </ul> <p>Learning how to charge your phone with a solar phone charger is easy, and it really makes a difference when you're on the road. If you travel a lot and find yourself in places without electrical outlets, consider getting a solar charger. Not only are they effective, but they give you peace of mind knowing that as long as there is sunlight, you can charge your phone.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:252 https://www.inverter.com/how-many-solar-panels-can-connect-to-inverter How Many Solar Panels Can Connect to Inverter? <p>There are several questions that need to be answered. The most important are the following.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-and-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar panel and inverter" width="606" height="239" />If your area is sunny, there is no need to use a small inverter. Otherwise, expanding your solar panel is a good way to maximize inverter capacity. If you want to add more photovoltaic panels, look for those with an efficiency rating of at least 20%. If you want to replace the inverter and get the largest unit, you can afford it. Whether you are on the grid or not, the larger the capacity is better than the smaller the capacity. It's also easy to find the ideal size. Check your monthly electricity bill and calculate the average usage. Plus at least 10% of the total, you have your inverter size.</p> <p>Do you have any plans to expand the use of solar energy? Maybe you're tied to the grid now, but plan to leave the grid in a few years? It may be a good idea to invest in a high-capacity inverter today. So if you decide not to rely on the energy system, you'll be ready.</p> <p>Once you decide what inverters and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> to buy, it's time to install them. Unless you are a DIY expert, it is best to let a professional installer deal with this problem to avoid any potential problems.</p> <p>The specifications will vary so make sure to check the inverter before connecting any solar panel. Generally speaking, the inverter can handle 30% more power than the rated power. Considering that solar panels are not always generated at peak power, this should not be a problem.</p> <p>The larger the solar array, the more effective the overclocking. But you must also check the DC voltage input of the inverter. Temperature is also important because the inverter is designed to operate within a specific temperature range.</p> <p>If you plan to upgrade your solar system, check other parts as well. We focus on inverters and solar panels here, but if you add more photovoltaic modules, solar controllers, fuses and wires may also need to be upgraded.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:251 https://www.inverter.com/is-a-120-watt-solar-panel-enough Is a 120 Watt Solar Panel Enough? <p>A 120 watt solar panel can supply power to various appliances and equipment as long as their power is less than 120 watts per hour.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-sunshine.jpg" alt="Solar panel in sunshine" width="489" height="326" />First, the operating time assumes that <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel">solar panels</a> produce at least 100 watts of power per hour. If the output is lower, the runtime will be shorter. The load might not run at all if the output is too low.</p> <p>We assume that the power of this notebook is 100 watts. If there is 6 hours of sunshine, the solar panel generates 100 watts of power per hour, and the laptop can run for 6 hours. But if the power of the laptop exceeds 120 watts per hour, the solar panel cannot run it. If there is only 4 hours of sunshine, the laptop can only run during this time. It is assumed that the battery panel generates at least 100 watts of power per hour.</p> <p>The runtime assumes that you will not use these devices at the same time. If you do this, the available energy will be reduced. For example, if you run a 32 inch TV with a 120 watt solar panel, you won't be able to load anything else because it consumes almost 100 watts. If you have a USB mobile phone charger, you can use it to charge your mobile device and free up this panel for other applications. The solar panel can run any load as long as it is within the capacity range. Now we will look at how much power this panel can produce. Most <a href="https://www.inverter.com/120w-portable-solar-panel">120W solar panels</a> have a nominal rating of 12 volts, but it can reach 18 volts during a charge. By dividing watts by volts we can figure out the amps.</p> <p>120 watts / 18 volts = 6.6 amps</p> <p>A 120 watt solar panel at 18 volts produces 6.6 amps an hour under normal conditions.</p> <p>Most solar cells only need 14.4 volts to charge, so you must install a charging controller to prevent overcharging and overload. Do not be confused why a 12V solar panel charges up to 18V. The 12 volts is applicable only when the panel is not producing current. When the sun shines on the solar panel, the battery starts to generate electricity and the voltage rises. The 120 watt solar panel is ideal for camping or with a limited budget. Under appropriate conditions, you can use it to run various devices.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:250 https://www.inverter.com/can-a-solar-generator-be-used-while-charging Can A Solar Generator be Used While Charging? <p>If you're asking, is it safe to use, the answer is yes. Most <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generators</a> are safe to operate even when it's being charged. Of course you should always check the manual first. If it says you can use when charging, then there's no problem. If the manual says do not use while charging, then don't do it.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-generator-charging-way.jpg" alt="Solar generator charging way" width="422" height="422" />If you charge the generator through solar panels, there will be no problem. In the worst case, clouds pass overhead, slowing or stopping charging. If there is not enough energy in the generator, your device will no longer operate. But there is no damage to the generator or your device.</p> <p>You have to be more careful if charging on AC / DC power. As long as the power outlet is stable there won't be issues. Do not plug the generator on a faulty power outlet as it could lead to damage. The outlet could overheat and that's dangerous. As long as the power socket is good, there should be no problem with charging.</p> <p>No surprise, one of the ways to charge a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/100w-portable-solar-generator">100 watt solar generator</a> is with solar panels. Some generators have built-in solar panels. If so, just point the solar panel to the sun (make sure it's the right angle) and let the sun do the work.</p> <p>A 12V lighter is another charging option, although it is not as common as AC / DC and solar panel sockets. If it is available at your power station, you can charge it in your car or any vehicle with a 12V lighter. Usually however, car chargers are found on portable solar chargers, not generators.</p> <p>Solar generators, whether it's portable or for home backup power, will only get better. Their power continues to grow even as prices drop. Charging with a solar generator will not damage it, but be prepared to wait. Unless it is an emergency, we recommend that the generator rest during charging.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:249 https://www.inverter.com/solar-power-vs-petrol Solar Power vs. Petrol <p>Fossil fuels are a finite energy source, solar panels harness the sun’s energy and will always be available. Either way, one thing is clear. Solar power has nothing to do with petrol. Let us compare the two and why solar is seen as a replacement for petrol.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-power-and-petrol.jpg" alt="Solar power and petrol" width="713" height="330" /><strong>Availability.</strong> Solar energy comes from the sun. As long as there is the sun, we can get solar energy. With the improvement of the efficiency of solar panels, we will be able to use more sunlight to power appliances, cars, factories, offices and other things. Most importantly, we can't rely on fossil fuels forever. It is about to run out, and the use of solar energy has just begun. If your carbon footprint is large, using solar energy is a way to reduce your carbon footprint. In the process, you can also save some money.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Environmental Impact.</strong> Fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide, leading to climate change. As the excess heat generated by carbon dioxide affects weather patterns, the weather becomes more difficult to predict. Many scientists are aware of the problems caused by fossil fuels. That's why they are trying to reduce our dependence on it. Solar energy will not cause pollution. These systems operate quietly and smoothly and keep the environment clean. Homes and institutions that use solar energy are helping us reduce our carbon footprint.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Cost.</strong> Solar energy is a technology, which means that as innovation increases, prices will fall. Today, for a few thousand dollars, you can install a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar system</a> in your home or RV. Installing solar panels at home is not cheap. But it's a good investment. When you reduce your dependence on the power grid, the system will pay for itself.</li> </ul> <p>The efficiency level of solar panels is 15% to 23%. So the best solar panels can convert 23% of sunlight into electricity.</p> <p>These figures do not seem impressive. But this is similar to the efficiency level of automobile fuel. Only about 20% of the fuel is used. The remaining 80% becomes heat. Using solar energy, the remaining 80% provides sunshine and warmth.</p> <p>The efficiency of solar power generation is also improving. Not long ago, 15% was still the standard, but now it has reached 23%. With the progress of technology, solar energy efficiency is expected to improve.</p> <p>Fossil fuels are inefficient. We must use it in large quantities to produce pollution in the process of use. For these reasons, many people now turn to solar energy.</p> <p>The world still relies heavily on fossil fuels, but this may not last long. The cost of solar power generation continues to decline and the efficiency continues to improve. Not only is there no connection between solar energy and gasoline, but solar energy may eventually completely replace fossil fuels.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:248 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-find-out-what-solar-generator-size-you-need How To Find Out What Solar Generator Size You Need <p>With the development of the technology, more and more people place <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generators</a> in their homes. Let us start with the basics. Solar generator power is measured in watts. All you have to do is calculate the total watts you use each month. Add another 10% or 20% and you'll know how much generator power you need.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-generator-and-house.jpg" alt="Solar generator and house" width="785" height="261" />The power consumption of an appliance is measured in watts or amperes. Their power consumption will be shown in the manual or on the device itself. Most appliances use 120 volts.</p> <p>Watts / volts = amps</p> <p>Amps x volts = watts</p> <p>For instance, a refrigerator label might say that it consumes 7A (amps) at 120V (volts). 7A x 120V = 840 watts.</p> <p>If you want to power the whole house, check your monthly bill and look for KWH usage. As a guide to buying solar power stations.</p> <p>Write the electrical appliances to be used in case of power failure. Lighting, refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, etc. "Necessities" mean different things to different people, so please make your own list. Add the total watt usage of the appliances you wrote down.</p> <p>Pay attention to the running watts and starting watts. A refrigerator may need 1500W to start, and then the demand drops to 100-200wh. The generator must meet or exceed the power requirements for operation and starting.</p> <p>Buying a generator with a little more power than you need. First, you never know when you need to run another device. The life of a generator that always runs at full load is very short. Third, it puts pressure on the system.</p> <p>If your total electrical power is 300W, buy a 500-700W generator. If it is 600w, buy an <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1500w solar generator</a>. There is no harm in having more power, but running an under powered generator can cause serious damage.</p> <p>Solar panels is direct current (DC), so the inverter converts DC into alternating current (AC). You only need an inverter if you have AC equipment such as fans, bulbs, motors and other appliances. Laptops, smartphones and tablets all use DC. Modern TV has AC/DC converter.</p> <p>Portable solar generators have really taken off the past few years, and it will become more popular.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:247 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-portable-solar-generator How to Choose a Portable Solar Generator? <p>There are a plethora of different solar generators out there on the market. Many people want to get better prepared for blackouts, hurricanes, storms or just want better camping, RV or tiny house options.</p> <p>There are many different solar generators on the market. Many people want to be better prepared for power outages, hurricanes, storms, or just want better camping, RV or tiny house. There are some helpful tips for finding the best solar generator.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/200w-portable-solar-generator.jpeg" alt="200W portable solar generator" width="411" height="411" /><strong>Weight and Portability</strong></li> </ul> <p>Portable is a little subjective because a 25-year-old man who goes to the gym every day can probably carry a 50lb solar generator no problem. Whereas a 75-year-old man may not be able to easily carry a 50lb generator. Know your limits and your strengths.</p> <p>Many people buy <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar portable generators</a> because they want electricity in an emergency. Others just want to find a simple solution in their RV, tiny house, or just for camping. Therefore, if it is an RV, weight and portability are not big factors. Weight and portability are really important in camping and emergencies.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Life Cycle</strong></li> </ul> <p>One cycle is to use the battery from 100% to 0% (or whatever the minimum drain point is), and then back to 100%. Especially those who need emergency preparedness, even RV and small houses, this is a big problem. A tiny house may use solar energy equipment for at least half a cycle every night. This means that it can only be used for 1.5 to 3 years at most.</p> <p>For those who are prepared to deal with events such as an EMP attack, the power grid is expected to be interrupted for at least 2 years, but it may take 10 years to recover. This means that the battery needs to be able to withstand such a long working time.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Car Charging Capability</strong></li> </ul> <p>This is the most overlooked part of solar units by consumers. Solar devices need to be charged through cars, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200w-portable-solar-generator">200W portable solar generator</a>. Let's use a camping scenario: you're going camping, but you take out your solar equipment and find that it's only 50%. It's still noon, but you can't tie the battery panel to the roof. Fortunately, you have a car charger, so when you reach your location, your car is fully charged. A happy day.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:246 https://www.inverter.com/the-benefits-of-using-a-ups-inverter-in-case-of-power-failure The Benefits of Using a UPS inverter in Case of Power Failure <p>With the popularity of ups, more and more ups inverters are used in homes. There are several common power issues a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups Inverter</a> can help protect you against:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/problems-ups-inverter.jpg" alt="Problems ups inverter can be solved" width="488" height="325" /><strong>Blackout</strong>. This is probably the most familiar problem, which is the complete loss of electrical supply due to utility equipment/power grid failure, natural disasters or human error. The blackout may last from a few seconds to a few days.</p> <p><strong>Brownout</strong>. Also known as a voltage dip or under voltage, occasionally power still reaches your electronic device, but at reduced voltage, for an extended amount of time. Rarer than blackouts, oftentimes this happens due to compromised power resources or reduced power flow in high demand circumstances.</p> <p><strong>Frequency variation</strong>. This is a problem that can arise when <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">2000 watt pure sine wave ups inverter</a> connected to power generators, when the generator is no longer synced to the power system within a desired frequency.</p> <p><strong>Harmonic distortion</strong>. Sawtooth pulse current generated by electronic equipment (including ups system itself), rather than smooth sine wave current.</p> <p><strong>Line noise</strong>. Also known as frequency noise, is caused by interference from stray electromagnetic signals within standard AC currents. Line noise can be caused by other AC-connected electronics, radio wave interference, generators, or thunderstorms. It can hinder the performance of electronic circuits.</p> <p><strong>Overvoltage</strong>. Fundamentally, a small surge, also known as expansion, is higher than the normal voltage duration than a surge. It could last a few minutes or even several days.</p> <p><strong>Power Surge/Spike</strong>. Also called "transient voltage", this is a brief, unexpected increase in voltage outside normal limits for wall outlets (typically 0 and 169 volts, or greater than 110% of normal output). Lightning strikes can cause massive electrical surges that can damage or destroy equipment in an instant. Even a small surge from a faulty contactor can cause permanent damage over time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:245 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-ups How to Use UPS? <p>The role of uninterruptible power supply is very big, when there is no electricity, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a>, you can use battery power, when there is electricity, it is a voltage regulator, to protect the connected equipment. It has a battery inside that protects and charges the battery. Today, I will introduce how to use uninterruptible power supply in detail.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3500-watt-ups-inverter-and-structure.jpg" alt="3500 watt ups inverter and structure" width="556" height="278" />The uninterruptible power supply itself has a plug. This is a plug that connects to the mains and can be connected to the mains at home. On its back, we can see that there are three power sockets, among which the two on the left are its output outlets, that is, the output power is used to connect the external devices, for example, it can be a connection to the computer host, a connection to the computer monitor.</p> <p>The two sockets on the back of the uninterruptible power supply can not only connect the device directly, but also connect the plug bar to connect some devices to the plug bar, such as computers or other electrical appliances. Although it can be connected to the plug row, and then connected to the multi-point equipment, but this depends on the power of uninterrupted power supply, this is not overload connection, so it can not play a protective role, but also affect <a href="https://www.inverter.com/3500-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">3500 watt ups inverter</a> service life.</p> <p>Some uninterruptible power supply and connect the printer socket, this can be directly connected with the printer. In addition, it has a fuse that protects it if it's overloaded. If it is found that the uninterruptible power supply cannot work properly, it is necessary to look at its fuse is not burned out. After connecting the back sockets to the line, look at the front of it, it has three indicators, respectively fault, battery and mains indicators.</p> <p>Everyone in the use of uninterruptible power supply, can according to the above method to operate, for three lights in front of it, and want to know what respectively, the abnormal situation in this way, can accurate to maintenance, such as grid, is directly connected to the power supply, if the light is, it is normally connected to the mains.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:244 https://www.inverter.com/types-of-ups-systems Types of UPS Systems <p>There are 3 fundamental types of ups systems: standby, line interactive and online ups, which all come in various capacities.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-ups-inverter.jpeg" alt="300 watt ups inverter" width="382" height="382" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Standby ups</strong></li> </ul> <p>Also known as an offline ups or voltage and frequency-dependent ups, is the most common type of ups system, offering basic power protection and backup battery capabilities. Standby ups can prevent power failure, voltage surge and spike. However, they cannot regulate power drop and transient voltage. For that you would need at least a line-interactive ups.<br /><br />When the main power supply is above or below the normal limit, the load is transferred to the inverter output, typically within 5-8 milliseconds. They are called "offline" or "standby ups" since the inverter is switched off by default. <br /><br />Most of these units only run for 5-20 minutes to give you enough time to properly shut off your computer. Standby ups are best-suited for small, non-critical electronic devices and home/personal office use, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">300 watt pure sine wave ups inverter</a>.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Line-interactive ups</strong></li> </ul> <p>Line-interactive ups systems are the next step up in power protection and cost from standby ups. In this type of ups, the inverter is always on and connected to the ups output. Line-interactive ups have automatic voltage regulation, using transformers to keep the voltage within set low/high limits. Whereas a standby ups would switch to battery power in such an instance, line-interactive ups systems do not. This can not only save battery power in the short term, but also save battery life in the long term.<br /><br />Unlike standby ups systems, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverters</a> of line-interactive ups systems are part of the output and always connected. When the input AC power supply fails, the change-over switch will change the direction within 4-8 milliseconds to make the battery power flow to the ups output. It might not fit very sensitive electronics, so you may need to look to online ups.<br /><br />In case of power failure, most line interactive ups systems provide pure sine wave output, making them a good match with most equipment.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Online ups</strong></li> </ul> <p>Also called an online double-conversion ups, online ups systems provide the highest level of protection for IT equipment in hospitals and data centers. They are called double conversion because they convert the input AC into DC, and then convert the DC back to AC output through inverter.<br /><br />Online UPS prevents any power transmission irregularities, protects against all potential power problems, and provides continuous and consistent power and protection in the event of power failure, surge, drop or any common power problems outlined in the above section. The output regulation is also much more precise than line-interactive ups, ensuring that connected electronics are not damaged by over or under voltage.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:243 https://www.inverter.com/differences-between-ups-inverter-and-inverter Differences Between UPS Inverter and Inverter <p>Modern society is heavily dependent upon appliances that run on electricity. When there is a power failure, the power supply of these appliances is cut off and they stop working. In order to solve these problems of power failure and no power availability, ups inverter and inverter are designed. Both inverter and ups are used to provide standby power supply for electronic equipment in case of power failure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-and-ups-inverter.jpg" alt="Inverter and ups inverter" width="632" height="255" /></p> <p>Basically, current flows in and out of various electronic devices in the form of AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current). When electric energy can be obtained from commercial power, the inverter obtains electric energy in the form of AC and stores it in the battery. In order to do this, the inverter must convert the AC power supply to DC power supply and then store it. In case of power failure, the power of the battery must be supplied to various electronic appliances, but cannot be distributed in the form of DC. Therefore, the inverter converts DC into AC and supplies AC to the equipment until the end of power failure. After the power grid is restored, the inverter continues to convert AC energy into DC energy and store it in the battery for future use.</p> <p>A key difference between inverters and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">1500W ups inverter</a> is the time it takes them to provide power from the battery in case of power failure: the offline ups (the standard) switches to the battery power supply within 3 to 8 milliseconds after the mains power is cut off. An inverter varies between 25 and 500 milliseconds. Devices that cannot tolerate this time delay, or devices that may be damaged due to incorrect shutdown, such as computers or sensitive medical devices, are paired with UPS rather than inverters for this reason.</p> <p>Another significant difference between the two is that the real on-line double conversion <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a> is considered to be able to regulate and monitor the current fluctuation. The ups provides protection against line abnormalities such as surge, voltage fluctuation, under/over voltage, spike and noise. This is the main reason why electronic devices with precision circuits use UPS instead of inverter backup. The purpose of ups is to provide a short window (10 or 20 minutes) of power, enough time to save programs and data, and shut down your device correctly. They do not intend to provide electricity for a long time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:239 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-voltage-converter How to Choose a Voltage Converter? <p>A voltage converter or transformer is an electrical device that takes power from a wall outlet and increases or decreases energy, so we can use electrical equipment in different regions or countries. Power converters allow you to run your equipment at the same speed as when it was manufactured, allowing you to use your equipment safely and comfortably anywhere in the world. First, knowing that while higher voltages will never damage your device, using underpowered converters can easily damage your device. How do you choose the most suitable <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">voltage converter</a>?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/1000-watt-voltage-converter.jpeg" alt="1000W voltage converter" width="373" height="373" /></p> <p><strong>Know the wattage.</strong> The wattage of any device can be easily marked on the manufacturer's label, usually on the back or bottom of electrical equipment. Remember it is better to buy a converter will higher wattage that lacks enough of it.</p> <p><strong>Do you need to step up or down.</strong> If your device was originally designed to support 110 volts of power and you head to the 220 volts of power area, you will definitely need to use an adapter from 220V to 110V to increase your wattage.</p> <p><strong>How many appliances.</strong> If you plan to use multiple devices abroad, you may need to add their total wattage so that you can select converters with rated voltages higher than the total value of all devices.</p> <p>You need to know the wattage of the device to determine the appropriate voltage converter to purchase, so check the device's W indication label for this information. Then, be sure to purchase a converter rated two to three times higher than the device you plan to operate for safe conversion.</p> <p>For example, if your equipment or appliance is 500W, purchase a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-voltage-converter">1000W voltage converter</a> or transformer. When in doubt, buy a converter with a much higher wattage. No harm is done with too many watts, but your device will not work if there's not enough.</p> <p>For items that require a lot of power to turn on initially (televisions, power tools, laser printers), buy converters with three times the power of the device. Therefore, a 600W tool requires a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000w-voltage-converter">2000W voltage converter</a> to convert safely and successfully.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:241 https://www.inverter.com/why-choose-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter Why Choose Pure Sine Wave UPS Inverter? <p>The popularity of ups inverters is on the rise and a large number of homes are switching from traditional generators to household ups inverters. Since the cost of ups inverter is much less than that of generator, switching does make sense. Buying a uninterruptible power supply inverter is a good move. There are various other reasons. This article will list several reasons why it's worth buying.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter.jpeg" alt="2000 watt pure sine wave ups inverter" width="405" height="405" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>It provides relief from the unbearable heat.</strong></li> </ul> <p>This is one of the most important benefits of having a home ups inverter, especially during the summer season when the heat is unbearable. Especially in summer, when electricity consumption is at its peak, many cities will experience power cut. Even they need to install a home inverter as even a 10-15 minutes power cut is unbearable during the summer season. And when it comes to the cities that usually experience long and frequent power cuts, not having a power backup is definitely not an option.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>It is environment-friendly.</strong></li> </ul> <p>If you use a diesel generator to power your home during a power outage, you will notice that it will cause a lot of pollution. Pollution not only endangers our environment, but it also affects us and our family's health. On the other hand, a home uninterruptible power supply inverter is far more environment friendly because it will not produce any harmful gases and also help reduce the carbon footprint.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>It helps protect appliances from voltage fluctuations.</strong></li> </ul> <p>UPS inverters provide relief during a power failure. But more importantly, they protect household appliances from damage by controlling voltage fluctuations. And considering how expensive the LED TV, refrigerator, air conditioner, and other home appliances are; it is highly advisable to install a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">2000 watt pure sine wave ups inverter</a> and protect these devices from any voltage fluctuation.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>It helps continue work interrupted.</strong></li> </ul> <p>After the recent pandemic, more and more people have started working from home. The students also have been attending online classes from their homes. And since one cannot afford a power cut in the middle of an important meeting or a class, the importance of home ups inverters that provide uninterrupted power supply has greatly increased. Another major work-related benefit of a home uninterruptible power supply inverter is that it helps save important data. Therefore, it is very important to have a ups inverter that provides necessary power backup.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:242 https://www.inverter.com/the-advantages-of-ups-inverter The Advantages of UPS inverter <p>Currently, the power supply of the machines stops working. The UPS and inverters are used to combine with providing the backup power and you can get lots of electricity outage. However, the important functions of the store the electricity process. Many UPS or investors need to separate purchasing electronic devices. In addition, the better process of converting AC to DC power uses the best ups for home. And you can get your supply until you continue to store AC to DC power batteries for later consumption.</p> <p>The potential way to use the application and restart the more appliances to continuing the more applications for running state without any interruption. However, the battery based on more support with significant. It is possible to get the best solutions and key based on UPS and inverter. The following is about the advantages of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">ups inverter</a>.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter.jpeg" alt="300 watt pure sine wave ups inverter" width="386" height="386" /></p> <p>Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Work:</p> <p>The UPS provides the power some time power cut. However, UPS inverter is one of the best devices and also provides the electric power of grid disturbances and it is the best performance, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">300W pure sine wave ups inverter</a>. It is possible to allow this process to provide power outages and home price increases for your services. In addition, the energy storage function can also be charged normally to continue your equipment operation and power failure. Among the main factors, your best UPS equipment is the key factor for information and loss during power service interruption or interference. Of course, the use of the power of supplies and combined storage system and not capable for your transition with delivered UPS. However, it is more suitable for you to prevent the much faster services.</p> <p><strong>Advantages:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The power outages with get immediate solutions of UPS to form your main supply to the battery whereas the inverter has a time delay.</li> <li>The rectifier and battery rectifier in the built-in circuit of ups are converted into AC and DC storage. The external battery saves energy and converts DC power for you.</li> <li>UPS is a direct connection of home appliances and the inverter also connects the battery storage to attached the appliance's circuit.</li> <li>The UPS is the electric device is also rectify that providing the high power of the system and converts AC into DC.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:240 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-ups What is UPS? <p>UPS means uninterruptible power supply that contains energy storage devices. It is mainly used to provide uninterrupted power supply to some equipment which requires high stability of power supply.</p> <p>The uninterruptible power supply is the system equipment that connects the battery (mostly lead-acid maintenance-free battery) with the host and converts the direct current into mains electricity through the host inverter and other module circuits. It is mainly used to provide a stable and uninterrupted power supply to a single computer, computer network system or other power electronic equipment such as solenoid valves, pressure transmitters, etc.</p> <p>When the mains input is normal, ups supplies the mains voltage regulator to the load. At this time, UPS is an alternating current voltage regulator, and it also charges the battery inside the machine. When the mains is interrupted (accidental power failure), the ups will immediately supply 220V AC power to the load by switching the dc power of the battery through the method of inverter conversion, so that the load can maintain normal work and protect the software and hardware of the load from damage. Its equipment usually provides protection against high or low voltage. Uninterruptible power supply is widely used in industry, hospital, network equipment, data storage equipment, transportation and other fields. It can also be used for home use, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/600-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter">600W ups inverter</a> to charge mobile phones and computers.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/600-watt-pure-sine-wave-ups-inverter.jpeg" alt="600 watt ups inverter" width="406" height="406" /><strong>Precautions for Use:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Ensure that the UPS installation environment is free from direct sunlight and has sufficient ventilation space. Ensure that the temperature of the ups installation environment is not higher than 25 ℃. If the operating environment temperature exceeds 25 ℃, the battery life is shortened by about half for every 10 ℃ increase in temperature.</li> <li>High power thyristor load, thyristor bridge rectifier or half wave rectifier load shall not be used at the output end of uninterruptible power supply. This kind of load is easy to cause the final drive transistor of inverter to be burned.</li> <li>Strictly follow the correct startup and shutdown sequence to prevent the ups power supply voltage output from fluctuating due to sudden load increase or decrease.</li> <li>Do not turn off or on the ups power frequently. After turning off the ups power, wait at least 30 seconds before turning on the ups power.</li> <li>Maintain the uninterruptible power supply periodically, such as observing the indicator status, removing dust, measuring battery voltage, replacing unqualified batteries, checking the running status of fans, and monitoring and adjusting ups system parameters.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:238 https://www.inverter.com/the-advantages-of-solar-generator The Advantages of Solar Generator <p>Whether you need to keep the lights on when the power grid is off, or you want to charge your mobile phone while camping, solar generators are a good way to have extra energy on hand. Constant radiation from the sun is converted into electricity through solar panels. By using solar generators, this energy can be stored for future use. This is only one of the many benefits of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generator</a>. To learn more about solar generator benefits, check out what's below to know.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/500w-portable-solar-generator.jpeg" alt="500W portable solar generator" width="413" height="413" /></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Easy to Maintain</strong></li> </ul> <p>Solar generators are self-regulating, so you don't have to worry about maintenance. This is because they have almost no moving parts inside the machine. In this way, they are almost impossible to be damaged due to long-term use.</p> <p>Best of all, you can also clean the generator easily. You just need to wipe it down on the regular to keep it clean. Use water when doing this because other chemicals may damage the panels on the generator.</p> <p>These machines are also durable. They can withstand a tap as long as it is not anywhere on the glass. The glass is also tempered, which makes it hard and durable when struck, but may still affect its ability to collect energy.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Light and Easy</strong></li> </ul> <p>The usual generators are heavy, and you need a lot of effort to move them from one place to another. The solar generator is light and easy to install, so you won't have any problems in operating it yourself. You can also install portable solar panels on your self-driving car, so you can stay motivated during the journey.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Clean and Quiet</strong></li> </ul> <p>An underappreciated perk of solar generators is that they don't produce any noise. This is because they lack any moving parts. When turned on <a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-portable-solar-generator">500W portable solar generator</a>, nothing will grind or run, providing a quiet means to generate and supply power to your home.</p> <p>The best part is that the generator does not produce waste. The best part is that the generator does not produce waste. This is a great way to ensure that you do not endanger the health of those around you, while providing energy.</p> <p>However, not all generators are equal. There are some that aren't as powerful as others. Before buying for yourself, be sure to check the characteristics of the generator of your choice.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Light and Easy</strong></li> </ul> <p>The usual generators are heavy, and you need a lot of effort to move them from one place to another. The solar generator is light and easy to install, so you won't have any problems in operating it yourself. You can also install portable solar panels on your self-driving car, so you can stay motivated during the journey.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:237 https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator-vs-gas-generator Solar Generator vs. Gas Generator <p>With this year's home order and social distance, we all rely more on the power supply at home. Finding a suitable backup power source for your home is an important safety measure if the power grid fails, breaks down or people are trapped in their homes. Two of the most popular power solutions are solar generators and traditional gas powered generators. Each option has its advantages, but <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-generator">solar generators</a> are more cost-effective, resilient and sustainable than gas generators.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/portable-solar-generator-and-gas-generator.jpg" alt="Portable solar generator and gas generator" width="704" height="352" /></p> <p><strong>Reliability:</strong></p> <p>A successful backup power system should be dependable, durable, and long-lasting. Battery and solar generators have advantages over gas generators in terms of power duration. For example, if you connect a battery-powered generator to a solar system, it can continue to charge or store energy. If you have solar energy in your home, you can keep your solar system running, or use a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-portable-solar-generator">300W solar power generator</a> when the power grid is interrupted.</p> <p>One of the biggest disadvantages of using gas generators is that you need to rely on external fuel sources. In natural disasters, fuel may be exhausted, not to mention continually purchasing fuel can be very costly over time. Gas generators also emit harmful fumes, which means they need to be placed outside in a well-ventilated area.</p> <p><strong>Pollution:</strong></p> <p>Gas generators emit two kinds of pollution: air and noise. A gas generator releases carbon monoxide and other harmful pollutants, making it more dangerous and irresponsible to the environment. Since the natural gas generator needs to be installed outdoors to ensure safety, they can be a thorn in the eye of your house and may produce too much noise. Many houses may not allow you to use gas powered generators from the beginning, because they destroy the landscape of the house and also cause disturbance to the neighbors.</p> <p>On the other hand, solar generator can eliminate air pollution and reduce your home's carbon footprint, as long as it is powered by solar panels or can be plugged into a socket.</p> <p><strong>Price:</strong></p> <p>The main advantage of using a solar energy system with battery combination is the power source is free—it’s the sun! As long as there is sunlight and the system is not damaged, you can continue to use this power during natural disasters or any other type of interruption. Although the upfront cost of solar generator may be higher than that of traditional generator, you can expect that the total life cost of gas generator will be equal to or exceed that of solar generator.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:236 https://www.inverter.com/direction-of-wind-and-sea-land-breeze Direction of Wind and Sea Land Breeze <p>Sea-land breeze is a diurnal local wind that occurs in offshore and coastal areas. Land and sea winds are caused by the temperature difference between land and sea during the alternation of day and night. That is, the temperature over the sea is lower than the land during the day and higher than the land at night. The temperature difference brings about the density and pressure difference of the near-surface atmosphere, and the pressure gradient force pushes the air flow from regions of high pressure (low temperature) to regions of low pressure (high temperature).</p> <p>At night (winter), the situation is reversed, with low-level winds blowing from the continent to the ocean, known as land winds. In mountainous areas, due to thermal reasons, the valley blows to the plain or hillside in the daytime, and the plain or hillside blows to the night. The former is called valley wind, and the latter is called mountain wind.</p> <p>This is due to the fact that during the day the mountain slopes are heated faster and the temperature is higher than that of the air at the same height above the valley, and the warm air on the slopes flows from the mountain slopes to the upper valley. The air in the valley replenishes the lost air up the hillside, and the wind that blows from the valley to the hillside is called the valley wind. At night, hillside due to radiation cooling, its cooling rate is faster than the same height of the air, cold air along the slope down into the valley, called mountain wind.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-sea-land-breeze.jpg" alt="Wind turbine sea-land breeze" width="467" height="350" /></p> <p>Wind turbine is a machine that converts wind energy into electric energy. The blades of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> rotates 13 to 20 revolutions per minute, depending on their technology, at a constant or variable speed, in which the speed of the rotor changes relative to the wind speed to achieve higher efficiency.</p> <p>When solar radiation passes through the earth's atmosphere, the atmosphere absorbs about 2 x 10<sup>16</sup>W of energy, a small part of which is converted into the kinetic energy of the air. Because the tropics absorb more of the sun’s radiation, the atmospheric pressure difference leads to air flow and wind.</p> <p>As for local areas, For example, in high mountains and deep valleys, during the day, the air at the top of the mountains, heated by the sun, rises, and in the deep valleys, cold air takes its place. Therefore, the wind blows from the valley to the mountain; At night, the high mountain air cools faster, so the wind blows from the mountain to the deep valley. Another example, such as in coastal areas, due to the temperature difference between land and sea during the day, the formation of sea breeze blowing toward the land; Instead, it blows from land to sea at night.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:235 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-improve-the-performance-of-wind-turbine How to Improve the Performance of Wind Turbine <p>Most wind turbines use mechanical anemometers and wind vanes to measure wind conditions and transmit data such as wind speed and direction to a wind turbine controller. However, there are many inherent defects in the monitoring and control system configured by the original equipment manufacturer that can result in higher maintenance costs and lower power performance for wind turbines.</p> <p>The problem is moving parts used by the sensor. Anemometers use "wind cups" to measure wind speed, and vanes use fins to measure changes in vector or wind direction. During the field inspection of the wind field, it was found that most of the faults that caused many sensor problems were related to bearing problems. Bearing problems can lead to reduced accuracy and reduced service life of the meter. Increasing the rolling resistance of bearing will also affect the accuracy of wind measurement. Because this data is used to optimize the performance of wind turbines, it can also affect the efficiency of wind turbines. Coupled with cold winter weather, icing on the sensor’s exposed mechanical components can also increase maintenance.</p> <p>In icy weather, some wind turbines can be badly affected. Slight humidity, combined with sub-zero temperatures, can freeze the anemometer and vane, causing wind turbines to shut down. In order to cope with this kind of weather, some wind turbines are equipped with heated sensors, which are better tolerant to cold weather in winter. However, due to the higher temperature of sensor bearings, the average time between failures of system bearings is much smaller.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-seaside.jpg" alt="WInd turbine seaside" width="495" height="323" /></p> <p>Due to wind data is essential for documenting eddies and protecting wind turbines, wind turbines need accurate wind operating information in order to operate safely. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-wind-turbine">300W wind turbine</a> with low starting wind speed and low running vibration. When the anemometer speed does not change rapidly, such as when the bearing belt is faulty, the eddy current cannot be accurately measured. The turbine control system adjusts the blade spacing and rotor speed separately according to the degree of turbulence in order to protect the blades and drive mechanism from fatigue damage caused by improper use of rotating blades.</p> <p>The exact direction of the wind is equally important. Once the turbine deviates by more than +/-10 degrees, the power output drops dramatically. Power output can be 20 percent lower than an adjacent wind turbine with a working vane. This has been observed in practice, probably because of a local failure of the vane when the turbine is running. This case proves that ultrasonic meters are more suitable for measurement applications because they can provide a more accurate and reliable indication of wind state.</p> <p>Mechanical wind measuring devices, replaced by ultrasonic sensors, use programmable logic controllers (PLCS) to convert the signals measured by the sensors for better control of wind turbines. The signal from the ultrasonic sensor needs to be converted into a signal that the turbine controller can use. The signal from the ultrasonic sensor needs to be converted into a signal that the turbine controller can use. There is no ultrasonic sensor that provides a variety of forms of information that can be used directly by all types of turbine controllers.</p> <p>The PLC can act as an emulator for the turbine. That is, according to the turbine type, special ladder diagram logic is written to simulate the digital logic sensor signals required by each turbine controller.</p> <p>Although the system is still being optimized, initial results include improved meteorological accuracy, reduced operational downtime, reduced turbine-drive fatigue loads, and improved turbine efficiency.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:234 https://www.inverter.com/solar-power-system-electrical-circuits-safety Solar Power System Electrical Circuits Safety <p>Attention to safety rules when installing our new solar photovoltaic system is very important and commitment with such rules will protect us from many troubles and dangerous matters we may face in the future.</p> <p>Safety rules will guide in making our whole solar system to be well cabled together and having the appropriate and correct size protection devices/fuses, in addition to good labeling and the existing of the operating manuals for all solar system components according to international and local standards.</p> <p>One of safety rules, is that DC solar cables must be well distinguished from regular household cables, so it should be well marked/labelled, so in the future the electrician will not confuse inadvertently between them.</p> <p>Another safety rule, is to secure the solar system cables with metal clamps on the roof top, so it will be protected from damage that may happen due to rodents or wind or due to inadvertently sitting cable in pooled water.</p> <p>Generally, all cables connectors used in the solar system must be matched by the manufacturer/brand. However, most solar system standards released in the past and those new updated standards, they all require the connectors of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> to be of the same manufacturer to confirm more compatibility, along with the adherence of the testing standards.</p> <p>One of solar photo-voltaic system problems is the solar panels cables plugs crimping, because these plugs will have higher voltage in that case, so its recommended to do the cables plugs properly with more care if no way and you have to do such crimping on the site.</p> <p>Many safety rules in the solar power system we have to commit with, and what listed aforementioned are just a few. Many others will be provided by a certified solar system installer who will look at an execute all in the site, and then issue a certificate of compliance under his own license. Of course, for us we have to keep a copy of such compliance and safety certificates along with the operating manuals for all solar system components, and warranty certificate.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:233 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-solar-pv-system-net-metering-work How does Solar PV System Net Metering work? <p>Net Metering is one of the dominant arrangements the electricity company dealing us in billing when we install our new solar photovoltaic system. Under this arrangement, the electricity generated from the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> and the solar photovoltaic system will go to feed our home (electrical loads) at first, and then the additional excess generated electricity which is not required by our home electrical appliances/loads will be exported to the power grid. When we reduce or eliminate our need to grid electricity, our electricity bill will be reduced dramatically, as we no longer need to purchase more electricity from the grid to feed our loads, moreover, we shall be able to export more electricity to the grid and getting money from the electricity company accordingly. Also, as the electricity tariff trend is increasing over coming years, that making such saving on electricity consumption in our home will much increase our benefits with the increase of electricity prices.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-pv-system.jpg" alt="Solar Panel PV System" width="400" height="211" />Saving electricity can be achieved in our homes without paying any money, just following some simple and proficient attitudes and habits like the following:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Turn your refrigerator and freezer Fahrenheit setting down, so you they consume less electricity.</li> <li>Use the energy efficient light lamps (LED bulbs).</li> <li>Replace and clean filters of your air conditioner. Do this as aperiodic action.</li> <li>Switch off your appliances, lights, and electronics when you do not use them.</li> <li>When using washing machines, use cold water instead of hot water.</li> </ol> <p>And there are many other attitudes that will increase electricity saving if we follow them.</p> <p>Net Metering techniques work based on continuous sampling the amount of electricity generated by the solar photovoltaic system, and the amount of electricity consumed by our home electrical loads. The meter will measure and register both generated and consumed electricity, then these measurements are handled by appropriate register in a billing cycle and a final bill will be produced by the electricity company to the customer.</p> <p>Actually for the time being, the high government sponsored feed in tariff has already been stopped and is no longer available anymore for the new customers, it is only the Net Metering technique that is used for new installed solar system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:224 https://www.inverter.com/should-you-connect-to-electricity-grid-after-installing-new-solar-pv-system Should You Connect to Electricity Grid after Installing New Solar PV system? <p>In some kind of solar photo voltaic system called Off Grid system, your solar system will incorporate batteries that can feed your loads with electricity in case of low sun radiation and night time. But such batteries add a significant cost to your solar system, so it is usually recommended to be used in remote areas in where there is No regular electricity supply exists.</p> <p>In the past the batteries costs were very high and not much reliable to use for long time span, unit the year of 2015, in where the lithium batteries have been provided to the solar system market, then the prices reduced dramatically, and batteries became more reliable and longer life span. Moreover, the prices will continue to go down, and its anticipated that batteries required for small house solar system come to the solar market with a very reasonable prices, permitting you to use your stored energy in the battery at the night and low sunlight times.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-photo-voltaic-pv-system.jpg" alt="Solar Photo-Voltaic PV System" width="450" height="269" /></p> <p>Actually if you live in an urban environment, there are certain conditions in which you can disconnect from the electrical grid, and depend on off grid solar system only as following:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>If you have a large roof space, with no obstacles causing much shadow.</li> <li>If you have a high power solar panels with high productivity, that can generate high power per square meter area, like high efficient 400W <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> or larger.</li> <li>If you have large batteries storage capacity with affordable prices, so you can depend on them at night times with No issues at all. And as said today the solar market became having such great storage capacity and with cheaper prices.</li> <li>If you have a reliable "long life span" storage system, so you can depend on for coming years.</li> <li>At solar system designing stages you should take care of calculating the proper batteries capacities that can serve our loads for not only one day, but even a week or more because in winter you will get rainy days and less sunlight hours, so affordable long term and reliable storage system that can store excess energy in summer season is highly recommended.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:232 https://www.inverter.com/right-selection-of-solar-pv-system-net-meter-and-gross-meter Right Selection of Solar PV System Net Meter and Gross Meter <p>The energy metering system is an important component in our solar system, because it tells us how much electricity our solar system generates, how much electricity our electrical appliances and equipment are using and the amount of electricity we are still buying for the power utility or export to the power utility after connecting our solar system to the power grid.</p> <p>It’s required to update our electrical energy meter after installing our new <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> and solar photo voltaic system for mainly measuring the solar power energy generation.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-pv-system-and-solar-panel-for-home.jpg" alt="Solar PV System and Solar Panel for Home" width="400" height="312" /></p> <p>Different types of tariffs are introduced by different electricity retailers all over the word, but you have to know that the time of high tariff sponsored by different governments over the world has ended, and mostly net solar metering system will be suitable to your property, and will be your choice as well.</p> <p>The first type of solar metering system is called gross energy metering, in which the whole electricity generated by your solar photo voltaic system will be exported to the power grid, so this was the best metering system tariff in the past, between the year of 2009 to the year of 2012.</p> <p>The second type is net energy metering system, in which the electricity generated from your solar photovoltaic system will feed your property whether its business of home or any other, then the remaining amount which your property will Not need will go to the power grid.</p> <p>The tariff calculations will differ from net metering system to gross metering system, but the most important is to make sure you get the credit from your retailer for your solar system electricity generation exported to the power grid. And if you do not get such credit, then you have to search for another local retailer who can provide the best credit offer and best options suitable to your circumstances.</p> <p>Our local solar system installation companies and individual solar installers will have the best knowledge about which retailer provides the highest feed in tariff, so we have to check them even before installing our system, we mean while we are planning and doing the economic feasibility study for our new solar photo voltaic system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:225 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter-monitoring-options Solar Inverter Monitoring Options <p>There are many different solar photo-voltaic monitoring systems in the market, and the basic element which doing such monitoring is the solar inverter itself. So, the solar inverter usually comes with some monitoring levels starting from simple convenient level to sophisticated level.</p> <p>What we mean by simple convenient monitoring level, is that you can straight go forward to monitor the photovoltaic system performance from the inverter monitoring display/screen, getting required details. As most or even all <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> brands on the market will easily show you 4 parameters on its display:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The electricity amount (kWh) the solar system generates at the moment.</li> <li>The electricity amount (kWh) the solar system generates on the day.</li> <li>The electricity amount (kWh) the solar system generates on the previous month.</li> <li>Some other useful electrical parameters, like voltage, current and temperature measurements.</li> </ol> <p>Of course you have to monitor your solar photovoltaic system continuously and periodically, so you can know if there a fault in the solar system or it works normally.</p> <p>The highest level of solar monitoring system, is to have remote monitoring software, so you can monitor the system remotely via your Mobile or laptop. Of course this option will add extra price on the inverter main price, it’s usually about 500USD over the inverter cost, but this is a well worth investment because you will be able to access to your solar system performance immediately via your laptop or mobile. You may look at monitoring system price as a considerable value to be saved if you do not use it, but actually delaying in acquiring your solar system performance data will cost you so much over the long life span of the solar system in term of losing considerable amount of electrical energy.</p> <p>Our recommendations to you is to read your solar inverter user manual before purchasing it, so you can see and find out all available monitoring options, then discuss with your solar installer in which option will be most suitable for you, and finally you can go ahead and select the right monitoring option.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:231 https://www.inverter.com/where-to-install-the-solar-inverter-in-our-home Where to Install the Solar Inverter in Our Home? <p>The solar inverter is the main crucial part of our solar photovoltaic system, so we have to take care about all details related to it, like mainly choosing the high quality brand when purchasing, and proper technical installation, etc. One of the important details is: Should we install it inside or outside the home? Where we should install it in our home? And what is the best place?</p> <p><img style="float: left;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-micro-inverter-for-home.jpg" alt="Solar Micro Inverter for Home" width="250" height="225" />Although most of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> can be installed outside the home, but we recommend to install them inside to avoid the exposure to the direct weather.</p> <p>Usually, we have to mount the solar inverter near our home switchboard (the board which has the circuit breakers for all circuits in our home), so it can be readily accessible, and it will be close to the electricity energy meter and fuse board. But we have to note the operating noise emitted from the solar inverter, and whether it will be an issue for us or Not, so can indicate the best place for our convenience. Generally, the inverter noise differs from one inverter type/brand/quality to another, for example, the transformer based inverter will buzz and hum, while transformer-less inverter is quiet.</p> <p>If the inverter operating noise represents an issue, then we have install the inverter far away from our bed-rooms windows, so avoid noise disturbance, as you may need to sleep in the bed room during the day. One other important thing is to install the inverter in a shady spot, we mean to be away from direct sun light, as the inverter lose some of its efficiency in hot environment.  Generally, in modern homes, the switchboard and inverter are usually installed in the garage.</p> <p>For business locations/projects, they almost have multiple sub switch board feeding different locations in the site, so the solar designer will need to make some calculations related to the connected cables length/cross section areas between the main switch board and sub switch boards, to indicate the best technical place for the solar inverter. Also, there are many other factors to consider with commercial projects design, like the electric network protections, and control system, not only cables.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:230 https://www.inverter.com/3-main-types-of-solar-panels 3 Main Types of Solar Panels <p>Actually there are three main types of solar panel in the market, and they differ between each other mainly in 3 parameters: Efficiency, capability to withstand high environment temperature, and capability to deal with diffused sun light. Let us see as following:</p> <p><strong>First Type: Mono crystalline solar panel</strong></p> <p>It’s an old technology used over 42 plus years, and still work efficiently till today. This type of solar panel distinguished over the 2 types of solar panels by its high efficiency, as the average efficiency reaches above 18%, so it’s mostly used in case of limited installation space, or the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> installation process costs a lot. Consequently, if we use the mono crystalline solar panels in large solar power system, we will need less number of panels than the other two types we will discuss below. One other advantage for this type, it’s the very slow degradation by losing just less efficiency every year over its high life time span.</p> <p>The appearance of monocrystalline is usually black with white diamond for solar cells connections.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3-main-types-of-solar-panels.jpg" alt="3 Main Types of Solar Panels" width="450" height="305" /></p> <p><strong>Second Type: Poly crystalline solar panel</strong></p> <p>It’s also called multi crystalline, it’s easier than mono crystalline in manufacturing, and less in cost as well, but it’s less efficient than mono, as the average efficiency is approx. 14-16%. So, slightly more numbers of solar panels will be required for large solar system than mono type. The main advantage of this type, is its capability to provide good power and hold its efficiency in very hot environment "good performance", as it has a better temperature coefficient.  </p> <p>The appearance of poly crystalline is usually blue.</p> <p><strong>Third Type: Thin film solar panel</strong></p> <p>They are less efficient panels in compared to mono and poly crystalline solar panel, so we nearly will need double number of solar panels to construct the same solar power system capacity. This type is under many researches now, to improve its efficiency and performance. The main advantage of thin film type is its high efficient response to diffused solar light and its capability to maintain its power and does not drop much power in hot environment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:229 https://www.inverter.com/does-solar-pv-system-new-meter-affect-electricity-rate Does Solar PV System New Meter Affect Electricity Rate? <p>After installing our new solar photovoltaic system, our electricity consumption from the electric grid may be changed, resulting in new / modified electricity consumption pattern. Also, as a result we may be subjected to a new metering regulations according to our country rules. The question is: Will there be a tariff change due to our new solar system installation? The answer for this question will be provided by your electricity retailer. Moreover, we have to get the answer for this question even before installing our <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a>, so we can weigh up the dis-advantages and advantages of the new installation before making our decision.</p> <p>Actually, the answer is yes, the electricity rates can be affected as following:<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/does-solar-pv-system-new-meter-affect-electricity-rate.jpg" alt="Does Solar PV System New Meter Affect Electricity Rate" width="450" height="313" /></p> <p>You may be moved from off peak tariff to a time of use tariff "TOU". The time of use tariff is a structure in which you charged for electricity consumption based on the time of use, and the time of use is divided into 2 periods: Peak demand period which usually from 4PM to 8.5PM and off peak demand period which is represented by all other times over the day, and of course you will be charged more in peak demand period, because the kwh price will be higher. The exact charge rate for the 2 time periods can also differ from one retailer to other, but all retailers impose higher tariff in peak demand period to push customer to reduce their electricity consumption in this time period. However, while electricity rate will be higher in peak demand period, our new installed solar system will generate some electricity in that period, making some offset to our electricity consumption.</p> <p>If you moved to the time of use tariff, it’s highly recommended to reduce your electricity consumption at peak demand period by changing some habits in operating your appliances and equipment, especially the air conditioner units and heaters, because they are high consumed power equipment.</p> <p>In some states in USA, customer can insist on remaining on off peak tariff for some kinds of loads, but the most important is to let your solar system installer looking on your electricity bill before taking the decision of installing the solar system to make sure you will harvest the largest financial benefits you aim to, as your solar system installer will know more about different tariff and different retailer’s rates.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:228 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-solar-pv-system-on-flat-roof How to Install Solar PV System on Flat Roof? <p>When Solar System company/installer design our solar photo-voltaic array, they specify two standard slopes: The first is the orientation which means the solar panels face direction, whether it will be to North, South, East or West, and the second is tilt angle which means the solar panel angel with horizontal surface "roof angle". Ideally, solar panels should face the south, and the tilt angle should equal to the solar system location latitude, so we can get maximum electricity production from our solar phot-voltaic system.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-photo-voltaic-system-installed-on-flat-roof.jpg" alt="Solar Photo-Voltaic System Installed on Flat Roof" width="450" height="326" /></p> <p>If our roof faces north or any other direction except south, the solar system will generate less electricity, also if our roof has a sloop “Not flat” much differ from the latitude, there will be less than ideal electricity generation. The result will be less electricity production over the solar system life span "20 years".</p> <p>However, for flat roof, its flexible and the solar panel installer can face solar panels to south, also, they can mount the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> for the perfect tilt angle regardless of our home direction, and the result will be a better performance and high electricity production for our business or home installation.</p> <p>Really, the flat roof is a perfect starting point for effective solar system installation for residential and commercial building, as we can typically install a standard frame for best optimization to idle ordination and tilt angle.</p> <p>The installed frame on the flat roof and clamps will be designed to match roof profile providing water tight seal. Solar system installer usually makes the tilt angle between 20 and 25 degrees because if they make it less than 5 degrees, solar panels will collect more dusts over time, as the rains will Not flush such dusts easily in case of such low tilt angle, and in this condition, there will be more requirements for several maintenance and cleaning in order to achieve good solar system performance.</p> <p>If you live in areas where houses have flat roof, it’s better to deal with your local solar installers because, they will have an excellent experience working with such system kinds. However, you should get different quotes from different solar companies to ensure you will get the right company with high experience and good knowledge.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:227 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-solar-pv-net-metering-and-gross-metering Difference between Solar PV Net Metering and Gross Metering <p>In grid tie solar photovoltaic system in which the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> output is connected to the AC power grid, there are 2 ways of electrical energy metering scheme: gross metering and net metering. And here we shall discuss the difference in between.</p> <p><strong>Net Metering Scheme:<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/difference-between-solar-pv-net-metering-and-gross-metering.jpg" alt="Difference between Solar PV Net Metering and Gross Metering" width="457" height="287" /></strong></p> <p>Actually nowadays, this metering scheme is used for most of solar photovoltaic systems, and it means the generated electrical energy from the solar system will go to a meter box, then from the meter box to your house. If your house electrical equipment needs such energy at that point of time, the whole solar generated electricity will feed your equipment, and No need to consume any electricity from the power grid, so now this electricity is free of charge. But if the generated electricity is larger than what your equipment need at that point of time, then the extra electricity will be exported to the power grid to be used by other electricity consumers. Your electricity meter exists on the meter box will measure the amount of exported energy, and you will get paid for such exported energy by your power grid retailer and that is called feed in tariff. The price of exported kWh is usually lower than the price of consumed kWh. At night times, you will receive your needs of electricity from the power grid, and of course the electricity meter will measure the consumed energy from the grid during the day.</p> <p>The feed in tariff differ from one country to another, and from one energy company to another, it even differs from one energy retailer to another, and your guide to the best retailer tariff will be your solar system installer.</p> <p><strong>Gross Metering Scheme:</strong></p> <p>Under this scheme, all solar generated electricity will be exported to the grid, and you will get paid for it by away of certain credit according the power company rules/tariff, and that also called feed in tariff, its generous tariff in which you will get paid with a very good electricity rate. In brief, in gross metering scheme, the meter measures the entire generated electricity from the solar system separately from your electricity consumption. Almost, this meter scheme is no longer exist, and most of countries governments follow net metering scheme.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:221 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-the-solar-panel-lose-efficiency How does the Solar Panel Lose Efficiency? <p>The solar panel efficiency is the ability of the panel to convert sunlight power to usable electrical power, for example, if the solar panel efficiency is 16%, that means only 16% of the sun light hits the panel will be converted to usable electricity. Actually in the market, the average solar panels efficiency ratings vary in the range 15% up to 20%.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/application-of-solar-panel-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Application of Solar Panel Power Inverter" width="400" height="299" /></p> <p>The question is: Will the solar panel loses some of its efficiency over its operation life? The answer is: Yes, the solar panel can lose more than 30% of its rated power and it can reach to 90% loss. The power loss is caused due to Potential Induced Degradation phenomena which is discovered recently, and confirmed by tests conducted in German Institutes. However, this phenomenon is still under final tests. </p> <p>The potential Induced degradation phenomena occurred due to chemicals reactions between solar cell surfaces and panel glass under certain circumstances, causing a leakage current flow between the solar panel frame and the solar cells. So, the intensity of such degradation depends on some factors, like: ambient environmental conditions, module type, and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> location in the array string. However, for high voltage solar array like 700V or above, the high surrounding humidity will lead to some moisture on the solar panels surfaces, and this will increase the degradation reactions between solar panel surface and the glass. So, it’s very important to check the potential Induced degradation performance for the solar panel before purchasing it, to see if the solar panel will keep its original efficiency for long time or Not. There are many entities in the world doing such potential degradation tests and provide accurate performance results, like Fraunhofer laboratory and TUV testing laboratory in Germany.</p> <p>There are many well manufactured solar panels brands over the world providing very good performance and perfect test results related to Potential Induced Degradation phenomena, and those are what we have to use in our new solar photovoltaic installation to make sure We will get the maximum harvest (electricity) over the solar system expected life time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:226 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panel-size-effects-on-the-solar-system Solar Panel Size Effects on the Solar System <p>The solar panels are used in many different applications, from small application like street solar light up to large application like satellite.</p> <p>We can confirm that solar panel size will be indicated based on the solar system application available space installation area, as if you have a small area in which you will install the solar system, then small size solar panel with high efficiency will be considered which will cost a bit higher, but for large areas, we can sacrifice with the high efficiency factor, and buy larger size solar panel with lower efficiency and of course it will be price cheaper.</p> <p>Also, the shadow is another factor in indicating the solar panel size, as for areas subjected to much shadow, we need to use small size with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">high efficiency solar panels</a> to substitute for much areas loosed due to shadow.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-size-effects-on-the-solar-system.jpg" alt="Solar Panel Size Effects on the Solar System" width="400" height="274" /></p> <p>For residential solar applications, typically the solar panel size is about 39 inch by 65 inch with some simple differences from one solar panel manufacturer to another, also the solar panel average power capacity range is approximately from 250watt up to 380watt. These dimensions and sizes remain approximately the same without changes for decades, but the solar panel output power and efficiency have dramatically changed to the better, it is a rapid competition between solar panel manufacturers about who will be the first to present the higher efficiency with lower size solar panel to the market! Because this is the first crucial factor in selling their solar panels worldwide. Even more, the solar system experts always try to change the design for the entire solar system to reduce gapes between panels, using invisible frames, and many other ideas to achieve highest efficiency in case of limited space roofs.</p> <p>Also, the number of used solar panels is an important factor to achieve required energy production over one day or even over one month/year.</p> <p>Generally, after indicating the approximate number of solar panels installed in your system and the size/power of each panel, the solar system installer will indicate the best solar array angle to the sun which is a very important factor as well in achieving required energy production.</p> <p>There are many different solar panels sizes in the market with different output power capacities and efficiencies, but selecting the best suitable one for our application will be the decision of your proficient solar system installer.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:223 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-solar-central-inverter-and-solar-micro-inverter Difference between Solar Central Inverter and Solar Micro Inverter <p><strong>Solar Central Inverter</strong></p> <p>It used in photovoltaic solar system in which a number of solar panels are connected in series with each other providing a string, then one string or more will be connected to a single <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> called central inverter. The inverter will convert strings DC voltage to AC voltage which can be usable in our house to run our appliances/equipment or to be connected to the electricity grid forming grid tie solar system. Usually the number of solar panels in one string are between five and thirteen panels, it differs based on what will be required string overall power capacity and DC voltage. The central inverter may have one MPPT input of more, if it has one MPPT input, this means that it accepts one or more strings which are the same, we mean they must be equal in number of panels and output power capacity.</p> <p><strong>Solar Micro Inverter</strong></p> <p>This solar inverter DC input will be connected to one solar panel and may be two solar panels. The AC output from several micro inverters will be combined together and feed an electrical grid switchboard, so each one or two solar panel existing in the solar system array may have a different orientation to gather the maximum amount of solar radiation.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-central-inverter-vs-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar Central Inverter VS. Solar Micro Inverter" width="750" height="397" /></p> <p><strong>Which one is better?</strong></p> <p>There are many advantages of micro inverter over central inverter, the first advantage is that <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a> is performing much better in case of shading, as if there will be a partial shading on a part of our solar system due to chimneys or trees, the overall output power of the string will not be affected, but only the shaded solar panel output power will be affected, while in central inverter the overall output power of the string will be affected, and there will be much power loss. The second advantage is the capability of micro inverter to track maximum power point for each connected solar panel, resulting in high efficiency and output power from the solar system.</p> <p>The main disadvantage of micro inverter is its high initial costs over the central inverter, as we use many micro inverters to be equivalent to one central solar inverter, also the several micro inverters existing on the site will increase the system complexity, then the probability of fault happening and this will lead to more expensive site services.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:222 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-monitor-solar-pv-system-inside-your-house How to Monitor Solar PV System inside your House? <p>Monitoring the solar Photo-Voltaic system is a very important matter because it shows you how much electricity saving you got from your solar system, in addition, it assists you knowing if the system is running properly producing its rated power or it may have a fault, so you can take a rapid troubleshooting action. Here we shall introduce number of monitoring ways to be aware about and to install the most appropriate based on your requirements, as following:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li style="text-align: left;">You can monitor <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/how-to-monitor-solar-photo-voltaic-system.jpg" alt="How to Monitor Solar Photo-Voltaic System" width="450" height="252" />the system daily by taking the reading out from the inverter LCD display directly. All solar inverters on the market have this feature, and you can check your inverter user manual<br /> yourself to know what parameters it displays on the LCD. By this way, you can get number of important readouts like: How much electricity the system generated since its first installation? How much electricity produced daily? And what power produced at the moment you look at inverter screen? These data not only shown on the display, but it also recorded inside the inverter, so you can see average readouts for all for one day or one week or even one month. Consequently, you can verify your system performance.</li> <li>You can monitor the solar system via computer or laptop. Most or even all <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> brands nowadays come with laptop connectivity option, and the computer software will be able to download all details/measurements to show how good the system performance is.</li> <li>You can monitor the solar system via Bluetooth option. Some solar inverters brands nowadays have Bluetooth option, and software to be downloaded in your smart phone, so, the data and measurements can be transferred to your phone.</li> <li>You can monitor the solar system via wireless or Bluetooth top monitor. All the data will be showed on large display, like the system output, daily profile and total energy yield.</li> </ol> <p>For each solar inverter brand, you will have one or more of these options, so you with the assistance of your solar system installer can select available monitoring option during solar inverter purchase process, and according to your needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:220 https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine-vs-windmill Wind Turbine vs. Windmill <p>Windmill is one of the earliest and most efficient forms of man-made electricity. It uses wind power to generate electricity and uses it for many functions such as pumping water, sawing wood,grinding grain, etc. The blades of the windmill are well engineered to make the most of the wind. It converts wind energy into mechanical energy and uses it for many tasks that are previously mentioned. The blades of a windmill are also called wind vanes or sails. Windmills have been around since humans existed on earth. At present, windmills are still used for farm pumping and other farm needs.</p> <p>A wind turbine is a mechanical device that uses the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity, mainly for commercial use. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">Wind turbine</a> technology is one of the most reliable and cost-effective technologies for generating large amounts of electricity. It is a clean energy source that uses wind power without producing harmful gases. And it is widely used for power generation in household and commercial areas.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/windmill-and-wind-turbine.jpg" alt="Windmill and wind turbine" width="692" height="389" /></p> <p><strong>Working Principle:</strong></p> <p>The principle of wind power generation: it is to use the wind to drive the rotation of the windmill blade, and then through the speed increase machine will increase the rotation speed, to promote the generator to produce electricity. With windmill technology, the breeze can start generating electricity. Wind power is creating a general boom in the world because it has no fuel problems, radiation or air pollution. It's very popular in countries like Finland and Denmark. It is generally believed that the power of wind power is entirely determined by the power of wind turbines, and people always want to buy a bigger wind turbine, which is not true. The wind turbine simply charges the battery, which stores the electricity, and the amount of power people end up using is more closely related to the battery size.</p> <p>Most wind turbines consist of three blades mounted on a steel tube tower. There are also less common double-bladed towers, or concrete or steel trellises. Turbines capture the energy of the wind using propeller-like blades that act much like the wings of an airplane. When the wind blows, a mass of low-pressure air forms on one side of the blades. The low-pressure cavitation then pulls the blades towards it, causing the rotor to rotate. This is called lift. The lift force is much greater than the force of wind on the front of the blade, which is called drag. The combination of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin like a propeller.</p> <p><strong>Application:</strong></p> <p>Windmills convert the energy of the wind into rotational energy, which is mainly used to pump water. However, they are used commercially to generate electricity. They work efficiently in the harshest environmental conditions and extreme temperatures. Windmills are used for everything from pumping water to crushing to crushing rock and agricultural materials. Wind turbines are used commercially to provide electricity for homes, schools or businesses. Even local governments and municipalities benefit from commercial scale wind power.</p> <p>Although windmills and wind turbines both use wind power to generate electricity, their functions and capabilities are different. Windmills can be used in sectors that require a small amount of electricity without much investment. However, when it comes to making the most of wind energy and using it for home and commercial purposes, it pays to choose and invest in wind turbines.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:219 https://www.inverter.com/the-efficiency-of-wind-turbine-in-different-direction The Efficiency of Wind Turbine in Different Direction <p>Wind energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources in the world today. A Doctor from Iowa State University and his team studied the effects of the relative rotation direction of two tandem wind turbines on power generation performance, flow characteristics in turbine wakes, and the effect of the resulting wind load on the turbine.</p> <p>In a typical wind farm, due to the upwind turbine wake interference, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a> located in the wake of upstream turbines will experience significantly different surface winds than wind turbines located upwind. Based on the spacing and layout of the wind turbine array, it was found that the power loss of downstream turbines was up to 40% due to wake interference. Therefore, how to increase the power generation of downstream wind turbines is one of the most important research topics in recent years. Recently, extensive experimental and numerical studies have been conducted to examine aerodynamics of wind turbines and wake interference among the multiple wind turbines. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the basic physics of higher total power generation and better durability of wind turbines.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-different-direction.jpg" alt="Wind turbine in different direction" width="461" height="339" /></p> <p>Although most wind turbines in modern wind farms are single-rotor wind turbine (SRWT) systems, the concept of a counter-rotating wind turbine (CRWT) system has been proposed in recent years. Because of the azimuth velocity generated in the wake behind the wind turbine, it rotates in the opposite direction to the upstream rotor. Therefore, the downstream rotor should rotate in the same direction as the eddy wake of the CRWT system in order to extract energy from the wind wake more efficiently.</p> <p>The wake interferences among SRWT systems with different rotation directions in a wind farm have never been investigated before. Considering this, experiments are conducted to quantify the influence of the relative rotation direction of two series wind turbines on the wake interference between turbines. Although the oncoming flow remained constant during the experiment, the model turbine was set to rotate in the same direction (i.e. the downstream turbine has the same rotation direction as the upstream turbine) or reverse rotation (i.e. the opposite rotation direction of the upstream turbine). The turbine power output, static and dynamic wind loads acting on the turbine and the turbulence characteristics in the wake behind the turbine are measured and compared quantitatively.</p> <p>It turns out that turbines that rotate in the opposite direction harvest more wind energy from the same head-on wind than turbines that rotate in the same direction. Although the recovery of flow-velocity defects in the wake was found to be almost identical to that of turbines rotating in the same or opposite direction. But the significant azimuth velocity generated in the wake behind the upstream turbine is thought to be the reason for the better power generation performance of the counter-rotating turbine.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:218 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-wind-turbine-works How Does Wind Turbine Work? <p>People have used the power of wind for thousands of years. Wind has moved boats along the Nile River, pumped water and milled grain, supported food production and much more. Today, the kinetic energy and power of natural air flows called wind are harnessed at massive scale to create electricity. A single, modern-day offshore wind turbine can generate more than 8 megawatts of energy, enough to cleanly power nearly six homes for a year. Onshore wind farms generate hundreds of megawatts, making wind energy one of the most cost-effective, clean and readily available energy sources on the planet.</p> <p><strong>How is Wind Makes?</strong></p> <p>Differences in temperature create wind energy. The sun's solar energy warms the Earth, but it does so unevenly. Mountains, lakes, and other geographical features also help create areas of high and low pressure, as does the Earth's rotation. The position of the sun and the angle it strikes the Earth also contribute to this. For example, we know the midday sun exudes more warmth than at sunrise or sunset.</p> <p>The warm air in these pockets of high pressure, created by solar energy rises. As warm air rises, air from lower pressure areas rushes in and wind is created. This is known as the force, and the greater the difference between the high and low pressure areas, the stronger the force. Wind speed is determined by this force, plus the distance between the low and high pressure areas.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-turbine-electric-generation-principle.jpg" alt="Wind turbine electric generation principle" width="629" height="396" /></p> <p><strong>Most Wind Turbines Have Four Basic Parts:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Blades are attached to a hub, which spins as the blades turn. The blades and hub together make the rotor.</li> <li>The nacelle houses the gearbox, generator and electrical components.</li> <li>The tower holds the rotor blades and generation equipment high above the ground.</li> <li>A foundation holds the turbine in place on the ground.</li> </ul> <p>A wind turbine is like the air intake of a jet engine. When air enters, it first encounters a fixed set of blades called stators. It directs air into a set of rotating blades called rotors. Air pushes the rotor and emerges on the other side, moving more slowly than it does outside the wind turbine. The shield is shaped so that it directs the relatively fast moving air on the outside into the area behind the rotor.</p> <p>Power is generated through rotating <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbines</a> that harness the kinetic energy of moving air, which is converted into electricity. The basic idea is that wind turbines use blades to collect wind’s potential and kinetic energy. Wind turns the blades, which spins a rotor that is connected to a generator to create electric energy.</p> <p><strong>What is Wind Power?</strong></p> <p>Wind power, or wind energy, is the process by which power is obtained from harnessing wind. This power is used to grind grain, pump water, and generate electricity as well as support activities like transportation (sailing), and water sports like wind surfing.</p> <p>Utility-scale wind farms are large, multi-turbine wind farms that connect to national grids. These utility-scale wind farms, especially offshore, are now politically attractive to countries, as people have more energy information. Citizens want to know that governments and industries take renewable energy seriously. </p> <p>While wind sometimes doesn't blow, other renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass can complement wind energy. Ocean and tidal energy is an important possibility, but it's still in the formative stages. For now, grids balance the demand with nuclear, coal, and natural gas-powered power stations.</p> <p>Wind energy has been harnessed by humans for centuries, beginning as a god to some and later becoming a helping hand to build strong civilizations, grind grains, and power boats across oceans. Now, in the face of global warming and climate change, wind power is helping us once again to discover more about how we can have a symbiotic relationship with the planet.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:217 https://www.inverter.com/types-of-wind-energy Types of Wind Energy <p>The wind is a renewable energy source caused by uneven heating on the earth's surfaces by the sun. Wind power refers to converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity. It is a kind of clean and pollution-free renewable energy, has been used by people in the early time, mainly through the windmill to pump water, grinding surface and so on. Using wind power to generate electricity is environmentally friendly, and the wind energy accumulation is huge.</p> <p>A wind turbine is a machine that converts kinetic energy from the wind into electricity. The blades of a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a> turn between 13 and 20 revolutions per minute, depending on their technology, at a constant or variable velocity, where the velocity of the rotor varies in relation to the velocity of the wind in order to reach a greater efficiency.</p> <p>Wind turbines, like windmills, are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100 feet (30 meters) or more aboveground, they can take advantage of the faster and less turbulent wind. Turbines catch the wind's energy with their propeller-like blades. Usually, two or three blades are mounted on a shaft to form a rotor.</p> <p>A blade acts much like an airplane wing. When the wind blows, a pocket of low-pressure air forms on the downwind side of the blade. The low-pressure air pocket then pulls the blade toward it, causing the rotor to turn. This is called lift. The force of the lift is actually much stronger than the wind's force against the front side of the blade, which is called drag. The combination of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin like a propeller, and the turning shaft spins a generator to make electricity.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/wind-energy-surface.jpg" alt="Wind energy surface" width="541" height="388" /></p> <p><strong>Land-Based Wind Energy</strong></p> <p>Wind turbines can be used as stand-alone applications, or they can be connected to a utility power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system. For utility-scale (megawatt-sized) sources of wind energy, a large number of wind turbines are usually built close together to form a wind plant, also referred to as a wind farm. Several electricity providers today use wind plants to supply power to their customers.</p> <p>Stand-alone wind turbines are typically used for water pumping or communications. However, homeowners, farmers, and ranchers in windy areas can also use wind turbines as a way to cut their electric bills.</p> <p><strong>Distributed Wind Energy</strong></p> <p>Small wind systems also have potential as distributed energy resources. Distributed energy resources refer to a variety of small, modular power-generating technologies that can be combined to improve the operation of the electricity delivery system. Distributed wind energy systems are commonly installed on, but are not limited to, residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and community sites, and can range in size from a 5 kilowatt turbine at a home to a multi-megawatt (MW) turbine at a manufacturing facility. Distributed wind systems are connected on the customer side of the meter to meet the onsite load or directly to distribution or micro grids to support grid operations or offset large loads nearby. Distributed wind systems are defined by technology application, not technology size, and are typically smaller than 20 MW.</p> <p><strong>Offshore Wind Energy</strong></p> <p>Wind power is the fastest growing green energy technology in the world. With the rapid development of land wind farm construction, people have noticed some limitations of land wind energy utilization, such as large area, noise pollution and other problems. Due to the abundance of offshore wind resources and the availability of today's technology, the ocean will become a rapidly growing wind market. Land wind generators are more optimized for noise reduction, offshore is optimized to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. The high tip velocity and small blade area will bring some beneficial design changes to the fan structure and driveline system.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:216 https://www.inverter.com/how-do-photovoltaic-cells-work How Do Photovoltaic Cells Work? <p>The effect of light on the electrical properties of certain materials has been known for more than 150 years. This is called the photoelectric effect. They convert light directly into electricity. Most photovoltaic cells are made from silicon, the core element of all modern electronics. What makes silicon special is its electron arrangement: it has four of the eight possible electrons in its outermost shell. That means it forms perfect covalent bonds with four other silicon atoms to form a lattice structure.</p> <p>This binding mechanism means there are very few free electrons floating around, which is what we need to generate electricity. After all, that’s what electricity is really about: the flow of electrons. Due to the arrangement of bonds in its crystal structure, silicon in its pure form does not have many free electrons, so we "doped" it.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/photovoltaic-cells-working.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic cells working" width="542" height="300" /></p> <p>Doping adds impurities to silicon to change the way its atoms bond together and share electrons. Add a small amount of phosphorus and it has five electrons in its shell, compared to four in silicon, meaning that the extra (fifth) electron has nothing to bond to, so it is free to roam around and generate an electric current. Electrons have a negative charge, so when silicon is doped in this way, it is called a negative material: n-type.</p> <p>Silicon is the most commonly used material for photovoltaic cells because it absorbs maximum energy at a wavelength of about 800 nanometers, close to the peak of solar radiation. The radiation emitted by the sun ranges in the spectrum from about 300 nanometers to 2,000 nanometers, but so far most have been in the 420 to 700 nanometers range.</p> <p>The reasons why phosphorus and boron are most commonly used as dopants are somewhat complicated. To generate a flow of electrons within a solar cell, electrons must be excited from their stable "ground" state to the higher energy levels they need to move from the P-side to the N-side. This energy corresponds to the electronegativity difference between the two layers. Anything less would not be enough to "knock" electrons out, and any extra energy would be wasted.</p> <p>Facts have proved that the electronegativity difference between phosphorus-doped and boron-doped silicon is almost equal to the energy provided by one photon of sunlight, making them ideal dopants for silicon solar cells.</p> <p>In our daily life, we will use high-power photovoltaic systems to apply to our life. Such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1500watt portable solar power generator</a>. It applys to solar car or electric car, ventilator fan; power supply for desalination equipment; satellites, spacecraft, space solar power plants.</p> <p>Solar energy is likely to continue to exist in the future, so much so that we can think of it as endless. In essence, it's renewable, unlike the fossil fuels we use that run out. In addition, the use of solar energy will not cause air pollution or damage the earth's surface. It does not require difficult and expensive extraction procedures.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:215 https://www.inverter.com/why-clean-up-solar-panels Why Clean Up Solar Panels? <p>Zero waste and no pollution: concepts that run the world today. Everyone is trying to make the world greener and cleaner. To achieve everyone’s vision, switching from fossil fuels to renewables like solar energy is a must. Solar power system is important for us. In the process, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-portable-solar-power-generator">1000W portable solar power generator</a> plays a vital role. Especially when it comes to buying solar panels and consuming solar energy, there are multiple advantages of being affordable and inexhaustible. However, without proper cleaning procedures, it is impossible to enjoy the benefits of solar energy and its equipment. Solar panel cleaning is an important part of solar power generation. Without it, photovoltaic systems will not operate efficiently, thus shortening the product life cycle.</p> <p>Solar panel cleaning is the process of cleaning photovoltaic panels. Depending on where you live, dust, smoke, dirt, and sand may block equipment from sunlight. The latter can either hinder energy generation or reduce the efficiency of equipment. In addition, if you purchase a solar panel kit that contains multiple devices, the purchase may be a failure because of low efficiency resulting from improper cleaning. Every household installation of solar panels on the location is not the same, in addition to cleaning, how to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-properly-install-solar-panels">properly install solar panels</a> also have to pay attention to. To prevent these, proper solar panel cleaning procedures should be adopted to save money and time.</p> <p>Solar panel cleaning should be carried out once a year on average. It depends on where you live and weather conditions. It is advantageous to clean solar panels at the end of winter. The reason is that output levels rise as the sun returns. To ensure the safety of the operation, it is best to clean the panel at night and avoid touching the warm panel.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-cleaning.jpg" alt="Solar panels cleaning" width="532" height="383" /></p> <p><strong>How is Solar Panel Cleaning Done? </strong></p> <p>Warm water, soft cloth, bibulous scraper and detergent are necessary to clean the panel. All you need to do is rub dishwashing liquid and warm water on the panel with a soft cloth and clean it. Then, a soft cloth is squeezed into a suction scraper to remove the dirty water. The process is then repeated until the solar panels are clean.</p> <p>All in all, solar panels, that is, generate trend types of renewable energy: solar energy, need proper care for lengthy and efficient functioning. Although it may seem complicated, all you need to do is clean the solar panels from time to time. If done with the right technology at the right time, the device can not only provide solar power for the long term, but it does not require a professional maintenance program. </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:214 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-pv-combiner-box What is PV Combiner Box? <p>As we all know, the current urban landscape is seriously polluted. In addition, the amount of natural resources is drying up. Although it is considered that sustainable resources in the world today are better than exhausted resources, the current resources are still insufficient to meet the necessary quotas of the entire society. Like sun, water, and wind into energy to solve this problem. To convert and make good use of solar energy, the "Solar Combiner box" has been invented.</p> <p>The combiner box means that the user can connect a certain number of photovoltaic cells with the same specifications in series to form a photovoltaic string, and then connect several photovoltaic strings in parallel to the photovoltaic combiner box. After converging in the photovoltaic combiner box, through the control A complete photovoltaic power generation system is formed by supporting the use of the DC power distribution cabinet, photovoltaic inverter, and AC power distribution cabinet, which can be connected to the mains grid.</p> <p>                                   <img src="/images/uploaded/combiner-box-front.jpg" alt="Combiner box front" width="346" height="346" />                                       <img src="/images/uploaded/combiner-box-left.jpg" alt="Combiner box left" width="380" height="380" />               </p> <p><strong>Function:</strong></p> <p>It is similar to a junction box, which is an electrical enclosure that safely connects multiple wires and cables through different entrances. The solar combination box connects the output of countless strings of photovoltaic modules to the inverter. Generally, it is equipped with multiple strings of input overcurrent protection fuse components. The solar combination box can also accommodate many other components, such as string monitoring hardware, surge protection devices and DC disconnects. Selecting the ideal solar combiner box requires that you have a good understanding of the site and the difficulty of the job.</p> <p><strong>Precautions for installation of photovoltaic pv combiner box</strong><strong>:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>The protection level of the cabinet is IP65, which is suitable for outdoor installation. The installation position should meet the following requirements:</li> <li>The overall size and weight of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-combiner-box">pv combiner box</a> should be fully considered according to the location.</li> <li>The environment temperature of combined box installation should be between -25℃+60℃, and the relative humidity should be between 0-95%.</li> <li>It should be installed in a dry, well-ventilated and dust-proof place.</li> <li>Wire entry and exit method and installation method: the armored cable enters and exits from the bottom, and the outdoor photovoltaic module bracket is suspended and installed on the rear column.</li> <li>To avoid installing in places exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise high temperature will reduce the power generation of the system and may also affect the service life of the combiner box.</li> <li>In order to better heat dissipation and facilitate daily maintenance, please leave enough space in the four directions to install the cabinet.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:213 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-power-system What is Solar Power System? <p>All solar power systems work on the same basic principles. Solar panels first use the photovoltaic (PV) effect to convert solar energy or sunlight into direct current electricity. Direct current can then be stored in batteries or converted to alternating current through solar inverters to run household appliances. Depending on the type of system, excess solar energy can be fed into the grid to earn credits or stored in a variety of different battery storage systems.</p> <p>As a rule of thumb, DC power systems can be used only at lower power ratings or in applications where the power load runs on DC power by default, such as LED lights, DC fans, telecommunications systems, cathodic protection systems, etc. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-power-generator">300 watt portable solar power system</a> can withstand the loads with a large starting current.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-generator-application.jpg" alt="Solar generator application" width="613" height="460" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Application:</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>User solar power supply. </strong>Photovoltaic water pump to solve the deep water without electricity and drinking, irrigation; Solar water purifier can solve the problem of drinking water and purifying water quality in areas without electricity.</li> <li><strong>Communications field.</strong> Solar unattended microwave relay station, optical cable maintenance station, broadcast/communication/paging power supply system, small communicator.</li> <li><strong>Home lighting power supply.</strong> Such as street lamp, hand lamp, garden lamp, energy saving lamp, etc.</li> <li><strong>Others.</strong> Solar car/electric car, ventilator fan; power supply for desalination equipment; satellites, spacecraft, space solar power plants.</li> </ul> <p>In many cases, solar panels may not get direct sunlight. They may be shadowed by surrounding buildings or trees, away from sunlight, or simply affected by weather conditions such as clouds, rain or snow. Solar panels can generate energy in both cloudy and overcast weather, but the amount of energy depends on the "thickness" and height of the cloud, which determines how much light can pass through. The amount of light energy is called solar radiation and is usually averaged over an entire day using the term peak solar hours (PSH). The PSH or average daily sunshine hours depends primarily on location and time of year.</p> <p>Solar panels work best in direct sunlight, but can also work without it. They use a combination of direct and indirect sunlight as input to generate electricity. Both forms of sunlight carry photons, which solar panels convert into electricity. If there is no direct sunlight, the solar panels will use indirect sunlight to generate electricity alone. However, in the absence of direct sunlight, performance degrades. That's because solar panels need 1,000 W/m<sup>2</sup> of sunlight to reach their peak output; You only get that much sunlight if you're in direct sunlight.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:212 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-properly-install-solar-panels How to Properly Install Solar Panels? <p>Most of people know about different components of solar photovoltaic system, like solar panels, solar inverters and mounting systems. But many of them do not have much details about how to set up and install the whole rooftop solar photovoltaic plant, especially the mounting system, to extent that they may have a concern of damaging their roof in case of installing this mounting system on it.</p> <p>Actually, there are many solar mounting systems you can be installed on your roof. The mounting system on your roof may be different from other installation systems installed on your neighbor's roof, because it depends on the shape and size of the roof, as well as the type and shape of the mounting system from different manufacturer and supplier. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">8kw pure sine wave off grid solar inverter</a> is a good choose. There are two kinds of start mode: step-down voltage start and variable frequency. You can set start mode according to the type of load.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-on-roof.jpg" alt="Solar panels on roof" width="574" height="377" /></p> <p>Solar mounting system can be directly installed on your house roof or to include frameworks, but almost direct mounting system is the most common used in residential sector, especially when the roof is facing the south with +/-10% and have a good tilt angle to avoid high wind force impact and to harvest good radiation in winter where the sun is not high.</p> <p>We assure that proper installed solar mounting system on your roof will not cause any damage. It spreads over the roof, so the total weight will spread over a large cross section area.</p> <p>The common complaint from solar mounting system is it may make a little damage to roof tiles during installation, or it may have not good quality fitting. This is really a concern, because it may lead to water ingress to the home and substantial damage due to weak fitting. Another problem may arise if there is no good clean up done after aluminum rails cutting to size on the roof, or holes have been drilled on the roof to fit hooks. As these aluminum particles resulting from the cuts off will go into the rain-water collection system, they also may lead to corrosion due to its presence on the metal roof.</p> <p>These concerns will be totally not existing if your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-grid-tie-solar-system-works">solar system</a> installer is proficient, aware of such matters and knowing well how to avoid during installation process. So, it's a very important thing to check the experience and previous work history of your solar system installer before signing the contract with him.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:210 https://www.inverter.com/the-relationship-between-solar-energy-and-solar-cells The Relationship Between Solar Energy and Solar Cells <p>The solar energy is the power of our life on the earth, it used for many different aspects thousands of years ago, to extent that we can Not really live without it. The sun provides huge power, and its output energy in one hour is sufficient to power our planet entirely for one year. Actually, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/benefits-of-solar-energy-for-your-home">solar energy</a> is mainly received in two kind of forms: heat and light.</p> <p>The sun does not only provide power and life to the human and animal, but it also provides the life to the plant via photosynthesis process, in which the plant can grow up and takes harmful carbon dioxide from air, and release oxygen, so can keep our planet equilibrium process.</p> <p>The sun heat warms our homes, and can be used to heat up the solar hot water collectors in solar heater systems. Also, the sun can create electricity via two methods. The first is to convert sun light directly to electricity via solar photo-voltaic system, and the second is indirect method via using sun heat to generate high pressure steam which used to rotate steam turbine.</p> <p>The most dominant solar application in generating electricity is the photo-voltaic system which consists mainly of 4 parts: solar cells, inverter, mounting structure and accessories.</p> <p>The solar cells will absorb the sun light called photons and create a flow of electrical current. However, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-cell">solar cell</a> efficiency will be reduced when the sun heat increased above a certain limit, as it’s like any other electrical device to prefer running in not high temperature ranges. On the contrary of that, if we use the sun heat to warm our houses or heat up the water via collectors in solar heaters applications, these systems will try to trap much heat as possible to heat copper pipe containing the water. Not only that, but solar energy can also be used to pump water. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-solar-pump-inverter">0.75 kw solar pump inverter</a> converts solar energy directly into electric energy, and then drives motors to drive water pumps to pump water from deep wells, rivers, lakes and other water sources.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/0.75-kw-solar-pump-inverter.jpeg" alt="0.75 kw solar pump inverter" width="430" height="430" /></p> <p>Now, we not only use the electricity generated from the solar photo-voltaic system directly, but we store it in batteries to be used in night times, especially in remote areas. Scientists and researchers are developing new techniques aiming to make use of such huge power we get from the sun. It’s absolutely the best renewable energy source to generate electricity and heat.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:211 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-select-good-quality-solar-inverter How to Select Good Quality Solar Inverter? <p>Solar Inverter is like any electronic device, it is built and sold based on its low price or high quality performance (high price), so the customer can take purchasing decision based on his requirements or budget. Generally, if you are not an electronic engineer, it will be difficult to know the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> internal components efficiency which is the cornerstone for inverter quality and lifetime expectancy. Here, we shall provide two guides for you to indicate the good quality solar inverter even you are not a specialist in solar system inverters industry.</p> <p><strong>First: </strong>Its solar inverter manufacturer size, commitment, experience, and transparency. Asking the manufacturer about whether he is one of the leading manufacturers, how long does he manufacture solar inverter and exist in the market? Does the inverter manufacturer continuously develop his product over years? Does he provide long warranty and fair conditions? Will he actually repair or provide a new inverter free of charge if any fault happened during warranty period?</p> <p>The answers for these questions playing an important role in getting the good quality solar inverter, and it will be much better if you got them in written document, and to keep properly with your solar system receipts.</p> <p><strong>Second:</strong> It’s the high quality internal materials. We mean its construction and performance. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">500w solar grid tie inverter</a> can automatically adapt to different load power factor and synchronous high-frequency modulation. Has the inverter built in sealant and compact shape? Does the inverter have a good cooling system, and is it fan based or convection? Where the solar inverter made? And in case of faults, which company we could return it to? Does the inverter have many features or just basic ones?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/500w-solar-grid-tie-inverter.jpeg" alt="500w solar grid tie inverter" width="370" height="370" /></p> <p>For the solar inverter performance, its typically measured through its features, especially the conversion efficiency which simply refer to how much power will be lost during converting DC to AC electricity process. A solar inverter with a larger capacity should also give the efficiency value of a full-load operation and a low-load operation. Generally, the efficiency of inverters below the kilowatt level should be above 84%; 10kw should be above 90%, and the efficiency of the higher power inverter should be above 95%. The efficiency of the inverter has an important influence on the power generation system to increase the effective power generation and reduce the power generation cost. Therefore, we should try to choose more efficient products.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:207 https://www.inverter.com/7-key-factors-about-solar-photovoltaic-systems 7 Key Factors About Solar Photovoltaic Systems <p>The solar photovoltaic system is composed of a solar battery pack, a solar controller, and a storage battery (group). If the output power is AC 220V or 110V, an inverter is also required. There are 7 key factors about solar photovoltaic systems.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-cell-panel.jpg" alt="Solar cell panel" width="508" height="378" /></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The solar panel is the first working part of solar photovoltaic system to converts the sun light to DC electricity. It is made of silicon element, and the silicon is abundant element on the earth, it represents approximate 30% of the earth crust, and it’s the seventh common element on the world.</li> <li>The solar cell is made from pure silicon which is not exist in nature on such pure case, but its extracted from silicon quartzite. After getting the pure silicon, it is treated with boron and phosphorous to generate excess of electrons, so can make such semiconductor material be able to conduct the electricity. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-solar-micro-inverter">2000 watt solar micro inverter</a> has pure sine wave output for compatibility with loads of different types. And as the silicon is shiny, we add anti reflective coating on it, so the solar cell can collect much amount of sun light. By connecting some of solar cells in series, surrounding by protective material, and placed in metal frame, the solar panel is produced.</li> <li>The solar panel is called solar module. It’s usually made of 60 or 72 solar cells connected in series. And the solar array is a group of solar panels connected in series and parallel. </li> <li>The whole solar system is simply a solar array connected to an electronic component called inverter to convert DC to AC electricity. In addition to some accessories like circuit breakers, junction box, fuse, and distribution panels. </li> <li>The solar system is a clean energy production system, and its calculated that a solar powered house reduces carbon dioxide emission by approx 100 tons within 30 years.</li> <li>Installing solar photo-voltaic system is a good investment. It pays for itself as you no longer pay the electricity bill nor heating bill, and these saving will definitely pay for solar system purchasing and installation costs. In addition, some governments produce tax reduction offers to solar system owners, moreover, you will be allowed to sell the extra generated electricity back to the electrical grid, so can get more money back.</li> <li>Solar energy applications become unlimited to be used inside our home and offices only, but they used in cars, vehicles, trains, and airplanes, some people are travelling using solar energy solely.</li> </ol> <p>All in all, solar energy will change our everyday lives to the best.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:208 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-features-of-the-solar-panel-system What are the Features of the Solar Panel System? <p>Solar mounting structure is an important part of the solar system, it is used to install the solar array on our roofs, and it uses different kinds of frames, and railings. Most of mounting structure systems are made of Aluminum with stainless steel hardware, and designed to integrate with different kinds/power capacities (weights) of solar panels and to integrate as well with different types of roofs. </p> <p>The solar mounting structure mainly consists of aluminum rails with many clamps to connect the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels </a>to, and brackets to install the rails to our roof.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-array.jpg" alt="Solar array" /></p> <p>There are 3 features of high quality solar mounting systems, and here they are;</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>They use a high grade of stainless steel and aluminum materials, hence the result is low weights on the roof, and anti-corrosion materials over the long life time of the solar system which reaches 25years.  </li> <li>They have effective design, hence the result is quick installation time, and that save costs and reduce solar system overall installation time.</li> <li>Very strong anchoring points, so more reliability and stability of the mounting system, especially in windy days.</li> </ol> <p>Consequently, when you spend considerable amount of money in purchasing a high quality solar mounting structure, you honestly do the right thing, because purchasing high quality solar panels along with high quality mounting structure are the key factors of longer life span solar system, and the high reliability.</p> <p>When buying the solar mounting system, you have to take care about the warranty period, because it is the first real index of its quality, and you have to make sure that its warranty period is matching or exceeding the solar panels warranty period.</p> <p>The solar mounting system can be installed on any building type, whether its residential or commercial or even industrial, and usually the roof installation can be one of two types;</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Standard rooftop structure.</li> <li>Elevated rooftop structure.</li> </ol> <p>Some people who have sufficient spaces/areas in their property perfectly subjected to the sun light most of the day prefer to install the solar system on the ground, so in that case, the mounting structure will differ from others of roof structure. Some other people converts their rooftop mounting structure to ground structures, and off course in such case, they need to make some changes in their existing structure to be able to install on the ground.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:209 https://www.inverter.com/procedures-to-follow-after-installing-solar-photo-voltaic-system Procedures to Follow After Installing Grid Tie Solar Photo-Voltaic System <p>PV inverter or <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverter</a>  is one of the most critical components of the solar power system and is often referred to as the heart of a solar PV system. It converts DC (like 12V/ 24V/ 48V) electricity from solar panel into AC (like 120V/ 230V/ 240V) power required to run your applicance. Photo-Voltaic power generation system is mainly composed of solar panels (components), controllers and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverters</a>. They are mainly composed of electronic components, but do not involve mechanical components.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">After taking the decision to install your solar system, you select the most suited solar company to design the system, get the approval on solar system capacity from your electric utility, then installation is done finally. Actually it takes approx. 3 weeks in average to install your solar photo-voltaic on your roof depending on the system size, and weather conditions.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-solar-photo-voltaic-system.jpg" alt="Grid Tie Solar Photo-Voltaic System" width="300" height="244" /></p> <p>Now there are 4 steps to follow after installing the solar system: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><strong>Step one: Inspection</strong></li> </ul> <p>Your solar system installer will send a safety certificate to the electric authority to arrange for their coming to do inspection. This inspection process should be done within ten days after installation.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><strong>Step two: Energy meter upgrade</strong></li> </ul> <p>Your solar system installer will send a second document to the eclectic authority regarding your existing energy meter, so if you have a traditional meter, it will be needed to be replaced with a smart one. Because the smart meter will be able to register the exported energy to the grid and imported energy from the grid.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><strong>Step three: Start Saving Electricity</strong></li> </ul> <p>Once your new energy meter is installed, you are ready to run the system, and start to get the clean and free electricity.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><strong>Step four: Maintenance</strong></li> </ul> <p>That is an important step, because you will need to make sure your solar system is working efficiently, so even the solar system generally requires little maintenance, you still need to keep doing it periodically.</p> <p>From aforementioned steps, you have noticed that installing the solar system is Not just placing solar panels on the roof, but it involves some paperwork to do.</p> <p>One important Note to take care about is if your house has 3-phase energy meter, it’s a must to install 3-phase bi direction meter as well, otherwise you will only get the energy of one phase and you will lose much of solar electricity. Your solar installer who knows about your site and energy meter type will take care about such issue.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:206 https://www.inverter.com/what-can-the-monitoring-system-do What Can the Monitoring System Do? <p>It's really an important matter to monitor the generation of the solar system, and zthe market nowadays doing such task and providing you the balance between the 2 amount of electrical energies.</p> <p>Monitoring equipment nowadays not only providing energy measurements, but you will be able to control both circuits as well. Also, the monitoring equipment will help you understanding your system well, so can maintain the solar photovoltaic system, and reduce your electricity consumption.</p> <p>The solar systems installers become offering smart monitoring system, which can do many tasks related monitoring and control. Moreover, the monitoring equipment became coming with email alert function, so can inform you when the fault happened, so you can take rapid corrective action accordingly.</p> <p>Generally, monitoring your energy consumption means recording the consumed energy that flow in your meter, converting it to digital data, and then send to a certain platform to process and provide real time data. The smart meter is installed beside your electrical energy meter to get the real measurements, sending to your mobile application, and this will highly assist you understanding your energy consumption pattern based on your lifestyle, and habits.</p> <p>By the aid of the monitoring system, you will be able to know your energy consumption at a certain moment, but not a breakdown for your individual electrical equipment! However surely you can know the electrical consumption for a single equipment through specialized measuring units that will be connected to all your individual home appliances to provide real time measurements for each.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/running mode.jpg" alt="Running mode" width="790" height="281" /></p> <p>Nowadays, there are smart plugs that can be simply used for most of home appliances and communicate with your Wi-Fi system to send measurement from individual socket, its great feature to identify which one of your appliances consume much electricity even its in standby mode. So, you can decide how, when and how long you will use, also to decide if you will be needing to replace it with more energy efficient appliance. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> provides WIFI for each <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">Micro Inverter</a>. It supports iOS/ Android phones, and can monitor dc input display, AC output display, power supply and other information by connecting app.</p> <p>Implementing such aforementioned monitoring techniques will surely welcome you to join the modern energy conscious community. </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:204 https://www.inverter.com/basic-functions-of-the-solar-power-inverter Basic Functions of the Solar Power Inverter <p>The solar power inverter is the heart of the solar photovoltaic system, and it has mainly four jobs, so it’s important for us to know about, as following:</p> <p><strong>1. Electricity Conversion Job:  </strong></p> <p>It converts DC (direct current) electricity produced by the solar array, which is usually in the range 200V – 600VDC to AC (alternating current) electricity which is usable by our electrical equipment, such as 220VAC used in Egypt, 240VAC used in Australia, and 110/120VAC used in USA.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>2. Power Maximization Job:</strong></p> <p>The solar panels have a point on their performance curve in which they generate maximum power under a set of circumstances, and this point called (Maximum Power Point), and on the other side, the solar inverter has maximum power point tracking feature "MPPT", so it continuously searches and hunts this point to maximize the generated energy/power from your solar system. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> offers this feature for each <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">Micro Inverter</a>.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="300 watt micro inverter " width="330" height="330" /></p> <p><strong>3. Regulation Job:</strong></p> <p>The sun radiation intensity varies along the day, and the solar array output varies accordingly, so the first regulation job of the inverter is to accept and regulate such change in DC electricity, trying maximize the DC energy harvest as described in aforementioned second job. Also, grid parameters like voltage, and frequency change with grid loads variation, so the second regulation job of the inverter is to regulate and synchronize all these variables, so the solar system can be connected to the grid safely within power quality specs, and with No disconnection in case of grid tie solar photo-voltaic systems. Another regulation job of the solar inverter is monitoring, and protection for both DC voltage, and AC voltage sides parameters, so it disconnects in case of faults or for safety reasons.</p> <p><strong>4. Monitoring Job:</strong></p> <p>The solar power inverter does a wide range of measurements, so you can be rest assured the whole system is working as expected and to check the faults cause if they exist, then troubleshoot. The inverter displays these measurements in different forms, you can access them on its display screen or via smart phone application or via specified monitors, etc. So, you can check with your solar system installer to recommend you the appropriate monitoring system option. </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:205 https://www.inverter.com/why-does-solar-panel-prices-change Why Does Solar Panel Prices Change? <p>Solar panels are the main part in the solar system with a job to convert sun lights to DC electricity, and their costs represent a relatively considerable amount of the whole solar system price. The price of the solar panels continuously changes from year to year based on three factors:</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-cell-panels.jpg" alt="Solar cell panels" width="492" height="270" /></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Governmental incentives scheme.</strong> It will play an important role in push or down the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/buy-grid-tie-inverter-for-solar-system">solar system</a> usage, then high or low amount of solar panels will be required in the market. Consequently this will affect increasing or decreasing the price surely.</li> <li><strong>The number of solar panels manufactures.</strong> This will raise the competition which will affect the price.</li> <li><strong>Manufactured <a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-make-solar-panels-more-efficient">solar panels</a> output power ratings diversity.</strong> As the price of the solar panel differs mainly based on its output rated power, so for purchasing one higher solar panel power capacity, it will be more cost effective than purchasing two lower power solar panels.</li> </ol> <p>The solar system is a profitable investment project, so it’s important to have a good knowledge about it when you are not a specialist, so you can consider the best system that cover your needs with a reasonable price. Because the solar system has along life time, and you will have a potential to benefit from it more than 25 years. That’s how durable <a href="https://www.inverter.com/350-watt-solar-micro-inverter">350watt solar micro inverters</a> are. You have to clearly know what do you exactly need from your solar system.</p> <p>In general, the solar system is indeed profitable project, it will return back its purchasing and installation costs in 4-7 years max, so it’s a worthwhile investment. And as the solar panel prices differ from one state to another, the pay-back period will differ based on where you live. In the states in which the electricity is expensive, like New York and California, the pay-back period will be quicker, and the saving will be higher.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:200 https://www.inverter.com/evolution-of-solar-micro-inverter Evolution of Solar Micro Inverter <p>The micro grid inverter is a small plug and play device which is usually connected to one solar panel/module to convert DC to AC electricity, and that is its mainly difference from other solar string and central inverters which can be connected to multiple solar panels. In addition, the output from several micro-inverters are always connected together to electrically feed one electrical grid panel.</p> <p>It has been a part of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-factors-affect-the-prices-of-solar-systems">solar systems</a> industry for a long time period. It’s practically used since the year of 1980. The only issue for its first time use is that it was not cost competitive compared to other large central and string solar inverters. Because it is manufactured from expensive power components at that time, like small transformers, capacitors, etc.  <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-micro-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar micro grid inverter" width="467" height="268" /></p> <p>As time goes on, after the year of 2010 multiple micro inverters brands have entered the global market with less prices, but it is still low market share, because it still more expensive than conventional staring and central inverters. However, the micro inverters are strongly used in some conditions which we can not use other larger inverters:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>In specific residential locations in where there is over-shadow in different locations for the same site.</li> <li>In sites where we need to mount solar panels to face different directions for the same array/site.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Advantages:</strong></p> <p>Not only the micro-inverter itself cost is a bit higher than others, but also its associated installation and packing accessories costs. Such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter">300 watt MPPT solar grid tie inverter</a> can adopt reverse efficient power transmission technology. Because we install one inverter for each solar panel, we use more installation accessories like distribution boxes/panels and cables, also packing after manufacturing process. Recently and in order to reduces such costs, some micro inverter model/brands are connected to two or three or four solar panels. Also, some others place two micro inverters in single box, they are just trails and new thoughts to reduce micro inverter cost.</p> <p>Although the micro inverter is still costly compared to others, but its connection to one <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-panels-real-quality">solar panel</a> allowing us to tune and isolate the output of each panel, then any solar panel with under performance will not affect other panels around. In that way, the whole solar array will produce approx 5-7% power increase more than it would be in case of the string inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:203 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-development-of-solar-electricity-generation-system What is the Development of Solar Electricity Generation System? <p>According to international energy agencies statistics, there are hundreds of Giga watt of solar electricity generation system had already installed around the world. This amount can cover the entire electrical power demand required for more than one country, it’s a big amount, and its growing rapidly too, but it still represents small part of world energy mix.</p> <p>The crystalline solar cell/panel type is the most commonly used in the market, so its price has reduced especially over the last six years, and with the demand increase on the solar system, the prices will continue to decrease for the whole system, to extent that the price of solar electricity system will be close to conventional other electricity generation systems.</p> <p>All governments around the world financially support solar electricity system, because it reduces our reliance on conventional depleting fuel sources used to generate electricity.  In fact, it’s Not only solar system gets such support, but all other energy generation systems had gained such support when they had grown.</p> <p>Solar electricity generation system has a huge environmental benefits in avoiding carbon dioxide gas (CO2) emission, which represents significant amount releases in other conventional electricity generation source. In industrial countries, and to generate one kilo watt hour electricity from conventional energy source, an average amount of 1kg of CO2 will be released, so tones of CO2 will be emitted yearly in only one country, but in fact the actual CO2 released amount differ from one country to another and from one fuel/generation technology to another. You can imagine what will be total released amount for the whole world! And how much you save if CO2 free technology of solar electricity generation is used, it’s really great environmental benefit.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-electricity-generation-system.jpg" alt="Solar Electricity Generation System" width="400" height="378" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">With regard to solar electricity generation system, and how much it costs, we think its interesting to know that without putting much effort in calculating such costs, its recognized, and confirmed that the return back on investments will be 3-5 years, although its life cycle period reaches 20 years or more, which mean that such costs will be recovered in a short time, and we shall harvest huge financial benefits.</p> <p>Solar power systems have become increasingly popular in recent years. Naturally, Imverter.com also offers affordable solar inverters: On Grid Inverter, Off Grid Inverter, Micro Inverter, Solar pump Inverter, and Hybird Solar Inverter. Inverter is necessary in our life. More efficient inverters await your choice.</p> <p>According to international energy agencies statistics, there are hundreds of Giga watt of solar electricity generation system had already installed around the world. This amount can cover the entire electrical power demand required for more than one country, it’s a big amount, and its growing rapidly too, but it still represents small part of world energy mix.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">The crystalline solar cell/panel type is the most commonly used in the market, so its price has reduced especially over the last six years, and with the demand increase on the solar system, the prices will continue to decrease for the whole system, to extent that the price of solar electricity system will be close to conventional other electricity generation systems.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">All governments around the world financially support solar electricity system, because it reduces our reliance on conventional depleting fuel sources used to generate electricity.  In fact, it’s Not only solar system gets such support, but all other energy generation systems had gained such support when they had grown.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Solar electricity generation system has a huge environmental benefits in avoiding carbon dioxide gas (CO2) emission, which represents significant amount releases in other conventional electricity generation source. In industrial countries, and to generate one kilo watt hour electricity from conventional energy source, an average amount of 1kg of CO2 will be released, so tones of CO2 will be emitted yearly in only one country, but in fact the actual CO2 released amount differ from one country to another and from one fuel/generation technology to another. You can imagine what will be total released amount for the whole world! And how much you save if CO2 free technology of solar electricity generation is used, it’s really great environmental benefit.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">With regard to solar electricity generation system, and how much it costs, we think its interesting to know that without putting much effort in calculating such costs, its recognized, and confirmed that the return back on investments will be 3-5 years, although its life cycle period reaches 20 years or more, which mean that such costs will be recovered in a short time, and we shall harvest huge financial benefits.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Solar power systems have become increasingly popular in recent years. Naturally, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter.com</a> also offers affordable solar inverters: <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">On Grid Inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">Off Grid Inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">Micro Inverte</a>r, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">Solar pump Inverter</a>, and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inveter">Hybird Solar Inverter</a>. Inverter is necessary in our life. More efficient inverters await your choice.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:202 https://www.inverter.com/unique-advantages-of-solar-micro-inverter Unique Advantages of Solar Micro Inverter <p>Mainly in 2 cases the solar micro inverter exhibits unique advantages; The first is when there is shading across our solar panels array, and the second is when we need our solar panels to face different directions due to our roof design. As micro solar inverter will allow every solar panel to run on its own, so if one or more solar panels are affected by shading, this will not affect the output power of our whole solar array, because other panels subjected to sunlight will still produce its maximum power capacity and will not affected by shading solar panels. Two issues are existing on some houses roofs; It may be small and can only fit for few numbers of solar panels, and it may not have one direction. In such 2 situations micro inverter do the best, as while string inverter requires many solar panels to face the same direction, micro inverter will allow different orientation for each solar panel.</p> <p>One other important benefit for micro solar inverter, is that we can monitor the performance of each individual solar panel. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/600-watt-solar-micro-inverter">600w solar micro inverter </a>has digital control system, so it can identify fault location or poor performance solar panel quickly, then can isolate it or repair. It is also doing great in reducing down time, as if the string solar inverter or central solar inverter are stop working. This means the whole solar array will stop working, and no output power, but if the micro inverter stop working, then only its individual solar panel will stop working, and the whole remaining solar array will still work effectively.</p> <p>                      <img src="/images/uploaded/600-watt-solar-micro-inverter-grid-tie-inverter.jpeg" alt="600 watt solar micro inverter grid tie inverter" width="404" height="404" />                                <img src="/images/uploaded/600w-solar-micro-inverter-grid-tie-inverter.jpeg" alt="600w solar micro inverter grid tie inverter" width="448" height="447" /></p> <p>Absolutely unique feature of the micro inverter, it’s the expandability capability. This <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverters-advantages-and-disadvantages">advantage</a> is not found on other inverters. As while it’s difficult to expand the solar system in case of string and central inverters, because the power capacity of the inverter itself is fixed, and even you will be able to add one or two solar panel to the system, this will be very difficult, and you will have to get same identical solar panel specs like existing one, however you can do such expansion easily via micro inverter, and simply you will add one solar panel with its micro inverter, and no need to get the same solar panel, you can get any other specs with even different capacity or other brand, consequently, you can expand your system easily and at any time later.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:201 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-types-and-main-components-of-solar-inverter What are the Types and Main Components of Solar Inverter? <p>The inverter is considered as the brain of the solar system. And although there are different types of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>, but they all have the main components, let us see what are they and what are their functions as following:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Capacitor: It is used to filter ripples on the DC bus originated from semi-conductors switching, keep stable voltage on the DC bus, and reduce losses between the solar array and the solar inverter.</li> <li>Monitoring Software: It used to monitor the solar system, providing the status of solar system to installer &amp; owner, and alert them in case of faults. This software is running on inverter internal controller/processor.</li> <li>Solid State Devices: Mainly we intend IGBTs, MOSFETs and transistor, they are used to do the inverter main job which is converting DC current to AC current.</li> <li>Magnetic components: They include transformer and inductor to filter and smooth the AC wave shape for electrical grid connection, also they provide isolation between the DC circuit and the AC grid.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Solar Inverters Types:</strong></p> <p>There are mainly 3 types as following; <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter"><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/700-watt-12v24v-off-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="700 watt 12v24v off grid solar inverter" width="330" height="330" /></a></p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">Off Grid Inverter</a>, also called stand-alone inverter: It used in isolated system, it just converts batteries DC voltage “charged from solar panels” to AC voltage to feed the load, and it does Not interfere with the electrical grid/utility. It usually incorporates integral battery charger to charge/replenish batteries from AC stand-by source.&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">On Grid Inverter</a>, also called grid tie inverter: It used to be connected with the grid, and it automatically shuts down upon grid supply loss for safety, and it does Not work during utility outage.</li> <li>Special Battery Backup Inverter: It is connected to batteries, charge/replenish batteries from backup AC supply via onboard charger, and export extra generated electricity to the grid. Also, this inverter is able to feed the load with electricity during utility outage.</li> <li><a href="https://www.inverter.com/hybrid-solar-inveter">Hybrid Inverter</a>, This inverter is connected to solar array, batteries, and utility grid. It is able to manage all, so it works for stand alone, grid tie and backup application.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:192 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-cost-of-solar-panels What is the Cost of Solar Panels? <p>For the coming years, it’s expected that the electric car will be used widely and more than the ordinary fossil fuels car, because the running costs and fuel costs of the electric car is lower than fossil fuel car, in addition the fossil fuel prices trajectory is going up to increase in the future, so that adds another advantage for using the electric car.</p> <p>The fossil fuel price increase trajectory will push us to search for a cheaper fuel to power the car, it is certainly the solar system which its price trajectory is going down in the future. The solar system will generate electrical power needed to charge the electric car batteries, and that is one of reasons of being a high demand on solar panels system in the coming years.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-life-curve.jpg" alt="Solar panel life curve" width="694" height="456" /></p> <p>Its easier for<a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter"> solar panels power inverter</a> system to be used to charge electric car batteries while its parked in your garage, and/or to run the electric car directly instead of connected to the power grid for synchronization (grid tie solar system). The solar system can be used not for only the car, but for train, bus and tram, and its highly expected that such electric vehicle will be one of the most preferred transport method in the coming few years, it will be widely used in homes and business. And the price of solar panels is also very cheap, almost every household can use it.</p> <p>One of the most important factors that encourage using the electric vehicle is the falling prices of lithium battery, as batteries manufacturing technology is growing up rapidly, making lithium batteries more reliable, longer life, and the price is cheaper.</p> <p>In near future we shall see the solar system applications in many of our life styles, not only the electric vehicle, but even in air conditioners, satellites, and many other, we shall use the solar system, that is the way to the green world.</p> <p>We can use the solar system to generate other kinds of energies, not only the electricity. For example, it can be used to generate heat, like those large solar stations collect the sun heat to increase the temperature of the fluids to produce steam and then the steam high speed motion will run a generator. In addition, the solar energy system is used to supply power to various inverters called solar inverters, and its operating cost is not high, so as to run irrigation pumps in remote areas and many other places.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:193 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-make-solar-panels-more-efficient How to Make Solar Panels More Efficient? <p>Solar panels are playing an increasingly important role in life. How can we improve its efficiency? Let's discuss it.</p> <p>The answer for this question is, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar product</a> can generate electricity via the photovoltaic solar cell which consists mainly of silicon material. Actually, when a special type of silicon is stroked by the sun light, it generates usable electricity in small amount because some electrons will be freely ejected from the solar cell surface in response to the sun lights effect, thereby improving the working efficiency of the solar cell panel. </p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/the-future-of-solar-energy.jpg" alt="The future of solar energy" width="650" height="500" />The sun light is a range of spectrum, it consists of units called photons. When these photons strike the solar cell surface, they can be absorbed by the cell or reflected by the cell. The absorbed amount of photons will be converted to electricity as described above, and the reflected amount are just a waste with no benefits. So, when solar cell manufacturer wants to increase the solar cell efficiency, he is trying to reduce reflected amount of photons, and increase the absorbed amount of photons, and nowadays there are ongoing different technologies aim to increase the solar cell efficiency, and moreover, they are developed day after day via scientists and original designer manufacturers.</p> <p>Usually the vast majority of solar panels exist on the market are made of 60 solar cells, and its 1.6m height &amp; approx. 1m width physical dimension. So, if the manufacturer has succeeded in increase efficiency of each solar cell, then the whole solar panel efficiency would have been increased obviously.</p> <p>When the sun light photons strike the load cell, the electrons move from his position in the atom, and become free electrons, then they start to move through the solar panel ribbons, and this flow of electrons represent the electrical current flow. The type of electricity generated from the solar panel is DC "direct current" which move through the solar panel, junction box, and wires. In order to use such DC electricity for powering our commercial or residential equipment, like computers, air conditions, washing machine, lights, heaters, etc., we need to convert DC electricity to AC electricity "Alternating current", and this conversion is done via solar inverter.</p> <p>The solar inverter can be one of 3 types: Central, or string, or micro inverter. Each type has a certain application to be perfectly used for, but all do the same main job which converting DC electricity to usable AC electricity. The inverter is an important component which we can not use the solar system without it.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:199 https://www.inverter.com/3-advantages-of-solar-systems 3 Advantages of Solar Systems <p>The sun is the main sole feeding source to the solar system, so as long as the sun is existing, the solar system will generate electricity!</p> <p>That is main advan of the solar system, it is really a perfect renewable energy source, because it is not going to die.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/advantages-of-solar-system.jpg" alt="Advantages of solar system" width="414" height="353" /></p> <p>The second main advantages of the solar system is reducing or even eliminating our electricity bill, which goes up by time passing, and nowadays in most of countries it constituted as considerable amount to be paid by the customers. Moreover, and if our solar system is large enough, we will get paid from the electric utility for surplus electricity we shall export to the electric network (considering your solar system is connected to the grid, and it generates electricity more than you will use).</p> <p>The third advantage of the solar system is that it does not require lot of maintenance, so just clean solar panels from dirt and dust, and no more, and that is because it does not have moving parts. Also, the solar system is a reliable system, as its main components continue to operate for years and years with no faults. Usually good solar panels manufacturers provide 20 up to 25 years' warranty period.</p> <p>Now, the question is, what is the 3 main components of the solar system?</p> <p>First Component: Solar module, and it is called <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a>. It’s the main parts of the solar system that converts the sun light to DC electricity. The solar panels are connected to each other to increase the capability of the solar system to generate more electricity.</p> <p>Second Component: It’s the solar inverter which converts DC electricity generated by the solar panels to AC electricity to be used in our household appliances, etc. There are 3 main types of solar inverters, central, string and micro, and they all do the same main function but each one is preferred to be used under certain conditions and for certain application. These inverters provide monitoring features on their screen and via internet based monitoring options.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:194 https://www.inverter.com/the-future-of-solar-energy What is the Future of Solar Energy? <p>In fact, expecting how will the solar energy be in the future is difficult, because generally we do not know what will happen in the future, but we can analyze based on solar energy history and different factors affecting its development in the past all over the world.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-energy-application.jpg" alt="Solar energy application" width="500" height="500" /></p> <p>Let us look at cost evolution trajectory, as the prime component of the solar system is the solar cell which made mainly from semiconductors (silicon material), and as these semi-conductor's material price has fallen down, also by deep looking on its cost reduction trajectory and monitoring solar panels prices development, the solar specialists confirmed that solar energy costs have fallen by around 18-22% (20% in average) in recent years.</p> <p>This price reduction resulted mainly from solar energy industry growth, and logically, the technology will continue to be developed, consequently its expected more cost reduction trajectory in the future for the solar energy. Moreover, it's expected to have lower and lower solar energy costs in the future to the extent it will be lower than the lowest energy source cost nowadays, we mean the coal.</p> <p>Also, one other main affecting component of the solar system is the electricity storage systems "batteries", which are strongly needed for solar system application in remote areas, and other many applications need to store energy in the day light to be used in the night. The batteries technology evolution trajectory is jumping up every short time, so its prices will go down in the next few years, and that will strongly affect the whole solar system prices, and lead to high cost reduction as well, to extent that it’s expected to change energy distribution model fundamentally.</p> <p>In addition to aforementioned high cost reduction expectations, the solar system demonstrated and approved now to be high efficient, reliable and high performance system, which will surely incase its usages for many applications, as an example, some solar system manufacturers use double side wafers in the solar panel to use the reflected sun light on the panel back sheet to generate more electricity, and that leads to approx. 10% increase of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> output power. Also, wide variety of experiments are conducted now to use new material in solar panel manufacturing like nano technology film that can be applied to material using in the building.</p> <p>At the end, all such improvements, experiments and patents technologies will strongly support solar system industry in the future.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:195 https://www.inverter.com/4-uses-of-solar-energy 4 Uses of Solar Energy <p>If we think ahead, we shall see solar system to be used in many different fields other than what we see nowadays, we are likely to see what follows:</p> <p>1. The solar system will strongly contribute in energy generation mix, It will jump to be used as priory (economical and technical) more than other traditional energy generation sources.</p> <p>2. New solar technologies will be recognized will more efficiency, ability to installed in more multiple locations, and to provide more tolerance to generate electricity in shading conditions, also to be easily integrated in many different applications.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/use-of-solar-panels.jpg" alt="Use of solar panels" width="583" height="295" /></p> <p>3. We shall see new solar technologies which allows integration of solar into some materials, like paints and fabrics.</p> <p>4. We shall see a huge increase in solar storage system capability, and it will be more compact, this will greatly maximize solar usage in night times, and low sun light times. Generally, using reliable, efficient, and cost effective batteries will push solar system industry to be used in many different life aspects as we never see before. For example, using solar system to store energy in batteries, and then this stored energy will be used in vehicles, and other systems.</p> <p>You may imagine that this may not be fetched in the future, but we confirm you that it will be reached in very near future, as simply many of these technologies are actually under trails in laboratories, and the manufacturers/expertise's have already achieved a great progress. The one obstacle in such progress way, is the cost barrier, but this will be surely covered and returned back with high profits after the implementation of these technologies on the land, and to be used in the market.</p> <p>From the history, it is proven that <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> costs have fallen dramatically although of glitches and bumps solar industry faced, the solar panel price has fallen from 6USD per one watt in 2007 to 1USD per one watt nowadays, and the analysts expect more cost reductions will be achieved in very near future with more researches taking place, of course this will encourage using solar industry in all our life styles, so we confirm that solar will be the future of all the human beings.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:196 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-cell What is Solar Cell? <p>The main element in the solar panel power inverter is the solar cell, which can be made from many different materials and to provide the known photo-voltaic effect for all. But the most preferred and used material is the silicon, because its relatively inert element, most abundant in the earth crust (it represents more than 25% of its weight), and its lower cost element.</p> <p>The raw material in which we extract the silicon from is the sand or quartz which is processed under a certain condition to produce high pure silicon. This pure silicon is used not only in solar cell manufacturing, but also in semi-conductor’s industry to produce computers chips.</p> <p>The silicon in its crystalline form has chemically unique properties and can be used in manufacturing the solar cell as following:</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-cell-work-principle.jpg" alt="Solar cell work principle" width="833" height="402" /></p> <p>The silicon atom has fourteen electrons, 2 of them are in the first shell, 8 of them are in the second shell, and remaining 4 are in the outer shell, so the 2 first shells are completely full, and outer shell has just 4 electrons. This atom is always looking for a way to full its outer shell to 8 electrons, and this the wonder of physics science. In order for the silicon atom to do so, it shares 4 electrons with other 4 nearby silicon atoms and create crystalline silicon.</p> <p>This pure crystalline silicon is electrically poor in conductivity, because there no longer be free electrons to move, that makes the solar scientist to add impurities in a form of other atoms of boron and phosphorous to solve this issue and to create free electrons with the ability to move.</p> <p>By adding phosphorous with 5 electrons in its outer shell to silicon, this is called N-type silicon, and we refer to as negative part because it has abundance amount electrons, so it has much better conductivity than pure silicon. Also, by adding boron with 3 electrons in its outer shell this is called P-type silicon, and we refer to as positive part because instead of having free electrons, it has free opening with positive charge.</p> <p>The crystalline solar cell is typically formed by connected N-type silicon with P-type silicon via heat and pressure, then solar cells will be connected in series, and framed with output cables to build the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a>.</p> <p>When the solar panel is exposed to sun light, the photons will break silicon bonds, letting more free electrons to leave their atom looking for hole to fall into it, and that is causing the electrical current flow, and we finally got direct electrical current and voltage "electricity".</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:197 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-history-of-solar-energy-system What is the History of Solar Energy System? <p>It is not a surprise to know that the human has been using the sun energy since the seventh century BC, the first use was just to magnify the solar energy via the glass to light fire, and at that time, archimedes succeeded to fire wooden ships via solar energy using the bronze material. </p> <p>In the past, they used large windows to heat up their homes via sun, and they face their home to the sun to keep them worm.</p> <p>The first solar collector was made in 1767 by scientist called De Saussure, it was like solar oven, afterwards, a scientist called Antoine Lavosier discovered the photo-voltaic phenomena of silicon material, in which "photo" means the light, and "voltaic" means the electricity, and that was the first start of modern solar energy which already conducted in the year 1839. And in the year 1990, we start to see many solar energy materials discovers, like copper, cadmium and others.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/the-history-of-solar-energy-system.jpg" alt="The history of solar energy system" width="798" height="341" /></p> <p>In fact, the silicon solar cell was discovered at 1954, and its efficiency at that time was 4%, as only 4% of sun light could be converted to electricity.</p> <p>During the time of cold war, the world researches were directed in how to use solar energy to power the satellites, until the year of 1959, it was the first launch of solar power satellite.</p> <p>In 1970, the solar power price starts to reduce from approximately 100USD per one watt to approx. 20USD per one watt, and became used in different applications, especially remote applications, and at the year 1977, total solar panel the world produced was around 500KW capacity via small numbers of specialized solar companies. Afterwards, and in the year of 1982, the world produced 9300KW of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> then it increased year after year.</p> <p>In 1985, the solar companies start anew challenge to increase the solar panel efficiency, and they succeeded to increase the efficiency up to 16%, and 20%.</p> <p>Nowadays, the world solar panel production reached up to approximately 40MW or more per year, and the typical solar panel efficiency is approx. 16%. At the end, we still confirm that it will be promising and excited future for solar power industry.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:198 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-solar-module What is the Solar Module? <p>One solar cell will not be able to provide required output power, because its small device, with a tiny output power of approx. 0.2 watts up to 2 watts, so in order to increase the solar photovoltaic system output power, there will be a need to connect/combine number of solar cells together, and that is the solar module in which we connect a number of solar cell in series, so can get a standard output voltage and power from it.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/efficient-of-solar-module.jpg" alt="Efficient of solar module" width="509" height="392" /></p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">Solar products</a> are more and more widely used in our lives. The solar module is the basic block of building our solar photovoltaic system, we connect the solar cell together same like batteries bank system, we mean in series, and for more clarification, we connect the positive terminal of one solar cell to the negative terminal of the second solar cell, and so on, in that way the voltage and power of all solar cells will add to each other, and at the end, we got the module with a standard output voltage and power. For example, the solar cell output voltage is approx. 0.5V, so if we connect 300 solar cell in series, the module standard output voltage would be 0.5 x 300 = 150Volt.</p> <p>The solar module output depends on 2 parameters which are the ambient temperature, and solar light intensity, so the solar module ratings should be specified under certain value of those 2 parameters. Its agreed as a standard practice to express solar module ratings at 1000W/M2 light radiation, and 25-degree celsius ambient temperature, and always the solar module is rated with 3 outputs as following:</p> <ul> <li>Open Circuit Voltage (Voc).</li> <li>Short Circuit Current (Isc).</li> <li>Peak Power (Pmax).</li> </ul> <p>And that means those 3 rated values will be provided for any module by its manufacturer at 1000W/M2 light radiation, and 25-degree celsius ambient temperature, that is called standard test conditions measurements. Logically, the standard test conditions may not be achieved on your site in where the module is installed because the temperature and solar radiation will vary from time to time and from location to other.</p> <p>One of important factors distinguished the module is the efficiency, it refers to the ratio between module output power to its input power at standard test conditions, and we have to know that solar module loses a certain ratio of its efficiency every year, the lose percentage is small approx. 0.6% per year, so it's around 16.4% max of its rated efficiency over the 25year (solar module life time).</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:191 https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter-selection-guide Solar Pump Inverter Selection Guide <p><strong>What is the solar pump inverter?</strong></p> <p>It is an off-grid or stand-alone inverter that converts DC power getting from solar panels (photovoltaic array) to AC power to supply pumping system.<br />With solar radiation changes, solar panels output DC power will change, so the solar inverter play an important role in receiving such variable power and producing maximum AC power to the pump, also it adjusts output frequency in real time so can run the pumping system at max efficiency.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-pump-inverter-and-solar-water-pump-system.jpg" alt="Solar pump system application" width="700" height="438" />Before deciding on the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">size of solar pump inverter</a> for pump and solar panels, you need to confirm one thing first. What needs to be checked is the pump motor itself, whether it is compatible and suitable for use with the inverter.</p> <p><strong>How to choose the rated power of the solar pump inverter?</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: upper-alpha;"> <li>Inverter power capacity can be indicated based on AC pump rated current or power capacity, the common rule is 1.4 larger than AC pump rated current. So, for 5A rated current pump, the inverter output current should be 5A * 1.4A = 7A. <br />Also, you can indicate solar panels total power capacity based on inverter power capacity. It equals inverter power x 1.4 (same rule).<br /><br /></li> <li>Solar pump inverter DC input voltage range. You need to know 2 things to indicate it as following:<br />   1. Solar module (panel) max rated voltage which called Vmpp, and this can be easily gotten from Solar panel data sheet or name plate, <br />   2. Number of modules per string.<br />By knowing A, B you can get max voltage that can be received from the solar array, then choose the inverter input voltage range so can cover this crucial value.<br />For example, if we have 6000W solar array, and the module power is 400W with Vmpp = 36V.<br />This means that total number of modules per array = 6800/400 = 17.<br />If we shall make the array in 1 string, then voltage per string (Vmmp) will be 17 * 36 = 612V.<br />So Inverter DC input range upper limit should be 650 or 700, ... , etc.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Solar pumping inverter amazing features</strong></p> <ul> <li>It runs and stopped automatically according to sun radiation intensity (DC power), so can solve instability issue of solar energy.</li> <li>It tracks the max power point of solar panel, so can provide the max AC power to the pump (99% efficiency).</li> <li>Its input can be regular power grid and solar power, so we can switch between them or even run the inverter at the night with regular power grid.</li> <li>Has numbers of internal protections (over current, short circuit, lightening, overvoltage, undervoltage, ..., etc.) to protect the system.</li> </ul> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:190 https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverters-price-list Three Phase Inverters Price List <p>Three phase frequency inverter, also named as 3 phase variable frequency drive (VFD), is a motor control with 3 phase input and output that drives motor by changing the frequency and voltage supplied to the motor. The frequency is directly related to the rotary speed of the motor, in other words, the faster the frequency, the faster the rotary speed. If the motor is no need to run at full speed, the frequency inverter can be used to reduce frequency and voltage to meet the requirement of motor load.</p> <p><strong>Why you need three phase frequency inverter?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Reduce energy consumption and energy costs<br />Frequency inverter allows you to match the speed of your electric equipment to load requirements, no other control ways can realize this. Electric motor systems account for more than 65% of the power consumed in the industry, frequency inverter can reduce equipment energy consumption by up to 70% by it optimizing motor control system.</li> <li>Extend equipment life and reduce maintenance<br />As the frequency and voltage of the motor are controlled by the frequency inverter, the motor will be well protected, such as electro-thermal overload protection, phase protection, undervoltage protection, overvoltage protection, etc. When you use the frequency inverter to start the load, it will not allow the motor to suffer the instantly shocks on the starting coil. But it can start steadily and eliminate wear on belts, gears and bearings.</li> </ul> <p>Inverter.com has low cost 3 phase input and output frequency inverter for your choice, rated power range from 0.75 kW, 1.5 kW, 2.2 kW to 220 kW, they are brand new direct sale by manufacturer. The price list of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverter">three phase frequency inverter</a> is in the table below, if you want to know more information, please go to our product’s page.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-inverters.jpg" alt="Three-phase-inverters" width="600" height="225" /></p> <p><strong>Three phase inverters price list</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">0.75 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0007G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">199.15 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /400V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="19">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19">1.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T00015G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">218.41 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /400V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2.2 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T00022G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">259.10 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 220V /380V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3.7 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3-7kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0037G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">293.51 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /400V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="19">5.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0055G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">396.20 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 208V /380V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">7.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0075G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">463.25 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 220V /440V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">11 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/11kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0110G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">593.10 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /415V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">15 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0150G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">697.14 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /400V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">18.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/18-5kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0185G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">992.18 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 240V /420V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">22 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/22kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0220G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1264.30 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 208V /440V /460V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">30 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter"> GK3000-4T0300G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1497.31 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /420V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">37 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/37kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0370G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1781.14 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 220V /400V /460V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">45 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/45kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0450G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">2193.10 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 240V /380V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">55 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/55kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0550G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">2591.20 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /440V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">75 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/75kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0750G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3197.41 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /400V /460V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">90 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/90kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T0900G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3741.60 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 220V /415V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">110 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/110kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T1100G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4683.11 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 230V /400V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">160 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/160kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T1600G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">6499.23 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 240V /420V /480V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">220 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/220kw-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-4T2200G</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">9813.41 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase 240V /415V /460V AC ±15% (Optional)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note:</strong> The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:188 https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter-price-list Single Phase Output Inverter Price List <p style="text-align: left;">Single phase output frequency inverter, also called 1 phase variable frequency drive or VFD, is a power control equipment that adopts frequency conversion technology and microelectronic technology to control the AC induction motor by changing its working power frequency. Frequency inverter is mainly composed of rectifier (AC to DC), filter, inverter (DC to AC), brake unit, drive unit, detection unit and micro-processing unit. It relies on internal IGBT disconnection to adjust output power supply voltage and frequency and provide the required power supply voltage according to the actual requirements of the motor, so as to realize speed regulation and energy saving. In addition, the frequency inverter has many protection functions, such as overcurrent, overvoltage and overload protection. With the continuous improvement of industrial automation, the frequency inverter have also been very widely used.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Inverter.com online store provides frequency inverters with single phase input to single phase output, rated power ranges from 0.4 kW to 5.5 kW, they are low cost and manufacturer direct sale. Our single phase frequency inverters are specially designed for home power supply and single phase AC asynchronous motor.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">The following is the price list of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter">single phase output inverter</a>, if you want to know more information, please go to our product's page.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/single-phase-output-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="Single phase output frequency inverter" width="300" height="300" /></p> <p><strong>Single phase output inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">0.4 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-4kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0004</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">162.46 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase AC 220V±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 0~rated input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">0.75 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0007</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">195.82 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase AC 220V±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 0~rated input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0015</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">243.08 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase AC 220V±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 0~rated input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2.2 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0022</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">379.23 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase AC 220V±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 0~rated input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3.7 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3-7kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0037</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">649.59 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase AC 220V±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 0~rated input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-single-phase-output-frequency-inverter">GK3000-1S0055</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">996.86 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase AC 220V±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 0~rated input voltage</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note</strong>: The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:189 https://www.inverter.com/single-to-three-phase-inverter-price-list Single to Three Phase Inverter Price List <p>Single to three phase frequency inverter is a motor control with single phase input and three phase output, which is mainly used for speed control of 3 phase AC induction motor on 1 phase power supply. Frequency inverter, as known as variable frequency drive (short for VFD), has lots of functions and operation ability. For example, it provides phase supply protection, undervoltage protection and overvoltage protection for motors.</p> <p>At Inverter.com, we offers you 1 phase to 3 phase frequency inverters with different rated power range from 0.4 kW, 0.75 kW to 11 kW, they are low price and manufacturer direct sale. The price list of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-to-three-phase-inverter">single to three phase frequency inverter</a> is in the table below, if you want to know more information, please visit our product’s page.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/single-to-three-phase-inverter.jpg" alt="Single to three phase inverter" width="500" height="357" /></p> <p><strong>Single to three phase inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">0.4 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-4kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0004</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">149.10 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">0.75 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0007</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">159.32 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0015</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">183.16 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2.2 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0022</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">238.14 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3.7 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3-7kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0037</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">294.31 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0055</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">697.14 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">7.5 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7-5kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0075</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">992.18 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">11 kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/11kw-single-phase-to-three-phase-frequency-inverter">GK3000-2S0011</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1453.95 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1 phase 220V AC ±15%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3 phase AC 0~input voltage</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note</strong>: The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> <p><strong>The functions of single to three phase frequency inverter</strong></p> <ul> <li>Frequency conversion energy saving<br />The frequency conversion energy saving is mainly performance in the applications of fan and water pump. All kinds of production machineries in the design with power drive have a certain amount of surplus in order to promise the reliability of production. When the motor cannot run at full load, the excess torque increases the consumption of active power, which causes the waste of electric energy. The speed control method of fan, water pump and other equipment is by adjusting the inlet or outlet baffle, valve opening to get the amount of air and water, the input power is large and a large amount of energy is consumed during the closure of the baffle and valve. When you use the single to three phase frequency inverter to control speed, if the flow is required to be reduced, you can reduce the speed of the fan and water pump to meet this requirement. The function of the frequency converter used in the motor is speed control and Reduction of starting current.</li> <li>Power factor compensation energy saving<br />Reactive power not only increases the line loss and the heating of equipment, but also leads to the reduction of the active power of the grid. Large reactive energy consumption in the line will cause low efficiency of equipment use and serious waste. After the use of single to three phase frequency inverter, due to the function of the filter capacitor inside it, the reactive power loss is reduced and the active power of the power grid is increased.</li> <li>Soft start energy saving<br />The hard start of the motor will cause serious impact on the power grid, and it will also require too much capacity of the power grid. The large current and vibration generated during the motor start will cause great damage to the baffle and valve, which is extremely detrimental to the service life of equipment and pipelines. After using the frequency inverter, the soft start function of it will make the current start from zero, the maximum value will not exceed the rated current, so as to reduce the impact on the power grid and the demand for power supply capacity. This will prolong the service life of the equipment and valve and save the maintenance cost.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:187 https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter-price-list Sine Wave Inverter Price List <p>The sine wave inverter is a kind of inverter that direct current into alternating current. It is widely used for air conditioning, television, water heater, LED light, printer, computer system, communication system, aviation, emergency, industrial equipment and communication equipment, etc. The pure sine wave inverter can also be used in places where emergency backup power is required, which can constitute EPS emergency power supply system. The output waveform of the sine wave inverter is a complete sine wave with low distortion rate, therefore, it is low noise and high efficiency.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers 12V/ 24V/ 48V sine wave inverter for your choices, rated power range from 600 W, 1000 W to 12000 W. Pure sine wave inverter with USB port, can provide stable, seamless and clean power. The price list of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> is in the table below, if you want to know more information, please visit our product’s page.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="Sine wave inverter" width="757" height="200" /></p> <p><strong>Sine wave inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Volt</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peak Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gross Weight</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">12V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">300 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">600 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-300-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-3001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">113.3 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">DC 12V (9.9-15.5V)</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">1- Phase(L+N,G)<br />= 110V, 230V ±5%</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-5001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">142.1 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">600 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1200 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-600-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-6001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">163.81 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-1000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-10001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3.4kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">208.05 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-1500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-15001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">284.54 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-20001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">5.1kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">375.84 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-3000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-30001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">8.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">512.56 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">8000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-4000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-40001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">9kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">727.6 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-5000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-50001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">10kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">919.8 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-6000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-60001</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">13kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1475.55 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Volt</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peak Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gross Weight</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">24V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">300 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">600 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-300-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-3002</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">113.3 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">DC 24V (19-31V)</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">1- Phase(L+N,G)= 110V, 230V ±5%</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-5002</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">142.1 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">600 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1200 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-600-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-6002</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">163.81 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-1000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-10002</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3.4kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">208.05 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-1500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-15002 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">284.54 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-20002 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">5.1kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">375.84 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-3000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-30002 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">8.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">512.56 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">8000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-4000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-40002 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">9kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">727.6 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-5000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-50002 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">10kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">919.8 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-6000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-60002 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">13kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1475.55 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Volt</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peak Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gross Weight</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10" height="180">48V</td> <td style="text-align: center;">300 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">600 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-300-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-3004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">113.3 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">DC 48V (40-61V)</td> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="10">1- Phase(L+N,G)= 110V, 230V ±5%</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-5004</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1.7kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">142.1 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">600 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1200 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-600-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-6004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">163.81 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-1000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-10004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3.4kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">208.05 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-1500-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-15004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">284.54 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-2000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-20004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">8.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">375.84 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-3000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-30004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">8.2kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">512.56 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">8000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-4000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-40004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">9kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">727.6 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-5000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-50004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">10kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">919.8 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-6000-watt-pure-sine-wave-inverter">ATO-PSWI-60004 </a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">10kg</td> <td style="text-align: center;">1475.55 USD</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note: </strong>The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:186 https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter-price-list On Grid Inverter Price List <p>On grid inverter or grid tie inverter from Inverter.com, can convert direct current into alternating current. Its AC output can synchronize with the frequency and phase of mains supply. On grid inverters are commonly used in applications where direct current voltage sources are connected to the grid, such as solar panels and small wind turbines. The output voltage frequency of the solar grid tie inverter needs to be same as the grid frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz). A MPU in the grid tie inverter can sense the AC waveform of the power grid and generate voltage back to the power grid based on the waveform. However, the electricity returned to the grid needs to have a proportion of reactive power to keep the nearby grid within allowable limits. Otherwise, a region with a high proportion of renewable energy may let its voltage rise too high during periods of high power production.</p> <p>Grid tie inverters are generally used in the system of large-scale solar photovoltaic power stations. Many parallel photovoltaic strings are connected to the DC input of the same centralized inverter. Generally, three-phase IGBT power modules are used for higher power, and field effect transistors are used for lower power. At the same time, it uses a DSP conversion controller to improve the quality of the generated power, making it very close to a sine wave current.</p> <p>At Inverter.com, we offer high performance solar gird tie inverter for you, rated power from 300 W to 40 kW. The price list of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> is in the table below, if you want to know more information, please go to our product’s page.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-grid-tie-inverter-6.jpg" alt="Solar grid tie inverter" width="900" height="250" /></p> <p><strong>On grid inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="6" width="966" height="19"><strong>On Grid Inverter</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>DC Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>AC Output Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Net. Weight</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">300W</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">ATO-GTI-300</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">145.43 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10.5V-30V DC/ 20V-50V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">90-140V AC/ 180-260V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">730g</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">500W</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">ATO-GTI-500</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">179.77 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10.5V-30V DC/ 20V-50V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">90-140V AC/ 180-260V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">970g</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">600W</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/600w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">ATO-GTI-600</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">203.96 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10.5V-30V DC/ 20V-50V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">90-140V AC/ 180-260V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">970g</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">ATO-GTI-1000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">251.99 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10.5V-30V DC/ 20V-50V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">90-140V AC/ 180-260V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">2.3kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">1.5kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-1500</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">651.38 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">10.5V-30V DC/ 20V-51V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">12kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">2kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-2000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">697.44 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-450V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">14kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">3kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-3000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">812.19 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">17kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">4kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-4000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">973.38 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">18kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-5000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1320.15 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">23kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">6kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-6000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1406.87 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">25kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">7kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/7000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-7000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1514.36 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">27kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">8kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/8000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-8000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1642.29 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">32kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">10kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-10k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1775.65 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">200-820V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">45kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">5000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-3p5k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1643.92 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">24kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">10000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10000-watt-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-310k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">2095.38 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">25kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">15kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-15k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">2666.15 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">190-270V AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">26kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">20kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-20k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3293.84 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">180-500V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3-phase 208V, 240V, 380V, 460V, 480V +/-5% AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">45kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">25kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/25kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-25k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">3818.46 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">200-820V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3-phase 208V, 240V, 460V, 480V +/-5% AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">96kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">30kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-30k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4312.47 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">200-820V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3-phase 208V, 240V, 460V, 480V +/-5% AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">105kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">40kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">ATO-GTI-40k</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">5256.41 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;">200-820V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">3-phase 208V, 240V, 460V, 480V +/-5% AC</td> <td style="text-align: center;">138kg</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note</strong>: The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please feel free to contact us.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:181 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-deal-with-solar-companies How to Deal with Solar Companies? <p>Solar companies have some trading skills that you must understand when purchasing solar systems. Let's take a look at them</p> <ol> <li> Buy today or the biggest tomorrow and you'll get a very high special discount. This is a famous saying in the tactics of solar energy company. In this case, if you think it's a good deal, then you have to study the offer very carefully, ask the solar company a time, don't sign before you are completely sure.</li> <li>Another tricky sentence is: the big rebate will end next week, which is almost incorrect, because in the past, the rebate was changed regularly, but now it doesn't happen anymore, because the rebate is in the form of solar energy certificate, which has become a consistent plan.</li> <li>Some solar companies ask you to buy larger solar photovoltaic systems, which will completely eliminate your electricity bill, which is usually incorrect, because the appropriate size of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> will greatly reduce your electricity bill, but it is impossible to zero, because you will consume electricity from the grid, and the solar cell system will not work at night. In general, it is best to remember / understand your feed in tariff, solar system capacity and load consumption before making any such claim.</li> <li>Some immoral solar companies usually say: you can install solar panels in any direction, which is wrong, because as long as the sunlight exists, the solar system will generate electricity in any direction, but this is not the best way to generate electricity. If you agree with them, you will not get the maximum power generation. Those companies are just looking for the simplest installation, and they don't want to do extra work, especially those roofs that need to be made with special frames and installed in the right direction.</li> <li>Compared with other companies, the quotation offered by some solar energy companies is very economical. They will provide you with a very cheap price, and the warranty period is very long. Moreover, they will say that this is because they buy materials directly from overseas manufacturers, or they buy a large amount of materials and so on. So what's the problem? The problem is that they are cheaters, and the fact is that the quality of their materials is low, offsetting the cost.</li> </ol> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar panels power inverter" width="500" height="375" /></p> <ul> <li>Finally, our suggestion is to work with reputable solar panel manufacturers to honestly fulfill the warranty period, while for solar inverters, you must work with local service centers and large companies in this industry with good / true warranty period.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:185 https://www.inverter.com/energy-meter-installation-of-solar-pv-system Energy Meter Installation of Solar PV System <p>An important question that we must get an answer before installing a new solar photo-voltaic (pv) system: who will be responsible for installing the energy meter to measure how much electricity our solar system is generating, how much electricity our house is consuming, and how much electricity our solar system is exporting to the grid?</p> <p>Generally, we need to install new power meters to facilitate the injection of solar energy into the grid. These power meters are called bi-directional power meters because they measure the electrical energy "Kwh" from both directions (inlet direction, and outlet direction). In that case, when your solar system produces more electricity than your home appliances use, it exports it to the grid and the new smart energy meter reverses it and can be seen reversing it as well, which is why the power company will force you to replace your old energy meter when installing a solar photo-voltaic system.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/ato-frequency-inverter.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter" width="334" height="300" /></p> <p>The solar installer will install the energy meter and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency inverter</a> under the supervision of the power company a few days after you install the solar pv system. In this case, there are some important questions that you have to get answers from the solar company as follows.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Will our new energy meter be able to measure off-peak electricity usage?</li> <li>Does our new energy meter measure gross electricity, or does it provide a direct net value? Generally speaking, now its net metering energy meter.</li> <li>What is the price of the energy meter? And what will the installation cost be?</li> <li>Is the price of the energy meter and the inverter installation cost included in our original quote, or is it provided free of charge?</li> </ol> <p>Typically, there are codes/standards to consider when installing energy meters, and of course the solar installer will understand.</p> <p>Once you have replaced your existing energy meter with a bi-directional one and your solar pv system has been well tested/commissioned, you can enjoy the high benefits of net metering installation for your house.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:183 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-avoid-shading-of-solar-pv-system How to Avoid Shading of Solar PV System? <p>When installing solar photo-voltaic (pv) system on the roof of your new home, you need to be careful about shading.</p> <p>The best and easiest time to install solar pv systems is when building or buying a new home, as you will easily add its price to your capital costs. A solar system is the only item in your home that will pay for itself in a few years and, when you decide to sell your home, a solar pv system will add considerable value to its selling price, which is why solar pv systems are worth looking at from the start. Solar pv systems can survive for many years, there are literally systems that have been working for 30 years or more, generating electricity every day, and of course these are made with high quality materials and manufactured to standards.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">One of the main factors affecting the amount of electricity generated by a solar system is shading, because the more sunlight there is, the more electricity is generated, while the more shading covers the solar panels, the less electricity is generated.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/350-watt-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="350 watt solar micro inverter" width="420" height="332" /></p> <p>In fact, even small obstructions causing roof shading, such as chimneys or antennas, can have a significant adverse effect on the performance of solar systems. Also, the area where your home is located can affect the amount of shade due to tall trees and mountains, so you'll want to look around you when buying or building a new home.</p> <p>The solution to the shading problem is to use a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro solar inverter</a>, which is a new solar inverter technology that allows you to install one inverter for each solar panel instead of one large solar inverter for each string (number of solar panels in series), which will reduce power loss due to shading by more than 25%. Using multiple micro solar inverter instead of one large inverter will be more expensive, but will save a very large amount of power generation losses, which will replace this price increase and provide us with more results, so using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/350-watt-solar-micro-inverter">350 watt solar micro inverter</a> in shading situations is much better than using string solar inverter or central solar inverter. So we recommend discussing this with your solar pv system installer to install the technically and economically best solar inverter for your situation.</p> <p>This is all about how to avoid shading solar pv system, and if you still want to consult more information about solar pv system, welcome to leave a message in the comment section.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:180 https://www.inverter.com/other-expenses-required-for-the-installation-and-operation-of-solar-photovoltaic-systems How Much does Solar Photovoltaic System Cost? <p>In addition to some other costs that must be noted, there are 2 main categories of costs associated with the installation of solar PV systems, as they may not be identified prior to installation and suddenly discovered after installation.</p> <p>For these 2 major categories of costs, the main ones are as follows.</p> <ul> <li><strong>The cost of solar panels and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a></strong></li> </ul> <p>Both grid-tied and off-grid, even micro-grid inverters and their accessories such as connection cables, switches, junction boxes, charge controllers, mounting brackets, solar converters, etc.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Installation and process costs</strong></li> </ul> <p>These costs will vary depending on your roof type, height, location of your house, proximity to the solar company's address, and depending on the company's experience, time in the market, and a solar company. They have ISO/Quality Assurance/Credit. Some solar companies offer you an installation cost that will cover the above 2 points, but not the installation cost of the meter or the purchase cost of the additional solar converter, as the meter must be installed by a qualified technician and under the supervision of the electrical department. The installation cost of the electric meter varies depending on the requirements of the meter, so you must consider/discreet the cost and discuss with the solar company to get the complete solar system installation cost.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-photovoltaic-system-8.jpg" alt="Solar photovoltaic system" width="600" height="393" /></p> <p>The solar system process has a warranty period, which means that a technician/engineer from the solar company can come to your site and perform the necessary work (if any) at no charge, based on the contractual warranty period set by the installing solar company. The validity of this warranty is usually set by your country/government. The process of solar energy systems is one aspect you must consider. You must contact the solar company prior to installation. Understanding these hidden costs before installing a solar system will help you conduct a good economic feasibility study and enlighten you on the ROI and payback period of your solar system project.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:179 https://www.inverter.com/8-tips-for-installing-solar-pv-system 8 Tips for Installing Solar PV System <p>There are a multiple of inquiries we have to get answers for from our electricity retailer when we intend to install a solar inverter on photo-voltaic system. In general, our solar installation company will know the answers of these inquires, but better to ask the retailer, and here are some of these inquires:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>What is originally the price of the electricity you pay to your retailer currently in cent per kilowatt hour (Kwh)? You can also find such info on the back of your retailer electricity bill.</li> <li>After installation <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> in your solar system, and changing your electricity meter, will you keep your off peak electricity rate? Will this change your tariff type? And how financially this will affect you?</li> <li>Will there be any other duties or administration fees you will be charged for; In which they have Not incorporated on the contract? That is important point to inquire about before going ahead. <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/blog/solar-photo-voltaic-system.jpg" alt="Solar photo voltaic system" width="500" height="282" /></p> </li> <li>Who will be in charge of your energy meter change over? Will the solar installation company be in charge of this process? Or will you organize for that process yourself? Usually, the solar installation company will arrange for that as a part of installation works.</li> <li>What is the rate of the Feed-In Tariff this retailer will provide you after installation the solar system? And whether there will be another retailer in your local area that can provide higher rate for this Feed-In Tariff?</li> <li>How will you get paid for the electricity your solar system generates? Will you get it in the form of credit on your electricity bill or will you get it in cash deposit to your bank account or via Cheque?</li> <li>During the contracted Feed-In Tariff period between you and your retailer, you should precaution as follow: if you desire to change to another retailer with high Tariff or due to any reason, will the original retailer impose any kind of penalties on you? Because you want to cut /close the contract before its ended date.</li> <li>What will be the payment period in which the retailer will pay you? Will it be monthly or every three months or every six months or what? Usually, it’s three months’ period.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:184 https://www.inverter.com/how-much-sunlight-should-the-solar-panel-receive How Much Sunlight Should the Solar Panel Receive? <p>In general, the amount of sunlight a solar panel receives in a day is expressed in terms of peak solar hours. It means how many hours of rated power the solar panel can deliver on an average day. For example, if we have a solar panel rated at 450W and the site has 4 hours of peak sunlight, this means that we can supply this solar panel with about 4x450=1800W hour of energy per day, or 1.8kWh. This is because the amount of electricity a solar panel can produce is directly proportional to the amount of solar energy it receives. So it is important that our solar panel is installed in a direction that collects most of the direct sunlight.</p> <p>Your solar company is responsible for the design and installation of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> in your solar system, and they will provide you with a calculation of how much energy your solar system will produce based on the available peak solar hour values, they will tell you how many kilowatt hours your solar system and converter will produce in your particular installation, it is important to ask them to provide you with this value in writing. Peak sunshine hours typically change throughout the year from summer to winter, and your installer will be aware of this so he will provide you with an estimate of energy production accordingly.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels.jpg" alt="Solar panels" width="800" height="369" /></p> <p><strong>Peak insolation hours:</strong></p> <p>This term refers to the amount of sunlight (kWh/m<sup>2</sup>) received at a given location when the sun is at its maximum for a given period of time. Since the maximum solar radiation is 1kW/m<sup>2</sup>, then the peak solar hours would be the number corresponding to the average solar irradiation per day. For example, if we have an allocation that receives <span lang="EN-US">6kWh/m<sup>2  </sup></span>a day, we can determine that it receives 6 solar hours per day at a solar radiation intensity of 1kW/m<sup>2</sup>. Therefore, it is important to calculate the peak insolation hours because the solar PV panels are always rated at 1Kw/m<sup>2</sup> input power. </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:178 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-price-list Power Inverter Price List <p>Different voltage power inverter have different prices. Power inverter is a device that can convert DC (the battery and accumulator jar) into AC (normally the sinusoidal wave of 220V and 50Hz). It is composed of inverter bridge, control logic and filter circuit. With a power inverter, direct current (battery, switching power supply, fuel cell, etc.) can be converted into alternating current to provide stable and reliable power protection for electrical appliances, such as laptops, mobile phones, handheld PCs, digital cameras, and various instruments. Inverters can also be used with generators, which can effectively save fuel and reduce noise. The power inverter has a wide range of uses. It can be used in various vehicles, such as automobiles, ships and aircraft.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/12v-24v-48v-power-inverter.jpg" alt="12v 24v 48v power inverter" width="700" height="250" /></p> <p>Invreter.com online store provides different voltage of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverters</a>: 12V, 24V, 48V power inverter and car inverter. Cheak the price list as shown below and choose the  power inverter to meet your need.</p> <p><strong>12V/ 24V/ 48V power inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="96" /> <col width="140" /> <col width="138" /> <col width="102" /> <col width="337" /> <col width="128" /> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="text-align: center;" colspan="6" width="941" height="19"><strong>12V Power Inverter</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Net. Weight </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">300w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-300w-inverter">ATO-M300W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.99 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">730g</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">500w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-500w-inverter">ATO-M500W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.100 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">970g</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">600w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-600w-inverter">ATO-M600W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.101 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">970g</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">1000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-1000w-inverter">ATO-M1000W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.102 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">2.3kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">1500w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-1500w-inverter">ATO-M1500W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.103 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">3.1kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">2000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-2000w-inverter">ATO-M2000W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.104 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">3.6kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">3000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-3000w-inverter">ATO-M3000W-12</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.105 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">4.7kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="text-align: center;" colspan="6" height="19"><strong>24V Power Inverter</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Net. Weight </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">300w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-300w-inverter">ATO-M300W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">67.99 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">730g</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">500w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-500w-inverter">ATO-M500W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">80.67 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">970g</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">600w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-600w-inverter">ATO-M600W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">93.54 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">970g</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">1000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-1000w-inverter">ATO-M1000W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">150.54 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">2.3kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">1500w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-1500w-inverter">ATO-M1500W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">184.46 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">3.1kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">2000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-2000w-inverter">ATO-M2000W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">227.58 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">3.6kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">3000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-3000w-inverter">ATO-M3000W-24</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">322.57 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">24V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">4.7kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="text-align: center;" colspan="6" height="19"><strong>48V Power Inverter</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Net. Weight </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">1000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-1000w-inverter">ATO-M1000W-48</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">150.54 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">48V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">4.7kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">1500w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-1500w-inverter">ATO-M1500W-48</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">184.46 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">48V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">3.1kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">2000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-2000w-inverter">ATO-M2000W-48</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">227.58 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">48V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">3.6kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">3000w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-3000w-inverter">ATO-M3000W-48</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">322.57 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">48V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">110V/120V AC ±5% or 220V/230V/240V AC ±5%</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">4.7kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl66" style="text-align: center;" colspan="6" height="19"><strong>Car Inverter</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;" height="19"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Net. Weight </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">75w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/75w-car-power-inverter">ATO-C75W</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">48.17 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">AC 220V±10V/AC 110V±10V</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">1.5kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">150w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/150w-car-power-inverter">ATO-C150W</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">64.58 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">AC 220V±10V/AC 110V±10V</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">0.3kg</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;" height="19">300w</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-car-power-inverter">ATO-C300W</a></td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">65.53 USD</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">12V DC</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">AC 220V±10V/AC 110V±10V</td> <td class="xl65" style="text-align: center;">0.64kg</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong><em><strong>Note</strong>: </em></strong><em><em>The prices in the table are for reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please contact us immediately.</em></em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:177 https://www.inverter.com/3-dangerous-phenomena-in-solar-panel 3 Dangerous Phenomena in Solar Panel <p><strong>First Phenomena:</strong> Its yellow and brown colors appear internally in the solar panel. Due to solar panel poor manufacturer understanding of material science, there will be unusual chemical reactions happened internally and cause the rear white plastic to turn to brown or yellow, also, this may happen to solar cells surface due to chemical reactions between silicon cell surface and chemicals used to treat the solar panel glass.</p> <p>This phenomenon happens in the first years of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> exposure to the sunlight, and fortunately there is no evidence of high solar panel performance bad effect, but it’s an indication of unusual something happened.</p> <p>To take rid of this phenomena, do a closely visual inspection to the solar panel before installing, checking for yellow and brown colors, and ask you supplier about how the manufacturer takes into consideration this issue, and how does he address it during manufacturing stage to avoid its occurrence.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3-dangerous-phenomena-in-solar-panel.jpg" alt="3 Dangerous Phenomena in Solar Panel" width="537" height="276" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Second Phenomena:</strong> Its dust, solder, dirt or any foreign particles creep inside unintentionally during solar panel assembly process, they cause air gaps or bubbles which can lead to premature solar panel failure, that is why the perfect and clean manufacturing environment is an essential and important matter. Also, the perfect alignment between solar cells inside the panel is very important, as poor alignment will lead to current leakage between solar cells.</p> <p>To avoid this phenomenon, give a closely check during solar panel assessment to make sure there is no inclusions under the glass and that all solar cells are perfectly aligned. Also, ask the supplier whether the solar panel manufacturer uses manually or automatically technology during solar panel assembly.  </p> <p><strong>Third Phenomena:</strong> It’s the leakage current occurs between solar cell surface and the glass in certain circumstances, which leading to current flow between the solar cell and solar panel frame and this will cause some kind of degradation, the degradation intensity will depend on system voltage and ambient temperature / humidity. Also, another phenomenon related to light degradation, as most of solar cells are subjected to light degradation when they first exposure to the sunlight, in other word, they loss some of their rated power due to increase in internal material density which lead to electrons movement restrictions, and at the end, less power flow will occur and solar panel rated power will be reduced. The good manufacturers know about this issue, and over rate the solar panel power capacity to avoid such power loss issue.</p> <p>So, when you are assessing your solar panel, you have to ask the supplier whether the solar panel manufacturer takes this phenomenon in consideration or not to minimize its side effect. </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:174 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-buy-a-solar-inverter-for-on-grid-system How to Buy a Solar Inverter for On Grid System? <p>Solar inverter is a main device and important part of PV on grid power system. In order to ensure the normal operation of the solar PV grid tie system, the correct configuration and selection of solar inverters are particularly important. For the configuration of the solar inverter, in addition to considering the technical specifications of the entire photovoltaic power generation system and referring to the product manual, the following technical features should also be considered.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-the-inverter-in-solar-on-grid-power-system.jpg" alt="Schematic Diagram of the Inverter in Solar On Grid Power System" width="562" height="346" /></p> <p><strong>1. Rated Output Power of the Solar Inverter</strong></p> <p>The rated output power represents the ability of the solar inverter to supply power to the load. Solar inverters with high rated output power can carry more electrical loads. When selecting a solar inverter, the first consideration should be that the inverter should have sufficient rated power to meet the electrical power requirements of the equipment under the maximum load, as well as the expansion of the system and the access of some temporary loads. When the electrical equipment is living on pure resistive load, or its power factor is greater than 0.9, the selected rated output power of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> should be 10%~15% higher than the total power of the electrical equipment.</p> <p><strong>2. Output Voltage Adjustability of the Solar Inverter</strong></p> <p>Adjustment performance of the output voltage represents the ability of the solar inverter to stabilize its output voltage. Generally, solar inverter products show the percentage of fluctuation deviation of the output voltage of the solar inverter when the DC input voltage changes within the allowable fluctuation range. Usually, this percentage is called the voltage regulation rate. High-performance solar inverters should also provide the percentage deviation of the output voltage of the solar inverter when the load changes from 0 to 100%. This percentage is usually called the load regulation rate. The voltage regulation rate of a solar inverter with good performance should be less than or equal to ±3%, and the load regulation rate should be less than or equal to ±6%.</p> <p><strong>3. Overall Efficiency of the Solar Inverter</strong></p> <p>The overall efficiency represents the power loss of the solar inverter itself. Larger capacity solar inverters should also provide efficiency values under full load and low load operation. In general, the efficiency of inverters below the kW class should be 80%~85%. The efficiency of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">a 10kW grid tie solar inverter</a> should be 85%~90%. The efficiency of more power must be above 90%~95%. Efficiency of the solar inverter has an important impact on the solar on grid power system to increase the effective power generation and reduce the cost of power generation. Therefore, when choosing a solar inverter, it is necessary to compare as much as possible, and then choose a product with a higher overall efficiency.</p> <p><strong>4. Start-Up Performance of the Solar Inverter</strong></p> <p>Solar inverter should be guaranteed to start reliably under rated load. The high-performance solar inverter can be started at full load multiple times without damaging the power switching devices and other circuits. For their own safety, small inverters sometimes adopt soft start or current limiting start measures or circuits.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-pv-on-grid-power-system.jpg" alt="Solar PV On Grid Power System" width="431" height="280" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>When buying a solar inverter, the first consideration is the scale of the PV on grid power station. You need to determine whether it is used in the home or in the business. In some places, solar panels cannot be installed due to the structural conditions of the houses, but they are still very advantageous for factories and enterprises. Small family PV on grid power plants are mainly installed for villas.</p> <p>The second consideration is efficiency. Efficiency is directly linked to power generation.</p> <p>Finally, reliability should be considered. Photovoltaic grid tie power system is a system that converts the direct current generated by solar cells into alternating current with the same frequency and phase as the grid voltage, and realizes both power supply to the load and power generation to the grid. The PV on grid power system is mainly composed of photovoltaic arrays, solar grid tie inverters, controllers and relay protection devices. The PV array is the main component of the solar on grid power system, which directly converts the received solar energy into electrical energy. At present, photovoltaic arrays used in engineering are generally composed of a certain number of crystalline silicon solar cell modules in series and parallel according to the voltage requirements of the system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:175 https://www.inverter.com/solar-panels-real-quality Solar Panels Real Quality <p>Solar panels like any other product are Not the same, as some solar panels manufacturers use the high quality equipment and materials in manufacturing process, while others do Not. The used high quality materials will lead to high solar panels performance and high reliability. Those <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar products</a> manufacturers who always conduct researches to develop their solar panels manufacturing process are absolutely the best for us to buy from even their prices may be a bit higher than others.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-real-quality.jpg" alt="Solar Panels Real Quality" width="400" height="269" />Mainly, the solar panel is manufactured of a different composite of chemically treated silicon cells, glass, aluminum, plastic, sealants and interconnected wiring. And for whole solar panel life, it will be existing outdoor and exposed to harsh environment of direct sun and rain, which will affect certainly on solar panel materials, changing its chemical properties, and perhaps solar panel internal materials react to each other and create new compounds and chemicals which affect their performance as well. Also, due to harsh change in external environment, the solar panel elasticity will change which will affect badly the tension and stress of different materials they do on each other.</p> <p>That is why the solar manufacturers who are well understanding materials properties science and investing in related researches are able to anticipate these changes occur over the entire solar panel life time and provide production solutions to reduce its side effects or even eliminating it. </p> <p>Of course such experienced solar panel manufacturers who are well understand these issue and provide solutions during manufacturing process will have ISO accreditation and will have quality and control assurances showing them in their marketing and promotional materials.</p> <p>Such manufacturers usually have well know brands which are famous in the solar panel market, with long experience and presence. And those who you have to search for when deciding to purchase and install your new solar photovoltaic system, because such solar panels brand will make big difference in your whole PV system electricity generation, reliability, high quality performance and longer life span.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:173 https://www.inverter.com/3-important-components-in-solar-panel 3 Important Components in Solar Panel <p>Those are 3 important components in any solar panel with high influence on solar panel quality, performance and life span. So, let us show their effects and how can we choose the best characteristics as following:</p> <p><strong>Solar Panel Interconnectors</strong></p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/3-important-components-in-solar-panel.jpg" alt="3 Important Components in Solar Panel" width="500" height="332" />They are a flat conductive ribbons which connect the solar cells within the solar panel in series and parallel. These ribbons width, numbers, thickness differ from one solar panel manufacturer to another.</p> <p>Due to weather, especially sun heat, thermal contraction and expansion will surely happen, causing a stress on these interconnectors, and as a result, they may break or make an arc burning the internal material. The quality manufacturers take this issue into consideration, and providing solutions to avoid its occurrence during manufacturing stages, as they use high quality materials in addition to their long experience in material science. So, we have to ask our solar panel and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> supplier about the type, quantity, alignment and size of these interconnectors, and used soldering approach in which the manufacturer does. </p> <p><strong>Solar Panel Frame</strong></p> <p>Usually solar panel manufacturers use aluminum frames with mounting points. The frame is connected to the glass laminate via special material which play an important role in reducing stress resulting from different contraction and expansion between the glass and the frame due to weather variation effect. This material is made from rubber or flexible tapes to allow some movement tolerance. There are many types of frames like double wall, rigid, quite thin and fixable, and each type has its own advantages. When assessing our new solar panel, we have to look more deeply to observe the material integrity, and how it used to connect the glass laminate to the frame, and we have to ask the manufacture about flexibility and whether these components provide some kind of tolerance or not.  </p> <p><strong>Junction Box</strong></p> <p>It’s a box attached the solar panel back to seal the interconnectors output from the solar panel, so the moisture cannot creep inside the solar panel, and usually this box is made of aluminum or plastic.</p> <p>The box has other benefits, as combining connections and tighten them, so we will be able to connect solar panels exit cables together providing solar strings. It protects connections from weather variation and keep their quality over several decades.</p> <p>Also, the junction box has small electronic components called diodes which providing protection to the solar cells in case of partial shadow.</p> <p>The important point we have to ask our solar panel supplier about is whether junction box material is flammable or not, and we have to make careful visual inspection to ensure junction box good fitness, perfect sealed and quality workmanship.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:167 https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter-vs-ups Sine Wave Inverter vs UPS <p>An inverter is a device composed of inverter device and component, which is directly different from a transformer. In other words, the inverter can realize DC input and then output AC. The working principle is similar to that of a switching power supply, but the oscillation frequency is within a certain range. For example, if the frequency is 50Hz, the output will be AC 50Hz. An inverter is a device that its frequency can be changed. UPS (Uninterruptible Power System/Uninterruptible Power Supply) is system equipment that connects batteries (mostly lead-acid maintenance-free batteries) with the host, and converts DC power into mains power through module circuits such as the host inverter. It provides uninterrupted power, and is mainly used to some equipment that requires high power supply stability.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/comparison-of-sine-wave-inverter-and-normal-inverter-ups.jpg" alt="Comparison of Sine Wave Inverter and Normal Inverter &amp; UPS " width="800" height="311" /></p> <p><strong><strong>Difference between </strong>Sine Wave Inverter and UPS Power Supply</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The sine wave inverter can convert DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current), and UPS power has 3 modes: bypass mode, mains mode, and battery mode.</li> <li>Generally speaking, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> is just a pure invert device, without any filtering impurities functions.</li> <li>In bypass mode of the UPS power supply, it will directly pass the mains power without passing UPS power supply host. In the mains mode, the mains power the impurities of the mains power will be filtered via the machine's rectifier, and then outputs to the equipment to supply power via the inverter. In battery mode, it will output to the device through the direct current (battery power) via the inverter.</li> <li>The sine wave inverter and the UPS power supply system are roughly have the same function and principle, and both of them can achieve the following 2 functions:</li> </ol> <p>(1) Provide a way to adjust voltage changes, eliminate various electrical interferences, and provide high-quality power supply.</p> <p>(2) In case of AC mains failure, sine wave inverter and UPS can provide necessary backup power supply. The biggest difference between the two is that the UPS needs to be equipped with a battery pack with a short backup time. While the sine wave inverter does not need to be equipped with a battery. It can directly use the various voltage DC screens in the communication room. With large capacity, it can guarantee network is running uninterrupted for a long time.</p> <p><strong>Difference between Sine Wave Inverter and Normal Inverter</strong></p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Pure sine wave inverter is suitable for any inductive load and resistive load. Inductive loads include various equipment with AC motors (refrigerators, washing machines, etc.). Square wave and modified wave inverters are suitable for resistive loads such as lights, televisions, and electric heaters.</li> <li>Pure sine wave inverters have strict requirements on functions and specifications, and are relatively expensive. Generally, inverter is a hybrid waveform of sine wave, square wave, clutter, which can be used for general electrical appliances and with lower price.</li> <li>The main difference between a pure sine wave inverter and a normal inverter is that the output voltage waveform is different. The pure sine wave inverter is suitable for all appliances, while the normal inverter is suitable for pure resistance appliances such as electric furnaces.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:166 https://www.inverter.com/failure-analysis-of-centrifugal-pump Failure Analysis of Centrifugal Pump <p>Centrifugal pump is a pump that relies on the centrifugal force generated when the impeller rotates to transport liquid. What causes the centrifugal pump to fail to deliver water? Here are the failure analyses.</p> <ol> <li><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/horizontal-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Horizontal Centrifugal Pump" width="491" height="340" />Some users do not fill enough water before the pump is started. Sometimes it seems that the water filled has overflowed from the vent hole, but the pump shaft is not rotated and the air is completely discharged, causing a little air to remain in the inlet pipe or pump body.</li> <li>The downward gradient of 0.5% or more shall be applied to the reverse flow direction of the horizontal section of the inlet pipe contacting the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a>. The end connected to the inlet of the centrifugal pump is the highest, not completely horizontal. If it is tilted upwards, air will be trapped in the water inlet pipe. This reduces the vacuum in the water pipe and the centrifugal pump and affects water absorption.</li> <li>The packing of the centrifugal pump has worn out due to long-term use, or because the packing is too loose, causing a large amount of water to spray out from the gap between the packing and the shaft sleeve of the pump. As a result, external air enters the interior of the centrifugal pump from these gaps and affects the lifting of water.</li> <li>Due to long-term potential underwater, the inlet pipe has holes in the wall corrosion. After the pump worked, the water surface kept dropping. When these holes are exposed to the surface of the water, air enters the inlet pipe from the holes.</li> <li>If there are cracks in the elbow of the inlet pipe, and there is a tiny gap between the inlet pipe and the centrifugal pump, it may cause air to enter the inlet pipe.</li> <li>Too much suction. Some water sources are deep, and some water sources have a relatively flat periphery, ignoring the allowable suction stroke of the pump, resulting in little or no water absorption. It is necessary to know that the degree of vacuum that can be established at the suction port of the water pump is limited. The suction range in absolute vacuum is about 10 meters water column height, and it is impossible for a water pump to establish an absolute vacuum. Moreover, if the vacuum is too large, it is easy to vaporize the water in the pump, which is not good for the pump. Therefore, each centrifugal pump has its maximum allowable suction stroke, which is generally between 3 and 8.5 meters. When installing a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">water pump</a>, you must not just covet convenience and simplicity.</li> <li>The resistance loss in the water inlet and outlet pipes is too large. Some users have found through measurement that although the vertical distance from the reservoir or water tower to the water surface is slightly smaller than the pump lift, the amount of water lifted is still small or unable to lift the water. The reason is often that the pipe is too long, the water pipe has many bends, and the resistance loss of the water flow in the pipe is too large. In general, a 90-degree elbow has greater resistance than a 120-degree elbow. The head loss of each 90-degree elbow is about 0.5 to 1 meter, and the resistance of every 20 meters of pipe can make the head loss about 1 meter. In addition, some users also arbitrarily arrange the pipe diameters of the water pump inlet and outlet pipes, which also have a certain impact on the head.</li> <li>The pump speed is too low.</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Human factors. A considerable part of the users, due to the damage of the original motor, will be driven by another motor at will. As a result, the flow rate is low, the head is low, or even the water cannot be pumped.</li> <li>Wear of the transmission belt. Many large-scale water separation pumps use belt transmission. Due to long-term use, the transmission belt wears and changes and slips, which reduces the speed of the pump.</li> <li>Improper installation. The center distance between the two pulleys is too small or the two shafts are not too parallel; the tight side of the transmission belt is installed on it; the wrap angle is too small; errors in the calculation of the diameter of the two pulleys and the large eccentricity of the two shafts of the coupling drive will cause the change of the pump speed.</li> <li>Mechanical failure of the centrifugal pump itself. The fastening nut between the impeller and the pump shaft is loose or the pump shaft is deformed and bent, causing the impeller to move too much, directly rubbing against the pump body, or the bearing is damaged. These may reduce the speed of the pump.</li> <li>Power machine maintenance is not recorded. The motor loses its magnetism due to burnt windings. Changes in the number of winding turns, wire diameters, and wiring methods during maintenance, or failure to completely eliminate factors during maintenance can also change the pump speed.</li> </ul> <p>Other factors</p> <ul> <li>The bottom valve cannot be opened. It is usually caused by the fact that the bottom valve gasket is stuck due to the long time that the pump has been stored. A bottom valve without a gasket may rust to death.</li> <li>The filter screen of the bottom valve is clogged, or the bottom valve is potentially in the sludge layer in the water, causing the block of the filtering net.</li> <li>The impeller is severely worn. The impeller blades wear out after long-term use, which affects the pump performance.</li> <li>The failure or blockage of the gate valve or check valve will cause the flow to decrease or even fail to pump water.</li> <li>Leakage of the outlet pipe will also affect the amount of water lifted.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:172 https://www.inverter.com/solar-pv-inverter-troubleshooting Solar PV Inverter Troubleshooting <p>The solar inverter is the safety control center of PV system. Thus, during the PV system operation, the inverter condition, including the temperature and operation of interval cavity and main element, the bus voltage and the communication among chips, shall be inspected from time to time. In addition, the insulation among components and DC system, the DC voltage and current, the AC output voltage, current and frequency shall also be inspected. In case of any failure, it shall be solved in time.</p> <p>People who always maintain the solar power inverter may find that inverter will not stop working immediately after the failure appears. When some failures appear, the PV inverter only gives alarm and shows red light, but it will not stop immediately. When some other failures appear, the solar inverter will stop immediately but the stop time is different. Why?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-solar-inverter-application.jpg" alt="Grid tie solar inverter application" width="600" height="445" /></p> <p>When people are ill, the illness degree will be different. Some can be cured automatically or be cured by taking medicines, like common cold. Thus, it will not affect people's normal work. However, some illnesses are serious and need to be treated in the hospital. This is also true for the solar PV inverter. The inverter failure also includes general failure and serious failure. The main goal of the whole system is to improve power generation. Thus, when some small failure appears, the system will work normally because the failure can not bring big impact. If the device stops working immediately after a failure appears, the power generation will be affected. Instead, if we choose to stop the device at night and at the cloudy day, it will not bring big impact on the power generation. If the failure will affect personnel safety, device safety, or belongs to the failure regulated by related safety regulation, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar PV inverter</a> shall be stopped immediately.</p> <p><strong>General failure</strong></p> <p>When the general failure appears, the device or the monitor will generate alarm by flashing red light or buzzing sound. It reminds user to handle with the failure in time but it can be delayed for a while. But the following situations shall be emphasized:</p> <ul> <li>Current leakage: The current leakage will be caused by excessively small DC and AC insulation resistance. Most manufacturers will set up two insulation resistance values, such as 100kohm and 50kohm. When it is lower than 100kohm, PV inverter will give alarm but will not stop working. Under this situation, the maintenance staff can close the site and solve the problem at night. If it is slightly lower than 100kohm, it will not cause serious impact. But if it is lower than 50kohm, it violates the safety regulation and the device shall be stopped immediately.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Fan failure: Currently, large-size Photovoltaic inverter will use three or more fans. The solar inverter usually adopts the intelligent fan cooling system and the fan will be started when certain temperature is reached. In addition, the fan running speed will increase with the increasing of the temperature degree. Thus, if it is found that a fan is not started, it is not necessary to stop the inverter immediately. By slightly decreasing the output power, the inverter can keep working for some time. It will take some time to find the failure and solve the failure. Thus, making the inverter keep running can save some electricity fee.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>External communication failure: The external communication of solar power inverter is very important but it is not necessary at all time. Thus, the external communication failure can be solved a little later.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Series group failure. If a series group has broken circuit or short circuit, this serious group can be removed directly, which will not affect the power generation function of other groups.</li> </ul> <p>The commonness of the general failure: The general failure will not cause serious impact on personnel safety and solar PV inverter safety. The situation will not become worse immediately and can be solved a little later. But it does not mean that the general failure does not need to be solved. As long as the inverter gives alarm, users shall handle with it as soon as possible and the inverter shall be restarted after the failure is solved.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid tie solar inverter" width="600" height="449" /></p> <p><strong>Serious failure</strong></p> <p>When the serious failure is detected by the solar inverter, it will start protection system and stop working immediately to prevent situation becoming worse. Specific situations are as following:</p> <ul> <li>Serious device fault: It includes excessively high temperature, over-current protection, bus voltage abnormality, delay abnormality, drive abnormality, auxiliary power source abnormality, etc. When the Photovoltaic inverter encounters hardware or software failure, it can not keep working and will stop. Solar inverter is the safety manager of the PV system. To ensure that investors can manage the power station easily, manufacturers that work with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a> designs many monitor tools so that investors can check the power station operation situation from the mobile App or from the computer. In case of any failure, the reminding message will be sent to the power station management staff by SMS or e-mail. In addition, the investor shall also form the habit of checking the operation data of the power station frequently so that they can discover and solve problems in time.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Safety aspect: If the defaults like high DC voltage, low DC insulation impedance and AFCI DC arc are not handled immediately, they may cause personnel electric shock or fire accident, or they will affect the normal operation of other power grid equipment.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Safety regulation: The faults regulated by safety regulation include the abnormal grid voltage, no mains power, abnormal grid frequency, high DC component, etc. There are many safety regulations about the solar PV inverter, most of which are the design requirements of the inverter. If any situations that violate safety regulation appear in system operation, the inverter shall be stopped immediately.The situations that violate safety regulation are mainly about the grid voltage and frequency.</li> </ul> <p>Based on the national standard, the protection range of the under-voltage and over-voltage at the AC output side is the 85%-110% of the rated voltage. The solar panel inverter operation shall be stopped when it exceeds this range. The rated voltage of the single-phase grid is 230V. When the grid voltage is lower than 195.5V or is higher than 253V, principally the Photovoltaic inverter shall be stopped. The rated voltage of the three-phase grid is 400V. when the grid voltage is lower than 340V or is higher than 440V, principally, the inverter shall be stopped. If the frequency is among 49.5Hz to 50.2Hz, the PV inverter can work continuously. But if the frequency is among 48Hz and 50.2Hz, the solar inverter shall be stopped within 10 minutes. If the frequency is lower than 48Hz, the inverter shall be stopped within 0.2 seconds.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:164 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-series-and-parallel-inverter Difference between Series and Parallel Inverter <p>The difference of series inverter and parallel inverter is that they use different oscillation circuits. The series inverter connects L, R and c in series and parallel inverter connects L, R and c in parallel.</p> <p><strong>Series Inverter vs. Parallel Inverter</strong></p> <ol> <li>The load circuit of series inverter has low impedance. The voltage source power supply is required and the large filter capacitor shall be connected at the DC power terminal in parallel. If the inverter fails, it is difficult to provide protection because of large surge current. The load circuit of parallel inverter shows high impedance and the current source power supply is required. The large reactor shall be connected at the DC power terminal in series. If the inverter fails, it is easy to provide protection because the large inductor can limit the current so as to avoid large impact.</li> <li>The output voltage of the series inverter shows a rectangular wave and the output current shows an approximate sinusoidal wave. When the current on the thyristor shows zero crossing, the current inversion will be conducted. This is why the current always leads the voltage. The output voltage of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a> in parallel connection is approximately a sinusoidal wave and the output current shows a rectangular wave. The commutation is carried out before the zero crossing of the voltage on the resonant capacitor. Thus, the load current always leads the voltage. Both the series inverter and the parallel inverter work under the capacitive loading status.</li> <li>The series inverter adopts the power supply with constant voltage. To avoid the short circuit caused by the simultaneous conduction of the upper and lower arm thyristors of the inverter, the switch shall be turned off first and then be turned on in the current inverting process. The parallel inverter adopts the power supply with constant current source. To avoid the large induced potential caused by filter reactance, the current shall be continuous. It shall be ensured that the upper and lower arm thyristors of the inverter shall be turned on first and then be turned off in the current inverting process.</li> <li>The work frequency of the series inverter shall be lower than the oscillation frequency of the load circuit. The work frequency of the parallel inverter shall be slightly higher than the oscillation frequency of the load circuit.</li> <li>There are two methods to adjust the power of series inverter. That is to change the DC voltage or the thyristor trigger frequency. Normally, the power of parallel inverter can only be adjusted by changing the DC voltage. In addition, the power can also be increased by adjusting the inverter leading angle but the adjustable range is small.</li> <li>In the current inverting process of the series inverter, the thyristor is turned off naturally and the off time is very short, so small loss is caused. But in the current inverting process of the parallel inverter, the thyristor is forced to be turned off for long time and the great loss will be caused. Thus, the series inverter can be used in the heating device with high-frequency induction.</li> <li>The thyristor of series inverter does not need to bear high voltage. When adopting the 380V power grid, the thyristor of 1200V can be used. However, the thyristor shall load all the current, including the active and reactive current. When the inverter thyristor loses the pulse, the oscillation will stop but the inverter will not be overturned. The voltage loaded by the thyristor of parallel inverter is relatively high and the voltage is increased rapidly with the increasing of power factor angle. The load constitutes an oscillating current circuit. When the active current passes by the thyristor and the thyristor accidentally looses the trigger pulse, the oscillation can stilled be maintained and can work stably.</li> <li>The series inverter can work under both self-excitation and external-excitation. When it works under external-excitation, it is only necessary to adjust the trigger pulse of the inverter. Normally, the parallel inverter can only work under the self-excitation status.</li> <li>If the trigger pulse of the series inverter thyristor is asymmetry, the DC will not be introduced and the normal operation will not be affected. However, if the trigger pulse of the parallel inverter is asymmetry, the DC will be introduced and the failure will be caused.</li> <li>The series inverter can be started easily and can be applied in the workplace that requires frequently power starting. Meanwhile, the parallel inverter cannot be started easily because the additional starting circuit is required for starting the parallel inverter.</li> <li>As the series inverter thyristor bears the rectangular wave voltage, the voltage loaded on the thyristor will increase greatly. The absorption circuit plays an important role in this process. It is not necessary to have high current rise rate. The current passing by the thyristor of the parallel inverter is the rectangular wave. Thus, the high current rise rate is required but it is not necessary to have high voltage rise rate (du/dt).</li> <li>When the induction heating coil and the inverter power supply (include the tank capacitor) of the series inverter are distant from each other, the output power will not be greatly affected. If the coaxial cable is used or the forth-and-back cables are set closely together (it is better to twist them together), basically the output power will not be affected at all. The heating coil and the power supply (especially the tank capacitor) of the parallel inverter shall be set together as close as possible. Otherwise, the power output and the work efficiency will be greatly reduced.</li> <li>The voltage on the induction coil of the series inverter and the parallel inverter is Q times of the inverter output voltage. The current passing by the induction coil is equal to the output current of the inverter.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:161 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-improve-service-life-of-solar-inverter How to Improve Service Life of Solar Inverter? <p>Solar inverter is an electronic product and its service life is limited due to the limit of the components. However, many inverters are damaged before the service life expires and the actual service life is shorter than the designed theoretical service life. The service life is determined by the product quality and the post-period installation, operation and maintenance conditions. So, how to improve the service life of the solar inverter?</p> <p><strong>Internal temperature of the solar inverter</strong></p> <p>The temperature is an important factor that can affect the solar inverter service life and the excessively high temperature can decrease the property and service life of the component. Related researches prove that every time when the temperature increases by 10 degree, the service life of the electrolytic capacitor will be decreased by 50% and the failure rate of the power module will be doubled. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverter</a> is a heating generation device and its power module, inductor, switch, cable and other circuit will generate heat. These heat shall be dissipated in time and shall not be stored in a sealed space. Otherwise, the temperature will become higher and higher.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/3-phase-on-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="3-phase on grid solar inverter" width="400" height="418" /></p> <ol> <li>The solar power inverter shall be placed in the ventilation space. If it is stored in indoor place, the indoor space shall be more than 10 times of the inverter size. It is suggested to install exhaust fans and other related device. If possible, the air conditioner can be installed.</li> <li>The direct sunlight shall be avoided. If the solar inverter is installed in outdoor place, it shall be installed along the wall or under the frame so that the sunlight can be blocked by the roof or the component. If the inverter has to be installed in an empty place, the sunshine shed shall be installed to prevent the inverter from rain or sunlight.</li> <li>If a few sets of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverters</a> are installed together, certain distance between the air outlet of one inverter and the air inlet of another inverter shall be guaranteed to ensure good heat dissipation. And this distance shall be at least 0.5m.</li> <li>The  solar inverter shall be installed at a place away from the boilers, electric stoves, oil hot heater, heating pipes and other hot places.</li> <li>If the inverter output power is high, more heat energy will be generated. Thus, to prolong the service life, the matching ratio of the PV component and the inverter shall not greatly exceed the standard.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Solar inverter voltage and current</strong></p> <p>If people are always restless, angry and nervous, the immune system will be suppressed and destroyed under the long-term high pressure. Thus, people’s cardiovascular system will become vulnerable and people’s life will be affected. This is also true for the components. If the component bears high voltage and high current, the service life will be decreased accordingly.</p> <ul> <li>The solar power inverter input voltage shall meet certain range. For example, some range is 200-1000V. It means as long as the input voltage is in this range, the inverter can work normally. However, even though the input voltage is in this range, the PV inverter service life is different with different input voltage. When the component power is fixed, the series component voltage shall not be too high or too low. It is better to ensure the series component voltage is close to the inverter rated voltage. For instance, if the single-phase output voltage of the inverter is 220V, the series component voltage can be adjusted around 330V. If the three-phase output voltage of the inverter is 400V, the series component voltage can be set around 630V. Under these situations, the highest inverter efficiency and the highest safety can be guaranteed. If the series component voltage is set as 800V, the work efficiency of the solar inverter will be decreased and the power devices and current bus capacitors would bear high voltage. Thus, the service life of the insulation layer will be decreased and the inverter service life will be reduced.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Under the same power condition, if the voltage is decreased and the current is increased, the inverter service life will be affected. For a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">50kW grid tie inverter</a>, if the DC voltage is set as 600V and the DC current will be around 100A. If the DC voltage is set as 400V, the DC current will be around 150V. As the heat of the inverter is mainly caused by the current, this configuration will increase the heat energy by 50%. The inverter temperature will be increased and the service life will be shortened.</li> </ul> <p><strong>External environment of the solar inverter</strong></p> <p>It is also very significant to create a good external environment for the solar inverter. Although PV inverter can meet IP65 outdoor protection condition and can prevent itself from the dust, rain and fog, the service life of the inverter in clean environment is longer than that of the PV inverter in dirt environment.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3-phase-solar-grid-tie-inverter-application.jpg" alt="3-phase solar grid tie inverter application" width="600" height="399" /></p> <ul> <li>It is better to install the solar power inverter in a sealed space when the external environment has serious pollution or heavy dust. This is because when dust falls down on the radiator, the heat radiation function will be affected. In addition, if dust, tree leaves and sand come into the air pipe of the inverter, the heat radiation function will also be affected.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>The solar inverter service life will also be affected by the power quality of the power grid. If the grid voltage is unstable or the grid harmonic is high, the inverter will start the protection function and will stop working when the voltage exceeds certain range. When the voltage is back to normal level, the inverter will start to work again. However, starting the inverter repeatedly will decrease the service life. What’s more, the service life can also be influenced by the system grounding, lightning protection, DC and AC circuit insulation conditions.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>The designed service life of the PV inverter released from factory is same, but the real service life will be greatly affected by installation, operation and maintenance factors. To improve its service life, firstly a good installation environment shall be created to avoid the poor environment’s influence. On the other hand, the inverter shall be inspected frequently to find out any abnormal noise, odorless, abnormally high temperature or impurity. The inverter shall be maintained in clean status and the heat radiation pipe shall be smooth. The wire shall also be well connected.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:163 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-use-solar-inverter-safely How to Use Solar Inverter Safely? <p>Solar inverter shall realize the highest efficiency in wide power range conditions. Meanwhile, using a solar inverter shall meet the strict safety requirements. The property of the solar inverter is essentially determined by the accurate measurement of basic electricity.</p> <p>To realize the potential function, solar PV system shall improve the power generation efficiency to reduce the cost per kilowatt. It is widely known that solar cell manufactures are constantly making efforts to improve the basic efficiency of converting solar radiation into power. Meanwhile, PV manufactures are also improving the design of the next generation inverter. By adding the diagnosis function and other functions, they have improved the inverter power and efficiency and have improved its intelligence and function.</p> <p><strong>Circuit Safety Issue of Solar Inverter</strong></p> <p>First is the circuit safe of solar inverter. The inverter adopted by solar panel is connected with the grid through the voltage transformer or by the direct connection method (no transformer is used). If the first method is adopted, the power-frequency transformer or the high-frequency transformer can be used at the grid connection point based on the layout situation so as to isolate the solar inverter circuit. If the circuit adopts low-frequency transformer to provide internal protection, it can prevent DC coming into AC grid, but the energy loss caused by the transformer itself will cause the efficiency loss. Due to the inaccurate IGBT exchange, the AC output of the solar inverter may contain DC.</p> <p>In control circuit of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">the solar inverter</a>, the DC offset of the current senor adopted by it displays the DC of the output circuit. Thus, the offset shall be minimized. Strict requirements is put forward on the DC power supply that can be accepted by grid. For the designers, the problem is that the requirements are different in different countries. In addition, some requirements are expressed by the rated current percentage (e.g. 0.5%) and some is expressed by the absolute limits of 20mA (British Standard). In all these cases, the small DC in the large AC shall be measured and the minimum offset and drift shall be guaranteed.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><strong><img src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/how-to-use-solar-inverter-safely.jpg" alt="How to Use Solar Inverter Safely?" /></strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Leakage Safety Issue of Solar Inverter</strong></p> <p>Another safety issue that shall be emphasized is the earth leakage issue. If no transformer is equipped, the solar cell drain capacitance and human body impedance always adopt grounding connection. The residual current device (RCD) shall be used to detect the unsafe current flowing into the ground or the current sensor of appropriate specification shall be used to include the RCD function into the solar inverter. Based on this method, the system can be started and operated at different regulated safety levels (several milliamperes) (AC and DC). At the same time, it can bear the strong grounding current generated by the capacitance between the solar cell device and the nearby ground.</p> <p>The output terminal of the solar inverter shall be emphasized to ensure the synchronization with the grid. The solar inverter has to output the sinusoidal AC. Thus, the harmonic wave shall be minimized. At the same time, the rapid response to the current changes at one grid side shall be guaranteed. The adopted sensor shall has fast response speed and the low zero drift. Reducing the zero drift caused by the temperature change is also benefit for the reducing the dependence on complex compensation algorithm. On the contrary, it is necessary to minimize the current phase change at the DC input terminal of the solar inverter that monitoring MPPT by the sensor. Thus, the open-loop sensor with low cost can be used.</p> <p>The solar inverters that are not connected with the power grid, such as the rechargeable battery adopted in standby system, are not limited by state grid. However, they also need to meet many same safety and efficiency requirements.</p> <p>The safety criteria that shall be followed by solar inverter designers may become stricter and stricter. For instance, just like the limit on the input of DC power into the grid, some consensus may be reached on the allowable total harmonic wave of the solar inverter output current. By far, many different local limitations are put forward based on the layout situation. Thus, it requires that when the power grid frequency is greatly higher than 50Hz or 60Hz, the current shall be measured accurately.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:162 https://www.inverter.com/analysis-on-off-grid-inverter-overload-capacity Analysis on Off-Grid Inverter Overload Capacity <p>In the solar PV grid system, the solar module, inverter and power grid can constitute the electrical system. The component will convert the solar energy based on the solar radiation and then inverter will output related power. Thus, an on grid inverter does not have special demand on the AC overload because basically the inverter output power will not exceed component power. In the solar PV off-grid system, component, battery, inverter and load constitute the electrical system. The output power of the inverter is decided by the load. The start power of motor of some inductive-load devices like air conditioner or water pump is 3-5 times of the rated power. Thus, the off grid inverter has special requirements on the overload situation.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-inverter-in-home-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter in home solar system" width="702" height="608" /></p> <p>The peak power of the off grid inverter that adopts high-frequency insulation technology can be 2 times of the rated power. Peak power of the off grid inverter that adopts power-frequency isolation technology can be 3 times of the rated power. A set of 3kW high frequency off grid inverter can drive a set of 1P air conditioner (The start power is about 5.5kVA). <a href="https://www.inverter.com/12kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">A 12kW power-frequency off grid inverter</a> can drive a set of 6P air conditioner (The start power is about 33kVA). Some energy provided by the inverter to drive the load is from the battery or solar PV module. If it is not enough, the excess part is from the energy storage elements (capacitors and inductors) of the inverter.</p> <p><strong>Analysis the Off Grid Inverter Overload Capacity from Circuit</strong></p> <p>Capacitors and inductors are both energy storage components. The difference is that the capacitor store power energy in electric field form. The larger capacitor capacity is, the larger the stored power will be. The inductor stores power energy in magnetic field form. The larger the permeability of the inductor core is, the larger the inductance and the stored power energy will be.</p> <p>The work principle of capacitor can be discovered from its structure. As shown in the following diagram, the two sides are separately equipped with a mental plate to lead out two electrodes. At the same time, the middle place is isolated by the insulation material. Under the situation that no external electric field is added on the 2 capacitors terminals, the positive and negative charges on the two electrode plates are in balance status.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/capacitor-principle-of-off-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Capacitor principle of off-grid inverter" width="468" height="210" /></p> <p>As shown in the above photo, it can be found that when external electric field is added on the 2 capacitors terminals, the positive charges are accumulated on one electrode plate and the negative charges are accumulated on the other electrode plate. When the voltage at the 2 capacitors terminals continuously increases and reaches the power voltage, the capacitor will stop charging. Under this situation, the capacitor energy will not disappear even if the external circuit connection is cut off. This is affected by the rule that like electric charges repel and unlike ones attract. The charges at two terminals attract each other to store the energy.</p> <p>Power-frequency isolation transformer refers to the transformer with 50Hz frequency. Primary and secondary transformers all have inductors which can store certain power energy, just like the filter inductor of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">the off grid inverter</a>. When the inductor passes through the current, the current has the magnetic field. When the current magnetic field passes by the magnetic core, the current magnetic field will break the balance status of the magnetic domain and drives the magnetic domain to the external magnetic field direction. Thus, the magnetic core will create an external magnetic field. The external magnetic field generation process is actually the process of how the magnetic field is stored by the inductor.</p> <p>The inductor is a component made of enameled wire and it is added on the insulating framework or magnetic core. When the current passes the coil, the magnetic field will be generated around it. When the passed current contains AC, the generated magnetic field will change frequently. In accordance with the electromagnetic induction principles, the changing magnetic line will generate induction electromotive force at two coil terminals. However, the direction of this induction electromotive force is opposite with the direction of the original induction electromotive force, which can prevent the current change.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inductor-principle-of-off-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Inductor principle of off-grid inverter" width="550" height="313" /></p> <p>It can be concluded that inductor is mainly used to prevent the current change. When the current increases, it will hinder the current increase and will store some energy through the magnetic field. When the current decreases, it will hinder the decrease of the current in the circuit and will release some stored power to maintain the current. Due to its energy storage characteristics, the inductor can realize the filter and delay functions.</p> <p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>In solar PV off grid system, the output power is determined by the load. When motor or other devices with inductive load are started, the large current will be required within short time. The PV system and battery are not able to provide this energy. In addition, if the lithium battery outputs excessively in short time, it may explore. However, the capacitor, inductor, transformer of the off grid inverter can store power and will not be damaged even if it amplifies the output for several times in a short time. Therefore, off grid inverters can be overloaded several times.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:159 https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter-functions Solar Pump Inverter Functions <p>Solar pump inverter is used to control and regulate the operation of solar water pump system (PV pumping system). It can convert the DC from the solar array into AC to drive the water pump. In addition, it can adjust the output frequency in real time according to the sunlight intensity so as to achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT).</p> <p>Solar pump inverter is one of the various types of power inverters. Its function is similar with the function of common on grid inverter. The two inverters are both used to convert solar DC into AC. But the solar pump inverter is greatly improved. Thus, it can greatly save the system cost and can expand the solar energy application range.</p> <p>Solar pump inverter is an off grid inverter. It does not rely on the power grid and can drive the load independently. However, the routine off grid inverter can work only when it is equipped with battery. But the lead-acid battery price is very high, accounting 30% of the total system cost. Besides, its service life is as short as 3-5 years, which will affect the system investment income.</p> <p>The solar pump inverter does not need battery and can work as long as there is sunlight. What we need do is to construct a water tower at the high place and we can take the water from this water tower any time we need it. The inverter itself will be installed with water level control switch, which is very convenient. Its role is similar with the role of the battery in off-grid system. But the water tower cost is much lower than battery cost.</p> <p>In the off-grid system, the most tough load is the motor because it needs high power to start the motor. The start power of the routine motor is about 3 times of the rated power. At the same time, as the water pump motor needs to pump water to the high place, its start power is about 5 times of the rated power. If the water pump motor is driven by routine off grid inverter, the start power needs to be amplified for 5 times. For example, if the water pump motor’s power is 2kW, it can only be driven by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">the off grid inverter with 10kW power</a>. In addition, even in the normal operation process, the DC terminal input power shall be over 2kW to ensure the continuous operation of the motor. This will increase the system cost.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-pump-inverter-functions-in-pv-panel-system.jpg" alt="Solar pump inverter functions in PV panel system" width="600" height="414" /></p> <p>To solve this problem, the special algorithm is added on the solar water pump inverter and the power only needs to be increased by 20%. For instance, the 4kW water motor can be started by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5-5kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">a 5.5kW solar pump inverter</a>. To maintain the operation of the water pump, the solar input power does not need to reach 4kW and only 1kW is enough.</p> <p>Why the function of solar water pump inverter is so amazing? The explanation shall be started from the AC work principle. The AC includes three elements which are voltage, current and frequency. Normally, the frequency is 50HZ. When the motor is started, it rotates 50 times per second. The power changes with the change of the current and voltage. Thus, the voltage and current are used to calculate the power. But the situation is different for the motor and its power is affected by the frequency. Its rated power is the power calculated under the 50Hz frequency. When the frequency decreases, the power will decrease accordingly. The rated power of the motor =rated torque*rated rotation times. As long as the rated torque is not changed, the motor can work normally. Thus, when the frequency and voltage decreases, the rated power and rotation speed (frequency) will decrease proportionally.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-pump-functions-in-pv-system.jpg" alt="Solar pump functions in PV system" width="800" height="606" /></p> <p>The frequency transforming function is added on <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">the solar pump inverter</a>, which can change the AC output frequency. Thus, when starting the motor, the frequency can be decreased so as to decrease the power. After the motor is started, the frequency can be increased accordingly to increase the rotation speed. In addition, the frequency also changes with the change of the sunlight. This is why the 4kW water pump can be driven by only 1kW solar energy input.</p> <p>Since the solar pump inverter has so excellent function, can we expand its application range? Unfortunately, it can not be expanded. As the output voltage, current, phase and frequency of solar pump inverter change with the changing of the sunlight, it is not applicable in my situations. The main reasons are as following:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Due to the technology limitation, solar pump inverters can not be used in parallel. One inverter can only be connected with one motor. Thus, the maximum power is limited. By far, the solar pump inverter that can support energy storage function is not created yet. In the areas with lower temperature in winter, the external water tower with freeze and the solar water pumping system will be limited. In addition, the solar pump inverter can not be connected with the power grid because the power grid requires synchronous frequency and voltage.</li> <li>The solar pump inverter can only carry limited load. By far, it can only carry the water pump motor but can not carry the load that requires stable power and specific voltage and frequency. For instance, the water inverter can not be used to drive electric lamps, refrigerators, computers, washing machines, even the variable frequency air conditioners. It can only drive the pure resistive-load water heater.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:158 https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter-power-conversion-working-principle Micro Inverter Power Conversion Working Principle <p>Full name of the micro inverter is micro solar on grid inverter. It generally refers to inverters with power below 1500W and module-level MPPT. It is mostly used in photovoltaic power generation systems. Micro is relatively small compared to traditional centralized inverters. The micro inverter inverts each component. Its advantage is that each component can be independently controlled by MPPT, which can greatly improve the overall efficiency. At the same time, micro inverter can also avoid the DC high voltage, poor light effect, and wooden barrel effect of the centralized inverter.</p> <p>Micro inverters manage the collection of solar energy at the level of a single panel to improve the efficiency of the solar equipment, rather than working in the entire system like a central inverter. In the past, in order to ensure maximum power output during solar energy harvesting, the complex control mechanisms used increased costs and restricted the acceptance of micro-inverters. Complex and cost-effective IC and processor-based solutions can handle the logic control of micro inverter designs. Various voltage controllers and regulators also provide complementary solutions for solar panel DC output power generation.</p> <p>In terms of function, the micro inverter is a DC/AC power source driven by the output of a solar panel. It relies on the familiar voltage converter topology to maximize power conversion efficiency. For the design of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverters</a>, forward and flyback converters are still the most commonly used DC/DC conversion topologies. Silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR) or MOSFET full bridges are used to generate AC waveforms at the required grid frequency (shown as the following figure).</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-waveform-of-solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="AC waveform of solar micro inverter" width="600" height="249" /></p> <p>In a simple micro inverter design, the interleaved active clamp flyback inverter can increase the low-voltage DC voltage of the solar panel and the high-voltage AC waveform required by the power grid.</p> <p>Just as the power supply design, micro inverter design requires various techniques to improve efficiency and reliability. It uses an interleaved flyback topology to help reduce the RMS ripple current through them to extend the life of the electrolytic capacitors in these designs. In addition, the application of active clamping technology can achieve a higher maximum duty cycle, allowing the use of higher turns ratios. This can significantly reduce the current stress on the primary side and the voltage stress on the secondary side.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/micro-inverter-power-conversion-working-principle.jpeg" alt="Micro Inverter Power Conversion Working Principle" /></p> <p>In order to ensure the maximum energy output, the converter must be able to respond to the control logic of the micro inverter. The logic is designed to maintain the converter voltage and current as much as possible to keep it consistent with the ideal characteristics produced by the MPPT algorithm. More importantly, a micro inverter connected to the grid needs to be able to disconnect itself from the grid during a power failure. In turn, these fault protection functions require the power converter to have at least overvoltage and undervoltage detection functions.</p> <p>The design of micro inverters brings requirements for control, power conversion, and efficiency, limiting their widespread acceptance in the past. However, as the availability of integrated solutions increases, designers can use a variety of suitable equipment. Although a dedicated processor can provide the advanced control functions and MPPT functions required by the micro inverter, the design of the power conversion stage requires that the device can safely and efficiently provide the performance and functions required by the grid. Through a wide selection of available integrated switch controllers and PMICs, engineers can create efficient and economical power conversion stages in micro inverter designs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:155 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-micro-inverter What are the Advantages of Micro Inverter? <p>The inverter plays an important role in the photovoltaic grid-connected system design. It can convert the solar energy into DC energy and then invert it to the single-phase AC energy that can be applied by various devices.</p> <p>The micro inverter technology means the technology of directly connecting inverter with single PV module. Each PV module can be equipped with an inverter that can realize AC-DC conversion and can track the maximum power point. It can directly convert the power generated by PV module into the AC energy so that it can realize AC load purpose or it can be transmitted to the power grid.</p> <p><strong>What are the advantages of micro inverter?</strong></p> <p><strong>1. High safety</strong></p> <ul> <li>Low DC voltage</li> </ul> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar Micro Inverter" width="509" height="400" />In the traditional PV system, the PV cell at DC side is connected in series and can form a high-voltage DC bus of 200V-600V or even higher voltage, and this DC bus will be connected with the inverter. The workers are faced with high electricity shock risk in the installation process. In addition, due to the insulation damage or poor contact of related connectors, the DC arc may be caused, which may cause fire disaster or personal injury because the arc temperature can reach thousands of degree. In addition, traditional PV system is also faced with many other challenges. For instance, the DC protection device is more expensive and has lower liability than AC protection device. It is difficult to break the high-voltage DC arc. The PV modules have current source characteristics and the current will not increase greatly after current passing, which makes it more difficult to provide protection. The electricity will be generated at any time when solar energy is available and it is difficult to break the energy generation. Thus, it will greatly threat the safety of rescue and fire-fighting personnel in case of device failure or fire disaster.</p> <p>In the micro inverter system, each PV module is connected with the inverter separately. In this way, the highest DC voltage of the system is the open circuit open of the PV cell, which is about 40ov. The installation and application are both safe and there is no electricity shock, current arc and fire risk. It essentially solves the problems caused by the high-voltage DC of the traditional system.</p> <ul> <li>Electric isolation</li> </ul> <p>To save cost, the electric isolation between the power grid and PV is not provided when connecting the traditional inverter with the power distribution network. The power grid and PV are broken by the AC relay or power electronic switch. Thus, when the inverter has failure, it is difficult to separate the AC and DC side, which will threat the safety of troubleshooting personnel. In addition, more serious failure may be caused because of the short circuit at DC side.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a> is equipped with high-frequency isolation transformer, which can effectively separate the power grid and PV side when system failure occurs. When checking the power grid failures, the PV side is in low voltage status and is isolated. When checking the PV side failures, the AC voltage will not lead to DC electrification.</p> <p>All in all, due to the low DC voltage and the electric isolation, the micro inverter system can realize the safety degree that traditional system cannot achieve. Thus, it is suitable for the places with high safety requirements, such as the PV buildings.</p> <p><strong>2. High system efficiency</strong></p> <ul> <li>Component MPPT</li> </ul> <p>In the micro inverter system, each module is connected with the inverter separately, which can avoid the PV cell coupling and thus avoid the short board effect. When some PV modules are blocked or damaged, the power generation function of left system modules will not be affected.</p> <p>It can greatly improve the shadow resistance ability and the environment adaptability of the system. Based on the American research results shown in figure 4, it can be seen that compared with traditional system, the efficiency of micro inverter system can improve 15% or even higher in the shadow condition.</p> <ul> <li>High dynamic MPPT efficiency</li> </ul> <p>Due to the small component MPPT, the control speed and response speed of the system can reach 10 millisecond, which is tens or even hundreds of times of traditional inverter. Therefore, in cloudy weather or other situations with fast sunlight change, the efficiency of the micro inverter is 1-2% higher than the traditional inverter.</p> <p>The reason why micro inverter can bring high work efficiency is introduced in the above mentioned two points. However, the benefits of the micro inverter are more than this. Different with the traditional system, the micro inverter does not have requirement on the minimum component number or on the consistency of single component. As shown in figure 6, it allows more flexible design and can maximize the land application efficiency, which is very significant when considering the land resource lack situation. The work efficiency of the micro inverter system can reach 90% and it is difficult for the traditional system to reach this level.</p> <p>The data collector can collect the micro inverter data through wireless method and can upload to the server so that operation and maintenance staff as well as the owner can monitor the network situation. The micro inverter allows to monitor the situation of each component so as to know about the PV panel property. When the PV battery damage is found, it can be located accurately and can be changed in time. The problems that component damage and failure cannot be found out and located in time in traditional system can be solved, which makes the system operation and maintenance easier and can decrease the cost by 50%. In addition, through the component comparison and diagnosis, the impact of environment on the component can be analyzed, based on which the surrounding environment can be improved accordingly to ensure the system output. The micro inverter is benefit for improving safety, system efficiency, system power generation, intelligent monitor, maintenance and operation aspects. It is the best choice for the household photovoltaic system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:156 https://www.inverter.com/power-configuration-for-grid-tie-inverter-and-pv-module Power Configuration for Grid Tie Inverter and PV Module <p>In the solar PV grid tie system, the power of photovoltaic module is related to the inverter. The power matching between PV modules and solar grid tie inverters is not in a relationship of 1:1 fixed ratio, so it needs to be considered comprehensively based on the specific conditions of the project. The main influencing factors include irradiance, system loss, component installation angle, efficiency and life span of the on grid inverter, etc.</p> <p><strong>1. Installation angle of the solar PV modules.</strong></p> <p>When the plane of the object is completely perpendicular to the light, the received power is maximum. If the object is tilted, making the plane of the object and the light at a certain angle, the received power will be discounted. In the same area, the received power will be reduced a lot. Grid tie inverter also applies to this principle.</p> <p><strong>2. Irradiance of the solar photovoltaic module installation area.</strong></p> <p>The output power of solar photovoltaic modules is related to irradiance. In areas with good solar energy resources, there are few clouds in sunny days, good air quality and high atmospheric transparency. The average solar radiation reaching the surface of the module is much higher than in regions with poor resources.</p> <p><strong>3. Altitude of the solar photovoltaic module installation area.</strong></p> <p>The higher the altitude, the smaller the weakening effect of the atmosphere on solar radiation. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/power-configuration-for-grid-tie-inverter-and-pv-module.jpg" alt="Power Configuration for Grid Tie Inverter and PV Module" width="277" height="398" />In this case, the solar radiation reaching the ground will be stronger. However, where the air is thinner, the heat dissipation of the grid tie inverter is worse. If the altitude exceeds a certain height, the solar grid tie inverter must be derated.</p> <p><strong>4. System efficiency (loss) on the DC side.</strong></p> <p>In the solar PV system, the energy radiates from the sun to the photovoltaic module s, and reaches <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">the grid tie inverter</a> through DC cables, combiner boxes, and DC power distribution. Energy is lost in all links. Due to different design schemes, such as centralized type, string type, distributed type, etc., the loss of the DC side is different.</p> <p><strong>5. Heat dissipation conditions of the solar grid tie inverter.</strong></p> <p>Solar grid tie inverters should generally be installed in a place with good ventilation and avoid direct sunlight, so as to facilitate heat dissipation. If due to site restrictions, the solar on grid inverter has to be installed in a closed place that is not conducive to heat dissipation, the derating of the inverter must be considered and fewer components should be installed.</p> <p><strong>6. Efficiency of the solar grid tie inverter.</strong></p> <p>Efficiency of solar grid tie inverters is not a constant value. What needs to be considered is power switching device loss and magnetic loss. At low power, the efficiency is relatively low. The efficiency is highest at 40% to 60% power. When the efficiency exceeds 60%, the efficiency gradually decreases. Therefore, the total PV power must be controlled between 40% and 60% of the on grid inverter power to obtain the best efficiency.</p> <p><strong>7. Life of the solar grid tie inverter.</strong></p> <p>As an electronic product, the reliability of solar grid tie inverters has a lot to do with the operating temperature. If the temperature of components such as capacitors, fans, and relays is increased by 10℃, the failure rate may increase by more than 50%. However, operating temperature is related to power. According to statistics, the long-term operation of solar grid tie inverters at 80-100% power is about 20% lower than that of 40-60% power.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p>When the solar PV system calculates the system capacity according to the module capacity, the grid tie inverter should be selected according to the actual maximum power output by the module to avoid current limitation of the inverter. According to actual conditions, solar PV modules and on grid inverters can be configured from 0.9:1 to 1.4:1. When the AC output power of the installed inverter is used to calculate the system capacity, in order to increase the power generation as much as possible, the power of the components can be increased. Solar PV modules and grid tie inverters can be configured from 1.4:4 to 1.8:1, depending on how many components the inverter can connect.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:154 https://www.inverter.com/troubleshooting-for-sine-wave-inverter-inductor-heating Troubleshooting for Sine Wave Inverter Inductor Heating <p>Inductor heating is one of the common faults in the use of sine wave inverters. There are two problems resulting to inductor heating: excessive loss on the inductor and poor heat dissipation conditions. The best way to solve the serious problem of heating is to start from the perspective of loss (inductance loss and magnetic core loss).</p> <p><strong>Reason 1 for inductor heating of sine wave inverter: the loss of inductor.</strong></p> <p>The loss of inductor is mainly composed of two parts, one is the loss caused by the coil resistance, and the other is the loss caused by the magnetic core. The loss on the coil is related to the coil resistance and current, the formula is: P<sub>wire</sub>=I x I x R</p> <p>In general, the current cannot be reduced, so we can only find a way from the coil resistance. The measures taken are as the following:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Increase the wire diameter. This method may be limited by the shape and size of the magnetic core, which will be too thick to be wound.</li> <li>Shorten the length of the wire. This method will decrease the inductance under the condition the magnetic core material is unchanged. If you want to keep the same inductance, the core with a higher permeability needs to be replaced.</li> <li>If the inductor is working under the condition of high frequency, it will have a skin effect on the wire, that is, the current flows on the surface of the wire, as shown in the figure below, so the utilization rate of the wire is too small. The method that can be considered is to change the single-stranded wire of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> to multi-stranded wire parallel winding, which can also reduce the loss of the coil.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="/images/uploaded/troubleshooting-for-sine-wave-inverter-inductor-heating.jpeg" alt="Troubleshooting for Sine Wave Inverter Inductor Heating" width="450" height="262" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Reason 2 for inductor heating of sine wave inverter: the loss of magnetic core.</strong></p> <p>The loss of magnetic core is mainly composed of hysteresis loss and eddy current loss. The hysteresis loss is related to the hysteresis loop of the magnetic core material, and is proportional to the size of the enclosed area. B<sub>r</sub> is the remanence and H<sub>c</sub> is the coercive force, which are two inherent characteristics of the magnetic core. The two parameters will be determined after the magnetic core is selected.</p> <p>The maximum magnetic flux density B and the maximum magnetic field strength H are related to the working state of the circuit. By reducing the ripple current of the inductor, the inductor's hysteresis loss can be reduced. Under the condition that the inductance is certain, the increase of the frequency will be required by reducing the ripple current, but the increase of the frequency will increase the core loss.</p> <p>In summary, each corresponding method will always cause the deterioration of the other, so there must be a comprehensive trade-off, and needs to be tested and determined. The above only provides some possible methods that may reduce the inductance loss.</p> <p><strong>Reason 3 for inductor heating of sine wave inverter: heat dissipation conditions.</strong></p> <p>As a heat generating device, if the heat dissipation conditions are poor, heat from the inductor will be accumulated resulting to the rise of temperature. From the perspective of the inductor itself, if conditions permit, the surface area of the inductor can be increased, and will be conductive to heat dissipation. If the inductor is installed in a confined space, you can consider opening some small holes on the shell to form air convection inside and outside. A more direct way is to install a cooling fan to the sine wave inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:153 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-a-centrifugal-pump-work How does a Centrifugal Pump Work? <p><strong>How does a centrifugal pump work?</strong></p> <p>Centrifugal pump is a pumping machine that uses the centrifugal movement of water to work. Its basic components are a high-speed rotating impeller and a fixed snail-shaped pump casing. Generally, centrifugal pumps have several (usually 4-12) impellers with backward curved blades fastened to the pump shaft, and the impeller is driven by the motor to rotate at a high speed along with the pump shaft.</p> <p>The impeller is the energy supply device of the centrifugal pump and is a component that directly performs work on the liquid in the pump. The suction port in the center of the pump casing is connected with the suction pipe, and the bottom of the suction pipe is equipped with a one-way bottom valve. The discharge port on the side of the pump casing is connected with the discharge pipe equipped with a regulating valve.</p> <p>Centrifugal pumps work by using the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the impeller. Before starting the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a>, the pump casing and suction pipe must be filled with water, and then the motor is started, so that the pump shaft drives the impeller and water to make high-speed rotation. Under the action of centrifugal force, the water is thrown to the outer edge of the impeller, and flows into the pressurized water pipeline of the water pump through the flow passage of the volute pump casing. At the center of the pump impeller, because the water is thrown out under the action of centrifugal force to form a vacuum, the water in the suction pool is pressed into the pump casing under the action of atmospheric pressure. The impeller rotates continuously, so that the water flows in and out continuously under the action of the impeller, and finally achieves the purpose of transporting water.</p> <p>When water is thrown from the center of the impeller to the outer periphery, a low pressure area will be formed in the center of the impeller. Under the action of the total potential energy difference between the liquid level of the storage tank and the center of the impeller, water is sucked into the center of the impeller. Relying on the continuous operation of the impeller, water is continuously sucked and discharged. The mechanical energy obtained by the liquid in the centrifugal pump is ultimately manifested as an increase in static pressure energy.</p> <p><strong>Main components of the centrifugal pump</strong></p> <p><strong>Impeller</strong></p> <p>The impeller is the core component of the pump, which allows the water to obtain kinetic energy to produce flow. The impeller consists of blades, cover plates and hubs. When choosing the impeller material, in addition to considering the mechanical strength under centrifugal force, the wear and corrosion resistance of the material should also be considered. At present, most impellers are made of cast iron, cast steel and bronze. Impellers can generally be divided into single-suction impellers and double-suction impellers. The single-suction impeller absorbs water on one side, and the front cover and the rear cover of the impeller are asymmetrical. The double-suction impeller absorbs water on both sides, and the impeller cover is symmetrical. Generally, large flow centrifugal pumps mostly use double-suction impellers.</p> <p><strong>Pump shaft</strong></p> <p>The pump shaft is used to rotate the pump impeller. The commonly used materials are carbon steel and stainless steel. The pump shaft should have sufficient torsion strength and sufficient rigidity, and its deflection should not exceed the allowable value. The impeller and shaft are connected by keys. The key is the connecting piece between the rotating body. Generally, flat keys are used in centrifugal pumps, which can only transmit torque and cannot fix the axial position of the impeller. In large and medium-sized water pumps, the axial position of the impeller is usually located by a shaft sleeve and a nut that tightens the shaft sleeve.</p> <p><strong>Pump casing</strong></p> <p>The water passing part requires good hydraulic conditions. When the water pump and pumping station are designed and calculated, and the impeller is working, the flow rate gradually increases along the gradually expanding section of the volute. In order to reduce the hydraulic loss, in the design of the centrifugal pump, the speed of the water flowing along the gradually expanded section of the volute should be constant. After the water is discharged from the volute, it flows into the pressurized water pipe through the tapered diffuser. The role of the tapered diffuser on the volute is to reduce the speed of the water flow, so that a part of the flow head is converted into a pressure head. As for the material selection of the pump casing, in addition to considering the corrosion and wear of the medium to the overflow part, the casing should also have sufficient mechanical strength as a pressure vessel.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:171 https://www.inverter.com/site-inspection-before-installing-solar-pv-system Site Inspection before Installing Solar PV System <p>Do you accept to receive a quote for installing a new bathroom in your house via phone call without the installer visit to your house? Of course, the answer is No. That is same like installing a solar photovoltaic system on your house roof, it's a must for the solar installer to come the house and check/inspect all your private circumstances and conditions, and absolutely not sufficient to get a quote via phone or internet email.</p> <p>Logically, after you buying <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar products</a>, the solar company which cannot give you free site visit before installation, will not serve you after sales, as you will not be their priority and that is clear from the beginning.</p> <p><strong>Why site visit is an important matter?</strong></p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/site-inspection-before-installing-solar-pv-system.jpg" alt="Site Inspection before Installing Solar PV System" width="451" height="378" />For example, suppose that you are an employee in a company, work from 7AM to 2.5PM daily, then return back your house at approx. 3PM, so it’s not logic to install solar photovoltaic system that provide its peak generation early morning till lunch time, from 9AM to 3.5PM, because this means all your solar electricity generation will be exported "sold" to the grid (in your work time) and you will consume electrical energy from the electrical public network when returning back home in addition to such small electricity generation from the solar system, and as most of electricity retailers provide low feed in tariff, it's on average approx. 4-5cent/kWh, so your final return of investment will be low, we mean you will Not get full benefits from your solar photovoltaic system.</p> <p>In the site visit, the solar company can decide in which direction the solar panels should be directed to (North, South, East, West) to harvest the max generation at your time of use. In other word, you have to have matching between your electricity consumption pattern and your solar photovoltaic system generation pattern, and this can be decided during solar company visit in where they can check your roof directions, and discuss your electricity consumption pattern with you.</p> <p>Finally, please be aware of those cheap solar system companies which concentrate on sales matters, not after sales matters, as they will try to trick you, and in fact, they sell low quality solar system components and do not provide good service at all.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:151 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-on-grid-inverter-and-off-grid-inverter Difference between On Grid Inverter and Off Grid Inverter <p>This article will introduce on grid inverters and off grid inverters, discuss the working principles of off grid inverters and on grid inverters, as well as their differences.</p> <p><strong>Inverter Basics</strong></p> <p>Inverter refers to a device that converts DC power (such as storage battery) into AC power (usually 220V, 50Hz sine wave). It is composed of inverter bridge, control logic and filter circuit. Inverters are widely used in air conditioners, home theaters, electric grinding wheels, electric tools, sewing machines, DVD, VCD, computers, TVs, washing machines, range hoods, refrigerators, video recorders, massagers, fans, lighting and other fields. When working or traveling, the inverter can be connected to the battery to drive the electrical appliances and various tools to work. By the cigarette lighter, a car power inverter outputs continuous power of 40W, 75W, 120W, 150W to 300W. The more powerful inverter power supply should be connected to the battery through the connecting wire. Various electrical appliances can be used in the car by connecting household appliances to the output of the power converter.</p> <p><strong>On Grid Inverter Basics</strong></p> <p>On grid inverters are also called grid tie inverters, which are generally divided into solar PV power generation on grid inverters, wind power generation grid tie inverters, power equipment generation on grid inverters, and other equipment generation grid tie inverters. The biggest advantage of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> is the high power and low cost of the system.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-on-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of on grid inverter" width="676" height="331" /></p> <p>Grid tie inverters are generally used in the system of large-scale solar photovoltaic power stations. Many parallel photovoltaic strings are connected to the DC input of the same centralized inverter. Generally, three-phase IGBT power modules are used for higher power, and field effect transistors are used for lower power. At the same time, it uses a DSP conversion controller to improve the quality of the generated power, making it very close to a sine wave current.</p> <p><strong>Off Grid Inverter Basics</strong></p> <p>The off grid inverter can work independently after leaving the grid, which is equivalent to forming an independent small grid. It mainly controls its own voltage and can be regarded as a voltage source. Off grid inverters can carry loads such as resistance-capacitive and motor-inductive loads. It has fast response, anti-interference, strong adaptability and practicability, so it is the preferred power product for emergency power supply and outdoor power supply.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-off-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of off-grid inverter" width="582" height="234" /></p> <p>Generally, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverters</a> need to be connected to batteries, because its PV power generation is unstable, and the load is also unstable, requiring batteries to balance energy. When the photovoltaic power generation is greater than the load, the excess energy charges the battery. When the photovoltaic power generation is less than the load, the insufficient energy is provided by the battery.</p> <p><strong>How does an on grid inverter work in an off-grid manner?</strong></p> <p>Sometimes, an on grid inverter can be used directly as an off-grid inverter.</p> <p>Grid tie inverter sends energy directly to the grid, so the frequency and phase of the grid must be tracked. It is equivalent to a current source. Of course, there are also some inverters that have low voltage ride-through capability and can be used for PQ adjustment.</p> <p>Off grid inverter is equivalent to building an independent small power grid by itself. It mainly controls its own voltage, but in fact it is a voltage source.</p> <p>On grid inverter does not require energy storage, but its energy cannot be controlled. As much energy as photovoltaic generates, it sends as much energy to the grid. Off grid inverters generally require energy storage and do not send energy to the grid, and the grid has no right to interfere.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:150 https://www.inverter.com/optimize-solar-pv-system-with-micro-inverters Optimize Solar PV System with Micro Inverters <p>As to the optimization of the efficiency and reliability for solar PV system, a rather new means is to use micro inverters, which shall be connected to each solar panel. Equipping a separate micro inverter for each solar panel can make the system adapt to changing loads and weather conditions, thereby providing the best conversion efficiency for a single panel and the entire system.</p> <p>The micro-inverter architecture can also simplify wiring, which means lower installation costs. By making consumer solar power systems more efficient, the time required for the system to get back the initial investment in solar technology will be reduced.</p> <p>A key electronic component of the solar power generation system is <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>. In commercial applications, these components are connected to photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries that store electrical energy, and local power distribution systems or utility grids. The following figure shows a typical solar inverter. It converts the extremely low DC voltage output from the photovoltaic array into several voltages such as battery DC voltage, AC line voltage and distribution network voltage.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/micro-inverter-in-solar-power-conversion-system.jpg" alt="Micro inverter in solar power conversion system " width="500" height="348" /></p> <p>Compared with the entire system using a solar inverter, each solar panel in the system is equipped with a micro inverter, which will once again improve the conversion efficiency of the entire system. The main advantage of the micro-inverter topology is that even if one of the inverters fails, energy conversion can still be performed.</p> <p>Other benefits of using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverters</a> include the ability to use high-resolution PWM to adjust the conversion parameters of each solar panel. Since clouds, shadows and back shadows will change the output of each panel, equipping each panel with a unique micro inverter allows the system to adapt to changing load conditions. This provides the best conversion efficiency for each panel and the entire system.</p> <p>For example, large-scale solar photovoltaic power plants benefit from communication between panels to help maintain load balance and allow system administrators to plan in advance how much energy is available and what to do with that energy. Please note that the MCU must integrate on-chip communication peripherals (CAN, SPI, UART, etc.) to simplify the interface with other micro inverters in the solar array.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/micro-inverter-grid-tie-inverter-for-solar-system.jpg" alt="Micro inverter for grid tie inverter for solar system" width="350" height="310" /></p> <p>In many applications, the use of micro inverter topology can significantly improve the overall efficiency of the system.</p> <p><strong>Application Analysis</strong></p> <p>In small applications, each solar panel may face basically the same conditions of light, temperature, and shadow. Therefore, the role of micro inverters in improving efficiency is limited.</p> <p>In order to make each solar panel work at different voltages to obtain the highest energy efficiency, it is required to use a DC/DC converter to make the output voltage of each panel unified with the operating voltage of the energy storage battery. In order to reduce the manufacturing cost as much as possible, the DC/DC converter and inverter can be designed into one module. In addition, DC/AC converters used for local power lines or connected to the distribution network can also be integrated into the module.</p> <p>Solar panels must communicate with each other, which increases wiring and complexity. This is another point of contention over whether to include inverters, DC/DC converters and solar panels in the module.</p> <p>The MCU of each micro inverter must still have enough capacity to run multiple MPPT algorithms to adapt to different operating environments.</p> <p>In addition to meeting the requirements of the micro inverter itself, the MCU used must also handle most of the requirements of the entire system including AC/DC conversion, DC/DC conversion, and inter-panel communication. This can reduce the cost increase caused by using multiple MCUs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:160 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-inverter-and-transformer Difference between Inverter and Transformer <p>Inverter is commonly used in the industrial field and its main function is to convert the current in a certain way. Transformer is a device that can change the AC voltage based on the electromagnetic induction principle. It is mainly composed of primary coil, secondary coil and iron core (magnetic core). To make it easier to understand the power inverter, hereby the difference between inverter and transformer will be discussed.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-vs-transformer.jpg" alt="Power Inverter vs. Transformer" width="700" height="298" /></p> <p><strong>Difference between inverter and transformer</strong></p> <ul> <li>Different uses</li> </ul> <p>The inverter is a kind of electric device that can convert current from DC to AC. Actually it is the about the voltage inverting process. Normally, the 220V AC is transformed into DC, however, the inverter works in the opposite method. For example, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> can convert the 12V DC voltage into the current with high frequency and high voltage.</p> <p>The transformer is a device that can realize electric energy conversion based on the electromagnetic induction rule. It can convert the AC energy of certain voltage and current into another AC with certain voltage and current of the same frequency. It can improve the voltage of the power generated by the power station so as to reduce the loss in long-distance power transmission process. It can also gradually reduce the high voltage to the low voltage at the power application place so that users can use the power. It can be seen that transformer is very important for the power grid. It is the key device to ensure the safe, reliable and economic-saving operation of the power grid and to ensure the normal power supply for people’s production and living activities.</p> <ul> <li>Different classification</li> </ul> <p>The power inverter can be classified based on the sinusoidal property, current source property, electric-grid network type, topology structure and power level. The transformer is classified based on the phase number, cooling mode, application, winding method and iron core.</p> <ul> <li>Different functions</li> </ul> <p>The power inverter has five protection functions, separately are short circuit, overload, over-voltage or under-voltage and over-temperature protections. The main functions of the transformer include voltage transformation, current transformation, impedance transformation, isolation and voltage stabilization (magnetic saturation and transformer), etc.</p> <p><strong>Is it possible to use the transformer as the inverter?</strong></p> <p>Of course not. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">Inverter</a> is an assembled inverting device and it is essentially different with the transformer. For the inverter, the input current is DC and the output current is AC. The work principle is same with that of the switch power supply. But its oscillation frequency is within a certain range. For example, if the frequency is 50HZ and then the frequency of the output AC is 50HZ. Therefore, the output frequency of the power inverter can be changed. The transformer is a device with specific frequency. The input and output currents are both AC. But its output voltage level can be adjusted. For instance, the input and output currents of the industrial frequency transformer (the common transformer) are both AC. And it can work only when the frequency is within 40-60HZ.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:176 https://www.inverter.com/three-factors-affect-solar-panels-performance 3 Factors Affect Solar Panels Performance <p>If the solar panel manufacturer has lack of knowledge about material science, this will lead to encountering 3 issues which badly affect solar panel performance, as following;</p> <p><strong>1. Solar panel delamination.</strong></p> <p>This phenomenon occurs when the bond between the solar panel glass on the front, and plastic on the rear is disconnected, because this will let the air and moisture to creep internally in the solar panel causing corrosion, and soon failure. Bond disconnection is resulted from using bad plastic materials with low thermal characteristics, or non-clean plastic / glass or using inferior manufacturing machine with poor pressure and temperature.</p> <p>So, you have to ask solar panel supplier before buying about who is the plastic manufacturer and whether it’s of high quality brand or not. Also, visual inspection is important, give a deep look on the solar panel rear plastic, see if it has bubbles or any imperfection or even any up-normality.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/application-of-solar-panels.jpg" alt="Application of solar panels" /></p> <p><strong>2. Junction box sealants. </strong></p> <p>It used to seal the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> junction box on the solar module rear side, to prevent moisture from creeping inside. The junction box contains wiring connection in which it should be well sealed. For bad sealants, they react with the plastic causing failure, also, some manufactures use cheap flammable sealants as an alternative of high quality non-flammable one to save money. These sealants have to be flexible allowing some thermal contraction and expansion on solar panel frame.</p> <p>So, you have to ask solar panel supplier before buying about who is the sealants supplier and whether they are non-flammable or not. Also, visual inspection is important, as if you notice excess sealants in some locations while not in others, this means poor quality.</p> <p><strong>3. Silicon solar cell micro-cracks.</strong></p> <p>The silicon solar cell is made of thin wafers of around 0.2mm thickness, and although it has some flexibility, it sometimes subjected to cracks due to some kinds of stresses during assembly or during transportation in where there will be vibration and shocks when they are not well packed. These called micro-cracks, and cause solar cell power loss and may be the failure over the time.</p> <p>Good manufacturers use some kind of scan via infra-red camera to detect such cracks in manufacturing stages.</p> <p>So, you have to ask you solar panel supplier about packing quality and careful transportation, also whether the manufacturer uses infra-red scanning technique or not to reduce and control such cracks.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:148 https://www.inverter.com/solar-on-grid-inverter-circuit-design Solar On Grid Inverter Circuit Design <p>As the energy constraint becomes increasingly evident, the solar PV power generation system attracts growing attention. The direct current generated by solar cells and wind-powered generators should be inverted by inverters before being combined to the grid. Therefore, the design of solar on grid inverters determines whether the solar PV system will operate reasonably, efficiently, and economically.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Structure Principle of Solar On Grid Inverter</strong></li> </ul> <p>The structure of solar grid tie inverter is presented in the following diagram, consisting of front-end DC/DC inverters and back-end DC/AC inverters. The basic principle is that low-voltage direct current is converted into high-voltage direct current through the high-frequency conversion technology and passes the power-frequency inverter circuit to be converted into 220V alternating current. Such a structure has the merits of a simple circuit, a small loss from a no-load inverter power supply, a large output power, a high inversion efficiency, high stability, and slight distortion.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-on-grid-inverter-circuit-structure.jpg" alt="Solar on grid inverter circuit structure" width="427" height="161" /></p> <p>The main circuit of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">solar on grid inverter</a> is presented in the following diagram. The double-ended output SPWM chip controlled by the DC/DC module generates PWM waveforms with a variable duty ratio to drive the polarity of the thyristor that controls connection and disconnection and to eventually control the output waveform.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/the-main-circuit-diagram-of-solar-on-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="The main circuit diagram of solar on grid inverter" width="500" height="170" /></p> <ul> <li><strong>DC/DC Control Modules of Solar Grid Tie Inverters</strong></li> </ul> <p>The PWM control chip is exclusively applied to driving the MOSFET of P-channel power. The main control chip's output drive is pull-and-push output and can directly drive the MOS transistor. It consists of an under-voltage locking circuit, a soft-start control circuit, PWM latches. Apart from over-current protection and frequency adjustment, it restricts the maximum duty ratio. Two outputs are connected to two MOS transistors to control connection and disconnection. To raise the effective control of the pull-and-push DC/DC high-frequency boost and raise the accuracy of the high-frequency modulation, there is a detection circuit is designed for <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a>, to detect the output current and voltage and feedback them to the control chip.</p> <ul> <li><strong>DC/AC Control Modules of Solar On Grid Inverters</strong></li> </ul> <p><em><strong>Voltage and Current Detection Circuits of Grid On Inverters</strong></em></p> <p>(1) Zero-crossing Detection Circuit for Network Voltages</p> <p>The AC current converted by the solar inverter should have an identical voltage and frequency to those of the power grid before being connected. Hence the output voltage should undergo phase-locked control. The output voltage sends signals through sine waves, while the control chip can only identify TTL level signals. It is necessary to convert the sine-wave signals of one circuit to TTL level signals. If the voltage of the grid to be detected exceeds zero, the circuit will output high electric levels. The zero-crossing detection circuit of the power grid is presented in the following diagram.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/zero-crossing-detection-circuit-for-network-voltages.jpg" alt="Zero-crossing Detection Circuit for Network Voltages" width="500" height="195" /></p> <p>Square signals received by the power grid's zero-crossing detection circuit are transmitted to the capture pin of the DSP chip through the Schmitt inverting circuit. Then the capture unit triggers disconnection and starts the phase lock after detecting the increase.</p> <p>(2) AC Detection Circuit</p> <p>The AC detection circuit uses a closed-loop current sensor, as is shown in the following diagram. The alternating current is measured in electric isolation according to the Hall Closed-loop Principle. When the alternating current passes the sensor, the sensor converts electric signals into voltage signals and sends them to the signal processing circuit. Once processed, these signals are transmitted into the pin of the DSP chip. The processing circuit is composed of the RC filter circuit and two groups of integrated OPA isolation circuits.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-detection-circuit.jpg" alt="AC Detection Circuit" width="498" height="221" /></p> <p>The control circuit, signal gathering circuit, and the switching tube drive circuit of solar on grid inverters need different adaptive power supplies. Thus an independent power supply should be provided for powering these circuits. The voltages of the designed auxiliary power supplies include +15V, -15V, and +5V. A single-ended flyback DC/DC topographical structure is adopted, with stable and reliable operation. The basic circuit of the auxiliary power supply is listed in the following diagram.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/the-basic-circuit-of-the-auxiliary-power-supply.jpg" alt="The basic circuit of the auxiliary power supply" width="500" height="354" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:157 https://www.inverter.com/troubleshoot-ac-overvoltage-solar-inverter How to Troubleshoot AC Overvoltage of Solar Inverter? <p>The AC voltage overrange is the most common failure of the solar inverter connected with the PV grid system. This is because the grid voltage is not constant and it will change with the changing of the load and current. At the same time, the output voltage of the inverter will be affected by the grid voltage. When the grid encounters abnormal situation, the inverter power supply shall be stopped to avoid more serious damage on the grid.</p> <p>Based on the national standard, the protection range of the under-voltage and over-voltage at the AC output side is the 85%-110% of the rated voltage. The solar inverter operation shall be stopped when it exceeds this range. The rated voltage of the single-phase grid is 230V. when the grid voltage is lower than 195.5V or is higher than 253V, principally the inverter shall be stopped. The rated voltage of the three-phase grid is 400V. When the grid voltage is lower than 340V or is higher than 440V, principally, the inverter shall be stopped.</p> <p><strong>1. Overvoltage caused by rising of power grid voltage</strong></p> <p>The grid voltage will be relatively high at two places. The first one is the place close to the step-down transformer. To ensure the normal voltage of the place close to the transformer and considering the voltage loss of the wire, normally the transformer output voltage will be increased. The second factor is that as the PV power generation terminal user can not accept it, it is necessary to improve the voltage when power is delivered to remote place. Thus, the output voltage of the solar inverter will be high, which will trigger the inverter protection function and the inverter working will be stopped.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-ac-overvoltage-1.jpg" alt="Solar inverter ac overvoltage 1" width="500" height="453" /></p> <p>Under this situation, there are three methods to keep the solar inverter working continuously.</p> <ol> <li>The first method is to increase the output cable diameter. This is because when the cable is thick, the resistance can be decreased.</li> <li>The second method is to move the inverter to a place close to the grid connection point because the short cable distance can help reduce the resistance.</li> <li>The third method is to adjust the inverter voltage range manually. But the voltage can not be adjusted to a very high level. If the voltage exceeds 270V, other electrical appliances may be damaged.</li> </ol> <p><strong>2. Overvoltage caused by wrong connection of AC wire</strong></p> <p>If the AC wire of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is connected in a wrong way, the AC voltage overrange failure may be caused. If the phase wire and zero wire are connected wrongly, then the inverter A phase will show that the line voltage is 380V and the B, C will show that the phase voltage is 220V. Then the inverter can not be started because the system judges that the voltage is too low. This situation usually appears during the solar inverter installation stage.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-overvoltage-2.jpg" alt="Solar inverter ac overvoltage 2" width="500" height="445" /></p> <p>As shown in the above photo, the system reminds that the AC voltage exceeds the required range. It can be seen from the monitor APP that the phase voltage of AC1 is normal but AC2 and AC3 are relatively low. After the site inspection, it is found that this is because the phase line L1 and the zero line N are connected in an opposite way. When they are exchanged back, the solar inverter works normally.</p> <p><strong>3. Overvoltage caused by poor contact or damage of AC switch</strong></p> <p>The poor contact or the damage of the AC switch will also lead to the AC voltage overrange failure of the solar inverter. The AC switch behind the inverter will work for long time. If the cable end is not well pressed and connected or if the switch quality is not good, high resistance will be caused in the connection place and then the voltage will be decreased.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-overvoltage-3.jpg" alt="Solar inverter ac overvoltage 3" width="500" height="458" /></p> <p>As shown in the above photo, the AC voltage overrange alarm is generated by the power station. It can be found from the monitor APP that the phase voltage of AC1 is 10.1V, of AC 2 and AC3 is separately 126.2V and 128.9V. However, based on the site measurement, the grid voltage is normal and the switch is not turned off. But the switch temperature is relatively high. When opening the cable connection terminals, it is found that the connection point is blackened. The voltage becomes normal after changing new cable connection point and switch. Then, the solar inverter is back to normal operation.</p> <p><strong>How to inspect the AC voltage failures?</strong></p> <ol> <li>Firstly, the multimeter can be used to detect the grid voltage. If the voltage is abnormal, it means the problem is caused by the grid.</li> <li>Secondly, the AC switch can be tested. Normally, when the switch is turned on, the switch conducting the current from upward to downward direction normally and there is no voltage between the input wire and the output wire. However, if it is found that the voltage is over 5V, it means the switch has problem.</li> <li>Thirdly, if it is confirmed that the problem is not caused by the AC switch. The AC wire output terminal of the solar inverter shall be inspected. The multimeter can be used to detect the voltage among the phases of the wire terminal and the detected voltage shall be consistent with the grid voltage. If it is not consistent, the problem may be caused by the cable between the switch and the inverter or may be caused by the inverter output terminal. Finally, if it is confirmed that the AC wire output terminal voltage is normal but the inverter AC voltage failure alarm still exists, the alarm may be caused by the internal sampling system of the solar inverter and users shall contact the inverter manufacturer to solve the problem.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:146 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-sine-wave-and-square-wave-of-inverter Difference between Sine Wave and Square Wave of Inverter <p>Inverter is a device that can convert DC (direct current, such as storage battery) into AC (alternating current/mains), which is widely used in air conditioners, computers, lighting and other electrical appliances. Especially on traveling or working, inverter can generate alternating current by being connected with batteries, so as to supply power for the instruments or electrical appliances requiring alternating current for use.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-inverts-dc-to-ac.jpg" alt="Inverter inverts DC to AC" width="500" height="279" /></p> <p>It is very easy to change alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC), and with only a diode, the simplest rectifier circuit can be formed. However, it is not that simple to change direct current to alternating current. The magnitude and direction of alternating current will change periodically over time. The mains power we use shows regular changes of sine function.</p> <p><strong>Pulse Width Modulation</strong></p> <p>PWM is the abbreviation of Pulse Width Modulation, which is a very effective technology that controls analog circuits using the digital output of a microprocessor. The basic principle of PWM is that as long as the waveform and the shadow area enclosed by the coordinate axis is the same, they all have the same effect regardless of the shape generated from the voltage waveform. This is the area equivalence principle.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pwm-pulse-width-modulation-principle.jpg" alt="PWM Pulse Width Modulation principle" width="400" height="407" /></p> <p>In the above figure, the average voltage of sine wave and square wave output by <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverters</a> are the same.</p> <p><strong>1. The duty cycle of PWM</strong></p> <p>The commonly used PWM is a rectangular pulse (square wave) waveform. The following figure shows a square wave with of 5V amplitude and a frequency of 50Hz.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/a-5v-50hz-square-wave-in-inverter.jpg" alt="A 5V 50Hz square wave in inverter" width="450" height="313" /></p> <p>The duty cycle indicates the proportion of the high level in the entire cycle. In the above figure of PWM, the proportion of the high level in this cycle is 50%, so the duty cycle is 50%. Under the condition that PWM has certain frequency, the output voltage can be changed by changing the duty cycle. For example, when the duty cycle is 100%, the output voltage is 5V, and when the duty cycle is 0, the output voltage is 0. When we want to output a voltage of 2.5V, we only need to change the duty cycle to 50%.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/adjust-duty-cycle-to-change-output-voltage.jpg" alt="Adjust duty cycle to change output voltage" width="450" height="206" /></p> <p><strong>2. Resolution</strong></p> <p>Resolution indicates the minimum value that PWM can achieve, meaning the number of parts that are divided in a period. If it is 10 parts, then the accuracy of the duty cycle is 10%. If it is divided into 1000 parts, the accuracy of the duty cycle is 0.1%.</p> <p><strong>3. Pure sine wave alternating current of inverter<br /></strong></p> <p>Although inverters output square waves can be applied to many electrical appliances, some electrical appliances are not. Therefore, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">inverters that output pure sine wave AC power</a> are needed. Let's take a look at how the inverter generates pure sine wave alternating current.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/the-duty-cycle-of-pwm-changes-according-to-sine-rule.jpg" alt="the duty cycle of the PWM changes according to the sine rule" width="450" height="318" /></p> <p>As shown in the figure above, the duty cycle of the PWM changes according to the sine rule. PWM with a large duty cycle is generated in the place where the voltage amplitude is large, and a PWM with a small duty cycle is generated in the place where voltage amplitude is small. During a short time, the average output voltage of PWM is shown by the red line, which can be seen that the waveform has produced a waveform similar to a sine wave. The more precise the PWM is, the smoother the sine wave.</p> <p><strong>Inverter Square Wave</strong></p> <p>Let us look at square wave alternating current. The following figure shows the waveform of square wave alternating current.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/waveform-of-square-wave-ac.jpg" alt="Waveform of square wave AC" width="500" height="237" /></p> <p>In fact, the alternating current output by the old inverter is the square wave form of the alternating current above. Square wave alternating current is suitable for the equipment with less strict requirements. Let's take a look at how DC power changes to square wave AC power. In the figure below, when the switches S1 and S4 are closed, the direction of the current is like this.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-current-direction-1-of-square-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="AC current direction 1 of square wave inverter" width="450" height="346" /></p> <p>When S2 and S3 are closed, the direction of the current is like this. It can be seen that the direction of the current on the load has changed, thus generates a square wave alternating current.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-current-direction-2-of-square-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="AC current direction 2 of square wave inverter" width="450" height="380" /></p> <p>We know that the frequency of the mains is 50Hz, which means that we with turn on and off the switch 100 times per second. We can use a semiconductor switch (MOS tube) to control the on and off actions of the circuit, as shown in the figure below. By inputting control signals at points A, B, C, and D, the on and off of the MOS tube can be controlled, thus current Direction of the load can be changed and wave alternating current square can be output.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/mos-tube-of-square-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="MOS tube of square wave inverter" width="450" height="335" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:144 https://www.inverter.com/6-features-of-a-solar-inverter-in-pv-system 6 Features of a Solar Inverter in PV System <p>The efficiency of solar inverters directly affects that of a PV power generation system. Thus studying the technology of controlling inverters is of profound research significance for improving the PV power generation system. Generally speaking, simulation control is commonly applied to designing solar inverters. However, the simulation control system has many flaws, such as the aging of components, the effect of temperature drift, high sensitivity towards electromagnetic interference, and a large number of components.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/select-a-solar-inverter-for-pv-system.jpg" alt="Select a Solar Inverter for PV System" width="585" height="317" /></p> <p>As a critical component of the entire solar PV power generation system, the solar inverter is a power electronic circuit that converts the direct current emitted by the solar array into the alternating current to power the AC load. The solar inverter has two primary functions: Firstly, to provide electricity for the AC load to complete the DC/AC conversion. Secondly, to find the optimal workplace to optimize the solar PV system's efficiency. The solar PV system works with an optimal voltage and current at specific solar radiation, temperature, and the solar cell to generate electricity at the maximum power.</p> <p>Therefore, when selecting <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> for PV power generation system, it should meet the following 6 features:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Solar inverters should have a reasonable circuit structure and consist of carefully selected components. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/select-an-8000w-single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Select an 8000W single phase grid tie solar inverter" width="300" height="367" />Besides, inverters should be equipped with diverse protection functions, such as reverse polarity protection for DC input, short-circuit protection for AC output, protection against overheat and overload, etc.</li> <li>Solar inverters should apply to a wide range of DC input voltage because the solar PV cell array's terminal voltage changes with the load and sunlight intensity. Although the storage battery has a clamping action on solar cells, the battery's voltage fluctuates with the remaining electricity in storage cells and changes in internal assistance. In particular, the terminal voltage changes considerably when the storage cell ages. For instance, a 12V storage cell has a terminal voltage ranging from 10V to 16V. Thus the solar inverter should work normally within a wide voltage range for DC input voltages. Besides, the AC input voltage should be stable and stay within the load requirements.</li> <li>Solar inverters should have high efficiency. Given that solar cells are highly-priced, the efficiency of inverters and the system should be raised to make maximum use of solar cells.</li> <li>Solar inverters should be highly reliable. Currently, the solar PV power generation system is mainly applied to remote areas and remains unguarded or maintained in many cases. It requires solar inverters to be highly reliable.</li> <li>In the solar PV power generation system with medium and large capacities, solar inverters' output should output sinusoidal waves with a small distortion factor. It is because supplying power to systems with medium/large capacities through square waves will output many harmonic components, and ultra-harmonics will result in additional losses. For inverters of the solar PV power generation system, a quality output waveform meets two specifications: high steady-state stability and good dynamic performance featuring fast adjustment and small variations in output waves under external interferences.</li> <li>Solar inverters should have a high overload capacity ranging from 125% to 150%. When the overload reaches 150%, the inverter should operate for 30s continually. When the overload reaches 125%, the inverter should operate for more than 60s. Also, solar inverters should maintain a rated sine output in any load condition (except the overload) and the transient state.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:143 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-sine-wave-inverter What is a Sine Wave Inverter? <p>A sine wave inverter is a kind of common inverter. Sine wave inverter is a power electronic device that can convert DC (direct current) electric energy (such as power batteries, storage batteries) into AC (alternating current). The sine wave inverter outputs pure sine wave current, it is compared with a modified wave inverter. Inverter and AC-DC converter are opposite processes. AC-DC converters or power adapters rectify will convert current into direct current, while inverters will have the opposite effect. So it is get the name.</p> <p>As we all know, there are two kinds of electricity: one is direct current (DC), such as electricity from batteries and mobile phone chargers, and its waveform is a straight line; the other is alternating current (AC), which is 220V/110V for household use. The alternate means that its amplitude is periodic, with positive and negative changes. Sine wave is like a wave, rising and falling. Generally, the waveform of alternating current changes according to a sine function, so it is called a sine wave. The function of the sine wave inverter is to convert direct current (linear) into alternating current (sine wave).</p> <p><strong>Basic Structure of Sine Wave Inverter</strong></p> <p>The sine wave inverter converts DC power into AC power by controlling the on and off actions of semiconductor power switching devices (such as SCR, GTO, GTR, IGBT and power MOSFET, etc.). The circuit that controls the turn-on and turn-off of the power switch is the control circuit of the inverter. It outputs a certain voltage pulse to make the power switch in the power conversion circuit turn on and off according to a certain rule. At this time, output of the power main circuit is a specific harmonic combination, which will obtain the waveform through the filter circuit. The basic structure of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> is shown on the following diagram.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/circuit-diagram-of-sine-wave-inverters.jpg" alt="Circuit Diagram of Sine Wave Inverters" width="850" height="275" /></p> <p><strong>Working Principle of Sine Wave Inverter</strong></p> <p>The function of a sine wave inverter is to convert direct current into alternating current. It is composed of an inverter bridge, SPWM wave module, drive module and filter circuit. The SPWM inverter circuit is the key to pure sine wave generation. SPWM wave module generation has always been a research hotspot. SPWM is Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation, that is, a pulse waveform with a variable duty cycle and the PWM control technology is based on this conclusion. Perform control to the turn-on and turn-off of the semiconductor switching device, so that the output terminal will get a series of pulses with equal amplitude but unequal width. The desired waveform equivalently will be obtained by performing pulse width modulation. If the duty cycle of the pulse series is arranged according to the sine law, the output voltage can obtain a sine waveform after being filtered, and at the same time, the harmonic components in the load current are reduced. This is called sine wave pulse width modulation.</p> <p><strong>Applications of Sine Wave Inverter</strong></p> <ul> <li>New energy utilization</li> </ul> <p>New energy indicates to solar energy in a broad sense, including wind energy, water potential energy, chemical energy, etc. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverters.jpg" alt="Pure Sine Wave Inverters" width="300" height="198" />New energy sources such as solar and wind energy will become the main energy sources. Using photovoltaic cells made of semiconductor materials, these new energy sources are converted into various kinds of electrical energy through certain scientific and technological means. Sine wave inverter technology is one of the key technologies.</p> <ul> <li>Eliminate harmonic pollution from electric supply</li> </ul> <p>Effective management of harmonic pollution can not only improve the operation quality of electrical equipment and energy conservation, but also can affect the safety of civil power. By converting the main power to the city power standard after rectification using modern inverter technology, the harmonic pollution of the city power can be purified and the safety of electrical equipment and users can be protected. The sine wave inverter is an important part of the small wind power generation system, which is responsible for converting direct current into alternating current to supply power to the load.</p> <ul> <li>Other applications</li> </ul> <p>Sine wave inverters are also widely used in many other fields, such as AC motor variable speed regulation, motor braking regenerative energy feedback, uninterruptible power supply system, induction heating, arc welding power supply, variable frequency power supply, etc.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:147 https://www.inverter.com/working-principle-of-dc-dc-conversion-circuit-in-mppt Working Principle of DC-DC Conversion Circuit in MPPT <p>With advances in solar photovoltaic technology, many technical terms, in addition to solar power generation systems, PV sunshine rooms, PV greenhouses, and other civilian projects, have taken a deep root in residents' life. For instance, many purchasers ask questions when buying an inverter, for example, how many circuits of MPPT does this inverter has? What the power-generation efficiency is like?</p> <p>Although many people are aware of the MPPT function, they are unclear about the circuit's working principles. This paper will briefly introduce the DC-DC conversion circuit, a vital component of MPPT.</p> <p>MPPT is the abbreviation of Maximum Power Point Tracking. As a vital function of the solar inverter, MPPT not only effectively raises the radiation utilization rate and maximizes the solar inverter's working efficiency but also converts voltage and currents output by modules to adjust their power according to sunlight intensity. When sunlight remains dim, MPPT is likely to raise modules' input voltages to track the maximum power of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>. Take the most commonly used Boost conversion circuit as an example, the following brief analysis is made:</p> <p>Boost is generally explained as lifting, raising, and pushing upwardly. In fact, it also means raising the voltage. In the following part, we will analyze how it converts voltages.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter-in-pv-mppt-system.jpg" alt="Solar inverter in PV MPPT system" width="455" height="433" /></p> <p><strong>Internal circuit schematic diagram of single-phase inverter</strong></p> <p>The figure listed above presents a topological structure commonly used by single cameras. Here the red block diagram is separated out for further analysis.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/internal-circuit-schematic-diagram-of-single-phase-inverter.jpg" alt="Internal circuit schematic diagram of single phase inverter" width="435" height="220" /></p> <p>It can be easily seen from the diagram that the Boost consists of three elements, including inductance, switching tube, and dioxide. The following part will briefly analyze its working modes.</p> <p><strong>Working Mode 1: Switch tube S is on</strong></p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/working-mode-1-of-boost-circuit.jpg" alt="Working Mode 1 of Boost Circuit" width="392" height="215" /></p> <p>Direct current E is applied to inductance. The power supply E is under conductive charging. Ton is the conduction time for switching tubes; the inductance voltage is equal to E.</p> <p><strong>Working Mode 2: Switch tube S is disconnected</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="/images/uploaded/working-mode-2-of-boost-circuit.jpg" alt="Working Mode 2 of Boost Circuit" width="400" height="201" /></strong></p> <p>DC power supply E and energy saved by inductance are converted to charge capacitance C through diode D till U<sub>0</sub>. Similarly, we assume the time for disconnecting the switching tube S is Toff. According to Kirchhoff's law, the voltage on the inductance is UL=U<sub>0</sub>-E.</p> <p>As is known to all, the current of inductance in a stable state doesn't mutate (as stipulated by the Law of Volt-Second Balance). In other words, the increase in current when the switch is connected equals the decrease when the switch is disconnected. This relationship can be described by the following formula:</p> <p>E × Ton = (U<sub>0</sub>-E) × Toff</p> <p>The above formula can be transformed as follows:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/formula-transformation-1.jpg" alt="Formula transformation 1" width="201" height="62" /></p> <p>Duty ratio D is introduced. When the switch is connected, the ratio is D. when the switch is disconnected, the ratio is 1-D. The formula listed above can be rewritten as follows:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/formula-transformation-2.jpg" alt="Formula transformation 2" width="181" height="63" /></p> <p>As is shown by Formula ①, the output voltage is U0&gt;E, namely Boost raises the voltage. Suppose an appropriate duty ratio signal is given to switching tube S, the output voltage can be adjusted to work out the desired voltage value and expand the output voltage.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/switch-control-signal-of-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Switch control signal of solar inverter" width="439" height="245" /></p> <p>Of course, the duty ratio is not selected randomly but takes various design factors into consideration. These factors are not discussed in detail. In conclusion, the DC-DC converter, as a core circuit for achieving the MPPT function, has been widely applied to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">solar on-grid inverters</a>, light charging, and light saving to considerably raise the efficiency of utilizing PV power. In particular, DC-DC also gives birth to Buck-Boost, CUK, and other characteristic conversion circuits in actual application, which greatly cater to people's special needs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:152 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-select-power-of-inverter-for-home-use How to Select Power of Inverter for Home Use? <p>Power inverter has many specifications, and these specifications usually include rated power and peak power. The rated power is the continuous output power, which refers to the power that the inverter keeps working for a long time. The peak power is the starting power, which is generally twice the rated power. It is mainly used to meet the instantaneous peak value when individual home electrical appliances are started. For example, for a power inverter with 2000 watts continuous power, its peak power can reach 4000 watts. Therefore, for an inverter, its peak power must be able to meet the instantaneous power when the home appliance starts to ensure normal operation.</p> <p>When selecting an inverter, its power should be higher than the starting power of the home electrical appliances used. When working, the inverter itself consumes part of the power. Its input power is greater than its output power. For example, if an inverter inputs 100 watts of direct current and outputs 85 watts of alternating current, its efficiency is 85%.</p> <p>For example, the starting power of the motor is 1500 watts, and the peak power of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">the inverter</a> is just 1500 watts. There will be efficiency loss during the conversion process, but the required power is actually not achieved. Therefore, when buying, a larger margin shall be left.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li><strong>Heating wire, light bulb, and sun lamp and other purely resistive home appliances.</strong> <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/select-a-500w-power-inverter-for-home-use.jpg" alt="Select a 500W power inverter for home use" width="300" height="281" />For these home appliances, the power indicated on the electrical appliances is divided by 0.9, for example: 100W bulb, 100÷0.9=111. Therefore, with a 120W inverter, the bulb can be used safely.</li> <li><strong>TV set.</strong> There are two types of TVs, one is LCD TV and the other is CRT TV. For LCD TVs, as long as the inverter is twice the power of the TV standard. For example: LCD TV standard 100W, we can use it with a 300W power inverter. For CRT TVs, because of the large capacitance, the degaussing coil is equivalent to an inductive load, and the impact force is very strong, generally calculated as 10 times the peak value. For example: For 100W, peak 1000W, we need to be equipped with inverters above 500W to drive.</li> <li><strong>Computer.</strong> If it is a computer with a LCD, it should be selected by the standard power (computer host power) plus 90W. If it is a display of a picture tube, you need to calculate the peak power plus 90W according to the nominal power of the selected display (the host power is generally within 90W). If you feel it troublesome, just use a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-500w-inverter">500W power inverter</a>, absolutely no problem.</li> <li><strong>Handheld power drill.</strong> Calculated by 3 times the peak value (drilling can only start after the no-load operation is stable, so the peak value is small). For example, for a 500W electric drill, peak value is 1500W, so select an 800W inverter. A 1500W electric drill is equipped with a 3000W inverter.</li> <li><strong>Pump.</strong> For home 500W water pump, it is calculated as 7 times (pumping water as soon as it starts, and it can only work at full load, and the peak value is large), and the peak value is 3500W, and 1800W inverter is required. A 750W pump must be equipped with a 2500W inverter to operate safely.</li> <li><strong>Air conditioning.</strong> Non-inverter air conditioners are calculated as 7 times the peak value, and inverter air conditioners are calculated as 4 times the peak value. For example, an air conditioner of 1000W per hour will be calculated by 7 times, which is 7000W. The peak value of a 3500W inverter is just 7000W. The inverter air conditioner is calculated by 4 times, the peak value of 1000W is 4000W, and the peak value of 2000W inverter is just 4000W. Therefore, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-2000w-inverter">power inverter with 2000W</a> continuous power is ideal for the inverter air conditioner.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/select-a-2000w-power-inverter-for-home-use.jpeg" alt="Select a 2000W power inverter for home use" width="350" height="192" /></li> <li><strong>Car.</strong> Generally speaking, most passenger cars use 12V voltage, while trucks use 24V voltage. When selecting a car power inverter, please pay attention to buying an inverter suitable for the battery parameters. The battery voltage must be consistent with the nominal DC input voltage of the inverter. For example, a 24V inverter must correspond to a 24V battery.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:170 https://www.inverter.com/best-installation-place-for-solar-inverter Where is the Best Installation Place for Solar Inverter? <p>If in the PV system, the component installation place is distant from the power grid connection place and the distance is over 300m, the solar inverter can be installed at three places. The first one is the place that is most approximate to the grid connection point, which can save the AC cable. The second one is the place that is closest to the component, which can save the DC cable. The third one is the middle place. Which place is the best choice?</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-inverter-application.jpg" alt="Solar panel inverter application" width="600" height="334" /></p> <p>The most important factors for the PV system are the initial cost and power plant benefit. Thus, the benefits and disadvantages of the above mentioned three methods can be analyzed from these two aspects. Hereby a power station of 55kW can be analyzed. The component is installed at a place that is 300m away from the grid connection point and the component power is 280W. There are total 200 pieces of components and each 20 pieces are connected in series. Then, these 10 sets are connected with a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">50kW grid tie solar inverter</a> in parallel. There are total 10 groups of DC cable (20 wires) connecting the component and inverter. The AC output adopts the start connection method of 3W+N. The earth wire is connected nearby.</p> <p><strong>Cost comparison</strong></p> <p>Firstly, the cost analysis can be conducted. By far, the price of the general PV DC cable of PV 4mm<sup><sub>2 </sub></sup>is about 3.5 USD/m. The maximum current of the 60kW power station is 87A. The copper cable of 3*35+1*16 mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> or 3*50+1*25 mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> can be selected based on the distance. Now, the market price of 35mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> is about 60 USD/m and the price of 50mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> is about 90 USD/m. If the solar power inverter is close to the grid connection point, about 6000m (300*20=6000m) DC cable is required. In addition, about 10m 35mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> AC cable will be needed. Thus, the total price of the DC and AC is 60*10+6000*3.5=21600 USD. If the solar inverter is installed at the place close to the component, then about 500m (25*20=500m) DC cable and about 300m 50mm<sup><sub>2 </sub></sup>AC cable will be used. Then, the total AC and DC cable price is 90*300+500*3.5=28750 USD. It can be seen that when the inverter is close to the grid connection point, the cost is lower.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/cable-parameter-list.jpg" alt="Cable parameter list" width="600" height="342" /></p> <p><strong>Efficiency comparison</strong></p> <p>Secondly, the efficiency can be compared. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar power inverter</a> line loss includes DC cable loss and the AC cable loss. DC line loss includes the DC cable loss and the MPPT matching loss. MPPT matching loss is related with the internal cable resistance and will be obvious when the cable is over 100m long. AC loss is the AC cable loss. The resistance of PV 4mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> DC cable can be calculated as 4.6 mΩ/m and the resistance of the 35mm<sup><sub>2 </sub></sup>copper cable can be calculated as 0.52 mΩ/m. The resistance of the 50mm<sup><sub>2</sub></sup> copper cable can be counted as 0.39mΩ/m. DC current can be calculated as 8A and AC current can be calculated as 87A.</p> <p>If the PV inverter is close to the grid connection point, the DC cable is about 300m long and large loss will be caused by the MPPT matching. The loss of the DC cable itself is about 1800W (P=6000*0.0046*82). The loss of the AC cable itself is about 118W (P=3*10*0.00052*872). If the MPPT matching loss is not counted, the total loss is 1918W. If the solar inverter is close to the component, about 500m DC cable is required and about 300m 50mm<sup><sub>2 </sub></sup>AC cable will be used. The loss of DC cable itself is about 150W (P=500*0.00046*82) and the loss of AC cable itself is about 2700W (P=3*300*0.00039*872). Thus, the total loss is about 2850W. It can be seen that when the PV inverter is close to the grid connection point, less loss will be caused.</p> <p>In addition, when analyzing from the wire distribution aspect, it can be seen that about 20 pieces of thin DC wires are required and only one thick AC wire is used. Thus, the installation will be easier if the solar inverter is close to the component. As the DC does not pass zero point, the voltage is high. Thus, the DC will have higher danger in case of any fire disaster. Under this situation, it is safer to install the inverter at the place close to the component. If the PV system can not realize self-adoption, it needs to send to the grid and the AC cable shall be as short as possible.</p> <p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>Based on the calculation result, it can be seen that when the component is away from the grid connection point and the PV inverter is installed at the place close to the grid connection point, the initial cost and the energy loss will be lower but the difference is not very obvious. If the DC cable is over 100m long, the MPPT matching loss may be caused. In the actual installation, various conditions, including the cable distribution convenience and the power station safety, shall be considered.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:168 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-generator-and-inverter Difference between Generator and Inverter <p>Generator is an electromechanical device that generates electricity by transforming mechanical energy into electric energy. It generates electricity based on the electricity and magnetism work rules. It is driven by the wind turbine and hydraulic turbine of the system. The electricity generated by the system is for power station application and industrial application as main AC power.</p> <p>Inverter is a power electric device that can convert one current into another current. This device is mainly used to transform DC into AC. The inverter takes AC directly from AC source and converts it into the DC by rectifier. The converted DC is used to charge the battery. At the same time, as AC is used in the industrial and household system, the DC from the battery will be converted into AC by the inverter. This system can be used to supply power for household electricity system in case of power failure. The inverter does not need external power to support its work. Although both the inverter and generator can improve the work efficiency, their functions are totally different.</p> <p><strong>How does a generator work?</strong></p> <p>Portable generator needs fuel to support its work. The difference of AC and DC is that electron can move in two directions in AC but can only move along one direction in DC. As AC can bear higher voltage, it will loss less energy when moving along a long distance. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/portable-inverter-generator.jpg" alt="Portable Inverter Generator" width="288" height="260" />This is why AC is used to supply power for most houses and buildings. In this way, most household appliances shall adopt AC. Otherwise, they need to transform the AC supplied to houses and buildings.</p> <p>Traditional generator cannot transform the current from one form to another form. Generator works by transforming mechanical energy into electric energy. Under most situations, generator is used to supply power for household system. The large-size generator can be driven by coal, natural gas or nuclear power. But portable generator is usually driven by gasoline and diesel. In case of power failure, these fuels are used to generate power for the construction site or the buildings. The generator can be designed to generate DC or AC. Most power station and some low power consumption system adopt AC. What the traditional generator can do is to generate electricity. If the power voltage needs to be changed, the transformer shall be adopted. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">inverter generator</a> is similar with traditional generator. The inverting generator also generates AC but can invert it into DC, which produces a smoother and stabler power flow. It can save more oil and can operate more quietly than traditional generator.</p> <p><strong>How does an inverter work?</strong></p> <p>An inverter can transform DC into AC and deliver the current to different direction by the switch control. The filter can be used to smooth the waveform and fix the frequency. Multiple filtering methods can be used by different inverters based on the required output smoothness. The rectifier can be used to transform AC into DC. A big difference between generator and inverter is that inverter can only work with power supply and it cannot generate power by itself. Unless it is a part of the combined machine tool, otherwise the inverter can only transform DC into AC.</p> <p>One of the main functions of the inverter is to supply power for different electronic products in cars. Vehicle generator usually generates DC, which is not compatible with most devices that adopt standard household outlets. Now, most cars have an accessory port that can be connected with the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car power inverter</a>, allowing to supply power for small-size TVs, cell phones or other electronic devices. Some small-size car inverters are designed to plug into the cigarette lighter of the cars.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:165 https://www.inverter.com/solar-grid-tie-inverter-working-principle Solar Grid Tie Inverter Working Principle <p>In addition to the DC-AC conversion function, the solar grid tie inverter shall also own the solar cell array MPPT function and various protection function. The solar cell array delivers power energy to the power grid through sine wave PWM inverter. The power sent from the solar on grid inverter to power grid is determined by the solar cell array power and local sunshine conditions of the specific time. Now, power inverter technology becomes very mature, and the main circuit of the power inverter is shown in following figure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/the-main-circuit-diagram-of-power-inverter.jpg" alt="The main circuit diagram of power inverter" width="484" height="208" /></p> <p>The operation circuit of the grid tie solar PV system is shown in figure 2. V<sub>p</sub> means the output voltage of the grid tie solar inverter. V<sub>u</sub> means the grid voltage. R means the wire resistance and L means the series reactor. I<sub>z</sub> means the current that is sent back to the grid. To ensure the feedback current power factor is always 1, the phase of the feedback current and the grid voltage shall be consistent. By referring to the grid voltage of V<sub>u</sub>, then the phase of the I<sub>z</sub> and V<sub>u</sub> shall be consistent. V<sub>R</sub>, the voltage at two terminals of the internal resistance R, shall be consistent with the power grid voltage. In addition, the phase of V<sub>L</sub>, the voltage at two terminals of the reactor, is lower than that of the voltage V<sub>R</sub>. The phase and amplitude of V<sub>P</sub> can be calculated by the formula:</p> <p>V<sub>p</sub>=I<sub>z</sub> x (R + ωL) +V<sub>u</sub></p> <p>In the formula: ω refers to the angular frequency of the utility grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/circuit-principle-of-pv-on-grid-operation.jpg" alt="Circuit principle of PV on grid operation" width="304" height="180" /></p> <p>In the actual circuit of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">solar grid tie inverter</a>, the phase, period and amplitude of V<sub>u</sub> are detected by the voltage sensor. As it is difficult to get R value in actual system, the phase of feedback current I<sub>z</sub> shall be obtained by the negative current feedback. The phase angle of the feedback current I<sub>z</sub> is worked out by referring to the utility grid phase. The I<sub>z</sub> shall be detected by the current transformer from time to time to ensure that I<sub>z</sub> is consistent with the grid voltage. In thus way, the feedback power generation with the power factor of 1 can be realized.</p> <p>The microprocessor is mainly used to test the real-time voltage phase, feedback and control the current phase, track the maximum power of solar cell array and track the real-time sine wave PWM signal. Its work process is as following: Though hall voltage sensor, the voltage and phase of the utility grid is sent to the A/D converter of the microprocessor. Then, the microprocessor will compare the feedback current phase and the utility grid voltage phase. The error signal will be adjusted by PID and then be sent to the pulse width modulator (PWM). In this way, the feedback process of the power with power factor of 1 is completed. Another main function of the microprocessor is to realize the maximum power output of the solar cell array. The output power of the solar cell array can be worked out by detecting the output voltage and current of the solar cell array separately by the voltage and current sensor, and then multiplying these two detected value. Then, the PWM output duty cycle shall be calculated. This is actually to adjust the feedback voltage so as to obtain the optimized maximum power.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/solar-grid-tie-inverters.jpg" alt="Solar grid tie inverters" /></p> <p>Based on figure 2, it can be discovered that when V<sub>p</sub> amplitude changes, the phase angle φ between the feedback current of the solar grid tie inverter and grid voltage will also change. Since the feedback control of the current phase is realized, the decoupling control of the phase and amplitude will be realized, which will make the process work of the microprocessor simpler. In addition, the work status of the grid tie solar PV system under the power-off condition shall also be considered. In the common grid tie solar PV system, when the power supply of the utility grid is stopped, the solar grid tie inverter will stop working.</p> <p>The work principle: When the power supply of the utility grid is stopped, the grid side will stay in short-circuit status. At this time, the grid tie solar inverter will start self-production function because of the overload problem. When the overload situation is detected by the microprocessor, it will block the SPWM signal and will trigger the circuit breaker connected with the power grid. If the solar cell array can output energy, grid tie solar inverter will operate separately, which can be controlled easily. It only needs to know the negative feedback status of the AC voltage. The microprocessor will detect the output voltage of solar grid tie inverter and compare it with the reference voltage (normally is 220V). Then, it will control the PWM output duty cycle to realize inverting and stable-voltage operation.</p> <p>The precondition to ensure stable-voltage operation is that the solar cell array can provide enough power at that time. If the load is too high or the sunlight condition is poor, solar on grid inverter can not output enough power and then the terminal voltage of the solar cell array will be decreased. Then, the output AC voltage will be decreased, which will cause low-voltage protection status. When the power supply of the grid is back to normal, it will switch to the feedback status automatically.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:169 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-vs-frequency-inverter Power Inverter vs. Frequency Inverter <p>What is the difference between power inverter and frequency inverter? The detail analysis of inverter and frequency inverter is as following.</p> <p><strong>What is a power inverter?</strong></p> <p>Power inverter is a device that can convert DC (the battery and accumulator jar) into AC (normally the sinusoidal wave of 220V and 50Hz). It is composed of inverter bridge, control logic and filter circuit. In fact, it is a voltage inversion process with the adapter. The adapter converts the AC voltage of the mains power grid into a stable 12V DC output, while inverter converts the 12V DC voltage output by the adapter into high-frequency high-voltage AC. Now, the inverters generally use PWM pulse width modulation technology to obtain high-power, high-efficiency AC inverter output.</p> <p>With a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>, direct current (battery, switching power supply, fuel cell, etc.) can be converted into alternating current to provide stable and reliable power protection for electrical appliances, such as laptops, mobile phones, handheld PCs, digital cameras, and various instruments. Inverters can also be used with generators, which can effectively save fuel and reduce noise. The power inverter has a wide range of uses. It can be used in various vehicles, such as automobiles, ships and aircrafts. In the field of solar and wind power generation, inverters play an irreplaceable role. It is also widely used in air conditioner, home cinema, electric grinding wheel, electric tools, sewing machine, DVD, VCD, computer, TV, washing machine, cooker hood, refrigerator, video recorder, massage device, fan and lighting device.</p> <p><strong>What is frequency inverter? </strong></p> <p>Frequency inverter, also named as VFD, is a kind of power control equipment adopting frequency conversion technology and microelectronics technology to control AC motor by changing the motor power frequency. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency inverter</a> is mainly composed of rectifier (from AC to DC), filter, inverter (from DC to AC), braking unit, driving unit, detecting unit and micro processing unit, etc. The frequency converter can adjust the output power’s voltage and frequency by controlling the on and off of the IGBT. It can provide the required power voltage according to the motor demands to achieve the purpose of energy saving and speed regulation. In addition, the frequency inverter can also provide various protection functions, including the over-current protection, over-voltage protection, overload protection, etc. With the improvement of industrial automation degree, now the frequency inverter has been widely applied.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/frequency-inverter-working-principle.jpg" alt="Frequency Inverter Working Principle" width="496" height="227" /></p> <p>The above figure shows the circuit with AC frequency. P and N refer to the converter circuit. The AC can be set into DC and can be loaded to Z. When the pulse signal sent to P is sinusoidal, the set DC is sinusoidal and it is the upper half part of the sinusoidal curve. At the same time, the period is also the sinusoidal period of the pulse signal, which is an integral multiple of the AC period. The periodic sinusoidal current is generated on the load Z under the co-working of P and N. In addition, the frequency can be adjusted according to the pulse signal period. This is the working principle of the frequency inverter.</p> <p><strong>The difference between power inverter and frequency inverter</strong></p> <ul> <li>The power inverter is a device that can convert DC into AC and the frequency inverter is a component used to change the AC frequency.</li> <li>The power inverter can convert DC power (battery, accumulator jar) into AC power (sinusoidal wave of 220V and 50 Hz), and the frequency can also be adjusted. The frequency inverter can convert the input AC into the AC with required frequency and then output it. The work principles include AC-DC-AC or AC-AC. The common rule is AC-DC-AC, based on which the AC is converted into DC first and then the DC is converted into AC. This is also the process of rectifying and inverting.</li> <li>The frequency inverter includes the frequency adjustment part. However, the inverter only has fixed output frequency.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:149 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-maintain-the-centrifugal-pump How to Maintain the Centrifugal Pump? <p>The working conditions of centrifugal pumps are generally harsh. Affected by environmental conditions, mechanical vibration and other factors in the working process, its technical status will undergo different changes. The maintenance of the centrifugal pump is to tighten and adjust the place that should be tightened and adjusted before the normal technical state of the unit itself is damaged. In addition, it is necessary to change the lubricating oil promptly to maintain normal lubrication conditions; frequently observe various instrument monitoring devices. If any problem is found, the fault should be eliminated in time, so that the unit is always working in good technical condition. Only in this way can the service life of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a> unit be prolonged and the unit can work with high quality and high efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Maintenance of centrifugal pump</strong></p> <ol> <li><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/vertical-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Vertical Centrifugal Pump" width="340" height="491" />When maintaining stainless steel centrifugal pumps, it is required to pay attention to the sound and vibration of the pump. If it is found that the sound of the unit is abnormal or there is a large vibration, it should stop immediately, check the cause, and eliminate it in time to prevent accidents.</li> <li>When the centrifugal pump is maintained, attention should be paid to the position of various instrument pointers. If there is a sudden change, check the reason. Usually, when the reading of the vacuum gauge rises suddenly, it is likely that the water level of the inlet pool drops too low or the inlet pipe is blocked by debris. The sudden drop in the pressure gauge reading is probably caused by a decrease in the speed of the power machine or air being sucked in the pump. After finding the cause, try to eliminate the fault.</li> <li>During maintenance of the centrifugal pump, the temperature and lubrication of the bearings should be checked frequently. For bearings lubricated with an oil ring, pay attention to whether the oil ring rotates flexibly. Bearing oil should be added in time to maintain proper oil volume. Too much or too little oil will cause heat. The oil quality should be clean. Generally, the oil should be changed every 200h-300h of the sliding bearing, but the oil should be changed at least once every six months. The rolling bearing should be checked and supplemented every 1500h. For new pumps, the oil should be changed in advance.</li> <li>When maintaining the centrifugal pump, pay attention to whether the pump stuffing box is normal. Water must drip out continuously from the packing (usually about 30 drops per minute). When too much or too little, the gland screws should be adjusted to make the packing just tight.</li> <li>During maintenance of the centrifugal pump, always check the inlet pipe and stuffing box for air leakage. If there is an air leak, the pressure gauge reading will drop and there will be abnormal sounds in the pump. At this time, measures must be taken to prevent air leakage, otherwise, the water output will decrease. In severe cases, there will be no water.</li> <li>When maintaining the centrifugal pump, always check whether there are floating objects near the water inlet pipe to prevent the water inlet from being blocked. When the water level of the inlet pool drops too low, the operation should be stopped, otherwise, the water inlet will produce a vortex, drawing air into the pump. For example, the water level of the inlet pool is low, but the pumping can be maintained. When drought resistance is urgently needed, a wooden board can be placed on the water surface where the vortex is generated to prevent air from entering the pump. This is conducive to the work of the pump.</li> <li>The belt drive unit should keep the belt working surface clean and dry. When the belt surface is shiny, it can be oiled after removing greasy and dirt on the belt surface to prevent the belt from slipping. In addition, it is required to pay attention to the tightness of the belt at any time.</li> <li>When a centrifugal pump is pumping water on a sediment-laden river, it should be noted that the sand content should generally not exceed 7%, otherwise, the pump efficiency will be significantly reduced, the flow rate will be reduced, and the flow part is easy to wear.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:141 https://www.inverter.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stcs Everything You Need to Know About STCs <p>All ambitious governments all over the world have renewable energy target. They create such target to monitor and oversee the energy market in regard to how much CO2 emission saving achieved from installing solar power systems or any other renewable energy source, and to reduce the dependability on fossil fuels energy sources which are on its way to gone.</p> <p><strong>What is the STCs certificate?</strong></p> <p>It's a tradeable certificate represents CO2 emission saving resulting from installing a small scale solar system, its issued and awarded from a government body, called clean energy regulator. In other word, it's a measure of how much CO2 emission your solar system installation will save, it is also affirmation that this <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar product</a> can be used safely.</p> <p>When your small scale solar system installed, calculations will be done by clean energy regulator to indicate how many STCs can be created over the whole life time of your solar system, and of course this is also a measure of how much renewable energy your solar system will generate. </p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/the-workflow-of-solar-panel.jpg" alt="The workflow of solar panel" width="597" height="317" /></p> <p><strong>How can you get paid for STC certificates?</strong></p> <p>After getting your STCs certificates, you have to provide them to your solar system installation company, then they can trade these certificates and gets cash in return. </p> <p>The solar system company offers you upfront discount on your solar system price equal to the price they will get when sell these certificates. So, now you paid in a form of a rebate applied on your solar system price.</p> <p>Understanding some important aspects of STC certificates:</p> <p>Here are 5 important keys about such certificate:</p> <p>1. You will not get paid via the government, but through your solar system installation company.</p> <p>2. It’s a tradable certificate, so it varies from time to time, and not constant.</p> <p>3. STCs quantity you will receive from the solar system company varies based on your location and the time of creating.</p> <p>4. The solar installation company must be in compliance with some conditions and rules set by the clean energy regulator in order to be approved for trading such STCs certificates.</p> <p>5. The STCs certificates have 12-month validity time period after creation, and it will void if this time period exceeded. </p> <p>The STCs certificates are actually treated as a rebate applied on your solar system price, so the solar installation companies usually make advertisements for such deducted prices to be more attractive to customers.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:142 https://www.inverter.com/3-thing-you-need-to-know-about-stcs 3 Thing You Need to Know About STCs <p>All ambitious governments all over the world have renewable energy target. They create such target to monitor and oversee the energy market in regard to how much CO2 emission saving achieved from installing solar power systems or any other renewable energy source, and to reduce the dependability on fossil fuels energy sources which are on its way to gone.</p> <p><strong>What is the STCs certificate?</strong></p> <p>It's a tradeable certificate represents CO2 emission saving resulting from installing a small scale solar system, its issued and awarded from a government body, called clean energy regulator. In other word, it's a measure of how much CO2 emission your solar system installation will save.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/application-of-solar-system.jpg" alt="Application of solar system" width="750" height="550" /></p> <p>When your small scale solar system installed, calculations will be done by clean energy regulator to indicate how many STCs can be created over the whole life time of your solar system, and of course this is also a measure of how much renewable energy your solar system will generate. </p> <p><strong>How can you get paid for STCs certificates?</strong></p> <p>After getting your STCs certificates, you have to provide them to your solar system installation company, then they can trade these certificates and gets cash in return. </p> <p>The solar system company offers you upfront discount on your solar system price equal to the price they will get when sell these certificates. So, now you paid in a form of a rebate applied on your solar system price.</p> <p><strong>Understanding some important aspects of STCs certificates:</strong></p> <p>Here are 5 important keys about such certificate:</p> <p>1. You will not get paid via the government, but through your solar system installation company.</p> <p>2. It’s a tradable certificate, so it varies from time to time, and not constant.</p> <p>3. STCs quantity you will receive from the solar system company varies based on your location and the time of creating.</p> <p>4. The solar installation company must be in compliance with some conditions and rules set by the clean energy regulator in order to be approved for trading such STCs certificates.</p> <p>5. The STCs certificates have 12-month validity time period after creation, and it will void if this time period exceeded. </p> <p>The STCs certificate is actually regarded as a discount on the price of your solar system, so <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar product</a> installation companies usually make advertisements at this deducted price to be more attractive to customers.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:138 https://www.inverter.com/net-metering-vs-gross-metering Net Metering vs Gross Metering <p>There are 2 different metering ways to connect our solar photovoltaic system to the grid, The first is net metering and the second is gross metering. <br />In net metering, our <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> will push the generated electricity into the energy metering panel, then into our house, so our electrical appliances/equipment and electronics can work normally. At that point of time, if our house equipment’s need whole solar generated electricity to work, then it’s okay, and we therefore consume such electricity free of charge, in other word, we will no electricity bills. But if there will be surplus electricity generated from the solar system at that point of time in which our house equipment does not need, then where will it go?</p> <p>The answer is: It will be exported back to the power grid to be used by the electricity company to supply other neighborhood houses and that we called feed-in tariff.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/application-of-solar-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="Application of solar photovoltaic system" width="300" height="300" /></p> <p>The energy meter in that case will measure how much net kwh will be exported to the grid, so you can get paid form the electric utility based on the contracted feed in tariff. Usually, the price for each exported kwh ranges from 10 cents to 15 cents, and the price of consumed kwh ranges from 20 cents to 50 cents.</p> <p>At night our house electrical equipment consumes electricity, and in some times during the day, we they also consume electricity, so the net energy meter will add both to each other. Also the net meter will measure the exported energy during the day as we sometimes export energy as clarified aforementioned and finally at the end of the month, you will get the readouts from the energy meter for how much exported and imported energy and the difference between them (net), so you can pay or get paid accordingly.</p> <p>The feed in tariff rate differs from one state to another, and from electricity company to another, so you have to check carefully about the best for your benefits. We recommend to ask your solar company their advice, because they will be aware of the best solar retailer that provides high feed in tariff.</p> <p>In gross metering, the whole solar system generated electricity will go to the grid, and you will get paid for it as a form of credit shown in the electricity bill. In other word, we can say that in gross metering, it measures the entire output energy separately from your energy consumption, and you pay for electricity bill (energy consumption), and get paid for exported energy, in where no relation in between them "no net".</p> <p>Some states follow net metering scheme while others follow gross metering scheme, and at the end the solar system owner will be winner in both cases, he will not lose at all from his installed solar photovoltaic system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:140 https://www.inverter.com/benefits-of-solar-energy-for-your-home Benefits of Solar Energy for Your Home <p>Basically, the solar panels are mainly consisting of several small solar cells connected electrically to each other in series. When the solar cell subjected to sunlight, it will generate direct current electricity (DC voltage), then the solar inverter takes the DC electricity and converting it to alternating current electricity (AC voltage). This AC energy will flow through your home electrical distribution panel, and distributed to flow through different branches/wires to operate your home different electrical appliances/equipment. Here are the three main steps of how solar panels work for our houses and the benefits they bring:</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/advantages-of-solar-panels.jpg" alt="Advantages of solar panels" width="450" height="450" /></p> <p>1. The photovoltaic solar cell will absorb the sun light energy and converts it to direct current electricity.</p> <p>2. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> which considered as the brain of the whole photovoltaic solar system will convert the DC electrical energy to AC electrical energy which will be used to operate all our home appliances and power electronics devices.</p> <p>3. The excess electricity generated from the solar system will fed back to the electrical grid, called Feed-In tariff, in which we shall get paid from the electric utility for each exported kwh.</p> <p><strong>What are the residential solar energy benefits?</strong></p> <p>Actually, there are 7 benefits, let us discuss briefly as following:</p> <p>1. Your electricity bills will be reduced or totally removed immediately after installing and commissioning the solar system.</p> <p>2. You will get a good governmental rebates, as all governments encourage installing solar system by supporting the residential solar system owners via approx. 25% of the solar system price in average.</p> <p>3. Generally, the life time of the solar system is approx. 25 years, and return on investment period will be max around 6-9 years, and this means we shall generate and use solar power free of charge for more than 15 years. Meanwhile, the price of the fossil fuel and electrify rise higher yearly with high considered rate, and that maximize our benefits dramatically.</p> <p>4. Will help us making our life style affordable.</p> <p>5. Will increase the purchase value of our home.</p> <p>6. Solar energy as a main type of renewable energy is a perfect way to reduce greenhouse gases and help us get rid of global warming phenomena.</p> <p>7. There will be no pollution and no fuel wastes.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:139 https://www.inverter.com/8-tips-before-installing-solar-pv-systems 8 Tips Before Installing Solar PV Systems <p>The good preparation for solar photovoltaic system installation is the key factor in this project success, that is why we need to gather all information, ask the solar installation company, and make the economic feasibility study before going on. There will be and important 8 questions/works to ask your solar system installation company before buying as following:</p> <p>1. Based on your installation location and expected whether all over the year, what will be the estimated annual electricity production generated from the solar system in kwh?</p> <p>2. Of course in summer months, the solar electricity production will be higher than winter months due to the intensity of solar radiation, and the question is: What will be the estimated electricity production in kwh for the worst and best months?</p> <p>3. Who will be in charge of making maintenance to your solar system? Also, during solar system operation, if there will be an issue or a service needed, who you should contact to? It would be preferably if there will be someone locally you can contact with him. </p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-PV-system-installation-diagram.jpg" alt="Solar PV system installation diagram" width="717" height="544" /></p> <p>4. Very important for you as owner, solar company as installer and solar parts manufacturer as a supplier to let each party know his responsibilities, that will make things much easier if you encounter any issue in the future, because you will indicate in a minute who will solve this issue.</p> <p>5. You have to write down all solar system components warranties period, who was the installer name, and when it was installed. Making history sheet for each component will be an important thing. Our recommendation is to let the solar system installer helps you in that point.</p> <p>6. You have to ask the solar system installer about who will be responsible of connecting the system to the electric grid, will he be or another sub-contractor or electricity company? Also, you have to ask him about when will the solar system be connected to the grid?</p> <p>7. After installing the solar system, your electrical energy meter will need to be changed to accommodate the new installation, and the question is: Who will be responsible of such changeover? Is it you or solar installation company or electricity company? This point must be clear from the beginning, and usually the solar company will do that job under the supervision of the electricity company.</p> <p>8. The solar system discount obtained from the installation company of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar product</a> due to the sale of the STC certificate is an important content to discuss, so you will know how much discount you can get from this type of STC certificate.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:136 https://www.inverter.com/how-solar-pv-systems-affect-house-value How Solar PV Systems Affect House Value <p>In fact, installing a solar photovoltaic system in your house is well considered as any capital investment you add to the house, like modern kitchen or SPA or a pool. All of these will add additional value to the property.</p> <p>Installing solar system in your house will add an amazing additional feature making home buyers looking forward to purchasing your house in case you desire to sell it, because your house becomes an energy efficient home. Recent studies made in Australia, United states and European countries figured out that more than 70% of home buyers are strongly looking for buying energy efficient house with installed solar system rather than traditional houses.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/the-application-of-solar-system.jpg" alt="The application of solar system" /></p> <p>This home with installed solar system will save your electricity bills, and you may able to get additional monthly charge from your electric utility if the house has an <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> solar system type, in addition, it will be branded as energy efficient. Actually, the saving will depend on house solar system size and the amount of solar energy existing in your home location.</p> <p>What aforementioned assumed that you own your photovoltaic system, and do not lease nor have it under a purchase agreement. As if you do not own the solar system, then you have to pay for it when the time comes to sell the house, but in that case you will lose much, because you will pay the whole price to the solar company early, and only the other option is to try convincing the buyer to take the contract with the solar company over. Mostly, the new house owner will agree to take the contract, but if not, then you will get in stuck.</p> <p>Although the investment in <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> will go down over time, and it slowly degrades in power generation yearly by approx. 0.5%, which leads to lower produced electricity every year, but you will continue benefit from solar system over its typical 25 years’ warranty and beyond that period, as mostly you will get free electricity for more than 30 years before solar system components need to be replaced.</p> <p>Generally, most of people are aware of solar system benefits, and see that your solar system is a respected added value to the house value. Also, the environmental benefits will be a big deal, and for the solar system price "capital cost", it surely pays back for itself for less than 10 years and you will get free electricity for 15 years or more.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:135 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-fit-and-how-does-it-work What is Feed-in Tariff and How Does It Work? <p>In short, the working principle of feed-in tariff means that you are paid for the excess electricity that is injected into the grid from the solar photovoltaic system because you do not use the excess electricity at home. The electricity retailer will pay you according to the electricity price listed in the contract you have signed with him. Therefore, it is necessary to select online suppliers reasonably.</p> <p>In fact, there are two working modes of feed-in tariff <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/the-solar-PV-system.jpg" alt="The solar PV system" width="391" height="402" /></p> <p>1. The working mode of net feed-in tariff: You can get paid from the electricity generated by the solar system and injected into the grid. Therefore, if your system generates too much electricity to pay, you only need to save monthly electricity bills.</p> <p>2. The working mode of the total on-grid electricity price: This is the old electricity price and no new connection is provided. In this electricity price, you will be paid for all the electricity generated in the working area of ​​the solar system, because all the electricity you generate will be Pass your house and inject it into the grid, so you can benefit from the entire solar power generation. On the other hand, you will pay the electricity bill separately (electricity for your household appliances/equipment).<br />First, you need to check all online suppliers in the solar system work area, determine the best online supplier, and then start signing the feed-in tariff. Of course, you will know exactly how much electricity you will get for every kilowatt-hour of output.</p> <p>Tariffs for each online supplier will be different. For each online provider, you must study its advantages and disadvantages. Before deciding which online provider to work with, you must weigh all the points. In addition, you may need to check your local online suppliers from time to time to see any tariff changes that may occur, as you may consider changing online suppliers to get the best tariffs. Definitely not only choose any feed-in tariff.</p> <p>Before proceeding, you must research and weigh the different tariff preferences of online suppliers.</p> <p><br /><br /></p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:134 https://www.inverter.com/can-i-install-solar-system-by-myself Can I Install Solar System by Myself <p>As solar system is not complicated in installation, and easy to understand its operating principle, some people may think to install the solar system without getting dedicated solar company, or specified personnel, so they can save design and installation costs. The question is that right to do so? And what will be the side effects?</p> <p>Generally, the solar photovoltaic system with its different types (grid Tie, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a>, and hybrid) deal with risky voltages values, its alive electricity with voltages that can hurt and cause die to human in case of direct contact. Also, there are some technical areas that needs solar professionals to deal with, like the issues related to wind loading and how the solar system can withstand this safely, how to make voltage compatibility between <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> configurations, and how to do installation and commission for the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>. One more important thing is that in order to get solar rebates for the residential solar system from your government, your solar system must be installed by professional, licensed and accredited solar system installers.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-solar-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of solar PV system" width="550" height="230" /></p> <p>For such aforementioned reasons, we confirm that you have to not install the solar system yourself, and to left that work to the solar professional for your safety and to avoid troubles, also to get max reliability and efficiency from your solar system.</p> <p>Actually, installing the solar system strongly needs to be applied through specialized and professional installers, because it’s not just to make a connection and tight screws, absolutely no! There are two important studies to be done before installation, it’s the design and the economic feasibility study. As solar system has considerable capital cost, an accurate study should be made before going ahead. We have to know, if our premises are suitable or not, how much electricity we shall get from the solar system, will we get paid from the electric utility? What will be electricity bill saving? What will be the retune on investment? And much more questions that we have to have their answers before installing the solar system, and only the design studies will be able to answer.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:131 https://www.inverter.com/6-tips-to-install-solar-photovoltaic-system 6 Tips to Install Solar Photovoltaic System <p>Usually the main reason of installing the solar photovoltaic system is to produce electricity to be used in different applications. Some people lives in remote locations which are not serviced by the main electric grid, and using solar photovoltaic system for those people is a very reliable and cost effective way of electricity generation, it’s very less expensive than making extensions (installing poles and cables) to get electricity from the nearest main grid power supply.</p> <p>Inverter is the equipment that converts DC power into AC power, it can provide the required power for AC loads when there is no power supply. It can be applied in the following places:</p> <ol> <li style="text-align: left;">Bus, ship and plane: using the DC power on these vehicles to provide the required power for AC loads from inverter.</li> <li style="text-align: left;">When there is no power supply, it can provide user AC power with other power equipment. For example, the inverter is used with in conjunction with the diesel generator to reduce the working time of the diesel generator, save fuel, and reduce the cost of power generator.</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Use portable power to provide temporary AC power.</li> </ol> <p>There are many different types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter systems </a>which are used for different applications, like off grid photovoltaic solar system which used for remote areas aforementioned, and grid tie photovoltaic solar system which begins its benefits from the moment it connects with the main grid, as it eliminates the monthly electric bill, and provide monthly income by selling surplus electricity to the electric utility, etc.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/tips-to-install-solar-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="tips to Install Solar Photovoltaic System" width="750" height="216" /><br />In addition, solar system is renewable energy source helps on reducing pollutions by limiting greenhouse gases emission.<br />After getting all these benefits from the solar system, you may be eligible for getting rebates from the electric utility and other authorities in your country, but there will be some conditions to be eligible for such rebates as following:</p> <ol> <li>Your solar system must be in small scale (normally your home), and it can not be solar system, it can be hydro-system or windmill system.</li> <li>Your solar system must be installed in eligible and authorized premise whether it’s your house or residential apartment or commercial shop.</li> <li>Your solar system must be completed and installed recently.</li> <li>If you have more than one eligible premise in different addresses, we mean if you have more than one solar system, you are entitled to get credit only for one premise.</li> <li>You can get only one credit for one particular solar system project, irrespective of the created certificate period which may be done in the past.</li> <li>You have to apply for such rebates/credits in a time period Not more than one year after the solar system installation date.</li> </ol> <p>At the end, solar system installation projects are encouraged by governments, local authorities and global entities, so you will fully get benefits from different aspects, just the most important is to make an accurate economical study, consider all parameters, learning required conditions to get rebates before starting your solar system installation.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:132 https://www.inverter.com/what-factors-affect-the-prices-of-solar-systems What Factors Affect the Prices of Solar Systems? <p>Different solar system components prices are what indicate the whole solar system cost, and that is because not all solar inverters nor solar panels nor installers are the same. Higher quality and certified components will cost more of sure, and here are the 6 factors affecting the solar system price:</p> <p>1. Silicon solar cell, framing, glass, connectors and diodes types and quality. Also, other components which share to make the final solar panel. Of course there will be cheaper option and expensive option, and logically the expensive option is referring to the high quality and longer life. These differences will be fully noted, and recognized after 10 or 15 years of solar system operation date. </p> <p>2. Solar system components manufacturer testing, design and quality assurance.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/the-solar-price-diagram.jpg" alt="The solar price diagram" width="400" height="250" /></p> <p>3. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> quality, certificates and warranty.</p> <p>4. Solar system installation costs. It will be extra required costs for complicated roofs for example or how connections will be securely done and what will be the costs of system balance like fuse or isolators.</p> <p>5. Whether there will be some rebated provided by the government or not.</p> <p>6. Exchange rate, as it you may need to get higher quality and certified solar components from outside the country.</p> <p>Now, let us discuss the 3 factors affecting solar system price returns:</p> <p>1. How long will the solar system components last? High quality expensive solar system may pay for itself in 3 years, and it will work perfectly for additional 20 years, so imaging how benefits you get! You will gain thousands of dollars. On the contrary, low quality cheaper solar system may pay for itself in 4 years, but fails after 7-8 years. It will be big difference in financial returns for both cases. </p> <p>2. Will we use p type silicon solar cell or n type silicon solar cell. Generally, p type is cheaper than p type, but p type has 3 significant advantages; the annual degradation is less than half of p type, better performance in high temperature conditions, and provide more power in low light conditions. So, about 25% increase in solar system output power will be gained in case of using n type solar system.</p> <p>3. Maintenance and operation times and costs, as one solar panel failure in one string of 10 panels, will massively reduce the generated output power of the whole string panels, the reduction percentage may reach 50% or 70% or more.</p> <p>Generally installing high quality solar system will be more reliable, cost effective and will provide high financial returns, however also the feed in tariff in your location will affect the return on investment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:133 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-the-best-electricity-price How to Choose the Best Electricity Price? <p>As you know, that for grid tie solar photovoltaic system, we export/sell the electricity to the electric utility power grid, and we charged for each exported kWh energy, that what we called feed-in tariff. But the question is, can we control this tariff in order to maximize our return on investment? The answer is yes, how can we reasonably choose a reasonable electricity price?</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-direction-metering.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of direction metering" width="400" height="250" /></p> <p>Electricity suppliers usually provide two different <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> prices, the first is called flat rate structure, in which the price for the purchased kWh is fixed, its same over 24hours/7days. And the other structure called time of use, in which the price for the purchased kWh differs from time to other, there will be off peak price and high peak price. Usually, off peak time is in the night, high peak time is from afternoon to the evening, and the normal time is represented by the rest of the day hours, in some areas, the high peak kWh charges may reach 50 cents per each kWh. Therefore, we must choose a reasonable electricity price according to our own needs.</p> <p>From solar economics point of view, the result of using flat rate structure or time of use structure will be very similar, however some electricity retailers provide only one tariff structurer and in that case you have no choice, but if they provide both tariffs, then you need to check your electricity consumption pattern and how you use electricity over the day, in order to indicate which structure will be more advantageous for you. For example, if you return back your home at 2-3pm, and start using a lot of electricity like TV, air conditioners, washing/drying machines, etc. up to the night, in that case you have already used/consumed the electricity during peak charge period, so no need for time of use tariff, as it will be useless, and flat tariff would be more advantageous. But if you have batteries and able to use them at peak charge time, then time of use tariff might be better.</p> <p>What make things easier, is that your solar photovoltaic system supplier will be able to assist you choose which tariff structure will be better for you, they can do analysis like feed-in tariff analysis, after checking your electricity consumption pattern.</p> <p>Choosing a reasonable electricity price Another important thing to consider is solar energy meters, because the time-of-use rate structure will have special specifications/components and is different from the case of using a fixed rate structure that does not require special meters. Conventional electricity meters will work perfectly. Therefore, it is best to check the electricity price you will pass before buying and installing a solar energy meter.</p> <p>Reasonable selection of suitable electricity prices can help reduce unnecessary waste and save costs.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:129 https://www.inverter.com/6-reasons-for-choosing-solar-pv-inverter 6 Reasons for Choosing Solar PV Inverter <p>The inverter is the heart of the solar photovoltaic system, and more than 90% of solar system failures causes is due to inverter malfunction. There are 2 main factors affecting solar inverter selecting, inverter performance and its price.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/reasons-for-choosing-solar-PV-inverter.jpg" alt="reasons for choosing solar PV inverter" width="780" height="272" /></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> differ based on six parameters, in which we have to consider when choosing the best solar inverter to our system, as following:</p> <ol> <li>The solar inverter power capacity in watt, and it refers to how much power it can provide. In the market there are many different standard inverter capacities, for different applications whether its residential, commercial or industrial application. For example, the residential solar inverter power capacities exist on the market are 1600W, 2000W, 3000W, 4000W, 5000W and 10000W.</li> <li>The solar inverter startup voltage, it refers to the lowest DC voltage value in which the inverter will start running and converts DC power to AC power, in other word, at what level of sunshine the solar inverter will run. The startup voltage depends on the inverter power capacity and its brand and it usually vary from 95V to 150V.</li> <li>The solar inverter surge/inrush power capability, it refers to how much power it can deliver and how long it can withstand at starting period for motors and others which requires much power at starting period. For example, the motors pull approx. 6 times "larger" its rated power capacity at starting period, and this lasts from 1-5 seconds.</li> <li>The solar inverter efficiency, it refers to inverter output power to its input power ratio, in other word, the inverter internal losses. Also, how much power the solar inverter consumes when it is on idle condition. Usually solar inverter efficiency is above 90%, and most of them consume very low wattage on idle condition.</li> <li>Solar inverter output waveform shape, is it pure sine wave or modified sine wave? This is an important factor in indicting the inverter quality. Mind that most of loads requires pure sine wave shape for better performance.</li> <li>Will the solar inverter support monitoring and management software, so you can monitor the system and take corrective action when needed? How will you be able to connect to the inverter, is it via wireless router or Ethernet?<br />It’s really important to carefully select the best and high quality solar inverter, because this will result to higher efficiency and longer life span solar system, its meaningless to choose high quality solar panels and low quality solar inverter while solar inverter is the heart and most important part in the solar system.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:128 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-identify-high-quality-solar-panels How to Identify High Quality Solar Panels? <p>Solar panels are like any other product, there are some manufacturers use the high quality material and equipment in manufacturing them, and some other do not, so the solar panel manufacturing quality is not equal, so learn to identify whether solar panels use high-quality materials and equipment are very important.</p> <p>Some manufacturers are accustomed to researching and developing their products, and have a good understanding of the behavior of solar panel components in the field. They usually have decades of experience in the manufacture of electronic equipment, but at the same time, many manufacturers have recently moved Insufficient experience in entering the solar panel industry makes it difficult to identify whether solar panels use high-quality materials and equipment.</p> <p>It is not an easy process to recognize the high quality <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> by just looking to it, you just see and notice the frame and the glass which they are just surrounding components.</p> <p>High-quality solar panels are different from ordinary solar modules:<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/the-high-quality-solar-panel-recognition.jpg" alt="The high quality solar panel recognition" width="500" height="500" /></p> <p>1. Chemically treated glass.<br />2. Silicon solar cell.<br />3. Protective films.<br />4. Sealants.<br />5. Aluminum material.<br />6. Interconnected wiring.</p> <p>Just check the above six components to identify whether it is a high-quality solar panel.</p> <p>High-quality solar panels can also be identified like this:</p> <p>The solar panel spend its life in rains, hot sun, etc. It works outdoor and exposed to harsh environment in summer and winter. These changes in weather will of course affect the solar internal components and material bonded to each other, there will be chemical changes which will affect not only the solar panel performance, but it will affect its life time, its efficiency and reliability, because these chemical reactions will create new chemical material. Moreover, the elasticity of these internal materials will change with the time pass and affect the tension and stress forces taken place between different parts.</p> <p>So, the cheap low quality solar panel which uses cheap and low quality materials, and which its manufacturer has not taken into consideration the parameters aforementioned will not withstands/survives much, provides low performance and low service life.</p> <p>So, those solar panel manufacturers with strong understanding of material sciences, and who always invest in researches and development are highly appreciated. In order to identify those manufacturers, you can check their certifications, as they always have ISO certifications, they are not just checking/testing their final product for faults, they understand what causes variations and affect solar panel quality and life time.</p> <p>Our recommendation is to check for those solar panel manufacturers/brands when you decide to build your solar photovoltaic system. You will simply identify them by checking their certifications, checking their offers/promotional material, etc.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:127 https://www.inverter.com/when-should-not-buy-solar-pv-systems When Should Not Buy Solar PV Systems? <p>In some conditions, it does not make sense to buy and install a solar photovoltaic system, so here, we will let you know these conditions as following;</p> <p><strong>First:</strong> When the solar company introduce an offer in which is uncomfortable and you may suspect of it. Unfortunately, some companies try to over promise, oversell and push you into buying their solar system, in that case we strongly feel the solar company will not support us when needed in the future. We have to be careful of the cheap offer, it will incorporate low quality materials.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/investment-in-solar-PV-systems.jpg" alt="Investment in solar PV systems" width="400" height="350" /></p> <p><strong>Second:</strong> If your building/house is heavily shaded. As the shadow will dramatically reduce the solar system generated output electricity. In your vision you have to take care and consider about the impact of the current shadow and the anticipated shadow comes from trees grow or known renovations and extensions in surrounding buildings, that what we called shadow analysis study. It is an important study assisting us deciding whether the solar system will be a good beneficial investment project that worth to proceed or not. One more thing to note, is that in case of locations subjected to such shadow, its recommended to use <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro solar inverter</a>, so you can distribute your <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> freely and avoid areas with heavy shadow.</p> <p><strong>Third:</strong> It will not be a good time to buy the solar system if your solar company cannot guarantee supplying and installing the solar system in a definite time frame while providing you very good incentives scheme to extent that the solar system becomes very affordable, take care that this is an attempt from the solar company to push you to purchase! So not to overlook the details, it will show you some defects you might not notice them, and at this point you will discover that you can get a better deal from other solar company.  </p> <p><strong>Fourth:</strong> If you will not be at home during the day time, so will not run your heavy power loads like freezer, pool pump, heater and air conditioner during the day time, this means that the electricity generated form the solar system will not be used, so installing solar system will not be right at this time, and it’s better to wait few years so the cost of solar storage system (batteries) at the market will be reduced and be more cost competitive. The solar storage batteries will enable us to storage electricity generated form the solar system at day light and use it at the night in where we shall be in home and wants to run our appliances.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:126 https://www.inverter.com/checklist-before-buying-a-solar-pv-system Checklist Before Buying a Solar PV System <p>As the solar photovoltaic system lasts for long time "25 years", we have to take care of both warranty and good performance matters before installation. This system should generate cost saving electricity from the day it installed and up to the expected life end date. Here is the check list we recommend you to prepare before buying the solar system, so can discuss/verify with your solar system installation company:</p> <p>1. What will be the expected annual generated electricity (kwh) form your solar system as a whole? And will your solar system installation company be ready to provide written statement about that. That is the strict performance indication, and if the solar company provide such statement, then be rest assured your system will be of high performance and efficiency. </p> <p>2. How will you know if your solar photovoltaic system is doing great on day to day basis, what things you need to check daily? Generally, these indices can be known from the installed solar monitoring devices.</p> <p>3. How will the solar installation company will cooperate with you after installation? What services do they provide to check the system in later years? There have to be a written agreement listed these duties and tasks.</p> <p>4. If you encounter technical issue in our solar system, how will the solar company assist you? And how long does it take for them to come the site and repair thesystem? Will they charge for this service or will you just pay them for spare parts if needed?</p> <p>5. Does the solar system installation company conduct functional tests on the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> and whether it can be used safely?</p> <p>6. If your solar installation company is not locally based, how quickly they support you in case of faults? Will they be readily available? And how do they will handle the issue?</p> <p>7. The solar installation company has to agree with you before installation who will be responsible of repair and replacements costs if needed. This point should be clear and documented.</p> <p>8. Will the solar installation company be responsible of maintenance? What maintenance program do they provide? In maintenance program what things they are responsible of? And what things are you responsible of? </p> <p>9. Will the solar system provide you a training program in how to use/monitor/troubleshoot your solar system at the time of hand over.</p> <p>10. Will the solar system installation company provide you with handbook at hand over time to show you safety issues and how should you deal with the solar system safely?</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/checklist-for-solar-PV.jpg" alt="Checklist for solar PV" width="1000" height="900" /></p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:125 https://www.inverter.com/how-do-solar-pv-system-produce-electricity How do Solar Photovoltaic System Produce Electricity? <p>There are 3 main steps to get the solar photovoltaic system ready to produce electricity; system purchasing &amp; system installation &amp; metering, and power grid connectivity.</p> <p>The most important step is that you have to make sure that your solar company will be in charge of installation, installing metering device, and to connect solar photovoltaic system with the grid. The barriers that can be energized built with metal wires are mostly used to prevent enemies or theft. Solar company invoice you have to pay should have the prices of these tasks and all relevant works. However, in general, the electricity company will supply such solar energy meter and install or supervise on its installation.</p> <p>After installing the solar energy meter, your solar photovoltaic system is ready to run and produce electricity. Generally solar photovoltaic system life time is 25 years, and its return of investment will depend on the following factors which change continuously:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-photovoltaic-system-power-generation.jpg" alt="Solar photovoltaic system power generation" width="700" height="650" /><br />1. Amount of solar light the solar array will receive daily.<br />2. Annual electricity cost "kwh"(you pay for electricity company)<br />3. Feed in tariff (exported energy to the grid "price").<br />4. What is your electricity consumption which you would have had to pay for before installing the solar photovoltaic system, and now it becomes generated from such solar system.<br />5. How much electricity you can transfer from night time to the daylight time like running dryer, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar water pump</a>,washing machines, heaters, vacuum cleaner, etc.</p> <p>As an example, let us assume we have 6kw solar photovoltaic system, and based on 4 hours’ day peak sun hours, this system will generate 8760kwh electricity per year. Suppose we use 5000kwh during the year, and that electricity company tariff is approx. 28 cents per kwh, also the feed in tariff for the energy retailer (exported energy) is 8 cents per kwh, so:</p> <p>The value we have to pay for electricity company per year and now the solar system covers it = 5000kwh x 28c = 1400USD.<br />The amount of solar electricity that will be feedback to the grid = 8760kwh-5000kwh = 3760USD.<br />The price of the solar electricity exported to the power grid per year = 3760kwh x 8 cent = 300.8USD.<br />So, total saving achieved due to solar photovoltaic system installation per year = 1400USD + 300.8USD = 1700.8USD.<br />Total saving achieved due to solar photovoltaic system installation over its lifetime (25 year) = 42520 USD.<br />So, if the solar photovoltaic system total price (capital + running) = 10000USD.<br />Then, return on investment will be 10000USD/1700.8USD = 5.87 years.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:124 https://www.inverter.com/solar-pv-system-application-in-our-daily-life Solar photovoltaic System Application in Our Daily Life <p>Electricity generated from the solar photovoltaic system is identical to electricity generated from the regular fossil fuels, and other renewable sources like electricity generated from wind, hydro, etc. The output voltage is pure and stable sine wave, and can be used in all aspects, like industrial usages, commercial usages, and residential usages.</p> <p>During the daylight time in where the sun is shining, we can harvest solar electricity and use it directly to run our appliances and equipment rather than getting such electricity from the power grid, its free electricity, we do not pay for it!</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/next-generation-solar-power-system.jpg" alt="Next generation solar power system" width="550" height="268" /></p> <p>One of substantial financial saving we can get from solar photovoltaic system is to make what we called "load shift". It means to shift electrical power usage from night times to daylight times in where the sun is shining and the solar system generates such free electricity. We strongly recommend to run your high power equipment in day light time, like dish washer, clothes washer, pool pump, dryers, water heater, electric heater, electric cars, etc. By this way you can make big financial saving and avoid paying high electricity bill to the electric utility. Also, it is worth to pay your attention to using timer to achieve smoothly operation of such equipment to daylight hours, it will be very helpful way to avoid the forgetting.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">To maximize benefits from solar photovoltaic system, we can store the excess electricity generated in day light times in lithium batteries and use it on night times, so we may need to install extra <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> to our solar system for such purpose. The only disadvantages for such approach is that such batteries will add substantial capital costs on our solar photovoltaic system price, especially if you use high quality and reliable brands/types, but no worries as batteries technology is advancing day after day, and will become cheaper and cost effective soon, that will make using solar batteries is an economic investment in near future. </p> <p>Actually what we have aforementioned is related to how to benefits from solar energy by constructing photovoltaic system and convert sun power directly to electricity, but this is just one benefit, and there are much more! The sun the source of our life on the earth, and we can make use of it for many other applications in our daily life, like water heating system, space heating systems, ventilation system using solar fans, roads solar lights, solar charger for tablets and phones, and a solar power vehicle which is the future.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:123 https://www.inverter.com/9-tips-before-installing-solar-pv-system 9 Tips Before Installing Solar PV System <p>Before installing your solar photovoltaic system, there are some points to keep in mind and to do, so we suggest to make checklist including the following points;</p> <p>1. You have to check solar systems installers in your area, and prepare a list of their contact information, prelude to contact them for a quote.</p> <p>2. Before going on solar system installation, you have to be aware of changes that will be occurred on your electricity meter, your tariff, and electricity bill.</p> <p>3. Read more about solar photovoltaic system, and prepare checklist for some key questions to ask the solar installer about when he visits you. It should be noted that the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is an indispensable part of the photovoltaic system. The main function of the solar inverter is to convert the direct current generated by the solar panel into the alternating current used by home appliances.</p> <p>4. Make sure your selected installation company has credited installers, and better to ask them for installers name and license number.</p> <p>5. Ask selected solar installer about solar rebates and how they will be applied.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/install-of-solar-PV-system.jpg" alt="Install of solar PV system" width="650" height="600" /></p> <p>6. Make your solar system installer from the beginning aware that he will be responsible for making all electrical connection especially the electricity meter and getting all approvals required by your electricity retailer "power grid " and to insert costs of these works in your quote. Actually this process varies from state to another and from country to another.</p> <p>7. You have to get a clear date to start and finish your solar system installation from the solar company.</p> <p>8. Make sure that your solar company contacts the electricity retailer "power grid" to arrange procedures for the new electricity meter installation.</p> <p>9. Give a considerable attention to solar system monitoring devices, and we recommend to ask your solar company to provide android application for connecting the solar system to your mobil cell phone, the reason is to know the solar system power generation during the daylight hours, that will be so beneficial for you, as you will know when power generation will be high so can run your large power capacity appliances like washer or dryer instead of running them at low power generation times, and then consume extra electrical energy from grid retailer, and pay extra for the electricity bill.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:121 https://www.inverter.com/three-types-of-solar-pv-system Three Types of Solar PV System <p>In the market there are 3 different solar photovoltaic systems; on grid system, on grid with battery backup (hybrid) and completely off grid system; Let us describe each individually:</p> <p><strong>First: On Grid Photovoltaic system</strong></p> <p>That is the common setup system, its connected to the power grid, the electricity generated from solar will be first used to run your loads "equipment/appliances", and if there will be surplus electricity generation, it will exported to the power grid, and your power retailer will pay you for it (approx. 6-30 cent per kwh), and if the solar generation is not sufficient or not operating (night), electricity will be imported automatically from your retailer and you will pay for it at the end of the month.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-interactive-with-battery-backup.jpg" alt="Grid-interactive with battery backup" width="900" height="573" />The main component of on grid system is the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> which converts solar panels generated dc electricity to ac electricity and synchronize it with the gird, of course the ac voltage and frequency must be the same as the grid in order to fulfill that synchronization, so the inverter is constantly monitor the grid and measure voltage and frequency, also the inverter disconnects in case of grid shutdown for safety (Islanding). Choosing the high-quality solar inverter is very important, because low quality inverter will suffer and trip out if your grid voltage varies, so the solar photovoltaic system will temporarily shut down and can not cope with our grid voltage fluctuations, resulted in disconnection for long periods and lose us much solar output power.</p> <p>The only disadvantage of this system is that incase of grid shut down, it will disconnect, and our home appliances will not work.</p> <p><strong>Second: On Grid with battery backup (hybrid) Photovoltaic system</strong></p> <p>This system consists of regular on grid solar system plus sophisticated control equipment plus batteries. So it stores excess electricity generated from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> on the day time (inside batteries) to be used at the night. Suppose that your load demand is 4kw and solar electricity generated is 3kw, in that case, the batteries will jump in and supply the 1kw shortage, also you can adjust time of use to offset the expensive peak power period.</p> <p>Generally, in hybrid system, the batteries capacity will not be large, so it’s not sufficient to run the whole system in case of grid shutdown, but it will be able to run certain appliances with dedicated "separate"circuits after disconnecting the home from the grid, so you should specify these certain appliances like important medical equipment or fridge, etc. to your solar system designer at design stage.</p> <p>The hybrid inverter and control system usually not used in high demand homes over 5kw capacity.</p> <p><strong>Third: Off Grid Photovoltaic system</strong></p> <p>This system is used in remote areas in where utility power doesn’t exist, like remote farms, telecommunications sites, water pumping systems, etc. We need to make accurate energy audit and site assessments to our site before installing this system to make good matching between solar generation and the demand.</p> <p>Although batteries are considered as a main part in that system, and we can totally depend on it, this system often includes backup generator to be used in low solar irradiance days and high power demands.</p> <p>Using such system is a reliable and much cost effective alternative to the diesel generators usage in remote areas (No fuel, no maintenance, and virtually silent).</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:120 https://www.inverter.com/best-solar-battery-for-solar-pv-system Best Solar Battery for Solar PV System <p>In grid tie solar photovoltaic system, its actually connected to the grid, and it cannot work without it. When there will be an excess electrical energy generated from grid tie solar system, it will be sold back to the grid, and when there will be lack of electrical energy generation, we mean that electrical output power is not able to handle load demand power, the grid will automatically compensate for power difference, letting the load working efficiently without interruption. <br />During this process, there will not be an energy storage system to store the excess electrical energy generated on the day time to be used in feeding our home equipment at the night time, instead of injecting it back to the grid.</p> <p><strong>Adding batteries to solar photovoltaic system</strong></p> <p>There are two main types of solar batteries in the market; Lead acid and lithium. Although adding such batteries to the solar system will add extra significant expenses on solar system price, but it has much benefits; It will reduce our electricity bill, and we will be independent of the grid keeping our equipment work in case of grid interruption, and this is critical high value benefit in places/areas prone to grid blackout or even has no connectivity with the grid, and specially for some kinds of sensitive equipment like fridges, freezers, and medical equipment.</p> <p style="padding-left: 750px;"><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/the-principles-of-solar-battery.jpg" alt="the-principles-of-solar-battery" width="400" height="300" /></p> <p>Solar batteries have a definite life time, so before adding them to our solar photovoltaic system, we need to make economic feasibility study to see whether their financial saving will cover batteries purchasing costs before its failure or not? Generally, the life time for such batteries ranges from 8-15 years, and the longer life time &amp; the higher reliability, the higher batteries costs.</p> <p>With technology development, we are sure that batteries costs will be reduced and the service life time will be increased, so their economical feasibility will be higher.</p> <p>For each solar battery brand, there will be a warranty period that will guarantee certain number of years or cycles per its life span. Moreover, and as the batteries degrade naturally, the batteries manufacturer will guarantee to what extent the battery will keep a certain amount of its capacity over the warranty time. Consequently, the brand manufacturer is the only one who knows how long will our solar batteries last and how much power capacity will be loosen over the time.</p> <p>At the end, we want to re-confirm that batteries are an important part in the solar photovoltaic system, and the crucial factor for purchasing a certain batteries brand is what will be the manufacturer provided warranty period.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:122 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-increase-the-financial-return-of-your-solar-pv-system How to Increase the Financial Return of your Solar PV System? <p>The half way in getting large financial saving of your solar phot-voltaic system is to choose long life <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a>, high quality and good performance solar system <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> and other good quality components from the beginning. The next half way is to use the free electricity generated from the solar system on daylight, in other words is to make loads shift into daylights time.</p> <p>The goal is to make matching between electrical power output from the solar system and your loads demand, and this will achieve more than twice the financial saving.</p> <p>Let us discuss two approaches in how to achieve such financial saving through power matching:</p> <p><strong>First: Follow your site whether:</strong></p> <p>The solar photovoltaic system power generation in sunny day is approx 4-5 times the cloudy day, so we need to delay operating our big power capacity appliances, like dryer, washing machine, and dish washer in cloudy day to the next sunny day. In general, when solar generation is low then do not run all your appliances at the same time, and delay those which can be delayed without harming your lifestyle to the next sunny day, in order to avoid purchasing electricity from your local grid and pay more for your electricity bill. So, please do your jobs in sequence rather than doing them simultaneously.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/increase-the-financial-return-of-solar-PV-systems.jpg" alt="Increase the financial return of solar PV systems" width="800" height="635" /></p> <p>One more important thing, which is if you are not in the home at the daylight, it would be much better to run your appliances via timers or other featured modern techniques available in most of home appliances nowadays to make use of electricity generation at daylight.</p> <p>Also, for your air conditioner, you can pre-heat or pre-cool your home at daylight time, so stored heat or cool on your home wall will provide a comfortable whether in the evening. This way can save you much money compared to the air conditioner regular operating time from 5pm to 9pm when usually the household returned back to home.</p> <p><strong>Second: Monitoring system:</strong></p> <p>We need to know how much solar power generated over the day time, and specifically when will be the peak generated energy, moreover, we need to know the generated power in each hour or even each 15 minutes, so can schedule the large appliances to run at this time. So it will be very worthy to install power metering or smart meter that have the capability to be connected to our phone cell via bluetooth or wi-fi applications to monitor our solar system power.</p> <p>Also, we need to be aware of our appliances power capacity individually, and if you do not know, then simply you can get it from each appliance name plate "tag" which is affixed in each appliance back.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:117 https://www.inverter.com/3-factors-affect-solar-photovoltaic-system 3 Factors Affect Solar Photovoltaic System <p style="text-align: left;">Our goal when thinking of installing solar photovoltaic system is to achieve higher financial saving, so actually increasing numbers and power capacities of used solar panels is not a goal, it just may be one of ways to achieve substantial financial saving, and may not, that is based on the design.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">There are 3 external factors that affect how much electricity we can harvest from our solar photovoltaic system, so strong attention should be paid to them in designing stage, and those factors are as following:</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>First: Solar panels orientation</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">It means in what direction the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> have to face, is it north, south, east or west? Actually, these directions are affecting peak electrical power that solar photovoltaic system generates over the day time "morning-noon-afternoon-late afternoon". One of those direction will generate peak power at noon time, other direction will generate peak power at morning time and so on. Each location/country has its own recommendations regarding the best orientation for getting the max electricity generation from the solar system over the day.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/picture-of-place-latitude-location.jpg" alt="Picture of place latitude location" /><strong>Second: Solar panels pitch angle</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">It means solar panels angle from horizontal. Actually, this angle affects peak electrical power the solar photovoltaic system generates over the time of the whole year. In other word, it will affect when will be the large generation peak, is it in summer or winter, which months? As based on this angle, in certain season/ months, much amount of sun will hit the solar panels power inverter more than other season/ months. The pitch angle value is related to the area/country latitude, so each country has its best pitch angle. And generally, in summer, the electricity generation is higher than winter due to longer day and clear sky. Anyway, what we care about is to select the best pitch angle to get max electricity generation over the year.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Third: Shadow</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">The shadow is a big issue; it reduces electricity generation dramatically. The shadow will appear more in winter because the sun will be lower in the sky. Shadow happened due to external opaque element or due to dirt build on the solar panels surface. There are 2 solutions that can assist us to overcome this issue; reducing pitch angle will increase self-cleaning via rains, and using <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter.</a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">One of the most external factors affecting solar photovoltaic performance rather than the 3 factors aforementioned, is how much solar irradiation exists in that country/location. There will be many calculators available on internet free of charge that provide us with accurate sun irradiation data for each place in the world. This calculator estimates the output power from the solar photovoltaic system based on optimal criteria, means best orientation, best pitch angel, no shadow, and standard good quality solar panels.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:119 https://www.inverter.com/9-tips-before-buying-solar-pv-system 9 Tips Before Buying Solar PV System <p>Here we provide very useful nine suggestions you have to consider before buying your solar photovoltaic system, as following:</p> <p>1. Do internet solar research, and speak to your friends who already installed the solar system. The goal of such searches is to discover good brands, prices in the market. Usually cheap prices correspond to lower quality, but keep in mind that your solar system should last for 25 years in order to get a good return on investment, so good quality is our first consideration.</p> <p>2. Choose the high quality and the high efficiency solar inverter, as the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> is an essential and crucial part of the solar system, the motor efficient it is, the better energy conversion we get. We recommend to choose the best brand with long warranty period.</p> <p>3. Don’t make a decision based on internet reviews, as these reviews can be easily manipulated.</p> <p>4. Check your roof size to know how big the solar system will fit. You can use roof size calculators existing free of charge on the internet, and make sure to have reserve space for your future needs "batteries for night time use, and charging your electric car".</p> <p>5. Estimate your budget, as with solar photovoltaic systems quality and size change, the prices change as well. A rule of thumb you can follow for good quality brands in residential solar system up to 8-10kW capacity. You can consider the KW price to be in the range 1200USD to 1500USD, and of course you will find cheaper prices like 500-700USD / KW in the market, but those are lower grade, less output production, shorter life time, and we recommend to not buy such brands, in addition to that, good brand with high performance solar system will increase your property value.</p> <p>6. Use the best panel type with certifications. In the market there are 3 types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a>, mono crystalline &amp; poly crystalline &amp; amorphous film. We recommend using mono crystalline solar panels, as its highly efficient, high technology and produced since the 1970s.</p> <p>7. Check for the best reliable, right and longer manufacturing warranty. Some manufacturers provide 15 years as manufacturing warranty &amp; 80% performance warranty, and others provide 10 years manufacturing warranty &amp; 85% performance warranty, etc. The most important is to find the best manufacturing warranty not performance warranty, as its difficult to claim for performance warranty, as to verify, it will cost higher than the warranty payout itself.</p> <p>8. Choose standard build mounting structure and accessories, as they are carrying our solar system components and connect its parts.</p> <p>9. Get different quotes from different companies, so you can compare and find out the best.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/tips-should-know-before-installing-solar-system.jpg" alt="Tips should know before installing solar system" width="750" height="650" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:118 https://www.inverter.com/what-affect-solar-photovoltaic-performance What Affect Solar Photovoltaic Performance? <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/power-voltage-diagram.jpg" alt="Power-voltage diagram" width="450" height="278" />For each individual solar panel brand/manufacturer, there will be specific characteristics that will affect the whole solar photovoltaic system performance. To be more specific, we mean by the word "performance"; the output electrical power we can get from the solar system "the harvest".<br />Based on real testing procedures made be the solar specialists/experts, there will be approx. 10% difference in solar panel output power based on its own properties, which are represented by 3 major factors/specifications as following:</p> <p><strong>Temperature factor:</strong></p> <p>With the increase of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> temperature for each 1 C degree over the 25C, the max output power will be decrease by a certain ratio. And to recognize how the temperature factor affects the solar panel performance, suppose we have 2 solar panels with 2 different temperature coefficients, one of them is -0.3% / C and the other is -0.4% / C. So, at hot summer day with solar panel temperature reaches about 75 C degree, there will be output power loss for the first solar panel by (75-25) * - 0.3 = - 15% &amp; for the second solar panel by (75-25) * - 0.4 = 20%.<br />You see, how temperature coefficient increase will reduce the performance of the solar panel and the whole solar system accordingly! That is why it’s very important to choose the best solar panel brand/manufacturer which can perform effectively in high temperature conditions.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-panel-power-pv-panel-voltage-diagram.jpg" alt="Pv panel power-pv panel voltage diagram" width="443" height="270" /></p> <p><strong>Light intensity factor:</strong></p> <p>For each solar panel brand/manufacturer, there will be rated power listed on solar panel inverter name plate like, 400W, 300W, 250W, etc. This power capacity refers to how much power "watt", we can get from this solar panel at <span lang="EN-US">1000W/m<sup>2</sup></span> solar irradiance, but in reality, this <span lang="EN-US"> 1000W/m<sup>2</sup></span> irradiance can exist only in clear summer day at noon, however over the remainder of the day time, this powerful light is not exist, so the output power of the 400W solar panel will not be actually 400W at 700W<span lang="EN-US">m<sup>2</sup></span> or 600W/<span lang="EN-US">m<sup>2</sup></span> irradiance, it would be 300W or less. So, choosing the best solar panel brand/manufacturer which can perform effectively in low light intensity conditions will make significant difference in the whole photovoltaic solar system performance.</p> <p><strong>Degradation factor:</strong></p> <p>This factor refers to how the solar panel inverter output power changes with its age. Generally, after certain number of years, the solar panel output power will be reduced. Some solar panels brand loses approx. 10% of its power after 10 years and some others lose approx. 5% after 10 years age, etc. So, it differs, and not all solar panels brands are equal, that why we need to choose the best lowest degradation ratio solar panel brand.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:106 https://www.inverter.com/how-do-the-solar-panels-work How do the Solar Panels Work? <p>The sun is unlimited source of energy, scientifics describe it as a natural nuclear reactor. Solar energy can be converted to various kinds of energies, such as thermal energy, electrical energy, chemical energy so on. Which are essential to our live, and we cannot live without it.</p> <p>The sun releases very tiny energy packets called photons. These photons come from the sun to the earth in approx eight-nine minutes. In theory, the number/volume of photons incident on the earth per hour is enough to meet the world's energy needs for one year. Imagine how much energy we get from the sun!</p> <p>In recent years, solar energy became an important source of generating electricity via photovoltaic system implementation which mainly depend on solar panels. The solar photovoltaic system has become the fast-growing electrical energy source, as its technology is growing quickly in improving the efficiency and reducing the prices.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/working-principle-of-solar-panels.jpg" alt="Working principle of solar panels" width="600" height="458" />                                                                                     </p> <p><strong>How does the solar panel work?</strong></p> <p>The solar panels consist of a number of solar cells. When the sun photons hit the solar cell, the electrons in atoms outer shell will be lost, and there will be abundant of free electrons in each cell. If conductors are connected to negative and positive side of the solar cell, an electrical circuit will be formed, and consequently an electrical current will follow if the circuit is closed (electricity generation).</p> <p>As mentioned, that number of solar cells connected to each other will form the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> (called module as well). And also, connecting a number of solar panels in series with each other will form solar string, then connecting number of solar stings in parallel will form the solar array which represents final solar panels system. So, the more solar panels we use, the larger solar array we get and of course, the higher electrical energy we can get form the solar system.</p> <p><strong>Solar Panel efficiency:</strong></p> <p>It’s the ability of solar panel to convert sun lights to usable electricity, so the higher efficient solar panel will produce more electricity. This efficiency will be affected by solar cells composition, electrical connections, ambient temperatures and many other factors.</p> <p>If We have two solar panels with the same size, but one has an efficiency of 22% and the other has an efficiency of 13%, this means the 22% efficiency panel will produce approx. 50% increase in electricity generation in comparison to the 13% efficiency one. Thus, choosing the high efficiency solar panel has very significant impact in solar array electricity harvest.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:113 https://www.inverter.com/calculate-payback-period-of-your-solar-system Calculate Payback Period of Your Solar System <p>Payback period refers to: In how many years our solar system will return back its fixed and running costs we should pay for. Basically, before proceeding in purchasing/installing any kind of solar system and due to their high initial costs, we need to make economical feasibility study to know how to calculate the payback period and whether this solar system will be profitable project or not.</p> <p>The solar system payback period differs from one country to another based on how to calculate the following factors:</p> <ol> <li>What is the electricity kwh price in that country?</li> <li>How much is sunshine in that country?</li> <li>What is the electricity consumption pattern in the house or business location in which the solar system will be installed?</li> </ol> <p>Generally speaking, the more electricity that being used at the site, the faster the payback period.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-payback-period-equation.jpg" alt="Solar payback period equation" width="1000" height="553" /></p> <p>Nowadays, the average payback period for most of solar systems is ranging from five to eight years depending on the factors we mentioned above. So, its important to purchase the high quality and reliable solar system components from the beginning (solar panels, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>, other accessories), as you will practically start to get the profits after the payback period passed.</p> <p>For example, if any of your system components failed after 3 or 4 years, you would stuck in paying for repairing/troubleshooting, wasting money and time! Consequently, payback period will be longer and you will not get profits as planned, that is why we strongly recommend to get high quality <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar products</a> with good warranty periods at <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a> store from the beginning. Generally, good brands stand behind their solar inverter by 5 years warranty period at least and stands behind their solar panels by 20 years warranty. Mind that solar panels and inverter is the main components in your solar system, so pay special attention to them.</p> <p>Although payback period considered as a very important factor affecting the solar system project, but there are 2 more important factors to be considered:</p> <ol> <li>How much electricity the solar system will produce?</li> <li>How many years the solar system will produce energy after it has paid back itself?</li> </ol> <p>Good planning, studies and accurate calculation before purchasing/installing the solar system is the key word for payback period project success. And if you don’t have the experience to do this, then no problem, you can get paid solar expert to assist you to calculate it.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:109 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-reduce-electricity-usage-at-home How to Reduce Electricity Usage at Home? <p>Of course, using solar photovoltaic system will substantially reduce our electricity bill sand may eliminate them totally, but we can also reduce electricity bills by reviewing our power consumption to reduce electricity usage and electrical losse. Let us introduce nine tips and approaches to achieve that:</p> <ul> <li>Replace your bulbs whether they are incandescent or halogen to led lights, as this will achieve 75% energy consumption reduction.</li> <li>Switch off appliances which are on standby mode and not actually used like old air conditioner which pulls large power in standby and like television &amp; mobile charger, etc. All should be switched off when we do not use them.</li> <li>Try to keep heating and cooling in your premises by insulating walls, floor, ceiling and check doors/windows to make sure all are tight/sealed and no losses. This will reduce air conditioner operation periods and number of starting.</li> <li>Try to use natural cooling and heating sources like opening windows on summer and exposure to sun in winter.</li> <li>Use higher efficient appliances and electrical equipment in your premises, as for example new efficient air conditioner uses approx. 20% less electricity than older models.</li> <li>Use <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a> to heat your water instead of electric heater which uses four times more electricity than heat pump system.</li> <li>In summer use shutters and curtains on windows to keep the sun radiation out, so keeping your premises temperature without switching on the air conditioner.</li> <li>In washing try to use the cold water, and do not switch on heater in your washing machine as it pulls high electrical power. When drying, try to use sun to dry your clothes instead of powering on your electrical dryer which pulls high electrical power as well. For each appliance or electrical equipment you tend to purchase, check its energy efficiency label, so can purchase the higher efficient (lower electricity consumption). You will find the energy efficiency label stick to the equipment body, and if not found then you can ask equipment supplier/manufacturer about it. Also, do not put the fridge next to the oven/stove as this will make the fridge compressor to run for long period.</li> </ul> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/how-to-save-electricity-bill.jpg" alt="How to save electricity bill" width="795" height="686" /></p> <p>Following the above-mentioned recommendations will assist in reducing electricity bill. And adding solar photovoltaic system will make higher substantial saving as well. So, to gain dramatic electricity saving, you can do both if you will be economically able to do so.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:112 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-save-money-with-solar-system How to Save Money with Solar System? <p>The electricity consumption in homes differs based on home size, number of resides, home wall insulation, heating/ cooling system presence/ capacities, number/ type of electrical appliances, and of course the life style. So, large homes with pools, and air conditioning units will exhibit high consumption with high electricity bill more than small homes, and always the home owners are looking forward to reduce the consumption/bills which is critical in large homes. In fact, there will be 2 main opportunities to reduce electricity consumptions and save your money.</p> <p><strong>First:</strong> Build your home solar photovoltaic system with a high efficiency <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> and transfer your large power usage equipment to day light hours to use the free electricity generated from the solar system. It makes sense to use as much electricity as possible during the day light, so turn on your washing machine, dishwasher, pool filters and other high consumption equipment when the sun brightly shines.</p> <p><strong>Second:</strong> Improve your home electrical equipment energy efficiency and reduce electricity wastes. If you go with the first opportunity "solar system construction", then in addition to reduce or even eliminate electricity bills you will get additional advantages from the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-feed-in-tariff">solar feed-in tariff</a>, which means the surplus electricity generated from your solar system and fed back/ exported to electricity grid, as the electric utility will pay for each kilowatt hour electricity generated and fed into the grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-consumption-and-solar-PV-generation-relationship.jpg" alt="Power consumption and solar PV generation relationship" width="598" height="362" /></p> <p>The price of such exported electricity differs from one retailer to another, so you need to contact with them if you want to save more money, especially the one in your area. And choose the plan which is suitable for your circumstances. Whether you export high electricity amount and import low amount or conversely, export low amount and import high electricity amount. But unfortunately, in some areas, not all retailers pay for the electricity you export, so you need to check this point before constructing the solar photovoltaic system, and during making your solar system economic feasibility study.</p> <p>However, feed-in tariff is an important factor affecting our choice of the solar photovoltaic system power capacity, as suppose for example that we shall construct 3kW solar photovoltaic system in our home, and this capacity is sufficient to our home appliances electricity needs, but we still have the choice to construct 6kW system (<a href="https://www.inverter.com/7000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">7000W solar inverter</a> or <a href="https://www.inverter.com/8000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">8000W solar inverter</a> should be chosen) with paying additional costs of approx. 3000USD. The higher 6kW system will export 14kwh on average per day to the electric grid, and suppose that exported kwh price is 16 cent, then our profit per day = 14*16= 2.24‬USD or 817.6USD per year.</p> <p>Consequently, the oversizing solar photovoltaic system will pay itself in 3.66 years, and for its remaining life time which usually considered as 20 years, we will get pure profits.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:111 https://www.inverter.com/buy-best-solar-inverter-for-photovoltaic-system Buy Best Solar Inverter for Photovoltaic System <p>When sizing the solar photovoltaic system, we should mind some logic important factors that have substantial effects on solar system itself and our electrical appliances/equipment:</p> <p>1. If we don’t use the electricity generated from the solar photovoltaic system during the daylight hours instantaneously, it will be exported back to the power grid if we have grid tie solar photovoltaic system type.</p> <p>2. If the loads power capacity of the solar inverter during 6.5am to 5.5pm period is 3-4kW, this means that solar photovoltaic system absolute minimum capacity would be 4kW, and for better and stable performance it should be larger, because it depends on how many hours will each load need to run during the day.</p> <p>3. The power generated form the solar system and the power required for your load almost will never be identical, and the solar system energy generation in summer is roughly double the energy generated in winter.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/single-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Single phase grid tie solar inverter" /></p> <p>There are good reasons for buying larger power capacity of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> for your photovoltaic system, like the solar inverter generates larger power, it will be able to handle our electrical appliances peaks, and will give us larger saving in electricity bills. Moreover, when buying, you will find there will be good rebates for buying larger system in the market, so for little extra money you can buy much bigger system (more economically feasible).</p> <p>Larger power capacity of solar inverter for solar system will produce more electrical energy which can be sold back to the grid and provide us credits that can partially or totally pay for our energy consumption from the grid at night hours. Also, this extra power can be used to charge our electric car, or charge home batteries. And what encourages us getting larger photovoltaic system is that quality solar panels lifespan is 25 years and more, so no worries.</p> <p>Large households having high power demand during daylights, are ideal candidates for installing large solar photovoltaic system. They can choose solar inverter with large power capacity for their solar photovoltaic system. So the electric utility will allow them to install maximum solar system capacity on their roof, and they will get maximum financial saving as we described above, while small households will not be allowed to get such chance and smaller photo voltaic system will be more appropriate to them. The solar inverter with small power capacity is better for their solar photovoltaic system. </p> <p>Lastly, we have 3 different solar inverters types: Central inverter, string inverter and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro grid inverter</a>. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">1500W single phase grid tie solar inverter</a> and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">2000W single phase grid tie solar inverter</a> provided by inverter.com store are all string inverters. The best choice for any of the 3 inverters is based on our circumstances, as when our roof has significant shading, it’s better to use string inverter or micro grid inverter.  And when our roof has significant shading and many different orientations, it’s better to use micro grid inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:115 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-feed-in-tariff What is Solar Feed in Tariff? <p>Solar feed in tariff is how much will you be paid for the electricity generated from your solar photovoltaic system and send back to the power grid. Of course, the electric utility in your location which receives the power, will be on charge to pay you.</p> <p>Actually solar feed in tariff value differs from one country to another, moreover, it differs from one state to another. In United States, every state has its own guidelines, and every retailer has a certain tariff. So, if you decide to install photovoltaic solar system in your facility, you will be needing to check different retailers in your location for the best price.</p> <p>Generally, in the past where there were few persons installed solar photovoltaic system, the solar feed in tariff was high like In Australia, but these rates are No longer exist for new solar photovoltaic installer.</p> <p>In the United States, each state government will define and manage the solar feed in tariff, because they are responsible of energy policy. But actually, they define the minimum tariff level, and let the maximum level to the market to decide. Moreover, some states pay for solar feed in tariff, but others consider as some kind of voluntary.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-feed-in-tariff.jpg" alt="Solar feed in tariff" width="834" height="443" /></p> <p>It’s very important to understand that solar feed in tariff policy value varies over time based on the different governments rules. And that tariff will have a great effect on solar photovoltaic system owner’s outcome based on their solar system power size.</p> <p>Solar photovoltaic installation systems companies always do a site visit as preliminary step in installing photovoltaic system, and in this visit, they provide detailed information about our <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar products</a> electricity consumption, how much expected energy will be fed back to grid "remainder amount", how much money we will profit per year based on our electrical utility solar feed in tariff and what will be the return on investment &amp; <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-system-payback-period">payback period</a>. That is called economic feasibility study that assist in taking decision whether we should proceed installing the solar panel system or it may be with less profits, and we need to go to another project with high profits.</p> <p>And as the solar feed in tariff varies from one retailer to another, and varies from time to another, we should be fully hundred percentage understand and get updated recommendations for solar installation companies about solar feed in tariff policy in our location at the time we are ready and before considering solar photovoltaic system installation.</p> <p>At the end, solar feed in tariff provides great advantages for both customers and electric utilities. For customers, it constitutes as perfect way to get reasonable profits from their solar photovoltaic system project which they paid much money for it originally. For electric utilities, it avoids them paying much money in installing large electricity generation plants, and reduce electrical losses in distribution networks. And generally, it assists renewable energy industry to grow, and reduce pollution.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:116 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-the-best-solar-company How to Choose the Best Solar Company? <p>Correct choice of the solar company that will supply the solar system components is the base, success crucial factor and the first important task you should take care about. You need to find out more details about the solar company and solar components they provide before dealing with a certain. Here below, we shall summarize the clarifications you need to get, and better if it can be written signed/stamped clarifications from the best solar company:</p> <ul> <li>Is the company employing certified solar system installers or just hire individuals every time they install the solar system? Of course, it will be much better if the installers are CEC accredited or have other strong standard accredit.</li> <li>Is the solar company certified from well known and established organization in solar systems? And does it follow codes and standards in installing different solar system components? You need to check these certifications and to verify.</li> <li>Is the solar company exist locally in your city? That would be great if it is so, as it will be easy to contact with it for maintenance/repairs/checks that you may need in the future.</li> <li>The best solar company should be with strong technical base, not just marketing company exists on internet.</li> </ul> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/best-solar-company.jpg" alt="Best solar company" width="512" height="484" /></p> <ul> <li>How long the solar company has been in the market? And how many solar systems have they installed? These are very good indications about company quality.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Typically solar system life time is more than 20 years, so it’s important to ask the solar company in how it will support you in the coming 10 years or 20 years. Some companies have creative ideas in how to support, so you need to check with them.</li> <li>What are solar components manufacturers &amp; brands the solar company installs? Does this company use/install well-known brands/manufacturers components? Or it just buys different cheap models from the market?</li> <li>What are the reference projects the solar company has already installed? You need to get their contact info, and please visit these sites yourself without accompaniment the solar company.</li> <li>Ask the solar company about the warranty period they offer, and how they honor the warranty period? For example: If one of the solar panels faulted, how would they handle this? Also, will the warranty cover labor works or just spare parts? Generally, if you have experienced and certified installer, then this will not be an issue.</li> <li>For mounting accessories, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a>, please confirm with the solar company they use certified and high-quality components.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:107 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverters-advantages-and-disadvantages Solar Inverters: Advantages and Disadvantages <p>Solar inverter is an important electronic device which converts dc electricity generated from solar panels photovoltaic system or dc batteries system to ac electricity that can be used to operate our household appliances, commercial/ industrial buildings, etc. The solar inverter mainly consists of step-up transformer, voltage regulator, mosfet driver and some other small electronics components.</p> <p>There are three main different types of solar inverters on inverter.com store: <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">Off grid inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid tie inverter</a> and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro grid inverter</a>. Each type is used for certain application under certain circumstances.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of solar inverter" width="686" height="400" /></p> <p><strong>Solar inverter advantages:</strong></p> <p>There are six main advantages, we can summarize as following:</p> <ul> <li>Solar inverter has constantly assisted us in reducing global warming and greenhouse effect, as the solar energy usage in photovoltaic systems mainly depends on the inverter.</li> <li>Solar invertersaves our money by reducing our electricity bills or totally eliminate them, in addition it is considered as ac power source to sell electricity to electric power utility and other users.</li> <li><a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverter</a> assists people in remote area where shortage of electricity supply, those people can depend in solar inverter in getting all their life needs of electricity.</li> <li>Solar inverter can synchronize with other electrical power supply or used alone, and can be sourced in wide range of power capacities, so it can be used for small homeowners as well as large electrical distribution companies.</li> <li>Solar inverter output is ac pure sine wave, same as the wave we get from traditional power supply, so it can be used to run all kinds of residential/ commercial/ industrial loads (motor, electronics, heaters, etc.).</li> <li>Solar inverter is cost effective when comparing with diesel generators.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Solar inverter disadvantages:</strong></p> <p>There are three advantages, we can summarize as following:</p> <ul> <li>The solar inverter is an expensive equipment; it represents approx. 30% of the whole solar photovoltaic system price.</li> <li>The solar inverter will work efficiently on day light only and when the solar radiation is strong enough, so the overall solar panels system dc output voltage must hit the solar inverter lower dc voltage level otherwise, the inverter will not work.</li> <li>The solar inverter depends mainly on solar panels which needs large space to collect sun lights.</li> </ul> <p>At the end, as the solar inverter is the heart of the photovoltaic solar system, scientists and specialized manufacturers are doing their best to promote the inverter industry, so this trend is growing quickly and anew featured solar inverters arise quickly.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:108 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-inverter-efficiency What is Inverter Efficiency? <p><strong>What does inverter efficiency mean?</strong></p> <p>In fact, we shall discuss here the general <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> efficiency whether it’s solar inverter or pure sine wave inverter or even modified sine wave inverter.</p> <p>The inverter efficiency refers to how much dc power will be converted to ac power, as some of power will be lost during this transition in two forms:</p> <ul> <li>Heat loss.</li> <li>Stand-by power which consumed just to keep the inverter in power mode. Also, we can refer to it as inverter power consumption at no load condition.</li> </ul> <p>Hence, inverter efficiency = pac/pdc where pac refers to ac output power in watt and pdc refers to dc input power in watts.</p> <p>For the two basic inverters types in the market, the typical efficiency of high-quality <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> varied from 90% to 95% and for low quality modified sine wave inverter, it varied from 75% to 85%.</p> <p>This power inverter efficiency value depends on inverter load power capacity variation, as the efficiency increases and may reach to its max value at higher load power capacity in compare to lower loading power capacity, and in condition that not going above inverter output power capacity limit. Generally, below 15% inverter loading, the efficiency will be quite low. Consequently, good matching between inverter capacity and its load capacity will enable us harvest larger efficiency, which means larger inverter ac output power for the same dc input power.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/inverter-output-power-efficiency-diagram.jpg" alt="Inverter output power efficiency diagram" width="570" height="386" /></p> <p><strong>Inverter efficiency types:</strong></p> <p>There are three types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> efficiency, we should know the meaning of each one and the difference in between for better understanding of different inverters data sheet models and manufacturers in the market, as following:</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/California-European-weighted-efficiency.jpg" alt="California European weighted efficiency" width="500" height="281" /></p> <ul> <li>Peak efficiency: It refers to max inverter efficiency value that can be reached at optimal output ac power, so it can be used just as an indication for the inverter quality.</li> <li>European efficiency: It refers to inverter efficiency measured at different ac output power points, then multiplied by different weighted number, so it’s more useful than peak efficiency because its shows how inverter performs at different output power during the solar day.</li> <li>California energy commission efficiency: It refers to inverter efficiency measured at different ac output power points, then multiplied by different weighted number, so it’s same like European efficiency, but it uses different multiplied weighted numbers (different calculation formula).</li> </ul> <p>So, the main difference between the European and California efficiencies is the importance of each ac output power level when calculating efficiency for particular inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:105 https://www.inverter.com/solar-energy-advantage-and-disadvantage Solar Energy Advantage and Disadvantage <p>The sun is the greatest power source at all, as the sun energy we receive in one hour could cover our global energy needs for an entire year, but unluckily we are not able to harvest a fraction of this energy! Through solar panels we are just able to convert very small amount of sun energy to electricity. However <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panels power inverter</a> technology has been developed in recent years drastically, providing higher efficiency solar panels, and we are sure there will be continuous improvements.<br />Let’s us summarize the pross and cons of the solar energy.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/the-working-principle-of-solar-heated-collector-and-photovoltaic-cells.jpg" alt="The working principle of solar heated collector and photovoltaic cells" width="500" height="440" /><br /><strong>Solar energy advantages:</strong></p> <p>They are mainly 5 advantages as following:</p> <ul> <li>Solar energy is a renewable energy source, we can get it in any place of the world, and it will not be ended.</li> <li>Solar energy helps in reducing the electricity bills via implementing solar panels system, moreover there will be possibility to get payment from the electric utilities for surplus electric energy you will export to the grid if your solar panel system generates more electricity that your needs.</li> <li>Solar energy is used in diverse applications, like generating electricity as in phot-voltaic system, generate heat as in solar thermal systems, powering satellites in the space, and much more.</li> <li>Solar energy systems does not need maintenance, because they usually do not have moving parts, like photo-voltaic systems, they just need cleaning from time to other.</li> <li>Solar energy sciences are advancing and improving not every year, but even every month, so we expect high improving in solar panels industry in near future so can get increase in solar panels systems inputs and outputs powers accordingly that may reach 3-4 times the existing technology powers.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Solar energy disadvantages:</strong></p> <p>They are mainly three disadvantages as following:</p> <ul> <li>Solar energy systems is still fairly expensive, like solar photovoltaic systems (solar panels, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>, batteries, wiring etc.), but with technology development, the prices will go down in near future.</li> <li>Solar energy is weather dependent, as in cloudy days, the solar systems efficiency will drop, we cannot get solar energy at the night.</li> <li>Solar energy system needs large specs, as in order to produce more electricity, you will be needing to install more solar panels to collect much sunlight, but these solar panels require large specs, so you may be not able to get required electric energy from only your roof if you decided to install photovoltaic system on it.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:110 https://www.inverter.com/solar-photo-voltaic-vs-solar-hot-water Solar Photovoltaic vs Solar Hot Water <p>Solar photovoltaic system converts sun lights to electricity, but solar hot water system and also called solar thermal system converts direct heat gained from the sun to hot water. So, they are two different amazing technologies to make use of the unlimited sun energy.</p> <p>Both technologies use panels to gather sun energy, the solar hot water panels have black copper pipes going though them and filled with water, while <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar photovoltaic panel power inverters</a> have silicon solar cells connected to each other in series. For both technologies, we practically using multiple panels to achieve required  output (hot water amount or electrical power).</p> <p> <img src="/images/uploaded/the-solar-residential-hot-water-system.jpg" alt="The solar residential hot water system" width="455" height="317" /></p> <p>Up to approx the year of 2003, only thermal solar system was readily available in the market, and it was achieving good saving, but it was having some shortcomings. In winter, it rarely produces enough hot water required, so households were using gas heater or electrical heater to stand behind and substitute for this shortage but in contrast in summer, the solar thermal system was providing much more hot water than needed.</p> <p>Then, in the last 15 years, solar photovoltaic system has taken off, and become readily exist in the market in different power sizes. The big advantage of such technology is that we get electricity that can be used to power all kind of load, washing machines, lights, electronics, and even water heaters, so you no longer need to install thermal solar system when installing solar photovoltaic system with a proper power capacity. Moreover, todays the need of hot water is declining because of the appearance of household appliances include heater inside, like dish washer, washing machine, showers. So, conventional solar hot water system no longer become economical feasible solution.</p> <p>Practically, achieving high electricity bill saving can be reached via installing large solar photovoltaic system which can handle all household’s equipment including electric heater or heat pump and no need to pay more money for installing such dedicated solar thermal system equipment.</p> <p>In solar photovoltaic system, when the sun lights hit the solar panel power inverter surface, an electric direct current is generated and flow over the electrical wirescables. Then it will be sent to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a>, which will convert the dc voltage to ac voltage, which can be used for all our appliances/equipment. So, it’s not complicated system, its simple and profitable project on all scales.</p> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/the-solar-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="The solar photovoltaic system" width="500" height="384" /></p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:114 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-buy-best-solar-panels How to Buy Best Solar Panels? <p>Actually there are 2 important factors to consider when you tend to buy best solar panels:</p> <p><strong>First: Buy from trusted solar company</strong></p> <p>Most of solar companies in the market can promise us about their solar panels quality, warranty, and after sales support… etc. But how can we trust? That is the question, which is difficulty answered. But generally, at least we need to check the supplier who will be around for along term, and this can be determined from good reputation, high quality, high experience and commitment.</p> <p>The quality of the solar panels varies, and not all are the same based on the following:</p> <ol> <li>Type of Aluminum material use for solar panel frame.</li> <li>Quality and thickness of soldering.</li> <li>Solar cell efficiency, and quality.</li> <li>Water seal and how the solar cells are capsulated.</li> <li>Quality of plugs ad cables.</li> </ol> <p>Of course, trusted solar supplier will take care about all these points, so it’s important to purchase the solar panels from a local long-established company who has partnership with different well-known manufacturer brands. And as it exists locally, then it will be easier and quickest for us to contact with it.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/best-solar-panel.jpg" alt="Best solar panel" width="1000" height="606" /></p> <p><strong>Second: Buy the high-performance solar panels</strong></p> <p>There are 2 factors that determine solar panels high performance as following:</p> <ol> <li>Buying the best solar panels with high power level, not the largest power capacity unless you have limited space, but you need to be near/around the standard upper end power capacity exist, so can get space high efficiency. And as solar panel manufacturing technology develops day after day, the solar panel power capacity and efficiency increase quickly (for the same size "dimension"), so we have to check <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar panel power inverter</a> capacity &amp; efficiency existing in the market periodically.</li> <li>Buying the solar panels with strong and clear technical specs. Like tight power capacity tolerance, perfect performance in hot weather, clear information how the solar panel is being tested, what will be the exact degrading ratio over solar panel life time.</li> </ol> <p>Of course, high quality solar panel manufacturer/supplier will provide clear information about all these aspects in addition to strong warranty period.</p> <p>Buy best <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-products">solar products</a> from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter.com</a> store, they will surprise you.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:104 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-the-best-solar-system-components-brand How to Choose the Best Solar System Components Brand? <p>In the market you will find many numbers of companies that provide solar components, and for each solar professional, you can take advice from, his certain recommended products, and each solar professional will provide very convincing reasons standing behind his choice. So which opinion you can trust, and which product is really the best?<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/how-to-choose-the-best-solar-kits.jpg" alt="How to choose the best solar system kits" width="665" height="530" /></p> <p>Solar system is an expensive project, and you need to do your homework to get the best technical and economically feasible products. The good thing is that in the solar system market, you can easily get reliable information about the products and their manufacturer, but these will be much information, and you still need to sort them out!</p> <p>At first, you should check with your neighbors who already installed the solar system, ask them and they will provide you with a rich guidelines information. Secondly check with the solar professional, he will have the latest technology and the best solar system component brands. You should check more than one person, and do not depend on one opinion, to make sure that you get the accurate, complete and honest advices.</p> <p>Once you get the information about the product will nearly select, then do online research to see what other people are saying about these solar products like <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter" target="_blank">solar inverters</a> and solar panels, also check numerous opinions and deduce the advantage and disadvantages for each product. Then check supplier/manufacturer phone number from their web site, and call them, discuss all details. But bear in mind that all manufacturer/supplier will inform you the best of their products, so do not depend solely on their provided info to make decision.</p> <p>Other online sources should be checked as well, like solar industry blogs and solar industry publications.Sure you will get reliable info from them!</p> <p>In making comparison between different suppliers/manufacturers, pay attention to 3 factors:</p> <p><strong>First:</strong> How long has the manufacturer/supplier been in the solar industry, and of course the longer the better. Don’t ask him only, but ask around to get the truth.</p> <p><strong>Second: </strong>Check the track records of the solar supplier/manufacturer, andcheck his products reputation and ask in how these products act in the field. You can find good internet sources for such information, and also you can speak with other people who have already installed these products.</p> <p><strong>Third: </strong>Check for the latest technology solar products. As the solar energy technology trend is increasing quickly, you will find solar panels with higher efficiency or solar inverter with more capabilities, so get the advice from your solar professional.</p> <p>Of course, we <a href="https://www.inverter.com/" target="_blank">Inverter.com</a> have advanced technology and professional engineers. We can guarantee that you can get quality solar products, attentive service and comfortable shopping experience on our website. Any questions can be sent to us by email for further communication.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:102 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-size-batteries-and-charge-controller-in-off-grid-solar-system How to Size Batteries and Charge Controller in Off Grid Solar System? <p>As in off grid solar system, there is no access to the grid supply, there will be a mandatory need for batteries to supply our loads in cloudy days and at the night hours.</p> <p>Let us see how can we size the batteries bank and charge controller:</p> <p><strong>First step:</strong></p> <p>We need to calculate how much energy our loads will need per day, and this can be done simply by knowing the wattage of each device and how many hours it works per day, multiply the wattage per each device by its run time and add all the wattage hours for all device, so can get total energy required for your home per day. Due to losses &amp; inefficiencies, we recommend to multiply total watt hour by 1.5 factor.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/batteries-and-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Batteries and charge controller" width="520" height="316" />Second step:</strong></p> <p>We need to indicate batteries days of autonomy which means number of days your batteries bank will be able to handle your loads, and generally its 3-5 days.</p> <p><strong>Third step:</strong></p> <p>We shall multiply total watt hours per day getting from step one referred above by days of autonomy getting from second step referred above by 2 (Number 2 refers it should be 50% depth of charge in our batteries bank system, as it does not have to be fully discharged). The result of these 3 factors multiplication is the total watt hours required from the batteries bank. Divide this value by batteries voltage, we shall get batteries bank AH (ampere hour).</p> <p><strong>Fourth step:</strong></p> <p>We shall indicate how many batteries we shall use and how can we wire them up (parallel &amp; series). In series batteries connection, the voltage will add up and in parallel connections the amperage will add up, so you can make such configuration as you like but keep in mind to achieve total AH calculated in third step and batteries bank voltage. Generally indicating the number of batteries is depending on how you will configure, we mean how many batteries will be in series and how many batteries will be in parallel.</p> <p>Also, keep in mind to use brand new batteries for all, as if you use only one used old battery, then it will degrade and reduce the life span for the whole batteries system.</p> <p><strong>Fifth step:</strong></p> <p>Here we shall indicate <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">charge controller</a> current and voltage. By dividing total solar array power "watt" on batteries voltage and multiply the result by 1.25 oversizing (safety) factor, we shall get charge controller output rated current.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:103 https://www.inverter.com/solar-system-payback-period How to Calculate Your Solar System Payback Period? <p>Before implementing any type of solar systems projects, whether it is On Grid or Off Grid solar system, we need to calculate the return on investment of such project, and to be more specific, we need to calculate how much money we will harvest? In other word, how long does it take for the solar system project to pay for itself (payback period)? And what is the extra money we can get after the solar system project returned the expenditures we paid for it.</p> <p>This is what we called, the economical feasible study, as if we will not profit from installing the solar system, then why we pay such considerable amount of money on purchasing and installing the solar system? After all, the solar power system to be properly purchased and installed involves many components inclduing solar panels, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>, batteries, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> and so on.</p> <p>Consequently, solar system economical feasible study is the correct first step we need to do before proceeding solar system purchasing and installation.</p> <p>In order to calculate the on grid solar system payback period, we need to know the average value of our electricity bill we pay monthly to the electric utility, the approximate extra electrical energy our solar system will generate and we shall sell to the electric utility yearly and of course what will be the total cost of on grid solar system purchasing and installation.</p> <p>By implementing simple logic calculation, we shall know what will be the return back period and what will be the return of investment of such solar project.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/calculate-your-solar-system-payback-period.jpg" alt="Calculate Your Solar System Payback Period" width="1000" height="1490" /></p> <p>Actually the payback period differs from one country to another based electricity tariff and based on how much the electric utility will buy the kilo- watt hour electricity extra generated form solar system. Some countries electric utilities buy the solar energy production with high tariff, so it can push customers to generate electricity from solar energy and some other countries electric utilities provide less buying tariff. For example, in Washington, United States of America, the on grid solar residential system payback period will be approx. 11 years while in Egypt, the payback period for the same solar project will be 8 years only, you see the difference!</p> <p>Usually the solar system life time will be approx. 25 years, so the return of investment will be higher in Egypt referred to aforementioned example, as you will gain approx. 17 years’ profits in terms of free electricity bill and the money of extra electric energy you will sell to the electric utility, while in United States there will be approx. 14 years’ profits. Generally, most of governments provide very good incentives program to urge customers using the solar energy.</p> <p>In order to do perfect economical feasible study, you may need to hire professional contractor to assist, and in that case its strongly recommended to search for a good experienced contractor, and to ask others about his experiences before contacting with him.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:101 https://www.inverter.com/8-tips-to-select-off-grid-solar-inverter 8 Tips to Select Off Grid Solar Inverter <p>There are 8 tips to consider when selecting the proper off grid solar inverter, let us see as following.</p> <p><strong>1. The off grid solar inverter output voltage and frequency.</strong> This will base on your load requirements and usually its same as your country standard supply voltage/frequency.</p> <p><strong>2. Installing off grid solar inverter or hybrid inverter.</strong> Most of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid solar inverters</a> and hybrid solar inverters have AC backup supply connection, so the inverter bypass to use it for feeding your loads in case of sun absence and batteries discharged. Moreover, you can use this AC backup supply to charge the batteries through internal solar inverter batteries charger.</p> <p>Suppose you have surplus DC energy generated form the solar array and you have already charged batteries to full and the load is working smoothly based on solar array output power, then the surplus AC energy will feedback to the AC backup supply in case of hybrid solar inverter (2 ways/bidirectional), but in case of off grid solar inverter, the surplus energy cannot return back to the AC backup supply (one directional). So, we can say the hybrid solar inverter can operate as off grid solar inverter but Not vice versa. In this step, you need to take a decision whether you will use solar off grid inverter or hybrid inverter.</p> <p><strong>3. The off grid solar inverter output power.</strong> Just add power consumption for all your loads together, and take care of the inductive loads like motors which have high inrush/surge current at starting period, make good oversizing to avoid under estimation and at the end, the off grid solar inverter power capacity should be 110-120% of your loads total power capacity. Like if your loads are 5kW, then off grid solar inverter power capacity should be <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">6000 watt</a> and so on.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-solar-inverter-in-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off grid solar inverter in solar system" width="1000" height="510" /></p> <p><strong>4. The off grid solar inverter input DC voltage.</strong> Once we have selected solar inverter power capacity and brand/manufacturer, there will be corresponding DC input voltage range in inverter specs sheet, which we need to select batteries voltage to match with.</p> <p><strong>5. The inverter built in solar charge controller will be MPPT or PWM.</strong> MPPT is technically better as its able to convert solar panels high voltage to lesser voltage, so it charges batteries with low losses (high efficiency), but it costs higher than PWM type. In the other side, if we can size PWM solar charge controller type properly according to solar panels specs, then we can confirm it will work as well as MPPT charge controller type.</p> <p><strong>6. Batteries charging requirements.</strong> These requirements are maximum batteries charge voltage and cut off voltages, and those 2 values should match solar of grid inverter program range.</p> <p><strong>7. Solar array max output voltage and MPPT trackers.</strong> The PV max DC output voltage must not exceed the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> max DC input voltage listed in its specs, and MPPT trackers refer to how many inputs the inverter accepts, it will be indicated based on how large is your solar array, and it will ensure better maximum power point tracking performance.</p> <p><strong>8. Backup power supply (Generator) starter.</strong> They are just 2 wire dry contact to start the generator when the inverter was working on DC priority mode and experienced low batteries voltage, so it sends signal to start the backup supply (generator).</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:100 https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-vs-off-grid-which-is-the-better On Grid vs Off Grid - Which is the Better? <p>In order to install photovoltaic solar system in your building, you need to choose in between 2 main solar system types: On Grid and Off Grid. Which one will be the most technically suitable and cost effective as well? As an one-top online shop, inverter.com provides full range of solar inverter products to customers worldwide. On grid inverters, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverters</a>, micro inverters could be found in our shop.</p> <p>If your building is already hooked up to the electric utility power, then we never recommend using Off Grid solar system, and that is the case we refer to in the title. Let us discuss the four reasons which lead to this judgement:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/on-grid-and-off-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="on grid and off grid solar inverter" width="711" height="400" /></p> <p><strong>First:</strong> On grid solar inverter system is less expensive than off grid solar system, as it doesn’t require batteries which is needed to electrically feed the loads in the night where there is No sun. Inverter.com offers single phase and three phase <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverters</a> from 300 watt to 50kW capacity, you could select one desired for your on grid system.</p> <p>In addition to batteries purchasing costs, they have less life time expectancy than other solar system components, so we regularly need to replace them, also batteries need maintenance and checking from time to time, and this will impose extra operating costs in addition to its initial purchasing costs.</p> <p><strong>Second:</strong> Off grid solar system has some limitations in compare to on grid solar system. As we will be needing to check our loads power capacities individually before installing the off-grid system, so can indicate the higher power capacity loads like Oven or electric furnaces or Air conditioners, then trying to replace with lower capacity or operating them in specific time (in where other loads are off)…etc., the goal is to reduce our total load power capacity, so can make the off grid solar system more cost effective and practical (economic feasibility study).</p> <p><strong>Third:</strong> On grid solar system is more flexible, you can run any load power capacity and any time you want without limitation, also with the best design, you will be able to eliminate your electricity bill over the solar system life time which may extend to 25 years. Moreover, you can sell extra electricity generation to the electric utility, especially in summer months where the sun is shinning most of the day with high radiation.</p> <p><strong>Fourth:</strong> On grid solar system is considered as electricity generation source when it injects electricity back to the electric utility, so it’s one of renewable energy sources which contributes in reducing carbon gas emissions and protect the environment. It’s our duty to our earth planet!</p> <p>One of amazing design approaches in on grid solar system, is to connect emergency backup batteries to it, so get benefits of both solar on grid and off grid systems. By this way, you will have the regular power grid source in addition to your solar system batteries, so you can switch to batteries in case of power grid failure at the night, consequently you will keep your loads operating in all emergency conditions.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:99 https://www.inverter.com/buy-grid-tie-inverter-for-solar-system Buy Grid Tie Inverter for Your Solar System <p><strong>What is grid tie solar system?</strong></p> <p>Grid tie system is a solar system incorporates solar panels, grid tie solar inverter and other components to convert sun light into usable AC electricity while your house/premises remain hooked up to the electric utility, consequently your house still be fed with electricity even after the sun light disappears at the night (from the electric utility), and at the day time, the solar system will take the responsibility!</p> <p>So, this grid tie solar system differs from off grid solar system in where your house/premises will not be hooked up to the electrical utility.</p> <p><strong>Why do we need to buy a grid tie inverter for solar system?</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/three-phase-grid-tie-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Three phase grid tie solar inverter" width="360" height="360" /></strong></p> <p>Actually, there are many great incentives stand behind buying a grid tie inverter for our solar systems, let us summarize as following:</p> <p><strong>First:</strong> Buy a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid tie inverter</a> for your solar system will reduces your electricity bill, as you no longer depend on the electric utility alone. And for some months, you will not even pay the electricity bill.</p> <p><strong>Second:</strong> Your premises will consume most or all their electricity requirements from the solar system, and you installed an on grid inverter, sometimes your grid tied solar system will produce an excess power which your loads may not need, so it pushed back to electric utility. By installing 2 energy meters, one of them to measure the energy your premise consumes and the other to measure the energy pushed in electric utility, you will know how many kilo watts hour electricity your system generate and how many kilo watts hour electricity pushed back to the electric utility, and this called Net metering.</p> <p>So, at the end your solar PV grid tie system will return back its price in a certain number of years and you will continue getting your energy saving longer after. An economical feasible study usually done by the grid tie solar system specialists to indicate the return back of investment.</p> <p><strong>Third: </strong>If you buy a grid tie inverter for your solar system, the value of your premises that have the grid tie solar system will be go higher, it will be more attractive to potential buyer in compared to same premises without solar system. And this will help you much if you decide one day to sell your premises especially in a tight real estate market.</p> <p><strong>Fourth:</strong> You will get considerable rebates, taxes credit, and/or low inters loan that are offered by most of governments and electric utilities all over the world.</p> <p><strong>Fifth:</strong> Buying grid tie inverter for solar system will not need maintenance, except just cleaning the solar panel surfaces, so can collect higher amount of sun beams and produce high amount of electrical energy.</p> <p><strong>Sixth:</strong> Of course, grid tied solar system is a clean source of generating electricity, no fossil fuel will be required, and no carbon emission will be existing! So, you assist in protecting our environment and avoid climate changes side effects which we become seeing it happened these days.</p> <p>Buy a grid tie solar inverter for your grid tied system on inverter.com store, we provides <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">300W </a>to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">50kW</a> pure sine wave grid tie inverters to meet your specific needs.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tied-solar-system.jpg" alt="Grid tied solar system" width="384" height="384" /></p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:98 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-right-water-pump How to Choose a Right Water Pump? <p>For any pump, whether it's a solar water pump or ordinary centrifugal pump, it has a fluid inlet which is charging pipe and a fluid outlet which is discharge pipe. Assume that you will be able to move discharge pipe and extend it in the vertical direction, then simply put, the head is the height in which pump can raise the fluid up inside that pipe.</p> <p><strong>How can we measure the head?</strong></p> <p>There are 2 different cases in measuring pump head based on from where the pump pulling water as following:</p> <p>1. If the pump pulls water from a suction tank in the same level: Pump manufacturer will provide total head in their specs (pump datasheet) to be represented by the head of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump" target="_blank">horizontal centrifugal pump</a> minus a suction head, as per fig 1. So, it does not matter what will be the suction tank level.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/water-pump-pulling-water-from-tank.jpg" alt="Vertical centrifugal water pump pulling water from a suction tank" width="612" height="415" />2. If the pump pulls water from a lake: Pump manufacturer will provide total head in their specs (pump datasheet) to be represented by vertical pump head plus suction head, as per fig 2.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/water-pump-pulling-water-from-lake.jpg" alt="Water pump pulling water from a lake" width="600" height="291" />The total head aforementioned is the sum of the static head and friction head. Static head refers to how high you need to get the water, and of course, it based on a suction tank, also the static head is the main component of total head. Friction head refers to how resistance the water will face during going up, and of course, it based on the discharge pipe diameter and the length.</p> <p><strong>How to buy the correct pump?</strong></p> <p>In order to buy the correct pump, you need to know what flow rate and total head you will need.</p> <p>Generally speaking, when the pump output pressure increases, the pump head increases, and when the pump output flow increases, the head will decrease. That is why some few pumps manufacturers use the pressure term instead of head to characterize the pump specs, but the head is still more useful and clearer term to assist you in the pump job evaluation.</p> <p>In a certain application, if you need to pump a liquid for 40ft, this means that you need to select a centrifugal pump with at least 40ft total head plus the friction losses, so it is better to select a bit little higher head to substitute for the friction to get required flow. For example, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">1 hp horizontal centrifugal pump with maximum head 68ft</a> is a good choice.</p> <p>Pump head will not be affected by pumped liquid type as long as the liquid viscosity is low like water, so the head achieved by the pump will be almost the same.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:97 https://www.inverter.com/is-solar-micro-inverter-worth-buying Is Solar Micro Inverter Worth buying? <p>Micro inverter is a small solar inverter used to convert DC electricity coming from one solar panel to AC electricity. It placed directly at the back of the solar panel and its typical rated power is between 100-350W, this small capacity is intended by designer, so no need for cooling systems or other components.</p> <p><strong>Solar Micro inverter advantages:</strong></p> <p>Suppose we have 15 solar panel arrays, with a micro inverter connected to each solar panel, so if any panel is subjected to underperformance issues like shadow or others, it will not affect other panels around, what a great feature!! So, the solar array will produce much power in compare to other solar inverters systems like string of central inverter, in which any under-performance panel will affect the production of the whole string.</p> <p>In micro inverter solar system, you are not obliged to use the same solar panels ratings, you can use different solar panel capacities, voltage, current, and this will facilitate adding more solar panels to your existing solar system for extensions.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/micro-inverter-connect-to-solar-panel.gif" alt="Each micro inverter connects to a solar panel in solar system" width="542" height="249" /></p> <p>Moreover, all solar panel/micro inverter units will be connected in parallel to form the whole solar system at the end. This configuration provides the feature of one micro inverter failure will not affect the other system units.</p> <p>All the above advantages will increase micro inverter solar system reliability, so we see manufacturers provide a warranty period of typically 15-25 year compared to 5-10 years warranty for string solar inverter and only 5 years warranty to solar central inverter.</p> <p>Lastly, in case of failure in micro inverter solar system, it's easy to identify the faulty unit and also, easily to identify its place (point of connection), so you can easily and quickly isolate.</p> <p><strong>Solar Micro inverter disadvantages:</strong></p> <p>The main disadvantage of the micro inverter is the price, its more expensive than central and string inverter, usually specialists consider the inverter price per watt. And so, it turns out the micro inverter price is double or may be 3 times the central inverter price per watt.</p> <p>For smaller array size, micro inverter price per watt will not be high due to low number of solar panels, also the high energy harvest we get will partially substitute the cost. So now <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter" target="_blank">micro inverters</a> technically and economically succeed in residential market where limited areas and prospected shadow coming from nearby trees and objects are expected.</p> <p><strong>Solar Micro inverter Types:</strong></p> <p>There are 2 types of solar micro grid inverters: single phase and three phases. 3-phase is lower cost components and higher conversion efficiency that reaches over 97%. So, 3-phase micro inverter is usually used in commercial and industrial systems in where the price is a sensitive factor and large solar array is used.</p> <p>In summary, if the solar system is confirmed to be expanded in the future, micro inverters are a good choice. It is easy to continue adding a new unit to the micro inverters. The cost of adding another complete unit to a standard inverter is higher. When the panel faces multiple directions or there is a shading problem, choosing a micro inverter is definitely a value-added product.</p> <p>Buy solar micro inverters in inverter.com, the power starts from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter" target="_blank">300W</a>, 600W, 700W, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1200-watt-solar-micro-inverter" target="_blank">1200W</a> to 1400W.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:96 https://www.inverter.com/how-grid-tie-solar-system-works How Grid Tie Solar System works? <p>In Grid Tie Solar system in which the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is connected to the AC power grid, when the solar radiations hit the solar panels surfaces, they produce direct current electricity (called DC), then the solar inverter will convert this DC electricity to AC electricity to run our household appliances and others loads. This process is done every day quietly and automatically.<br /><br />The more the sun shines, the more DC electricity the solar panels can produce, and the more AC energy we can get. When the AC power is larger than our loads requirements, the excess electricity will send back to the electric power grid allowing other neighbors customers to use this clean solar energy. But if the AC power generated from the solar grid tie system is less than our loads requirements, then our loads will pull extra power required to run properly from the electric power grid. The 2 cases will be done automatically via the brain of the solar system which is the inverter, without any other interventions.</p> <p>The power will proceed go forward and back based on your loads consumed power and grid tie solar system generated AC power. Eventually, a system called “Net Metering” is generated, which mean that the electric utility will ask you to pay the power difference price or charge you the power difference price, based on whether you consumed electricity or generate electricity over the entire agreed billing period.<br /><br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-solar-system.jpg" alt="Grid tie solar system" width="800" height="366" /></p> <p>Of course, there will be economical feasible study that should be produced by the grid tie solar system designer, to indicate return on investment for this project. And usually, the grid tie solar system returns its whole installation price in 5-6 years while its expected life time is approx 20-25 years. The return on investment differs from one country to another based on the energy tariff and solar radiation intensity.</p> <p>Typically, the grid tie solar system is designed to cut off a certain part of electricity bill Not the whole bill because of high capital costs of large solar system, but usually the large grid tie solar system will be more economically feasible and return back of investment period will be lower.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:95 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-string-solar-inverter What is the String Solar Inverter? <p><strong>What is the String Solar Inverter?</strong></p> <p>String solar inverter is advice that converts DC solar electricity generated form solar panels to AC electricity which we can use to operate all our electrical appliances and machines.</p> <p>String solar inverter is one of the three different kinds of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>, where the other 2 kinds are Central solar inverter and micro solar inverter.</p> <p>In string solar inverter, there will be a number of solar panels connected to each other in series, usually a number 6-10 solar panel, and generating what we called string. This string positive and negative terminals “DC” will be connected to the string inverter input side. As the panels will be connected in series, the overall string DC voltage will be high (typically 200-850V) and the circulating current will be low (equal to one solar panel rated current).</p> <p>In large power capacity solar system, we shall see many string solar inverters and of course their numbers equal to the number and strings in the solar array system.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/string-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="String solar inverter" width="650" height="461" /></p> <p><strong>What are the advantages of string solar inverter?</strong></p> <p>As solar panels connected in series rather than in parallel, the voltage will be high and the current will be low as aforementioned, so wire gauge between solar array and string inverter will be lower and power losses will be lower as well. In addition, the higher DC voltage inputs to the inverter will lower its internal losses and improve the efficiency of its electronic components.</p> <p>As the large solar system includes multiple string solar inverters, then the failure of one string inverter will not affect the operation and the yield received from other inverters, so the reliability of the overall solar system will be higher.</p> <p>Also, string solar inverters are easy to install, and the multiple presence of string solar inverters will support control and monitoring works on the entire solar system.</p> <p><strong>What are the disadvantages of string solar inverter?</strong></p> <p>The main disadvantage is that the solar panels are still connected in series, so shaded or failed solar panel will affect the yield of the whole string. Suppose we have a string of 10 solar panels and the current of each panel is 8A, then the string current will be the same (8A), and if one solar panel is fully shaded or failed, this will result in high impedance imposed in DC current path and will stop current flow, so the whole string will not output power or output very low amount of power.</p> <p>Also, using multiple string solar inverters will increase the solar system overall costs in compare to other systems which work based on only one solar inverter (central solar inverter).</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:93 https://www.inverter.com/3-different-types-of-solar-inverters 3 Different Types Of Solar Inverters <p>Solar inverter is the brain of the solar system, although its basic role is to convert DC electricity comes from solar panels to usable AC electricity, now it takes the responsibility to monitor and control the whole solar system and provides important technical info required for solar system operation and maintenance crews to fix system errors, in addition to that it takes responsibility to manage batteries system incase of its presence in the solar system.</p> <p>There are 3 different types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> in the market, as following:</p> <p><strong>1. Central solar inverter</strong></p> <p>It’s a large power capacity solar inverter that can handle more than one string. A number of solar strings will be connected together via a combiner box, and then the DC output of the combiner box will be connected to the inverter. With solar central inverters industry development, there is no need for the combiner box as the inverter becomes having more than one input terminals with the capability to handle different strings output voltages.</p> <p><strong>2. String solar inverter</strong></p> <p>This inverter power capacity is lower than central solar inverter, it works on string scale. For example, if we have 30 solar panel in the array, it can be divided to 5 strings, which means 6 solar panel per string. For each string, there will be a solar inverter, hence the solar system will have multiple string inverters.</p> <p>This system will be more efficient with higher AC energy harvest than central solar inverter, for 2 reasons:</p> <ul> <li>The shaded solar panel will affect the energy harvest only for one string, and the other strings will work efficiently.</li> <li>We can make different orientation for each string “tilt angle and azimuth”, so can harvest more energy.</li> </ul> <p>So, string inverter solar system will be more efficient, higher energy yield but more expensive than central inverter solar system which require one inverter only. Also, the reliability in case of using more than inverter “string inverter system case” will be higher.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/string-inverter-vs-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="String Inverter vs Micro Inverter" width="495" height="222" /></p> <p><strong>3. Solar micro inverter</strong></p> <p>This inverter power capacity will be lower than string inverter, it works in module scale. For each solar panel, there will be <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a> attached to it and converts DC to AC. Of course, this system will be more efficient than string inverter system as shaded panel will not affect other panels, also we can make different orientation for each panel “tilt angle and azimuth”, so can harvest more energy.</p> <p>At the end, now it’s clear that solar microinverter system will be more efficient and higher AC energy harvest than solar string inverter system and solar central inverter system, but it will be more expensive.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:94 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-the-solar-central-inverter What is the Solar Central Inverter? <p>Solar inverter is the heart of the solar plant, it represents the main equipment that converts DC output from solar panels to AC electricity required to run all our appliances/machines/equipment. In addition, it takes the responsibility of monitoring and controlling the PV array system.</p> <p>The central solar inverter usually placed near the main electricity service switchboard, and in protected area, so no worries about harsh environment climate conditions.</p> <p>All DC terminals from solar panels will be gathered in combiner box input and the output will go to the central solar inverter, so its one inverter that will handle all the solar array, that is why the central inverter power capacity is higher than string solar inverter and micro solar inverter. At solar central inverter DC side, the DC voltage will be high; around 600-1000VDC, and inverter power capacity will be high as well, it may reach to 5MW or so.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/central-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar Central Inverter" width="650" height="302" /></p> <p><strong>What are the advantages of central solar inverter?</strong></p> <p>1. Trust and proven Technology:</p> <p>The central solar inverter has been existing for long time, many years ago, we deal with, it has been installed and doing well years ago, and this gives it more credibility.</p> <p>2. Less expensive:</p> <p>Compared to other types of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a> (string &amp; micro), it is less expensive because lower components and lower installation costs due to its one inverter that can handle all the solar array.</p> <p>3. More reliability:</p> <p>As mentioned, we usually place the central inverter inside a room or closed area, and apart from bad weather, it’s not exposed to harsh climate conditions, these of course increase the reliability of this system.</p> <p><strong>What are the disadvantages of central solar inverter?</strong></p> <p>1. High influence in case of shaded or failed solar panels:</p> <p>As most of solar panels incase of central inverter system are connected in series, so if only 5% of solar panels are shaded or failed due to any reason, they will affect on the entire system and we lose approx 20% of system output power.</p> <p>2. High DC voltage risk, and only one inverter:</p> <p>The DC voltage incase of central inverter will be high, it reaches 1000VDC or higher, which raise concerns on installer and operators, in addition, its one inverter, so incase of any fault, we shall lose the entire solar system.</p> <p>3. High replacement costs:</p> <p>Its high capacity and cost solar inverter, so in case of failure, replacement costs will be higher than others solar inverters types.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:92 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-inverter-clipping What is Solar Inverter Clipping? <p>As we know, the solar panels will produce DC electricity which will be converted to AC electricity afterwards via solar inverter. The AC electricity will be injected to the power grid or to be used directly to power our loads like domestic or commercial building or any other applications.</p> <p>What we are searching for here is what should be the ratio between DC power generated from the solar panel and inverter AC power (its power rating), what are the advantages and disadvantages if this ratio is above 1 (means solar panel DC generated power is larger than inverter power rating)?</p> <p><strong>How does the solar inverter output AC power change throughout the day?</strong></p> <p>Usually at the beginning of the day, the AC output power of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is low, then it increases gradually with the increasing of the sun light reaching its max at noon time (2-3pm), then it reduces gradually and reaches its lowest value at the end of the day with the sun light absence. So, it’s like a bell curve.</p> <p>So normally, oversizing the solar array power capacity will shift this curve up, which means more energy production can be gotten and vice versa.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter-output-AC-power-change-curve-throughout-the-day.jpg" alt="Solar Inverter Output AC Power Change Curve" width="974" height="564" /></p> <p><strong>Solar inverter clipping</strong></p> <p>When DC power generated from the solar panels is larger than the inverter power rating, and this is happening when we oversize the solar panels power capacity (ratio is above 1) and during noon time (peak production hours) where the solar irradiance is at or above standard test condition value (1000 W/m2 ), at that point the extra DC power generated above inverter rated capacity will be clipped by the inverter to ensure its working at its rated value, and resulting in some of energy production lost, and this is the only disadvantage of oversizing the solar panels over the inverter capacity (above one ratio). <br />In the other side, oversizing the solar panels power capacity will increase energy production in most of day times especially at the morning and at the end of the day (late afternoon).</p> <p>So, the solar system designer should take into consideration the energy production loss due to solar inverter clipping and the increase of energy production due to oversizing the solar array (in the morning and late afternoon times), as aforementioned. of course, depth analysis and simulation should be done to indicate to what extent we should oversize the solar array above the inverter capacity.</p> <p>Some solar systems designers add another solar inverter to increase energy production while avoid solar inverter clipping, but the second solar inverter price and installation cost should be taken into consideration in compare to extra energy yield we shall get.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:91 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-basics Power Inverter Basics - 3 Key Parameters <p>The power inverter, and also called inverter is an electronic circuit that converts DC electricity to AC electricity. Actually, the inverter does not produce power, but if there is a DC source, and it just converts it to AC power.</p> <p><strong>What is the power inverter typical inputs?</strong></p> <p>Of course, it is DC supply voltage, but with different values, it may be small like 12V DC, 24V DC, 48V DC, or medium like 200V DC, 450V or high like hundreds of thousands of voltages.</p> <p>In all cases the DC supply must be stable and capable of supplying requested power demand to the AC load in addition to some very small power loss (inefficacies).</p> <p>Usually we use following typical voltages:</p> <ol> <li>Small input voltages like 12V, 24V, 48V DC are used for inverters used in running small applications like mobilE charger and home appliances / devices.</li> <li>Medium input voltages like 200V DC, 450V DC, 1000VD C are used for inverters used in photo-voltaic solar panels systems and electrical cars chargers.</li> <li>High input voltages like 100000V DC or higher are used for inverters used in high voltage DC power transmission stations / lines.</li> </ol> <p><strong>What is the power inverter typical outputs?</strong></p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/AC-to-DC-power-inverter.jpg" alt="AC to DC Power Inverter" width="400" height="260" /></p> <p> </p> <p>There are 3 parameters that will define the output of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>, and they are the frequency, the voltage, and power capacity.</p> <p>The three parameters will be determined based on your load characteristics / requirements; whether its 50Hz or 60Hz, and whether its rated voltage is 120V, 220V, or any other standard voltage and the load required power in Watt or kilowatt (its inverter internal available power to drive that load)</p> <p><strong>What is the power inverter output wave form?</strong></p> <p>Mainly there are 2 popular different wave form output from the power inverter that are required to run our AC loads, that is pulse width modulated wave form and pure sine wave form.</p> <p>The main difference is the purity of the output voltage wave, and of course, the more purity “less distortion”, the technically better to feed our loads.</p> <p>Most of loads work best with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave output inverter</a> as the wave will be pure like the standard wave getting for the traditional power grid. For eaxample, the motor works normally based on pure sine wave inverter, but in case of using Pulse width modulated wave inverter it produces heat, audible noise, and may provide strange speed / torque operation.</p> <p>For some kinds of loads both types of inverter can be used with no problem at all like switch mode power supply devices (our personnel computers, DVD player, etc), so generally, most of electronics loads function normally when operated by pulse width modulated wave inverter.</p> <p>Although the pure sine wave inverter is technically the best, it's more expensive than modified sine wave inverter but there is not much price difference around 20-30% max.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-use-and-applications.jpg" alt="Power Inverter Use and Applications" width="656" height="562" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:89 https://www.inverter.com/buy-best-car-inverter-for-laptop Buy Best Car Inverter for Laptop <p>What can you do if your laptop is out of power when you are facing heavy affairs in long-distance traveling by car? You may complain: My car doesn’t have an 110VAC power supply. I can't charge my laptop. Indeed our car is only equipped with one or more 12VDC power supply, we usually use it as a cigarette lighter. So it cannot supply AC 110V or 220V power to ordinary household appliances. At this time, if you have a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter" target="_blank">car inverter</a>, the laptop charging problem will be completely solved.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/car-inverter-for-laptop.jpg" alt="Best car inverter for laptop DC 12V to AC 110V/220V" width="306" height="315" /></p> <p>Currently, there are all kinds of car inverter in the market. Some are cheaper for dozens of dollars, and some are even thousands of dollars. The maximum power can reach from tens of watts to hundreds of watts. Then which car inverter is the best for a laptop?</p> <p>First, let's briefly explain the working principle of the car inverter.</p> <p>The car inverter is a small device that can convert 12V or 24V DC power into 110V or 220V AC power. The 12V/24V DC power is from the car battery. Though a car inverter, the car power will be converted to AC power and powered for household appliances.</p> <p>The power of a general laptop is about 60W ~ 70W. So for common user, buying a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/150w-car-power-inverter" target="_blank">150W car inverter</a> is completely enough. Because most family cars have the power of 12VDC and <20A current, that is to say, it allows the maximum of about 230 watts appliances. And even some older cars only allow current of 10A. So we cannot blindly seek high power car inverter. Currently connect 12V inverter with power 150W or less to car for electrical appliances use is the best choice. For some outdoor workers, they need to use high-power electrical appliances for finishing their works. So they can choose power inverter with higher power of 300W to 3000W, which should be connected to car battery directly.</p> <p>A 150W car inverter generally has the following characteristics:</p> <ul> <li>Voltage: Input voltage DC 12V, output voltage AC 110V±10V or AC 220V±10V.</li> <li>Power: Continuous power 150W, peak power 300W.</li> <li>Dual USB port: 5V/1A USB port and 5V/2.1A USB port.</li> <li>One AC outlet to charge the laptop, tablet, phone and other mobile devices.</li> <li>A power indicator, a digital display for current and a card slot.</li> <li>Internal cooling fan with 2-stage temperature control function</li> <li>Overload protection, overheat protection and short circuit protection.</li> </ul> <p><img src="/images/uploaded/150w-car-inverter-for-laptop-interface-description.jpg" alt="150W 12VDC car inverter for laptop interface description" width="480" height="472" /></p> <p>A 150W DC 12V to AC 110V/220V car inverter has a small size of 82*64*38cm, light weight of 0.3kg (0.66 lb) and low price <span class="price-value-96">$67.98</span>. Its outstanding design is perfect for charging your laptop on the go. At the same time, you can also charge your phone or tablet with a USB port. However, it should be noted that the sum of the power of all charging devices at the same time cannot be greater than 150W.</p> <p>Buy car power inverters in inverter.com, the power starts from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/75w-car-power-inverter" target="_blank">75W</a>, 150W, to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-car-power-inverter" target="_blank">300W</a>.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:90 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-faq Power Inverter FAQ <p><strong>1. Power inverter how it works?</strong></p> <p>Power inverter is a device that can directly convert DC power to AC power. It can be used for car/RV/truck/house. The DC power is from the car battery or home battery. The AC power converted by power inverter can be directly used for charging the phone/laptop/iPad or powering electric fan/refrigerator in the car.</p> <p><strong>2. How to calculate the power of power inverter according to my car battery?</strong></p> <p>If the specification of the battery is DC 12 volt/ 120 Ah, the output power of the battery is: 12v * 120 Ah = 1440 watts. That means, the battery can provide a maximum power of 1440 watts for a power inverter. So the power selection of power inverter should be lower than 1440W. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-inverter" target="_blank">1000W 12V DC to 220V AC power inverter</a> is a good choice.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/1000w-12v-dc-to-110v-220v-ac-power-inverter.jpg" alt="1000W 12V DC to 110V/220V AC power inverter" width="425" height="354" /></p> <p><strong>3. What is the efficiency of power inverter?</strong></p> <p>When it works the power inverter will consume a part of the input power. The output power will be lower than the input power. That efficiency of the power inverter is the ratio of output power and input power. If the input power is 100 watts (from DC power), and the output power is 80 watts (for AC power). Then the efficiency of power inverter is 80%.</p> <p>When we using a power inverter, it is better not powered the device for more than 80% of the rated power, and not to be continuously used for a long time.</p> <p><strong>4. What are the continuous power and peak power of the power inverter?</strong></p> <p>When we use electrical motors or tools, such as refrigerators, washing machines and electric drills, the starting current is very big. After starting only a small current can keep it working. Therefore, the power inverter has continuous power and peak power for the requirements of the above inductive loads. Continuous power is the rated output power. The peak power is generally 2 times of the rated power.</p> <p><strong>5. Can I use the power inverter for my car when the engine is turned off?</strong></p> <p>Yes, when using for 300 watts load, the general car battery can provide power approximately 25-55 minutes in the case of the engine is turned off. If the load is a laptop with 40 watts, the power time will be longer. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter" target="_blank">power inverter</a> has an under-voltage warning and under-voltage protection circuit. If the battery voltage drops to 10 volts, the under-voltage protection circuit is activated, and the output voltage is cut off. It will prevent the battery voltage is too low and had a start accident of the car engine. If we prepare another battery and connected to the car battery, then the working time of the power inverter can be doubled.</p> <p><strong>6. What are the important things when using a power inverter?</strong></p> <p>The power inverter output voltage is 220V AC or 110V AC. When in a relatively small space and moveable state, people should pay special attention to it. It is best to place a power inverter in a safe place to prevent electric shock. When not in use, be sure to cut off its power.</p> <p>A power inverter cannot be placed in a warm air outlet or near the location or direct sunlight. Other objects cannot be placed on the power inverter or nearby. Don't put it in rain or sprinkled with water, mainly because of the power inverter is very afraid of the water, it may damage if water enters.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:88 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-pwm-power-inverter What is PWM Power Inverter? <p>Simply put, the power inverter is a kind of electronic device converting low-voltage (12/24/48 volts) DC into 110V/ 120V/ 220V/ 240V AC power. It is named so because we usually transform AC into DC, but the role of inverter does the opposite. The power inverter mainly adopts the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control technology, which can suppress or eliminate low-order harmonics. Coupled with the use of self-shutdown devices, the switching frequency is greatly increased, and the output waveform can be very close to a sine wave.</p> <p><strong>Types of power inverter<br /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Power inverters are mainly divided into two categories, one is a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a>, and the other is a square wave inverter. Sine wave inverter output is the same as the grid we use every day or even better sine wave AC power, because it does not exist power electromagnetic pollution.Square wave inverter output is the poor quality square wave alternating current, the positive to the negative maximum value generate almost at the same time, so causing severe destabilizing effects on the load and the inverter itself.</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><img style="float: left;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/PWM-sine-wave-power-inverter.jpg" alt="PWM Power Inverter" width="350" height="235" /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">At the same time, its loading capacity is poor, only 40-60% of the rated load and can't connect inductive load (detail explained below). As the load is too large, third harmonic components of square-wave current will increase the capacitive current which flow into load.It will damage the load power supply filter capacitor when serious. For the above disadvantages, in recent years there has been quasi-sine wave (or modified sine, modified sine wave, analog sine-wave, etc.) inverter, the output waveform between the positive maximum and the negative maximum value has a time interval, effect has improved.</p> <p><strong>PWM technology in power inverter</strong></p> <p>Basic square wave inverter circuit is simple, but the output voltage waveform harmonic content is too large, and also both the THD (current THD) is too large; phase shifting small superimposed multiple harmonic content inverter output voltage waveforms. That THD is small, but the circuit is more complex. The PWM <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>, both computer circuits, and can make the output voltage waveform, which has been widely used.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/PWM-principle-schematic.jpg" alt="PWM Principle Schematic" width="433" height="386" /></p> <p>The so-called PWM technology (Pulse Width Modulation, PWM) is made of a reference wave (usually a sine wave, trapezoidal wave or sometimes injected zero sequence harmonic sine wave or square wave) for modulation wave, and to N times the frequency of the modulation wave of the triangular wave (sawtooth wave is also sometimes used) is the carrier (carrier wave) comparing the waveform, the modulation wave is greater than the carrier section generates a set of equal amplitude modulated wave is proportional to the width rectangular wave pulse sequence is used to modulate the equivalent substituted for analog switch, and through the inverter switch on/off control, the direct current into alternating current, this technique is called pulse width control inverter technology. Due to carrier triangular wave (or sawtooth) dimension is a linear change of up and down, so this technique is called pulse width control inverter technology. Since the triangular carrier wave (or sawtooth) vertical width is linear, so this modulation is linear, when the modulation wave is a sine wave, pulse width of the output rectangular pulse sequence varies by sine law, this modulation technique is often another called sinusoidal pulse width modulation (Sinusoida PWM) technology.</p> <p>The PWM conversion circuit has the following characteristics:</p> <ul> <li>Output voltage that is quite close to the sine wave can be obtained.</li> <li>The rectifier circuit USES diodes, which can obtain a power factor close to 1.</li> <li>Simple circuit structure.</li> <li>The output voltage can be changed by controlling the output pulse width, which speeds up the dynamic response of the frequency conversion process.</li> </ul> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:87 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-improve-solar-inverter-quality-efficiency How to Improve Solar Inverter Quality & Efficiency? <p>The solar inverter in the practical application of optimization applications, you first need to make sure that people buy an inverter is relatively high quality. Only good quality products in order to be respected by the market and is recognized by consumers. We will introduce about how manufacturers realize quality control of the solar inverter.</p> <p><strong>Raw material</strong></p> <p>Manufacturers in order to achieve quality control of the solar inverter and improve the quality of it. The first thing is to control the production materials. Power inverter housing mainly made of copper and iron. If the housing material good enough, we can guarantee the integrity of the device shell. So, manufacturers can choose high-quality copper and iron material to produce an inverter.</p> <p><strong>Production process</strong></p> <p>Manufacturers can also control the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> quality by production process. Production process is mainly to control all production processes of the solar inverter. Control the production process in every aspect of the production staff should strictly abide by the relevant manufacturing operations processes to improve product quality, thereby enhancing production efficiency and product qualification rate.</p> <p>Manufacturers can start from two aspects inverter production process and raw materials to achieve its quality control, only continuously improve product quality, in order to attract more customers and achieve sustainable economic growth.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter-for-PV-system.jpg" alt="Grid tie inverter for PV system" width="508" height="339" /></p> <p>In practice the solar inverter will loss part of the energy itself, so the input power is higher than output power. The efficiency is the ratio of output power to input power, in order to better improve the efficiency of the inverter, manufacturers need to find ways to increase the output power. We will introduce several methods to improve inverter work efficiency.</p> <p><strong>Reduce self-loss</strong></p> <p>It is precisely because the inverter itself in practical applications will be part of a power loss, so that its output power is decreased, so people can improve their working efficiency by reducing the inverter's own copper and iron losses.</p> <p><strong>Reducing IGBT losses</strong></p> <p>People in order to improve the efficiency of the inverter can also reduce the IGBT loss from areas to start, mainly to reduce IGBT switching frequency. It should be noted here is to reduce the switching frequency cannot be unlimited, otherwise it will lead to a wave inverters worse, increasing noise of the machine and reduce power quality.</p> <p><strong>Reduce the loss of reactor</strong></p> <p>Reduce the loss of the reactor to improve the efficiency of the inverter is of great help to improve reactor value, that is to reduce reactor resistance.</p> <p>These three methods can effectively improve the efficiency of the solar inverter, only three of these methods require much attention when in use, this may have the opposite effect.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:86 https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter-vs-converter Power Inverter vs. Converter <p>Power inverters and converters are both electrical devices to play a role of <span class="ILfuVd NA6bn"><span class="e24Kjd">electrical</span></span> power conversion in our life. The power inverter is actually to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). The converter is a process of <span class="ILfuVd NA6bn"><span class="e24Kjd">changing an electrical power source</span></span> to another required one, such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/voltage-converter">voltage converter</a>. Both are frequently applied to the circuit elements in the circuit, but there are still some similarities and differences between the power inverter and the converter.</p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><strong><img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/voltage-converter.jpg" alt="Voltage Converter." width="550" height="360" /></strong></span></p> <p><strong>Similarities</strong></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Power inverter and converter are both considered as a kind of transformer, used for voltage conversion. The use purpose of the power inverter and the converter are the same, to realize the voltage converting from one kind of voltage and current to another kind of voltage and current suitable for the load. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> performs the conversion from direct current power into high voltage alternating current. The converter also does a similar job, converting the mains power into another desired power.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Both uses PWM technology. Power inverter and converter both have adopted the pulse width modulation (PWM) technology, and the core part is an integrated PWM controller.</span></p> <p><strong>Differences</strong></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Although</span> both the power inverter and converter are used for voltage conversion, actually they make different power sources conversions so they are suitable for different uses and applications.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The power inverter converts low voltage direct current (DC) into high voltage altenating current (AC). It can be used to convert the DC power <span style="line-height: 1.5;">like 12V, 24V or 48V</span> from solar panels, or batteries into the AC household power <span style="line-height: 1.5;">like 110V, 220V, 240V, etc</span>., to charging the appliances <span style="line-height: 1.5;">at home, in the car, outdoor</span> or other remote sites where the AC power is needed.The power inverter is suitable for the situation where the AC electricity is not accessible but the DC power is avaliable. According to the output wave form, the power inverters can be divided into square wave inverter, modified square wave inverter, and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a>, which can be chosen according to the practical applications.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">However, the converter is used to transform the supply power source to a required power source. The most common converters are to step <span style="line-height: 1.5;">down</span> from 220V to 110V or step up 110V to 220V. Due to the different power environments of countries around the world, there are differences in the daily electricity. The converter provides a great convenience for the people to use the device from one region to another region.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/modified-sine-wave-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Power Inverter" width="800" height="263" /></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><strong> </strong></span></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:85 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-select-a-right-grid-tie-string-inverter How to Select a Right Grid Tie String Inverter? <p>Solar grid tie string inverter converts solar panels DC output electricity To AC electricity, it can handle 6-10 solar panels connected in series, so it stands for 1 string.</p> <p>For large solar array you can use multiple string inverters and connect all together with one AC output for your loads. By using grid tie string inverters such way, you can make use of different tilt and azimuth angles that can be applied even for each sting, so getting maximum yield. In addition, increasing the solar array reliability as for example the shadow in one string panel will not affect the efficiency of other strings.</p> <p>Selecting the correct <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">solar grid tie inverter</a> will increase your solar system efficiency due to its important role, it consisted as the brain of the whole solar system and here are some factors to be well considered:</p> <p><strong>Efficiency</strong></p> <p>Try to select the string inverter efficiency to be closer to 100%, in the market you will find efficiencies in the range (96-99%). Efficiency percentage value represents how much energy to be lost during converting DC power to AC power.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-string-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid tie string inverter" /></p> <p><strong>Installation</strong></p> <p>Try to select the grid tie string inverter with simple and easy installation, the inverter should have brackets and all accessories to assist only one person to install. It will be great if the inverter can be installed behind the string modules, so can reduce connection cable length, and save some costs. Also, if the string inverter can be wired via single MC4 to be something like plug and play installation. Just we need to streamline installation process so reduce time and cost.</p> <p><strong>Inverter strength and resistance to environmental conditions</strong></p> <p>First thing to check is the string inverter protection degree, called NEMA rating, it reflects inverter capability to withstand weather condition like dust, rains, ..etc. Of course, the higher the better, so try to get IP67 or IP69. Also check solar inverter capability to withstand high environmental temperature. If the inverter will be installed near to a sea/river coast, then take care the inverter should be coated with salt resistance material for more protection and longer life span.</p> <p><strong>Inverter connectivity</strong></p> <p>This is a smart feature that allow you to connect the grid tie string inverter to the internet, then be able to know inverter output and system generation and many other parameters from your PC. This system will provide alarms in case of unnormal conditions like exceeding inverter temperature threshold, and so on. So, you will be able to fully monitor and control your whole solar system remotely via the string inverter connectivity feature. In addition, the inverter connectivity system will store information, so you can recall and revise any historical data that assist you well understanding your system previous problems, productions data, ...then achieving optimal operation and correct planning for the future.</p> <p>Inverter.com store provides single phase grid tie string inverter from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">1500W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">10kW</a>, and three phase grid tie string inverter from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-grid-tie-solar-inverter">5000W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">20kW</a> for selection.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:84 https://www.inverter.com/10-tips-for-using-a-power-inverter-correctly 10 Tips for Using a Power Inverter Correctly <p>Power inverter that converts DC power to AC power provides a great convenience people's lives, especially in home appliances, such as air conditioner, refrigerator, TV, VCR, etc. In order to optimize the use of the inverters in these home appliances, people should pay much attention to proper operation of power inverters. This article will give you some tips how to use the power inverter properly.</p> <p>1. The DC input voltage of the inverter should be the same as the battery voltage.Every inverter has a value that can be connected to the DC voltage, such as 12 Volts and 24 Volts. The battery voltage should be the same as the DC input voltage of the power inverter.</p> <p>2. Power inverter output power must be greater than the power of home appliances or electrical devices, especially for the appliances with high starting power, such as refrigerators, air conditioner, etc. When choosing a power inverter, a large margin should be left to avoid the burning of inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/modified-sine-wave-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter" width="800" height="263" /></p> <p>3. The positive and negative electrodes of the power inverter must be connected correctly. The DC voltage connection terminal of the inverter is clearly marked positive and negative, red is positive (+), black is negative (-); the battery is also marked positive and negative. When the power inverter is connected to the battery, the positive pole of the inverter should be connected to the positive pole of the battery, and the negative pole of the inverter should be connected to the negative pole of the battery. In addition, the connection line must be thick, and care about the length of the connection.</p> <p>4. Power inverters must be placed in a well-ventilated, non-humid position, and avoid the rain. It should have a distance of about 20 cm to the surrounding objects, and also keep away from the explosion items. Do not put anything on the inverter or cover other items. The environmental temperature cannot be higher than 40℃.</p> <p>5. Charging and inverting can not be carried out at the same time. In order to use the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> correctly, people can not to apply the inverting and charging at the same time, that is, do not put charging plug into the electrical output of the power inverter, otherwise the inverter will bring itself some damage.</p> <p>6. Time between two booting should be more than 5 seconds. When in use of power inverter, it should minimize the booting of the inverter. Even encountering the situations requiring constant power, it also need to ensure that the time interval of boot is not less than 5 seconds, otherwise too frequent boot will damage to the device.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-use-and-applications.jpg" alt="Power Inverter Use and Applications" width="656" height="562" /></p> <p>7. Never open the case for any operation. In order to avoid some unexpected inccident occurrence, it is strictly prohibited to open the case and do some operations. Chassis are generally fixed and closed, and few chassis problems will occur. So when using the power inverter, it is strictly prohibited to open the case. When the inverter is suspected to have a fault, please do not continue to operate and use, it should cut off the input and output in time. It should be asked for help the qualified maintenance personnel to check maintenance.</p> <p>8. Before connecting the input and output of the power inverter, first properly ground the casing of the machine.</p> <p>9. When the power inverter is connected to the battery, make sure that there is no other metal on the hand, so as to avoid battery short circuit and burn the human body.</p> <p>10. For the environment conditions of power inverter, the installation environment shall meet the following requirements based on security and performance considerations:</p> <ul> <li>Dry: do not soak in water or rain.</li> <li>Cool: the temperature is between 0℃ and 40℃.</li> <li>Ventilation: keep no foreign body on the shell within 5CM and good ventilation on other end faces.</li> </ul> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:83 https://www.inverter.com/smart-solar-inverter-for-new-flexible-power-grid Smart Solar Inverter for New Flexible Power Grid <p>Our electrical energy world dramatically changed for both Generation and consumption. For generation, we used to use traditional power stations which base on fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas, in recent years we change to renewable energy sources like wind and solar to extent that solar energy generation became representing high portion of power capacity, in the year 2017 solar power capacity contributes by approx. 72% of new added capacities. On the consumption side, most of people use new kinds of loads like electric cars and smart homes, so both generation and consumption patterns have been changed dramatically, and this requires from us to have flexible power grid to accommodate these high changes. Let us discuss some factors needed to be consider for this transition:</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/smart-solar-inverter-for-new-smart-grid.jpg" alt="Smart solar inverter for new smart power grid" width="627" height="506" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Smart solar inverter</strong></p> <p>It’s the link to the smart grid. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> should have high advanced communication capability with smart grid in addition to analytic, computing and memory capabilities to provide all information and control features to the smart grid energy management system.</p> <p><strong>Smart energy management system</strong></p> <p>Our loads pattern ramps up and down instantly, with away differs from standard PV solar generation, as solar electricity generation is intermittent because it depends of solar radiation. Consequently, smart energy management system is the solution to support the power grid, making it able to handle diversity of such loads by controlling all kinds of distributed energy sources not only solar stations. The smart energy management system has the capability to shift some of load capacities from time to time over the day to achieve consistency.</p> <p><strong>Using the new technology communication systems</strong></p> <p>An important key to achieve grid flexibility, is to have reliable communication and control systems, it is a way of transition from old manual premises control to cloud base control. This system will be able to see the whole network parameters and then takes the best correction action of load/generation shifting if needed to achieve the optimal grid operation.</p> <p>The most common communication systems nowadays are cellular networks and ethernet, and fortunately these system prices are declining while their reliability, efficiency and coverage capability increase. One more thing, the capability of applied communication system to communicate with different types of other communication systems, protocols is an important feature to achieve the integrity and flexibility in the power grid.</p> <p><strong>Cyber protection and achieving security</strong></p> <p>As long as we had advanced communication system and flexible power grid, there should be a certain level of cyber protection to protect our grid communication and control systems against attackers.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:82 https://www.inverter.com/3-steps-to-repair-pure-sine-wave-inverter 3 Steps to Repair Pure Sine Wave Inverter <p>Pure sine wave inverter applications in the long term, it is inevitable due to the combined effect of a number of internal and external factors and the emergence of certain failure, thus affecting the normal use of the device. Then, we need to find specialized service personnel to repair the fault detection. This article will introduce the pure sine wave inverter during maintenance.<br /><br /><strong>1. Cut off the input and output</strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> in the event of failure, to avoid failure to further increase, then it cannot continue to operate and use. Maintenance personnel should immediately cut off the input and output, and the corresponding components one by one investigation to determine the fault location. And then, make the appropriate repair process according to the fault location.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="Pure sine wave inverter" width="400" height="350" /><strong>2. Confirm that do not have metal objects on hands</strong></p> <p>Pure sine wave inverter during maintenance when the maintenance staff also needs to make sure does not have any other metal objects. As in the maintenance, they might want to reconnect the battery, the presence of metal objects can cause the battery short-circuit, burns the maintenance staff.<br /><br /><strong>3. Prepare professional repair tools</strong></p> <p>Maintenance personnel in the maintenance of the pure sine wave inverter, when preparing its professional maintenance tools to do the preparatory work in advance, and only complete professional tools in order to better assist maintenance personnel to more quickly find the fault position by continuously detection coupled to confirm, and then take a certain approach to the maintenance service.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:80 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-make-off-grid-system-easier-and-save-cost How to Make Off Grid System Easier and Save Cost? <p>Off grid solar system is usually required in critical cases, where it's a must to build it. Like remote areas where no exist of utility power grid or areas that usually subjected to power outage due to storms or any other environmental conditions.</p> <p>Off grid solar system is more complex in installation than on grid solar system, as it requires more components like charge controller and batteries, so it needs higher technical skills and costs more. Although of this, off grid solar system market grows and most of suppliers / manufacturers try to save the cost and complexity by searching and implements new techniques and services that you should pay attention for as following:</p> <p><strong>1. Off grid solar system package</strong></p> <p>One of supplier / manufacturers ways to make the off-grid system easier is to provide as a package. The package should contain solar panels &amp; <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> &amp; inverter &amp; accessories, so you just connect / assemble the system and run, the good thing is you don't need to contact the supplier anymore as you have all parts in the package.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off grid solar system" width="750" height="350" /></p> <p><strong>2. Choosing the most flexible off grid inverter</strong></p> <p>The solar <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a> is the brain of off grid system, the more flexibility of the inverter the more easy and reliable off grid solar system you get. For instance, getting the off-grid inverter that incorporate charge controller instead of separate one, also the capability of the inverter to be connected with both external generator and power grid is an important feature. Moreover, getting the feature of inverter capability to sell back excess energy to power grid is great profitable feature to the end user.</p> <p><strong>3. Solar off grid inverter capability to be stacked with another inverter</strong></p> <p>What amazing feature! Usually after building your off grid solar system, you will be needing to oversize, so can add more loads (appliances, equipment and so on) to your system, it's easy to extend solar panels but can you add a second inverter? The answer is yes, as long as your first inverter is accepting this (stackable inverter). So, we recommend to pay attention to this feature when buying your first/main inverter.</p> <p><strong>4. After sales services</strong></p> <p>Because usually the solar off grid system exist in remote areas, then troubleshooting will require long time to be done, also will be costly in some cases if spare parts will be needed. So, take care to get solar inverter with long warranty period and dealing with good trusted supplier that has installed many off grid solar system for many years, moreover you need to ask the supplier to provide references. One thing that can make troubleshooting quicker is remote monitoring system, so we should check with the supplier the capability of applying good effective monitoring system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:81 https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-inverter-advantages Pure Sine Wave Inverter Advantages <p>Pure sine wave inverter is divided according to the different inverter output waveform. The inverter is carried out on the basis of a modified square wave inverter, the more obvious advantages of improvement in the whole inverter market has become a mainstream product. This article will introduce the advantages of pure sine wave inverter in the practical application of the performance.<br /><br /><strong>1. Able to meet the needs of most requirements</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">Pure sine wave inverter</a> load capacity is very good, not only can drive capacitive load, but also can also drive inductive load, and even some appliances can be driven without damaging the load the power supply filter capacitor. It can be seen that the inverter is to meet most of our electricity demand.</p> <p><br /><strong>2. High efficiency, low noise</strong></p> <p>Pure sine wave inverter is carried out on the basis of a modified square wave, the output quality can be very good square wave alternating current, and the conversion efficiency is very high. It will not cause severe destabilizing effects on the inverter and the load itself, and has clear advantage of low noise.<br /><br /><strong>3. Reasonable price</strong></p> <p>One of the advantages of pure sine wave inverter is also reflected in the practical application is its moderate price. It can be accepted by the majority of consumers, the cost performance is relatively high. The market is also likely to be respected and gradually become the market mainstream products. It can be seen, there is good reason for pure sine wave inverter on the market price of a certain reason.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-inverter.jpg" alt="Pure sine wave inverter" width="400" height="350" />Sine wave inverter is according to the nature of the output waveform of a division, this inverter in the practical application has shown excellent characteristics in the market occupy a certain status, the type of electrical load which will be more. We will introduce significant advantage sine wave inverter has.<br /><br /><strong>1. Good output waveform</strong></p> <p>Sine wave inverter can even output with the same or even better grid sine wave AC output waveform is very good, low distortion, and interference to radio communications equipment is relatively small, the noise is more in the practical application It is also more extensive.<br /><br /><strong>2. Complete protection function</strong></p> <p>One of the advantages of the power inverter in practical applications is demonstrated by its protective function relatively complete, overvoltage, under-voltage, short circuit, insulation and other functions are available, not only can play a good role to protect themselves, but also the protection of electrical load.<br /><br /><strong>3. High overall efficiency</strong></p> <p>High efficiency is also one of the advantages of the pure sine wave inverter in the practical application of the performance of the sine wave High efficiency not only refers to its high efficiency, but also means a relatively high conversion efficiency, the inverters are people continuous application, has been widely promoted.<br /><br />Above are the three advantage of pure sine wave inverter in the application. It has these advantages so it has been applied in more and more occasions, and people are also continuing to research to develop the device.<br /><br />The inverter will often appear in the actual application over-voltage, under-voltage, over temperature and other phenomena. In order to avoid these situations, the quality of the inverter usually comes with some basic protection functions. When the pure sine inverter is not normally working, it will be automatically shut off. We will introduce the advantages of the inverter on the essential protection function.<br /><br /><strong>1. Over-voltage protection</strong></p> <p>Excellent inverters are sure to have over-voltage protection function. When the input voltage is higher than 130% of rated voltage, the inverter must have the corresponding display and protection.<br /><br /><strong>2. Under-voltage protection</strong><br />Under-voltage protection is one of the excellent essential protection functions of power inverter. This function is corresponding with over-voltage protection, when the input voltage is less than 85% of the rated voltage of the inverter to have the appropriate display and protection.<br /><br /><strong>3. Over-current protection</strong><br />Excellent pure sine wave inverter also has overcurrent protection. This feature can be guaranteed when the load current exceeds the allowable value or occurs when short-term, immediate action would be to avoid getting a surge current damage. When the operating current exceeds 150% of rated the inverter will have automatic protection function.<br /><br /><strong>4. Over-temperature protection</strong><br />The over-temperature protection is also excellent in the inverter with protection features for no voltage stabilization measures inverters. Its output should also have excessive voltage protective measures to ensure the load will not be over-voltage damage.</p> <p>Inveterter.com provides you with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/12v-pure-sine-wave-inverter">12V</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/24v-pure-sine-wave-inverter">24V</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/48v-pure-sine-wave-inverter">48V</a> pure sine wave inverter, power 300W, 600W, 100W, 2000W to 6000W, the more you buy, the greater the discount.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:79 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-mppt-feature-in-solar-inverters What is MPPT Feature in Solar Inverters? <p><strong>What is the MPPT feature?</strong></p> <p>Many people working in solar industry knows about MPPT acronym of Maximum Power Point Tracker, but few of them understand correctly, although it is an important feature that helps us increasing solar photovoltaic energy harvest.</p> <p>Simply put, it is DC to DC converter incorporated inside most of all modern solar photovoltaic inverters that enable maximizing DC energy harvest getting from solar panels at any time during the operation cycle.</p> <p><strong>How the MPPT feature works?</strong></p> <p>The basic element is the solar array is the module. We constitute the module as DC source with an internal impedance which will be changed over the day based on level of solar irradiance fallen at the module surface and solar cell temperature. So, the DC solar energy getting from the module is not fixed and its output DC current and voltage are changed over the day as well.</p> <p>Based on this, MPPT feature importance arises, as the solar inverter internal MPPT circuit will monitor the DC voltage and current all the time and trying to extract maximum power and drive the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> at maximum efficiency point, and this of course will result in high energy yield.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/maximum-power-point-tracking.jpg" alt="Maximum Power Point Tracking" width="1000" height="750" /></p> <p><strong>Which one is best: single or dual MPPT?</strong></p> <p>Dual MPPT inverter is better than single MMPT because it can handle multiple solar strings with different azimuth angle, different tilt angle, different length (voltage), different modules power/ voltage/ manufacturer, and it allows connecting more than 2 strings to the inverter without combiner box.</p> <p>So, dual MPPT provides higher flexibility, cost saving and higher efficiency with higher harvest as following:</p> <ol> <li>When we will be able to connect different strings to the same solar inverter, this means we don’t need to a second inverter nor combiner box, so achieving cost saving.</li> <li>When connecting multiple strings to single MPPT inverter and when one of these strings is subjected to pollution or dust or even shading, this will affect the output of the entire solar array and reduce energy yield. But if we divided the solar array into 2 parts (2 MPPT), then the dusty or shaded string will affect only one MPPT while the other healthy one will still provide its max power, consequently we achieve higher harvest.</li> <li>For dual MPPT inverter, we can monitor each MPPT individually, so detailed monitoring data about energy yield, array status, voltage/ current for each channel can be recognized, so we shall be able to correctly troubleshoot any abnormality at inverter input side.</li> </ol> <p>We think now, you have recognized why understanding MPPT feature is a fast and direct way to achieve more profit from your solar system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-micro-inverter-with-MPPT-feature.jpg" alt="Solar Micro Inverter with MPPT Feature" width="672" height="400" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:78 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-buy-the-best-off-grid-inverter How to Buy the Best Off Grid Inverter? <p>Off grid solar inverter converts DC electricity comes from solar panels and stored in Batteries to AC electricity to be used to run all of AC loads types existing now like TV, refrigerator, oven, lights, air conditions…etc.</p> <p>No worries about batteries depletion as long as you have sized the solar off-grid system correctly. The batteries will be charged via solar panels and charge controller, and even in the winter where there will be lack of solar energy, you can charge the batteries by external generator via charge controller if needed. What are parameters to check when buying the off-grid inverter?</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Sine wave off grid solar inverter" width="389" height="450" /></p> <p><strong>1. The power capacity of the inverter and rated voltage of your loads:</strong></p> <p>Simply by knowing your loads power capacities individually, you can indicate <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid solar inverter</a> power capacity. For instance, if you will run all of loads at the same time, then sum the wattage for all together, and remember to have some extra tolerance as you may need to add other loads in the future. Also, pay attention to your loads rated voltage and whether they are 120V or 240V or any other.</p> <p><strong>2. Buy pure sine wave off grid inverter not the modified sine wave:</strong></p> <p>The pure sine wave inverter provides clean wave with high quality and with no noise, so your loads will run smoothly with No issues, as some loads like computer and other sensitive electronics can be damaged in case of using modified sine wave inverter.</p> <p><strong>3. Check off-grid inverter efficiency &amp; No-load current:</strong></p> <p>Generally, the inverter efficiency range exist in the market is 93-97%, and the higher efficiency, the higher output power you can get from batteries power. For the no load current, its inverter self-consumption, and of course the lower is the better.</p> <p><strong>4. Inverter surge capacity and internal charge controller output current capability:</strong></p> <p>Most of AC loads are motor based like refrigerators, blender, pumps, and the motor pulls high surge current at starting, so we need to check inverter surge capability to see if it can handle our loads or not. Also, better to choose the off-grid inverter that has incorporated charge controller with higher output current rating, so you will be able to charge your batteries from external generator in winter if needed, also this will save you purchasing external charge controller and paying extra cost.</p> <p><strong>5. Temperature rise withstand capability and warranty period:</strong></p> <p>The off-grid solar inverter is sensitive to ambient temperature, so you need to check its temperature limit and where you will be placing the inverter in ambient temperature as well. For the warranty, most of manufacturers provides 4-5 years, but there some others who provide 10 years which is better of course.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:76 https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverters-will-drive-utilities-in-near-future Solar Inverters Will Drive Utilities in Near future <p>Today we see many solar plants connected to the power grid, and there will be more and more in near future. All experienced power system engineers, and operators see that it is a must for these solar plants to have sophisticated control system to achieve coordination and integrity between them and other traditional power plants exist in the grid. This smart control system can be done only through solar inverters which represent the brain of the solar power plant.<br /><br /><strong>Why We are needing sophisticated control system?</strong><br /><br />When connecting solar power plants to the electrical grid, there will be two main technical issues arise, and can be solved via the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> as following;</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels.jpg" alt="Solar panels" width="800" height="369" /></p> <p><strong>Power Flow:</strong><br /><br />The normal power grid is designed, so that the electrical power flow will be in the direction from generation to transmission then to distribution feeders, so the protection system is designed to protect the grid that way. But with the solar plants added to the grid, the power flow will be reversed, it can flow from distribution to transmission or from distribution to other distribution networks, and this will conflict with the grid protection coordination scheme. Only the solar inverter can prevent this from occurring by limiting generated power.<br /><br /><strong>Terminal Voltage:</strong><br /><br />In order for the solar plants to inject its power to the grid, it should generate output terminal voltage which is a bit little more than the grid nominal voltage, and as a result of many numbers of solar plants will be connected to the grid, voltage level will increase.<br /><br />In order to prevent voltage, increase from damaging any components/loads in the grid, the inverter can change generated reactive power to regulate the grid voltage level. So generally, the solar inverter can regulate and stabilize the grid voltage via controlling the generated reactive power.<br /><br /><strong>Will the solar inverter actually be capable of solving grid issues? And what are Utilities concerns?</strong><br /><br />The answer is yes, the inverter industry has been developed in both soft ware and hardware, the solar inverters become having many modern features to solve such issues like power factor control and many others, but honestly there still some some issues that concern utilities like the following:<br /><br />1. As we discussed above, the solar inverter may need to increase generated reactive power and limit active power generation, but this feature is still Not existing in some of solar inverters at the market.<br /><br />2. In order for the solar inverter to integrate with the power grid, its operating profile may be changed, as it may work for more hours per day at its full capacity and this of sure will make it hotter and reduce its life span.<br /><br /><strong>Solar Inverter standards:</strong><br /><br />Still Not all requirements from the solar inverter are defined in the standards, so we are of sure in a bad need of unified standards for all solar inverter taking into consideration grid problems, this will solve the issues efficiently, the solar inverter price will be reduced and all operators will be able to use same interface for the sophisticated control system referred above.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:75 https://www.inverter.com/what-does-a-solar-inverter-do What Does a Solar Inverter Do? <p>Solar inverters are the most important and crucial part in the solar system, because it is responsible of many main duties which grow as the solar system gets smarter and the interaction between the solar system and power grid increases.<br /><br />The solar inverters do 5 key duties, as following:</p> <p><strong>1. Converting DC power To AC power</strong><br /><br />That is the main job of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>, is to provide AC power required to operate all of our business and residential equipment from DC power generated from solar panels.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar inverter" width="780" height="520" /></p> <p><strong>2. Tracking solar array and increase output power</strong><br /><br />The solar inverter is continuously monitoring the solar array output voltage, and through its internal dedicated electronic circuit it provides max power, and that is called MPPT feature which exist in all advanced solar inverters.<br /><br />Also, the solar inverter can indicate which string has reduced output power, so solar system operators can check whether this is due to shading or modules degradation or anything else, then take corrective action accordingly.</p> <p><strong>3. Connecting with the power grid</strong><br /><br />Today, the new frontier of solar inverters become exist everywhere, it's the smart solar inverter which has the ability to interact with the power grid. It has internal advanced software that enable performing amazing actions. The smart solar inverter is able to connect with the grid even with the presence of disturbances like voltage changes, the inverter automatically switches from operating mode to standby mode, then operating mode or even turn off if the disturbances last for long time.<br /><br /><strong>4. Measuring energy production and providing communication capabilities</strong><br /><br />This duty enables solar system owners/operators become able to communicate with the solar inverter via different means like Wi Fi, Bluetooth, or wired ethernet. So, they can know the power production and receive error code from the solar inverter on their computer or smart phone, this will help in better monitoring, controlling and troubleshooting the solar system.<br /><br />Some concerns of attackers who may attack the system through one of these communication protocols will arise, but we don't consider it as a big problem because solar scientist and experienced engineers are working in developing advanced software to fully secure the system<br /><br /><strong>5. Capability to shut down in case of short circuit</strong><br /><br />The short circuit may happen due to many reasons like grid components degradation/aging, and in case of happening, the solar inverter will disconnect itself because it is programmed to indicate such arcs, so assure safe and reliable operation.<br /><br />At the end, by accomplishing the 5 duties mentioned above, it becomes clear why the solar inverter is the brain of the solar system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:77 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-solar-charge-controller What is a Solar Charge Controller? <p>Solar charge controller is the heart of the off grid solar system, so we need to pay a special attention in selecting and sizing. Thus, we can fully utilize our solar power system.</p> <p><strong>What is the solar charge controller and why do we need it?</strong></p> <p>The solar charge controller is an electronic device that works as a voltage and current regulator in off grid solar system. It is used to charge batteries from solar panels during daytime hours and discharge batteries when there is no enough power coming from the sun or during night hours.</p> <p>So, its main function is to protect batteries from overcharging or deep discharging under operation conditions. Without this regulation, the batteries may subject to damage as the charging voltage coming from solar panels varies and may go above the max charging voltage level of batteries.</p> <p>Other benefits we get from the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is to prevent power reverse from batteries to solar panels at night where no power coming from solar system, provide solar panel short circuit protection, and also regulate voltage/current required for feeding small DC loads.</p> <p>Moreover, for modern charge controller, it has a display showing us some important measurements like solar input DC current/voltage, batteries charging voltage/current, DC load current …etc. From these information, we can alway be informed of the state of charging.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/charge-controller-in-off-grid-solar-system.jpg" alt="Charge Controller in Off Grid Solar System" width="800" height="704" /></p> <p><strong>Main types of solar charge controller</strong></p> <p>In the market, you will see two types with two different technologies, the first is PWM charge controller (Pulse Width Modulation) and the second is MMPT charge controller (Maximum Power Point Tracking).</p> <p>There exists big difference in between. And let us clarify the main difference as follows.</p> <p>When MMPT charge charge controller receives higher voltage from the solar panels (Vmp) than batteries charging voltage level, it reduces the voltage to match charging batteries level, but while reducing the voltage, it increases the current, so charging power will increase as well. The result is that charge controller has succeeded to increase its output batteries charging power, consequently achieving higher efficiency and reduce losses.</p> <p>But for PWM solar charge controller, it just reduces the voltage to match batteries voltage charging level while the current is still the same, so batteries charging power still the same. As a result, the PWM charge controller has failed to make use of all solar panel power, consequently lower efficiency and higher losses.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Although MPPT charge controller is more expensive, but it is worth to pay extra money for, as it is more efficient and more reliable than PWM charge controller.</p> <p><strong>How to size the solar charge controller?</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/how-to-size-solar-charge-controller">Sizing a solar charging controller</a> is based on your solar array current and voltage. Simply select the charge controller to be larger enough so can handle the power, voltage and current which come from solar energy system.<img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Solar Charge Controllers" width="400" height="260" /></p> <p>The solar charge controller has max acceptable DC input voltage and current.</p> <p>For voltage, the solar array open circuit voltage (max at no load) should be less than charge controller max input voltage.</p> <p>For current, the solar array short circuit current (max at no load) should be less than converter max input current level.</p> <p>Generally, when sizing the solar charge controller, it will be better if its input DC current is higher than solar array short circuit current by good reasonable factor like 150% or so, this will not affect the system performance, and would be useful if you decided one day in the future to increase the solar array capacity.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:130 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-suitable-solar-power-price How to Choose a Suitable Solar Power Price <p>As you know, that for grid tie solar photovoltaic system, we export/sell the electricity to the electric utility power grid, and we charged for each exported kWh energy, that what we called Feed-in Tariff. But the question is, can we control this tariff in order to maximize our return on investment? The answer is yes, and let us know how can we achieve that:<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-direction-metering.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of direction metering" width="400" height="250" /></p> <p>Electrical power providers are generally providing two different tariff structures, the first is called flat rate structure, in which the price for the purchased kWh is fixed, its same over 24hours/7days. And the other structure called time of use, in which the price for the purchased kWh differs from time to other, there will be off peak price and high peak price. Usually, off peak time is in the night, high peak time is from afternoon to the evening, and the normal time is represented by the rest of the day hours, in some areas, the high peak kWh charges may reach 50 cents per each kWh.</p> <p>From solar economics point of view, the result of using flat rate structure or time of use structure will be very similar, however some electricity retailers provide only one tariff structurer and in that case you have no choice, but if they provide both tariffs, then you need to check your electricity consumption pattern and how you use electricity over the day, in order to indicate which structure will be more advantageous for you. For example, if you return back your home at 2-3pm, and start using a lot of electricity like TV, air conditioners, washing/drying machines, etc. up to the night, in that case you have already used/consumed the electricity during peak charge period, so no need for time of use tariff, as it will be useless, and flat tariff would be more advantageous. But if you have batteries and able to use them at peak charge time, then time of use tariff might be better.</p> <p>What make things easier, is that your solar photovoltaic system supplier will be able to assist you indicating which tariff structure will be better for you, they can do analysis like feed-in tariff analysis, after checking your electricity consumption pattern.</p> <p>One more important thing to consider, it’s the solar energy meter, as for time of use tariff structure, the meter will be of special specs/components and will differ from the case of using flat rate structure which does not require special energy meter, just regular meter will work perfectly. so it’s better to check which tariff you will go through before buying and installing the solar system energy meter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:137 https://www.inverter.com/8-tips-before-installing-the-solar-pv-system 8 Tips Before Installing the Solar PV System <p>The good preparation for solar photo-voltaic system installation is the key factor in this project success, that is why we need to gather all information, ask the solar installation company, and make the economic feasibility study before going on. There will be and important 8 questions/works to ask your solar system installation company before buying as following:</p> <p>1. Based on your installation location and expected whether all over the year, what will be the estimated annual electricity production generated from the solar system in kwh?</p> <p>2. Of course in summer months, the solar electricity production will be higher than winter months due to the intensity of solar radiation, and the question is: What will be the estimated electricity production in kwh for the worst and best months?</p> <p>3. Who will be in charge of making maintenance to your solar system? Also, during solar system operation, if there will be an issue or a service needed, who you should contact to? It would be preferably if there will be someone locally you can contact with him.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-PV-system-installation-diagram.jpg" alt="Solar PV system installation diagram" width="717" height="544" /></p> <p>4. Very important for you as owner, solar company as installer and solar parts manufacturer as a supplier to let each party know his responsibilities, that will make things much easier if you encounter any issue in the future, because you will indicate in a minute who will solve this issue.</p> <p>5. You have to write down all solar system components warranties period, who was the installer name, and when it was installed. Making history sheet for each component will be an important thing. Our recommendation is to let the solar system installer helps you in that point.</p> <p>6. You have to ask the solar system installer about who will be responsible of connecting the system to the electric grid, will he be or another sub-contractor or electricity company? Also, you have to ask him about when will the solar system be connected to the grid?</p> <p>7. After installing the solar system, your electrical energy meter will need to be changed to accommodate the new installation, and the question is; who will be responsible of such changeover? Is it you or solar installation company or electricity company? This point must be clear from the beginning, and usually the solar company will do that job under the supervision of the electricity company.</p> <p>8. The solar system rebates that you will get from the solar installation company as a result of selling your STCs certificate is an important point to be discussed, so you will be aware of how mush discount you will get from such STCs certificates.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:70 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-size-solar-charge-controller How to Size a Solar Charge Controller? <p>A solar charge controller is used to manage the power from the solar cells to charge the batteries and supply the load in the solar power system. The charge controller protects the batteries from overcharging or deep discharging, so as to guarantee the safety of the batteries, increase the service life of batteries and then improve the solar system performance.</p> <p>So, really it's worth doing more investigation in your solar system for best sizing a proper solar charge controller. It is the key for longer life and higher efficiency for your battery bank as the charge controller optimizes the power and voltage coming from your solar panels to provide best charging voltage and current to the batteries.</p> <p><strong>Maximum Power Point Tracking (<strong>MPPT</strong>) Solar Charge controller <br /></strong></p> <p>In the past, we chosen the solar array voltage to be same as the battery voltage, and made our calculation based on this. Today, with the presence of MPPT charge controller, we are able to have solar array with higher voltage than batteries voltage; because of the design of MPPT charge controller, it converts higher voltage to lower voltage.</p> <p>This amazing feature enables us to install small gauge wires at solar array system side than before as when the solar array voltage is doubled, the current will be reduced to the half and then the wire gauge will be reduced accordingly, consequently the wiring cost will dramatically reduce.</p> <p>Even due to the unique advantage of MMPT solar charge controller that has the capability of receiving higher voltage from solar array and handling lower rated voltage batteries, you become free of matching voltage condition, and your design become open, that is, you can use different design scheme with different material sizes as well.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/MPPT-solar-charge-controller-connection-diagram.jpg" alt="MPPT solar charge controller connection diagram" width="725" height="416" /></p> <p><strong>How to size a solar charge controller?</strong></p> <p>This can be done through indicating 2 parameters as following:</p> <p><strong>1. Charge controller rated current</strong></p> <p>You should know that the charge controller rated current is referring to its output current not the input current coming from the solar array.</p> <p>So, suppose you have solar array of 3500W and its operating voltage is 96V and you have batteries bank of 48VDC, so to indicate charge controller rated current, let us apply power equation: P = V X I. Then I = 3500/48 = 72.91A and by taking into account the possibility of solar panels to provide higher power due to sunny days or reflecting lights coming from any outer source like water or snow, we should apply 25% safety factor, then charge controller rated current = 72.91 x 1.25 = 91.13A. Consequently, we should choose/install 95A or 100A charge controller in this system.</p> <p><strong>2. Maximum solar array DC voltage </strong></p> <p>The MPPT solar charge controller has max input DC voltage limit where should be continuously larger than solar array max DC output voltage, its Not allowed to be exceeded, that is the condition.</p> <p>In order to achieve that, you are needing to be sure that the open circuit voltage of the whole solar array will not go above this limit. Also, you should have a certain margin above open circuit voltage value to be in safe side as the open circuit voltage may increase due to cold weather. So, we recommend to take safety factor of 25%.</p> <p>Suppose you have 12 solar modules forming 4 string (3 modules will be connected in series) and module open circuit voltage is 32V, then whole solar array open circuit voltage will be 96VDC, taking 25% safety factor, then max safety DC voltage limit will be: 120V, consequently we need to choose the controller max DC voltage limit to be 125V or 130V.</p> <p>If you still have questions on selecting a right charge controller for your solar system,  please feel free to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/contactus">contact us</a>.</p> <p>Buy high efficiency MPPT solar charge controller, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20 Amp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">30 Amp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/40-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">40 Amp</a>, ... <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">60 Amp</a>, on the inverter.com, to enjoy the benefits of MPPT charge controller and optimize your solar power system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:71 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-read-solar-on-grid-inverter-data-sheet How to Read Solar On Grid Inverter Data Sheet? <p><strong>What is the on-grid inverter data sheet?</strong></p> <p>It's a sheet shows the on-grid inverter specs, so can judge if the inverter can be used in our system or not. It's an important matter to be able to read the sheet and understand it before buying the on grid inverter.</p> <p><strong>Who are needing on-grid inverter data sheet?</strong></p> <p>It will be needed mainly for solar on-grid system designer, any one wants to buy and even on grid system owner/user. To be honest, all personnel dealing with the on-grid solar system have to be able to read the data sheet and understand it well.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid tie inverter" width="700" height="280" /></p> <p><strong>On-grid inverter data sheet main parameters.</strong></p> <p>There will be 9 parameters you need to fully understand what are they mean, let us list them as following:</p> <p>1. Max efficiency:<br />It refers to height efficiency we can get from the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a>, typically it varies between 94-98%, and off course the higher the better.</p> <p>2. Rated output power:<br />It measured in Watt or Kilowatt, and refers max power we can get from the inverter.</p> <p>3. Rated output voltage:<br />This value refers to utility (electrical distribution system) AC voltage that inverter will be connected to, and it may be 1-phase or 3-phase.</p> <p>4. Maximum input current:<br />It refers to max DC current produced by the solar system, and if current generated by solar system is above this limit, then all excessive current will not be used, it will be useless.</p> <p>5. Maximum output current:<br />It refers to max AC current the grid tie inverter can produce, and you will be needing to know this value in order to select over current protection devices like fuses or breaker.</p> <p>6. Max power tracking voltage:<br />It refers to DC input voltage range in which the on-grid inverter will work in MPPT (maximum power point tracking) zone. Its an important value the designer must know, so can design the string voltage where most of the year the DC voltage inputs to the inverter should fall in this range, so achieving max efficiency and yield. Of course, this will not be an easy task as the voltage fluctuates with the change in temperature.</p> <p>7. Starting voltage:<br />It refers to minimum DC voltage required to start the grid tie inverter. Below this value, inverter will not work, so designer always keep an eye on this value to be higher enough, so sometimes he makes his calculation based on low level of max power tracking voltage to be in safe side.</p> <p>8. Protection degree:<br />Usually denoted by IP--, its protection level against the ingress of solid objects (first digit) and water proof (second digit). So of course, the higher the better. In USA, they usually refer to this specs by Nema enclosure type, where Nema 4 is tighter (resistance to solid particles and water) than Nema 1.</p> <p>9. Certificate of compliance:<br />This shows the standards/tests in which the on grid inverter is in compliance with. Like CE or UL…. etc.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:74 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-inverter-generators What are the Advantages of Inverter Generators? <p><strong>What is the Inverter Generator?</strong></p> <p>It's an electricity generator that converts chemical energy of fossil fuels to pure electricity via 2 stages.</p> <p>In the first stage, it converts fossil fuels energy to AC electricity via traditional combustion engine which converts afterwards to DC electricity via rectifier circuit. And in the second stage, there will be an inverter module which converts DC to pure sinusoidal AC electricity.</p> <p>The first question that comes to mind is why 2 stages although we get the AC electricity from the traditional generator in one stage via combustion engine and generator coils/magnetic field?</p> <p>The answer is the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">Inverter Generator</a> output electricity will be pure sine wave, it differs from that one received from traditional generator which is not 100% pure.</p> <p>That is okay, but why we need pure sine wave electricity?</p> <p>The answer is; for some sensitive electronics equipment like microprocessor based and many others like sensitive medical equipment, they need pure electricity to properly work otherwise they may fail or even subject to damages leading to very cost and serious consequences.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ATO-inverter-generator.jpg" alt="ATO inverter generator" width="600" height="300" />What are the advantages of Inverter Generator? </strong></p> <ol> <li>Inverter Generator provides more electrical power for the same amount of the fossil fuel compared to traditional generator, in other word, it achieves higher efficiency (approx. 30% higher).</li> <li>Inverter Generator is quiet with smaller size and weight.</li> <li>It doesn't pollute the environment because it consumes less fuel.</li> <li>It can handle motor inrush/surge current at starting period efficiently without oversizing, so lesser Inverter Generator power capacity will perform better than larger traditional generator capacity in cases of using the generator to feed motor-based load.</li> </ol> <p><strong>How can Inverter Generator achieve these amazing features?</strong></p> <p>The key factor is its internal inverter module, as based on the electrical load the inverter controls the speed of combustion engine, so significantly reduce fuel consumption and achieve high efficiency. On the contrary is the traditional generator which rotate with fixed full speed for both low or high-power capacity load.</p> <p>So, traditional generator of 5kW will approximately consume the same fuel to run 200 watt lamp and to run 4kW load as well because it will rotate at full speed in both cases, while Inverter Generator with variable speed according to electrical demand feature will consume much lesser fuel incase of 200 watt lamp, that is the concept!</p> <p>Consequently, Inverter Generator is portable, small weight, small size and very clean output electricity generator.</p> <p>At the end, yes apparently Inverter Generator is more expensive than traditional Generator but the hidden fact is that Inverter Generator is much technically and economically better with such mentioned amazing features.</p> <p>Buy cheap inverter generators from inverter.com, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/500-watt-inverter-generator">500 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/800-watt-inverter-generator">800 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-inverter-generator">2000 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-inverter-generator">3000 watt </a>to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-inverter-generator">5000 watt</a> inverter generators to provide a quieter and safer power supply for your home.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:69 https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-solar-system-and-win-win-relationship On Grid Solar System and Win-Win Relationship <p><strong>What is the On-Grid Solar system?</strong></p> <p>It's a solar system that is connected and synchronized with the power grid. So, the electrical load will be fed from both sources which share to each other in feeding it.</p> <p>In cloudy days or at night where the solar system generation is low or even is not exist, the electrical load takes its power requirements from the power grid. And in sunny days where solar generation exceeds load power requirement, the load take all its power requirement form the solar system and surplus solar generated electricity will go to the power grid to be used elsewhere.</p> <p>Generally, both sources share each other, so at some other times the load will take its power requirement from both.</p> <p>The Electricity Companies in most of countries like electricity generation that way, and constitute it as distributed generation. To extent that they pay money for this extra solar generation (AC pure sine wave electricity) injected into power grid to the customer / facility owns the on-grid solar system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/on-grid-solar-system-1.jpg" alt="On grid solar system" width="600" height="250" /></p> <p><strong>How the electricity company pays for solar on grid generated AC electricity?</strong></p> <p>In order to encourage customers to install on grid solar systems, Electricity Companies put 2 ways to buy electricity from them, the first one called Net metering and the other called Feed in tariff.</p> <p>In Net metering policy, Electricity Company pays for the net electricity injected into the power grid. For example, suppose that the customer on grid solar system generates 1000kWh in a certain month while its premises consume 700kWh, this means he already returned 300kwh to the power grid, and hence the Electricity Company will pay for 300kwh amount. In other months, the customer on grid solar system may generate 1000kwh but its premises consume 1200kwh, then the customer will pay to the electricity company for 200kWh extra consumption.</p> <p>In feed in tariff policy, there will be a contact between the Electricity Company and the customer where the customer will be paid for all electricity generated from his solar on grid system and injected into the power grid, referring to the same example, the electricity company will pay for 1000 kwh customer monthly generation according to the contract established between them, and of course the customer will pay for his consumption but individually away from the contract.</p> <p>Its win-win business relationship between the customer and the Electricity Company, while the customer will save electricity bills and get profits from surplus electricity generated from the solar system, Electricity Company will have reliable power source with high generation capability and be efficiently able to feed other new customers.</p> <p>Buy <a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">500 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">1000 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">2000 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">3000 watt</a>...grid tie inverter from inverter.com online store for your on grid solar system and realize win-win relationship.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:68 https://www.inverter.com/brief-introduction-to-on-grid-inverter Brief Introduction to On-Grid Inverter <p><strong>What is the on-grid inverter?</strong></p> <p>It's an inverter used to convert DC "direct current" coming from solar panels or wind turbine to AC "alternating current" and injects into the power grid.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on-grid inverter</a> must match grid sine wave phase and voltage, so can inject the AC current into it. The most important feature of such inverter is its ability to work without batteries, it based on solar panels or wind turbine and power grid presence only, so if the solar energy or wind energy are not sufficient to feed the load, it consumes his power requirements from the power grid.</p> <p><strong>How does the on-grid inverter work?</strong></p> <p>Simply the inverter has a computer module that senses the grid AC voltage waveform and continuously measure all its parameters instantly like voltage, frequency…etc. and then starts to inject the AC current, so that the inverter keeps its output voltage to be slightly higher than grid voltage all the time.</p> <p>In the same time, the inverter must have anti islanding feature which quickly disconnect it if the grid power system shuts down for any reasons, so protect itself from feeding uncontrollable loads "may be higher capacity" and protect personnel who were sent to troubleshot the power grid.</p> <p><strong>What are on grid inverter types?</strong></p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/on-grid-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="On grid solar inverter" width="415" height="415" /></p> <p>There are 3 types of inverters in the market:</p> <ol> <li>Low frequency with transformer coupling inverter.</li> <li>High frequency with transformer coupling inverter.</li> <li>Transformer-less inverter.</li> </ol> <p>For the first and second type, the inverter has a transformer inside and a computer unit which schedule converting the DC power to low or high frequency and return to DC power again, then converting to final AC voltage which matches the power grid. Inverter.com offers 300W to 1000W grid tie inverters and 300W to 1400W <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro solar inverters</a> with transformer design.</p> <p>For transformer-less inverter, it doesn't have transformer inside, so it converts DC to AC with high converting efficiency. Although the price of transformer type inverter is lesser than transformer-less type, but transformer-less inverter is smaller, lighter and more efficient.</p> <p>One thing pertaining to transformer-less type is, it doesn't have a transformer inside, so there will be concerns about the absence of galvanic isolation between DC side and AC side, so the probability of injecting dangerous DC currents and voltages into the power grid.</p> <p><strong>Which on grid inverter type you should purchase?</strong></p> <p>We recommend to buy the most advanced and efficient transformer-less type, single phase <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500w-grid-tie-solar-inverter">1500W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">10kW</a> and three phase up to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-grid-tie-solar-inverter">50kW</a> transformer-less on grid solar inverters are available here. Just check their specs in regard to DC voltage and current components injections, to be sure its within safety limits.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:65 https://www.inverter.com/differences-between-vertical-and-horizontal-centrifugal-pumps Differences Between Vertical and Horizontal Centrifugal Pumps <p>From the perspective of the selection, most people would like to use the horizontal centrifugal pump, mainly because the horizontal pump has simple overhauling and maintenance. The vertical centrifugal pump is troublesome in repairing, and it needs to be lifted in maintaining every time. Moreover, the long-axis pump needs to change the sliding bearing under the liquid after being used for a long time. If it is not replaced, the possible consequence is that the centrifugal force of the shaft is getting larger and larger, and the value of the shaft jump is increased. If it is not replaced in time, it will cause a mechanical accident. Moreover, in installing, measures should be taken to guarantee absolute levelness. Now that there are so many shortcomings, why would the operator still choose the vertical centrifugal pump?</p> <p>The vertical centrifugal pump is usually used in the working condition of unable to have flow backward and install underground, or when there is no empty site as the foundation of the horizontal centrifugal pump, the vertical centrifugal pump can only be placed on the tank.</p> <p>If the self-suction ability of the ordinary horizontal pump(not the self-suction pump) is very poor, the media is fundamentally unable to be extracted from the tank. Therefore, the horizontal pump and vertical pump are incomparable. <br /><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="650" height="480" /></p> <p>The specific differences between vertical centrifugal pumps and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">horizontal centrifugal pumps</a> are as follows:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Different appearance. The vertical pump is vertical, but the horizontal pump is horizontal.</li> <li>Different connection means. The vertical pump is superposed from bottom to top, and the horizontal pump is arranged on the basement in the vertical direction.</li> <li>Different covering space. The vertical pump covers a small area, but the horizontal pump covers a big area.</li> <li>The difficulty of maintenance is different. It is difficult to repair the vertical pump. In case of a maintenance, the impeller can be repaired after removing all upper parts. However, the horizontal pump is relatively easier.</li> <li>Different installation means. The vertical pump is in overall connection, and the installation is rather easy. However, the horizontal pump has to be conducted with the accuracy adjustment after installation.</li> <li>The pipeline arrangement has different requirements. The vertical pump can adopt vertical and horizontal installations of the pump. The inlet and outlet of the horizontal pump can be installed at 0/90/180°.</li> </ul> <p>Application scenes of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">vertical centrifugal pump</a> and horizontal centrifugal pump</p> <p>The vertical centrifugal pump is divided into the vertical multi-stage centrifugal pump and the vertical single-stage centrifugal pump. Generally, a vertical multi-stage centrifugal pump is used for a small-flow high-lift centrifugal pump (commonly used in a building water supply system), and a single-stage centrifugal pump is generally used in conditions with rather balanced flow and lift (commonly used in closed circulation system).</p> <p>The horizontal pump is used in conditions with big flow and small lift(commonly used in the building air-conditioner system). This centrifugal pump occupies a lot of space. The vertical single-stage centrifugal pump adopts the pipeline installation and can be directly installed on the pipeline, thus occupying no great space. However, the pump power generally does not exceed 75KW, otherwise, the pipeline may have a relatively large.</p> <p>The horizontal centrifugal pump is required to install the basement. In normal conditions, it is the single-stage end suction port/double-suction pipeline downwards inlet and upwards outlet/horizontal inlet and outlet. The inlet pipe diameter is larger than the outlet pipe diameter. The power can be very high. Its efficiency is higher than the vertical pump, and it has a smaller shock on the pipeline. As to the big pump, it is usually recommended to adopt the horizontal type.</p> <p>In short, the vertical centrifugal pump does not occupy a large space, but the power is not suggested to be too high. The horizontal type occupies a large space, but the efficiency is high, and the power can be very high.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:66 https://www.inverter.com/dc-pump-is-better-than-ac-pump-in-solar-pumping-system DC Pump is Better than AC Pump in Solar Pumping System <p>The solar water pump is the heart of solar pumping system, so selecting the good reliable pump is a crucial choice in building your efficient system.<br />Mainly in the market there are 2 types of solar pumps: AC pump and DC pump.<br />DC solar pump uses DC motor which works based on direct current supply (such as solar panel or battery), so it does not need an inverter. <br />While AC solar pumps uses AC motor which powered via <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter" target="_blank">solar pump inverter</a> that converting DC getting from solar panels to AC.</p> <p><strong>Then which one is better, AC pump or DC pump?</strong></p> <p>Actually, we usually use DC pump in low power capacity system up to 5kW, but there are some factors to mind when selecting one of them, as each has advantages and disadvantages as well.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/dc-solar-tank-pump-in-solar-pumping-system.jpg" alt="" width="296" height="296" /></p> <ul> <li>Price<br />While DC pump is more efficient than AC pump and required less solar panels to operate, it is difficult to maintain in remote areas as it needs specialized service centers, and you will not be able to run for emergency in night time, also its price is higher than AC pump.<br />For the price, AC solar pump will be less expensive of course.</li> <li>Service life<br />For Life span, DC solar pump has longer life time as it uses motor coils manufactured from pure copper, while AC solar pump uses motor coils manufactured from aluminum/copper to achieve competitive price.</li> <li>Noise<br />For noise, DC pump is less noisy, it is totally quite because it uses internal BLDC motor with high manufacturing technology while AC pump uses old motor technology, moreover the noisy sound of AC pump will increase with time usage increase.</li> </ul> <p>Consequently, now it is clear that using DC pump is much better than AC pump.</p> <p><strong>DC Solar pumping system component</strong></p> <p>Mainly the DC solar pumping system consists of solar panels, controller and the DC pump. The most important part is the DC controller which has 4 important rules:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: upper-alpha;"> <li>Regulate DC input voltage to hit max power point tracking (MPPT), so running the pump at highest efficiency.</li> <li>Automatically start and stop the pump.</li> <li>Soft starting the pump.</li> <li>Provide various kinds of protections like overcurrent, short circuit, over voltage, under voltage and over temperature.</li> </ol> <p>The DC controller also has a display to show real time measurements for pump power, voltage, consumed current and speed.</p> <p><strong>How to choose the DC Solar Pump?</strong></p> <p>This can be easily done by indicating required max water flow for your application in cubic meter per hour, and the max pump head in meter.<br />The DC solar water pump head can be gotten from knowing the distance between the pump and well &amp; the distance between well and water tank as shown in this picture:<br /><img src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-head-calculation.jpg" alt="DC Solar water pump head calcutation" width="880" height="900" /><br />h1 is the head above water (water to tank), h2 is the head under water (pump to water), d is the horizontal distance between tank and pump.<br />So, the actual pump head: H=h1+h2+d/10.<br />For example:<br />h1=50m, h2=30m, d=20m.<br />Then H=50+30+(20/10)=82m.<br />The actual pump head is 82m.<br />According to the estimated flow and head, refer to the performance curves and select the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump" target="_blank">solar water pump</a> with the appropriate flow and head. Then confirm which working voltage 12V/24V/36V/48V/72V/110V is suitable for the solar pumping system. Or send all your requirements to our customer service, and then we will help you to choose the right pump.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:64 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-clean-centrifugal-pump How to Clean Centrifugal Pump? <p>The cleaning and maintenance of centrifugal pump parts includes mechanical external cleaning and part cleaning. Part cleaning can be divided into pre-identification cleaning, pre-assembly cleaning and painting or bonding parts cleaning.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="650" height="480" /></p> <p>When cleaning centrifugal pump parts, electroplating parts and adhesive parts have the highest cleaning requirements. If the cleaning is not clean, it is usually the cause of coating or bonding failure, and the cleaning quality of the part assembly has a long service life.</p> <p>Due to serious unqualified cleaning, a large number of abrasives infiltrate into important friction pairs, or because the lubricating oil pipeline is clogged with dirt, resulting in early mechanical wear and accident damage. It must note some irregular maintenance work.</p> <p>The basic principle of cleaning and cleaning of important parts of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a> are as follows.</p> <p>It scraps away the dirt and rust accumulated in the inner and outer surfaces of impellers, sealing rings and bearings, and then cleans and blows with water or compressed air. Clean up the oil and rust accumulated on the joint surface of the shell. Rinse the water seal carefully until it is smooth. Remove oil dirt, and then clean oil ring and oil level meter. Ball bearings are cleaned with gasoline. Parts that have not been assembled for the time being should be oiled after cleaning.</p> <p>The basic principle of cleaning centrifugal pump parts is that all cleaning methods must fully consider the following basic requirements.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Ensure that the cleanliness of the parts is met, in the repair, the cleaning requirements of different machine parts are different. In assembly, the cleaning requirement of the fit part is higher than that of the non-fit part, the dynamic fit part is higher than the static fit part, and the precision fit part is higher than the non-precision fit part. For spray, plating, bonded workpiece surface, its cleaning requirements are very high. Different cleaning agents and cleaning methods must be adopted according to different requirements to ensure the required cleaning quality.</li> <li>Prevent the corrosion of parts and do not allow any degree of corrosion to precision parts. When the parts of centrifugal pump need to be parked for a period of time, the antirust ability of cleaning solution or other antirust measures should be considered.</li> <li>Ensure the safety of operation, prevent fire or poison human body and cause pollution to the environment.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:63 https://www.inverter.com/designing-a-grid-tie-solar-power-system-for-your-home Designing a Grid Tie Solar Power System for Your Home <p>Today we will introduce a home solar power system design below 10kW, which is installed on the roof of the house and connected to the grid of 220V or 380V. The maximum installation capacity is 25% of the capacity of the upper-level transformer.</p> <p><strong>Choose the appropriate installation site</strong></p> <p>The household roof generally adopts the tile structure and cement structure, so it is necessary to go to the site for inspection before installation, because not every roof is suitable for the installation of solar panels.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-PV-system-for-home.jpg" alt="Solar PV system for home" width="700" height="526" /></p> <p>First of all, it is required to determine whether the load capacity of the roof can meet the requirements. The loading requirements of the solar power system equipment for the roof are greater than 30kg/m<sup>2</sup>. Generally, the cement structure houses built in the past 5 years can meet the requirements, while the houses of the brick structure built 10 years ago should be carefully investigated.</p> <p>Secondly, it is required to check whether there are shadows in the surrounding area. Even a small amount of shadows will affect power generating capacity, such as water heaters, utility poles, tall trees and so on. In addition, if there are dust emissions near the road and houses, the modules should be polluted, thus affecting the power generating capacity.</p> <p>Last but not least, it is required to check the roof orientation and inclining angle. When the solar panel faces the south and has the best inclining angle, the power generating capacity is the highest. If it faces the north, a great amount of power generating capacity will loss.</p> <p><strong>Choose the appropriate solar panel</strong></p> <p>The solar panels have three types of polysilicon, monocrystalline silicon and thin film. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Under the same conditions, the efficiency of the PV system is only related to the nominal output of the solar panels, and has no direct relationship to the efficiency of the solar panels. The PV panel module has two kinds of 60 pcs and 72 pcs solar cells. The grid tie solar power system for home is generally small in scale and difficult to install. Therefore, it is recommended to use 60 pcs solar panels, which have small size, light weight and easy installation.</p> <p><strong>Choose the appropriate mounting bracket</strong></p> <p>According to the roof conditions, aluminum bracket, C-shaped steel bracket, stainless steel bracket and other brackets can be selected. In addition, after taking into account factors such as the strength of solar panel mounting bracket, cost of solar power system, and roof area utilization, the inclination angle of the solar panel should be minimized as much as possible to reduce the wind receiving surface, thereby increasing the strength of the bracket, reducing the cost of the bracket under the premise of not significantly reducing the system power generating capacity (the decrease no more than 1%).</p> <p>Leakage is a problem that needs to be paid attention to during the installation of solar power system. The PV system will be safe if it has a good waterproof performance. The photovoltaic bracket is mounted on the roof to support the assembly and is connected to the roof. Its design adopts the top-top method, which will not perforate and damage the original waterproofing of the roof. The pressing block adopts the prefabricated structure, requiring no on-site casting and avoiding the hard destruction of the waterproof layer of the roof by the installation of the solar panel mounting bracket.</p> <p><strong>Solar panels series-parallel connection design</strong></p> <p>In this grid-connected solar power system, solar cells are connected in series to form a string branch. The series connection is used to raise the input voltage range from the DC voltage to the inverter. It should ensure that the solar cells do not exceed the inverter input voltage range under various solar irradiance and ambient temperature conditions.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-connection-in-series.jpg" alt="Solar panels connection in series" width="800" height="365" /></p> <p>The working voltage is around the rated working voltage of the inverter, which has the highest efficiency. The single-phase 220V inverter has the rated input voltage of 360V. The three-phase 380V inverter has the rated input voltage of 650V. As to the 3000W inverter, if it is equipped with 260W solar panel with 30.5V working voltage, the working voltage is totally 366V for 12 pieces and the power is 3.12kW, which is the best. The 10kW inverter is equipped with 260W solar panel, 40 pieces, 20 strings for each, the voltage is 610V, and the total power is 10.4kW, which is the best.</p> <p><strong>Cable selection</strong></p> <p>In the home solar power system, it is recommended to use the copper cable. Because the solar panel MC4 joint, the solar inverter output wiring terminal and the wiring terminal of the grid-tie switch are made of the copper core. If it adopts the aluminum wire, and the copper wire is directly connected to the aluminum wire, a kind of chemical battery will be formed, that is the electrochemical corrosion. It will cause the bad contact between copper and aluminum, thus increasing the contact resistance. In case of a current passing, the contact part has a temperature rise, which accelerates the contact corrosion and increases the contact resistance, thus causing vicious circle until being burnt. The output terminals of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> are also made of the copper. If the aluminum wire is used, the diameter should be larger. For example, for the 30kW inverter, it is designed to use the 10 m<sup>2</sup> copper wire, or 16 m<sup>2</sup> aluminum wire. If the cable area increases, and the water-proof wiring terminal has a limited area, it might be unable to tolerate. Besides, it is still required to select the BVR flexible copper wires of several strands instead of the BV hard copper wire, since the hard copper wire is easily to have bad contact with the wiring terminal, and the turning site still has the stress, it will easily cause bolt looseness and bad contact.</p> <p><strong>Common solar power system design scheme for home</strong></p> <p>As to the common household PV systems, the single-phase one is generally 3kW to 8kW, and the three-phase one is generally 4kW to 10kW. If permitted, it is recommended to use three-phase grid-tie solar power system, because under the same conditions, three-phase on-grid PV system has fewer investment and higher generating capacity than the single-phase grid-connected solar power system. For example, as to the 10kW grid tie solar power system, if it is connected to the single-phase grid, it will need 2 grid-tie inverters, 4 strings of solar panels for DC input, 8 DC cables and 2 switches for AC output. However, if it is connected to the three-phase power grid, it will only requires 1 <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on-grid inverter</a>, 2 strings of solar panels for DC input, 4 DC cables and 1 switch for AC output. The solar system with three-phase grid connection has smaller current, lower loss and higher efficiency than the one with single-phase grid connection. The 3-phase on-grid solar system has less influence on the power grid, and will not stop because of promoting the grid-connection voltage.</p> <p>For example, here is a brief design plan of 3000W grid tie solar power system for home.</p> <p>The design requires about 30m<sup>2</sup> roof area, and adopts 12 pieces of 265W solar panels and the total power is 3.18KW. The PV system adopts 1 set of 3000W solar inverter, accesses to 220V power grid into the original indoor power distribution box, and then connects with the owner’s indoor low-voltage power distribution network through the 220V circuit before being sent to the mains supply.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/3kW-home-PV-system-design.jpg" alt="3kW home PV system design" width="638" height="240" /></p> <p>The maximum DC voltage of the inverter (maximum array open circuit voltage) is 550V, the maximum power voltage tracking range is 70~550V, and the number of MPPT channels is 1 channel/1 grid. The rated operating voltage of each solar cell module is 30.8V, and the open-circuit voltage is 38.3V. Under the rated working conditions with the ambient temperature of 25±2℃, and the solar irradiance of 1000W/m2, the rated working voltage of the series branch of the 12 solar batteries is 369.6V and its open circuit voltage is 459.6V, which are both within the allowable input range of the inverter. Therefore, it can maintain normal operation.</p> <p>In the variation of the working conditions, considering that the mean extreme environment temperature is -10℃, the working voltage of the solar cells at the maximum power point is 12 × 30.8 × (0.35% × 35 + 1) = 415V, meeting the input voltage requirement of the 550V maximum full loading MPPT point. When the mean extreme environment temperature is 42℃, the working voltage of the solar cells at the maximum power point is 12 × 31.2 × (-0.35% × 17 + 1) = 352.1V, meeting the input voltage requirement of the 70V minimum full loading MPPT point.</p> <p>See the table below for the basic configuration of this home solar power system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3kW-home-PV-system-configuration.jpg" alt="3kW home PV system configuration" width="541" height="300" /></p> <p>Buy high quality and low price solar inverters on inverter.com, including <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">300W</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/500w-solar-grid-tie-inverter">500W</a> ... grid tie inverter, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">700W</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">1000W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">200kW</a> off grid inverter, or <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter">300W</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/600-watt-solar-micro-inverter">600W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1400-watt-solar-micro-inverter">1400W</a> micro inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:62 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-design-solar-panel-system-on-complex-roofs How to Design Solar Panel System on Complex Roofs? <p>With the constantly advance of industrial and commercial photovoltaics, there are less and less large-scale, flat, facing, unshielded cement or colored steel roofs, and the rest may be multi-angle, multi-oriented, sheltered, multi-structural roofs. How to design solar panel system on the complex roofs? The most concerned issue for designers and investors is to control the cost, ensure the power generation, and be safe and reliable.</p> <p><strong>Multi-angle, multi-oriented roofs</strong></p> <p>According to the theory of circuit series, the same loop and the current scale are determined by the smallest component. The component model, installation angle and group string number of loop of each panel need to be kept the same in design. Each MPPT loop of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> runs independently and does not interfere with each other, so different MPPT loops can be different.</p> <p>On the roof with complex terrain, multiple solar inverters or multi-channel MPPT inverters can be selected according to the quantity of locally consistent components. At present, the inverter technology is mature, the harmonic problem of multiple inverters in parallel has been solved, and there is no problem with different power inverters at the end of the power grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/roof-with-multiple-orientations.jpg" alt="roof with multiple orientations" width="800" height="431" /></p> <p>Three-phase and single-phase solar inverters can also be connected in parallel. Most of the industrial, commercial and civil systems are TN systems in China. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">Grid tie inverter</a> is connected to the power grid. The three-phase inverter has three fire wires, one zero wire and one ground wire. Single-phase inverter has a fire wire, a zero wire, and a ground wire. If there is a three-phase power grid, the single-phase inverter can only be connected to one phase wire (that is, the fire wire) and one zero wire and one ground wire, so there is no electrical problem.</p> <p>The difference between three-phase four-wire active watt-hour meter and single-phase watt-hour meter is that it consists of three driving elements and three aluminum disks installed on the same rotating shaft. Its reading directly reflects the electric energy consumed by three-phase. The three-phase is measured separately, which allows the three-phase to be different, so if the power of one phase increases, the other two phases will not be affected.</p> <p><strong>Notes:</strong> when the single-phase inverter is connected to the power grid, we should note two problems, one is the three-phase imbalance, so we should try our best to connect the single-phase inverter to the phase with the largest load. Two, if the load three-phase is balanced, the single-phase power should not be too large, it is best not to exceed the load power.</p> <p><strong>Shaded roofs</strong></p> <p>During the construction of photovoltaic power station, it is necessary to check whether there are tall buildings, towers or trees around to form a shadow over the photovoltaic modules, so as not to cause the loss of power generation of photovoltaic group string, and the solar panels of each photovoltaic cluster should be kept in series with each other at the same horizontal height to prevent the power generation of the whole photovoltaic group string from being damaged due to partial shading. If the conditions are limited and the solar modules have to be installed in shaded places, the following methods can be taken to minimize the loss.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/a-shaded-roof.jpg" alt="a shaded roof" width="800" height="451" /></p> <p>1. The sun is the strongest around noon, accounting for more than 80% of the electricity generated between 11:00 and 15:00, while the light at the morning and evening is a little weaker. If you can adjust the angle of the component, you should try to keep the shadow away from the peak time of power generation, which can reduce some of the loss.</p> <p>2. It allows components that may have shadows to be concentrated on one solar panel, or on a MPPT loop, so that shaded components do not affect normal components.</p> <p><strong>Not best installation angle of the roof</strong></p> <p>The installation angle of photovoltaic module consists of two angles: Inclination angle and azimuth angle. Inclination angle (height angle): The angle between the photovoltaic module and the horizontal ground. Azimuth angle: The angle between the orientation of the photovoltaic module and the south direction. Whether it is the change of inclination angle or azimuth angle, it will have an impact on the power generation of photovoltaic projects.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-module-installation-angle.jpg" alt="PV module installation angle" width="527" height="323" /></p> <p>As can be seen from the above figure, it is assumed that the efficiency of the component is 100% at the best installation angle. If the inclination angle is wrong, the power generation loss is relatively large, and the vertical installation efficiency is only 59%.</p> <p>The tilt angle is generally only about 10 degrees in the high latitude industrial color steel plant. If the photovoltaic module is installed according to this angle, the photovoltaic efficiency is relatively low and the loss is relatively large. At this time, the color steel tile angle solar support can be used to increase the installation angle and improve the efficiency of photovoltaic system. However, you should pay attention to a few points in designing: we should pay attention to typhoons in the coastal areas, because of the negative wind pressure caused by the increase of angle, the wind resistance design of the support should exceed the strongest typhoon load in the area. We should pay attention to the impact of snow, such as snow load and snow melting passage, in the northern region.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Roofs-without-optimal-installation-angle.jpg" alt="Roofs without optimal installation angle" width="800" height="429" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:61 https://www.inverter.com/5-things-to-know-for-maintaining-your-solar-power-system 5 Things to Know for Maintaining Your Solar Power System <p>The solar PV system is not only environmentally friendly, but also saves money and makes money, becoming a best choice of alternative or backup power source for many families. However, it need proper maintenance, so as to ensure the generating capacity of the system, and guarantee the service life.</p> <p>However, as a matter of fact, there are still many improper behaviors in the actual operation process, which affects the service life of the solar power system. For example, something are put on the solar panels. When the solar panel is sheltered, "hot spot effect" is easily generated, which is called one of the four major fire hazards of the PV module. Do you want a better power generating efficiency and a longer service life of your home solar power system? It should be guaranteed by the sound maintenance.</p> <p>1. Maintenance cost</p> <p>The maintenance cost of the solar power system for your home under 10kW can be almost neglected. If your home solar power system is over 10kW, you can estimate a maintenance cost of 1%-3%.</p> <p>2. Solar panel cleanliness</p> <p>The surface of the solar panels should be kept clean, but it need not be washed too frequently. The surface of the solar panel has a self-cleaning effect, and regular rainwater will wash away the surface dust. Frequent cleaning will not only significantly increase the generating capacity, but also cause waste of water resources. In the non-rain season, it should be cleaned once a month. In areas with large dust fall, the cleaning times can be increased. In areas with large snowfall, heavy snow should be removed in time to avoid affecting generating capacity and uneven power generation after snow melting. The sheltering trees and sundries should be removed timely.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel-cleaning.jpg" alt="Solar panel cleaning" width="524" height="285" /></p> <p>In order to avoid the electric shock damage to human bodies and the possible damages to the modules by wiping modules under high temperature and strong illumination, it is recommended to clean the solar panels in the morning or late in the afternoon. It is recommended to use a soft brush, as well as the clean and gentle water when cleaning the glass surface of the PV module. The cleaning force should be very light, thus avoiding damaging the glass surface. Solar panels with coated glass should be protected from damage to the glass layer.</p> <p>3. Inverter maintenance</p> <p>It is required to regularly check if the inverter wiring is firm, if the wire insulation performance is normal, if there is any damage. In particular, it is especially required to check the operation of the inverter fan.</p> <p>If the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> of the PV system alarms and stops, it will not be started immediately. It is required to carefully check the fault reason and device damage, breakdown or explosion of the power module, and then start the inverter after finding the reason. When it is uncertain in re-starting the inverter, it is required to report to the maintenance center or the manufacturer.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-inverter-for-pv-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off-grid inverter for pv solar system" width="800" height="330" /></p> <p>4. Maintenance in extreme weather conditions</p> <p>In case of a trip in the rainy days, the wiring connection may be not tight. In such conditions, it is required to treat after the rainy days. The wiring connection can be wrapped by the insulated rubber tap, and then it is required to observe to have tripping phenomenon or not. If such condition continues, it is required to report to the maintenance center or the local electricity management station.</p> <p>In lightning days, it is required to turn off the air switch under the ammeter, avoiding damaging the electrical equipment. Then, please turn on the switch after the thundery days.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-in-extreme-weather.jpg" alt="Solar panels in extreme weather" width="573" height="344" />5. Monitoring</p> <p>If there is no monitoring system, you don't know the operation of the solar power system at all. The operating rate of the solar power system is the most fundamental factor determining the revenue of the power station. In order to improve power generation efficiency and increase power generation revenue, how can we understand the operation and maintenance status, or possible problems of the PV system without professional operation and maintenance knowledge, thus truly realizing intelligent management of the home solar power system? The monitoring system is required under such conditions. At present, there are many means and methods of monitoring, including the monitoring of the inverter itself, and independent monitoring by a third party. It is recommended to use a third-party independent monitoring system.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:59 https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump-cavitation-effects-and-prevention-methods Centrifugal Pump Cavitation Effects and Prevention Methods <p><strong>What is centrifugal pump cavitation?</strong> <br />Centrifugal pump is a kind of pump commonly used in production, there are many kinds of centrifugal pump, users often use centrifugal pump in production will often produce cavitation, so what are the parts of centrifugal pump that produce cavitation? The harm and pre-prevention measures of cavitation erosion in the following ways. <br /><br />When the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pump</a> is running, the pressure of the fluid drops as it goes from the pump inlet to the impeller inlet, and the pressure of the liquid is lowest near the blades. When the pressure near the impeller vane inlet is less than the saturated vapor pressure at the liquid delivery temperature, the liquid vaporizes. At the same time, it is possible that the gas dissolved in the liquid overflows, and they form a lot of bubbles. When the bubble flows with the liquid to the place where the pressure in the channel is high, the external liquid pressure is higher than the vaporization pressure in the bubble, and the bubble will condense. The collapse forms a cavity.<br /><br />The liquid around the moment rushes into the cavity at a very high speed, causing the liquids to collide with each other, causing the partial pressure to suddenly increase (some can reach several hundred atmospheres). This not only hinders the normal flow of the fluid, but more seriously, if these bubbles collapse in the vicinity of the impeller, the liquid is like a small number of small warheads, continuously striking the metal surface (frequency up to 2000~3000HZ), the metal surface will be caused by Impact fatigue and peeling.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/centrifugal-pump-cavitationjpg.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump cavitation" width="500" height="237" /><br /><strong>A part prone to cavitation of centrifugal pump</strong> <br />1. The low pressure side near the inlet edge of the blade at the front cover plate with high curvature of the impeller.<br />2. The low pressure side of the volute tongue and guide vane near the inlet edge of the chamber. <br />3. Sealing clearance between the outer circle of the blade tip and the shell without the front cover plate and the low pressure side of the blade tip. <br />4. The first stage impeller in the multi-stage pump.<br /><br /><strong>What are the hazards of centrifugal pump cavitation?</strong><br />1. Pump performance degradation<br />The energy exchange in the impeller is interfered with and destroyed during cavitation of the pump. The performance of external characteristics is Q-H curve, Q-P, Q-η curve decreases, which will interrupt the liquid flow in the pump and can not work. For low specific speed, because the passage between blades is narrow and long, once cavitation occurs, the bubble fills the entire flow channel, and the performance curve drops suddenly. For the medium and high specific speed, the flow channel is short and wide, so it takes a transition process for the bubble to develop from occurrence to filling the whole flow channel. The corresponding performance curve begins to decrease slowly, and then decreases sharply when it increases to a certain flow rate.</p> <p>2. Corrosion of flow passage components<br />Due to the high frequency (600~25000HZ) impact caused by bubble burst, the pressure is as high as 49Mpa, resulting in mechanical denudation of metal surface. Due to the release of heat during vaporization and the hydrolysis of thermoelectric batteries, the oxygen produced causes metal oxidation and chemical corrosion.<br /><br /><strong>Improve anti-cavitation measures</strong><br />1. Improve measures for effective cavitation margin of liquid intake device<br />Increase the pressure of the liquid level in the liquid storage tank before the pump to increase the effective cavitation margin. Reduce the installation height of the suction device pump. Change the suction device into the reverse irrigation device. Reduce the flow loss on the front line of the pump. For example, shorten the pipeline as much as possible in the required range, reduce the flow rate in the pipeline, reduce the bend and valve, increase the valve opening as much as possible, and so on. Reduce the medium temperature of the inlet working fluid of the pump (when the working fluid is close to the saturation temperature).</p> <p>2. Improve measures of cavitation resistance of centrifugal pump <br />Improve the structural design of the suction inlet of the pump near the impeller. The overcurrent area is increased, the curvature radius of the inlet section of the impeller cover plate is increased, and the sharp acceleration and pressure reduction of the liquid flow is reduced. The thickness of the inlet of the blade can be properly reduced, and the inlet of the blade can be trimmed to make it close to the streamline, and the acceleration and pressure reduction around the head of the blade can also be reduced. The surface finish of the impeller and the inlet part of the blade is improved to reduce the resistance loss, and the inlet edge of the blade is extended to the inlet of the impeller so that the liquid flow can accept the work ahead of time and increase the pressure.</p> <p>3. The front induction wheel is used to make the liquid flow work ahead of time in the front induction wheel to increase the liquid flow pressure.<br />When the double suction impeller is used to make the liquid flow enter the impeller at the same time from both sides of the impeller, the inlet section is doubled and the inlet velocity can be doubled. The design condition adopts a slightly larger positive impact angle to increase the inlet angle of the blade, reduce the bending at the inlet of the blade, reduce the blocking of the blade, and increase the inlet area, and improve the working conditions under the large flow rate to reduce the flow loss. However, the positive angle of attack should not be too large, otherwise the efficiency is affected.<br />Materials resistant to cavitation are used. The practice shows that the higher the strength, hardness and toughness of the material, the better the chemical stability and the stronger the cavitation corrosion resistance.<br /><br /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:58 https://www.inverter.com/differences-between-a-self-priming-pump-and-a-centrifugal-pump Differences Between a Self Priming Pump and a Centrifugal Pump <p>The self-priming of the self-priming pump refers to the starting of the pump under the condition that the suction pipe does not need to be filled with water (but there must be enough water in the pump body). It has the function of automatically removing the gas in the suction pipe and entering normal work after a short period of operation. The self-priming pump must be filled with enough water before the first start, and then start again from the water left in the pump body to normal operation.<br /><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/cheap-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="420" height="310" /><br /><strong>Working principle and performance characteristics of self-priming pump</strong><br />Self-priming pump is a self-priming centrifugal pump, which has the advantages of compact structure, convenient operation, easy operation and maintenance, high efficiency, long life and strong self-priming ability. There is no need to install the bottom valve in the pipeline, only to ensure that there is quantitative liquid stored in the pump body before working. Different liquids can use different materials of self-priming pump. <br /><br /><strong>Performance comparison of several commonly used self-priming pumps</strong><br />According to the structure and working principle of the self-priming pump, the self-priming pump can be divided into the following categories: gas-liquid mixing type (internal mixing type, external mixing type), water ring self-priming pump, jet flow (water jet, gas jet).</p> <p>The performance of several self-priming pumps is as follows:<br />The pump efficiency of the water ring self-priming pump is high, the manufacturing cost is high, the self-priming time is short, and the service life of the self-priming pump is less than 10 meters.</p> <p>The pump efficiency of jet self-priming pump is low, the manufacturing cost is high, the self-priming time is short, and the self-priming height can be higher than 10 meters long service life.</p> <p>The efficiency of the internal mixing self-priming pump is relatively high, the manufacturing cost is low and the self-priming time is long, and the self-priming height is less than 10 meters to make the service life longer. The efficiency of the external mixing self-priming pump is low and the manufacturing cost is medium, and the self-priming time is shorter and the self-priming height is less than 10 meters with a long service life.<br /><br /><strong>Differences between self-priming centrifugal pump and centrifugal pump</strong><br />The differences between self-priming centrifugal pumps and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">centrifugal pumps</a> are as follows:<br />1. Before starting, a quantitative amount of starting circulating water should be injected into the pump body when the self-priming centrifugal pump starts for the first time, and each time the centrifugal pump starts, the intake pipe and the pump body should be filled with water at the same time, or the inlet pipe should be pumped with auxiliary devices.</p> <p>2. The self-priming high heart pump on the device is full of filter net and no bottom valve under the intake pipe, while the centrifuge must install the bottom valve under the inlet pipe or the air pumping device at the outlet.</p> <p>3. In operation, the efficiency and cavitation performance of the self-priming centrifugal pump are lower and the cavitation performance of the pump with the same performance parameters is lower than the centrifugal pump. Three processes must be completed when the gas-liquid mixed self-priming centrifugal pump works: he gas in the impeller is brought back and forth out of the impeller, the gas-liquid separation is carried out effectively, and the separated water is constantly returned to the impeller to work again. According to the mixing position of water and gas, the gas-liquid mixed self-priming centrifugal pump can be divided into internal mixing type and external mixing type. Among them, the water in the gas-liquid separation chamber is backed the inlet of the impeller, and the gas and water are mixed at the inlet of the impeller. The water in the gas-liquid separation chamber is backed to the outlet of the impeller, and the gas and water are mixed at the outer edge of the impeller.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:57 https://www.inverter.com/how-much-electricity-does-a-home-solar-system-produce How Much Electricity Does a Home Solar System Produce? <p>If you plan to design and install a grid tie solar PV system for your home, you will want to know how much electricity the system can produce each year. Now we will take the roof of 60m<sup>2</sup> as an example to make this calculation.</p> <p>Relatively speaking, if the effective area of each family roof is 60 square meters, it will be rather enough. Then, what maximum capacity of solar panels can be installed for the 60 m<sup>2</sup> roof? How much electricity of solar panels can be generated every day?</p> <p>At present, the household solar power system generally adopts the monocrystalline silicon solar panel and polycrystalline silicon solar panel. Its specification is generalized as 36V 280W, and the single piece of solar panel generally has an area of 1.8 m<sup>2</sup>. The solar panels are connected into different group in series and parallel. In installation, the appropriate inclining angle, and the correct lighting direction should be selected. In addition, each group of solar panels should be staggered with a certain distance, thus avoiding the mutual stacking and sheltering in sunshine illumination. In the meanwhile, the solar panel array should be reserved with passage for the cleaning and maintenance convenience. Therefore, for the roof of 60m<sup>2</sup>, it is suggested to appropriately arrange 20 pieces of solar panels. The capacity is 5.6kW and the total area of the PV modules is 36 m<sup>2</sup>.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-inverter-is-installed-on-the-roof.jpg" alt="Solar panel on the roof" width="800" height="460" /></p> <p>How much energy do the solar panel generate every day? This is mainly determined by factors such as the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar panel, the sunshine time, and the mounting angle.</p> <p>The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar panel refers to the ratio of the maximum output power of the solar panel to the solar power that is irradiated on the panel under standard test conditions. Generally, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of polysilicon cell module and monocrystalline silicon cell module is not less than 15.5% and 16% respectively.</p> <p>Therefore, under standard sunshine conditions (1000W/m<sup>2</sup>), the actual power of the solar panel array is: 5.6kW/0.16=3.5kW. If the solar effective power generation time is calculated according to the optimal 6 hours (10:00-16:00), the power of 21kWh can be generated per day. If it is calculated by 240 days in the whole year (20 days of effective solar power generation per month), the total PV power generation is 5040kWh.</p> <p>Of course, the above calculation is based on the ideal conditions. The actual energy generated by a solar power system is affected by many factors, including the selection, installation and maintenance of the solar kits like bracket, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> and so on, other than the temperature, weather, and other conditions.</p> <p>The bracket for the solar panels is an important component of the solar power system. The bearing capacity of the roof structure is the main factor affecting the installation of the PV system. If it is unable to meet the specification requirement, the house must be reinforced to ensure the safety and reliability. In addition, before fixing the bracket, attention must be paid to the maintenance of the roof coating and waterproofing and other measures. At the same time, the coverings around the house, such as large trees and nearby buildings, will directly affect the effective time and power generation efficiency of the solar modules to receive solar radiation.</p> <p>The home solar power system is connected to the public power grid with two different grid-tie schemes of single phase 110V/120V/220V/230V/240V AC or three-phase 380V/400V/415V/440V/460V/480V AC. If it is connected to the single-phase power grid, the optimal <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on-grid inverters</a> are usually 1kW, 3kW, 5kW, etc. If it is access to three-phase power grid, the optimal grid-tie inverters are generally chosen above 10kW.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid-tie Inverter" width="700" height="280" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:55 https://www.inverter.com/a-typical-design-of-solar-water-pump-system A Typical Design of Solar Water Pump System <p>With the development of the solar power technology, and people's comprehensive considerations and strict requirements for water consumption, water quality, water supply system reliability and environmental protection, the solar water pumping system has increasingly become the preferred solution to the water use because of its easy installation, no labor guard, low cost and zero carbon emission and so on.</p> <p><strong>Main constitutions of solar water pump system</strong></p> <p>The solar water pump system, or PV pumping system, is mainly constituted by solar panel, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar pump inverter</a>, water pump, pipeline and water tank. In this system, the storage battery is omitted, and the water pump is directly driven, which has high reliability and reduces the investment cost.</p> <p>1. Solar cell module</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-system-applications.jpg" alt="Solar water pump system applications" />The solar cell module is a solar power generating device that directly converts solar energy into direct current electrical energy. The solar cell array is constituted by several solar panels in series-parallel connection. It absorbs the solar radiation, and transforms it into the electricity energy, so as to provide the power source for the entire water pumping system.</p> <p>According to the different requirements of the user to power and voltage, the solar cell module can be made for individual utilization, or several solar cell modules can be connected in series (to meet the voltage requirement) and parallel (to meet the current requirement), thus forming a power supply array to provide greater power.</p> <p>The generating capacity of the solar cells increases proportionally with the increase in the intensity of sunlight. It shows a slight decrease as the temperature of the surface of the component rises. As the temperature changes, the current, voltage, and power of the solar cell will also change accordingly, so the negative temperature coefficient of the voltage must be considered when designing the solar panel in series.</p> <p>2. Solar pump inverter</p> <p>The direct output of solar cell is generally 12V DC, 24V DC, 48V DC. In order to provide AC energy to the devices or appliances, it is necessary to convert the direct current energy generated by the solar power system into AC electric energy, so DC-AC <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is required. The DC-DC inverter is also needed in some cases when a load with multiple voltages is required, such as converting power from 24V DC to 5V DC (note that it is not a simple buck). The solar pump inverter play such role.</p> <p>The solar pump inverter is the most important equipment in the photovoltaic water pumping system and the soul of the system. The inverter controls and regulates the operation of the PV pumping system, converts the DC power generated by the solar cell array into AC power, drives the water pump, and adjusts the output frequency in real time according to the change of the intensity of the sunlight, realizes the maximum power point tracking, and maximizes the utilization of the solar energy.</p> <p>3. Water pump, pipeline and <span id="tran_1_5" class="highLight">reservoir</span></p> <p>The main task of water pump, pipeline and reservoir is to pump, deliver and store water.</p> <p>The water pump is driven by the three-phase AC motor, pumping water from the deep well or river and lake, injecting into the reservoir or pool, or directly accessing irrigation systems and fountain systems and so on. Pumps are mainly classified into two categories according to their working principles: centrifugal pumps and volumetric pumps. Piston pumps, gear pumps and screw pumps are all volumetric pumps. <a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">Centrifugal pumps</a> work because of the centrifugal force, and the typical structure is impeller and volute structure. The volumetric pump works because of the movement of the enclosed space. It loads liquid into the space of the entrance port and then moves from the entrance to the outlet to release liquids. Such work repeats in cycle. The volumetric pump has many structural forms, and the more common types are vane pumps, gear pumps, screw pumps, plunger pumps, and on on.</p> <p>In the photovoltaic water pumping system, the choice of pump is critical, which directly affects the economics and stability of the entire system. The most commonly used <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a> in the PV water pumping system is submersible pump, characterized by wide application range and wide speed regulation range, which can increase the daily working time and water output of the solar water pump system.</p> <p><strong>Typical design of solar water pump system</strong></p> <p>Different regions and customers have different demands, so different designs must be carried out for different demands. Therefore, the premise of the design is to give the customer the most optimized solution based on fully understanding the customer's needs, so as to meet the users’ demand needs to the greatest extent.</p> <p>1. Model selection procedure</p> <ul> <li>Confirm the head and flow of water pump<br />The head is the vertical distance from the pump water inlet to the outlet, and the flow is the daily water consumption.</li> <li>Confirm the power of the water pump<br />It depends on the head, flow and outlet diameter and so on.</li> <li>Confirm the inverter<br />The power of the inverter is 1.1-1.3 times of the water pump motor power.</li> <li>Confirm solar panel capacity<br />The power of solar panels is 1.3-1.5 times of the inverter power.</li> <li>Selection of the cable specification<br />It depends on the connection distance between the inverter and water pump</li> </ul> <p>2. Obtain user demand - Daily water demand, head and diameter of the well</p> <p>Before configuring the solar water pump system, it is required to know the customer information in detail to give an effective solution.</p> <p>For instance, the information of a customer is that we should understand before as follows:</p> <ul> <li>The well depth is about 55m, the head is about 48m, and the well diameter is about 200mm.</li> <li>Need to irrigate 5 hectare. The entire irrigation period requires about 27000 m<sup>3</sup> water and irrigates for a continuous six months.</li> <li>The local average sunshine is about 5 hours per day.</li> </ul> <p><img style="float: right;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-system.jpg" alt="solar water pump system" />About the head of water pump, the following is a bried introduction about it.</p> <p>The head refers to the height at which the pump can lift water, usually expressed in H, and the unit is m.</p> <p>Pump head = static head + horizontal delivery distance + loss head</p> <p>The static head refers to the altitude difference between the suction point of the pump and the high control point. For example, pumping water from a deep well and sending it to a high water tank, the static head refers to the altitude difference between the water suction point in the well and the water tank at the high point. As shown in the figure, the static head is H1+H3, and the horizontal delivery distance is shown in figure H2. When the head is generally calculated, the head is counted as 1m for every 10m in the horizontal direction. The loss head is usually 6% to 9% of the net head, such as water pipe elbow, waterhead and so on, which is generally 1~2 m.</p> <p>Now see the specific selection of the solar water pump system configuration</p> <p>1. Solar water pump</p> <p>According to the known head and flow, a suitable water pump can be referred in a reversed manner: for examp, 1000 m<sup>3</sup> water is pumped in 300 days, the local sunshine is 3.5 hours, and the system efficiency is 0.8.</p> <p>Head: 110m<br />Flow: 1000/(300*0.8*3.5)= 1.19 m<sup>3</sup>/h<br />Pump selection: pump motor power 1.5kW, flow 1.2m<sup>3</sup>/H, head 115m.</p> <p>2. Solar pump inverter</p> <p>Generally, it is better to select the inverter that is larger than the water pump one size in specification. The 1.5KW water pump is equipped with <a href="https://www.inverter.com/2-2kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">2.2KW solar pump inverter</a> at least.</p> <p>3. Solar panels</p> <p>Generally, the solar panel power to be chosen is 1.3-1.5 times of the water pump power. Here is 1.5*1.4=2.1KW. The working voltage of the solar pump inverter is 200V-360V. It can select the 280W solar panel, 8 pieces connected in series, a total power of 2.24kW.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-system-configuration.jpg" alt="Solar water pump system configuration" width="752" height="336" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:56 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-centrifugal-pump What is a Centrifugal Pump? <p><strong>Working principle of the centrifugal pump</strong></p> <p>The principle that a centrifugal pump can transport liquid is that a high-speed rotating impeller exerts a centrifugal force to the liquid. That's why it is called a centrifugal pump. Before start-up, it is firstly required to fill the pump casing and suction line from the funnel with liquid. When the impeller rotates rapidly, the liquid in the impeller rotates as well under the driving force of the impeller blade, so that the liquid obtains centrifugal force and moves outward from the center of the impeller along the vane flow passage. Afterwards, it is tossed out of the end of the blade, and thrown into the volute or diffusion pipe of the pumping shell(or guide wheel). When the liquid flows to the diffusion tube, the flow speed slows down because the sectional area of the liquid flow expands gradually, and a part of the kinetic energy is converted into a static energy head, the pressure is raised, and eventually pushed out of the discharge tube. At the same time, a partial vacuum is generated at the center of the impeller because the liquid is thrown away, so that the liquid in the sump is continuously sucked into the pump from the source of the suction pipe under the action of the liquid surface pressure. The impeller keeps on rotating, and the liquid is continuously sent from the suction tank to the high level tank or pressure vessel.</p> <p><strong>Types of centrifugal pump</strong></p> <p>1. Classify by the number of the working impellers</p> <p>Single-stage pump: have only one impeller on the pump spindle.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/cheap-centrifugal-pump.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump" width="420" height="310" /></p> <p>Multiple-stage pump: have two or more than two impellers on the pump spindle. Then, the total head of the pump is the sum of the heads of the n impellers.</p> <p>2. Classify according to the working pressure</p> <p>Low-voltage pump: pressure below 100m water column.</p> <p>Middle-voltage pump: pressure within 100~650 m water column.</p> <p>High-voltage pump: pressure higher than 650m water column.</p> <p>3. Classify according to the impeller's water feeding means</p> <p>One-sided water feeding pump: namely, the single suction pump, the impeller has only one water feeding inlet.<br />Two-sided water feeding pump: namely, the double suction pump, the impeller has one water feeding inlet on each side. Its flow doubles that of the single-suction pump. It can be approximately regarded that two single-suction impellers are placed back to back.</p> <p>4. Classify according to the pump shell combining means</p> <p>Horizontal middle-open pump: have the combination seam on the horizontal surface passing.<br />Vertical combination surface pump: combination surface is vertical to the axial lead.</p> <p>5. Classify according to the pump spindle position</p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-horizontal-centrifugal-pump">Horizontal centrifugal pump</a>: the pump spindle is in the horizontal position.<br /><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1hp-vertical-centrifugal-pump">Vertical centrifugal pump</a>: the pump spindle is in the vertical position.</p> <p>6. Classify according to the means of leading the water out of the impeller to the delivery chamber.</p> <p>Volute shell: the water directly goes into the pump shell with the spiral line shape after coming out of the impeller.<br />Guide vane pump: the water enters the externally set guide vane after coming out of the impeller, and then enters the next stage or flows into the outlet.</p> <p>7. Classify according to the application</p> <p>Include the sewage pump, hot water pump, anti-corrosion chemical pump, explosive oil pump and so on.</p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/centrifugal-pump-applications.jpg" alt="Centrifugal pump applications" width="682" height="615" />Centrifugal pump applications<br /></strong><a href="https://www.inverter.com/centrifugal-pump">Centrifugal pump</a> is suitable for high-rise building pressurized water supply, garden sprinkler irrigation, cooling tower water feeding, long-distance water delivery, air conditioning, refrigeration and washing, bathroom, circular pressurizing of the cold and hot water. The operation temperature is below 80 ℃.Centrifugal pump is applicable to the hot-temperature hot water pressurizing circulation of the heating, boiler and other industries. The operation temperature is below 130℃.<br />Centrifugal pump is suitable for conveying corrosive media in the process of food, pharmaceutical, wine making, chemical and other industries. The operation temperature is below 80 ℃.<br />Centrifugal pump is suitable for transporting non-corrosive liquids. It is applicable to the industrial sites with methane or underground coal mine fixed equipment I category and factory IIA and IIB grades, with the temperature groups of T1, T2,T3 and T4, or other explosive mixtures. The operation temperature is below 80℃.<br />Centrifugal pump is suitable for transporting chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, food, national defense and other industrial corrosive liquids. It is applicable to the industrial sites with methane or underground coal mine fixed equipment I category and factory IIA and IIB grades, with the temperature groups of T1, T2,T3 and T4, or other explosive mixtures. The operation temperature is below 150 ℃.<br /><strong><br /><br /><br /></strong></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:53 https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-solar-inverter-price-list Off Grid Solar Inverter Price List <p>Off-grid solar inverters can work independently after leaving the grid, which is equivalent to an independent small grid. It is also similar to a voltage source, which mainly controls its own voltage. Off grid inverter can be loaded with resistance and capacitance, inductive motor and other loads. It has quick response, anti-interference, strong adaptability and practicability features, is the preferred power supply for power failure and outdoor power supply.</p> <p>Off-grid inverters generally need batteries, because photovoltaic power generation is unstable, and the load is unstable. Batteries are needed to balance energy. When photovoltaic power generation is larger than load, excess energy charges the battery. When photovoltaic power generation is smaller than load, insufficient energy is provided by the battery. Photovoltaic <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off-grid inverters</a> are suitable for power systems, communication systems, railway systems, shipping, hospitals, shopping malls, schools, outdoors and other places. They can be recharged by supplementary electricity from the market. They can be set up as wind-photovoltaic preferred backup, or as wind-photovoltaic preferred backup.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-inverter-for-pv-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter for pv solar system" width="800" height="330" /></p> <p>Invreter.com online store provides two kinds of off grid solar inverters: Multi-function inverter/ charger with rated power 700W to 6000W and three phase pure sine wave inverter with high power 8kW to 200kW. Cheak the price list as shown below and choose the right off grid inverter to meet your PV system.</p> <p><strong>Off grid solar inverter price list</strong></p> <table border="1" width="1232" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="152" /> <col width="142" /> <col width="145" /> <col width="72" /> <col width="293" /> <col width="72" /> <col width="356" /> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" width="152" height="18"><strong>Rated Power</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;" width="142"><strong>SKU</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;" width="145"><strong>Price</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" width="365"><strong>Input Voltage</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" width="428"><strong>Output Voltage</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">700 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/700-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-700</a></td> <td class="et2" style="text-align: center;">461.54 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="2">10.5-15V/ 21-30V DC</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="8">110V/ 120V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V AC</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">1000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-1000</a></td> <td class="et3" style="text-align: center;" width="145">483.78 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">1500 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/1500-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-1500</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">538.46 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="3">21-30V/ 42-60V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">2000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/2000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-2000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;"> 676.15 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">3000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-3000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;"> 792.07 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">4000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/4000-watt-volt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-4000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1,142.88 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2">42-60V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">5000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-5000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1,459.23 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="2">42-60V/ 84-120V DC</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">6000 Watt</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-6000</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">1,520.77 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">8kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/8kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-8kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4,236.55 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2">48V/ 72V/ 96V DC (can be customized)</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="11">208V/ 220V/ 230V/ 240V/ 380V/ 400V/ 415V/ 460V/ 480V (can be customized)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">10kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/10kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-10kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">4,622.89 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="4">96V/ 108V/ 120V/ 192V DC (can be customized)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">12kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/12kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-12kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">6,160.46 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">15kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-15kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">7,545.08 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">20kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/20kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-20kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">8,570.79 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">30kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-30kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">11,486.15 USD</td> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" rowspan="6">240V/ 288V/ 300V/ 480V DC (can be customized)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">40kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/40kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-40kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">14,916.92 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">50kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-50kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;"> 18,801.54 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">80kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/80kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-80kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">31,443.08 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">100kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/100kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-100kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">34,670.79 USD</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" height="18">200kW</td> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.inverter.com/200kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">ATO-OGI-200kW</a></td> <td style="text-align: center;">58,916.92 USD</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em><strong>Note:</strong> The prices in the table are just for your reference. If you want to get the latest quotation, please <a href="https://www.inverter.com/contactus">contact us</a> now. Generally, it's cheaper than the price in the table.</em></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:44 https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter-in-solar-pump-system Application of Solar Pump Inverter in Solar Pump System <p>The basic principle of solar water pump system is to use semiconductor solar cells to convert solar energy directly into electricity, and then use various motors to drive water pumps for water lifting from deep wells, rivers, lakes and other water sources. In some small and medium power solar pump systems, brushless DC motor is often used as the driving motor, but in some larger power solar pump systems, asynchronous AC motor is also used as the driving motor. In the case of AC asynchronous motor as driving motor, solar pump inverter(solar variable frequency drive) is usually used to control.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Composition of the system<br /></strong>Solar pumping system is usually composed of solar photovoltaic array, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar pump inverter</a> and pump. Its structure diagram is shown in Figure 1.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Photovoltaic-water-pump-system-composition.jpg" alt="Solar pump system composition" width="550" height="271" /><br /><strong>Fig. 1 Photovoltaic water pump system composition</strong></p> <p>Unlike our common water pump system which uses AC as power supply, solar water pump system uses DC power output from solar panel as power supply. The output of solar photovoltaic array is a strong non-linear DC power supply, which is greatly affected by sunshine, ambient temperature and other meteorological factors. In order to realize the maximum output power potential of PV array under any sunshine, ambient temperature and other conditions, a controller which can make the power supply and load work harmoniously, efficiently and stably is needed. The solar pump inverter in Figure 1 is to achieve this function, mainly to achieve MPPT (maximum power point tracking), inverters and some protection functions. Pump is the executive mechanism of the system. The solar pump inverter drives the motor and water pump. The load system can be adjusted by adjusting the speed of the pump.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Working principle<br /></strong>Solar array is a kind of non-linear DC power supply. It is neither a constant current source nor a constant voltage source, nor can it provide any large power for load. But under the condition of certain sunshine, the photovoltaic array has a maximum output power point. If the output power of the photovoltaic array is the corresponding power value of that point, the system works in the optimal state at this time. Fig. 2 shows the I-V curves of solar PV arrays under different sunshine intensity S.Figure 2: S is sunshine intensity in W/m2. A, B, C, D and E are the maximum output power points of photovoltaic arrays under the corresponding sunshine intensity.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Schematic-diagram-of-CVT-MPPT.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of CVT MPPT" width="550" height="262" /><br /><strong>Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of CVT MPPT</strong></p> <p>In CVT MPPT, the maximum output power points (A, B, C, D, E points in Figure 2) under different sunshine intensities can be approximated as a straight line U = U* = const in engineering. That is to say, as long as the photovoltaic array keeps its output voltage at U*=const during the operation of the solar water pump system, it can ensure that the photovoltaic array has the maximum power output under the current sunshine.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Using solar variable frequency drive to drive solar water pump to realize CVT MPPT control is actually based on feedback control principle. Under different sunshine intensity, the speed of motor pump (i.e. load size) is adjusted by changing the output frequency of the solar pump inverter, so as to stabilize the output voltage of photovoltaic array. The control principle is shown in Figure 3.<br /><br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/System-control-schematic-diagram.jpg" alt="System control schematic diagram" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fig. 3 System control schematic diagram</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Fig. 3: U* is the given value of PI regulator and also the given instruction voltage of CVT. Udc is the actual output voltage of photovoltaic array and also the DC side voltage of solar pump inverter. Fset is the given value of solar pump inverter. Idc is the output current of photovoltaic array and also the DC side current of solar pump inverter.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">In Figure 3, the PI regulator outputs the frequency signal of the solar pump inverter according to the given error, thus changing the speed of the motor, that is, changing the load size of the system. The larger the Fset, the higher the motor speed and the larger the system load. Conversely, the smaller the Fset, the lower the motor speed and the smaller the system load. The system load directly affects the DC side current of the solar pump inverter , that is, the size of Idc. The larger the load, the larger the Idc, the smaller the load, the smaller the Idc. This constitutes the system regulation process described below:<br /><br />When the output voltage Udc of photovoltaic array is greater than the instruction voltage U*, the frequency of the solar pump inverter increases with the given Fset, the speed N of the pump increases, the load increases, the output current Idc of photovoltaic array increases, and the output voltage Udc of photovoltaic array decreases until it stabilizes at the working point U*. When the output voltage Udc of photovoltaic array is less than the instruction U*, the frequency of the converter given Fset decreases, the speed N of the pump decreases, the load decreases, the output current Idc of photovoltaic array decreases, and the output voltage Udc of photovoltaic array increases until it stabilizes at the working point U*.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Solar pump system is one of the most characteristic application fields in solar PV applications. Inverter.com sales DC/AC single phase solar pump inverter and three phase solar pump inverter with favorable prices, power capacity from <a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-4kw-solar-pump-inverter">1/2 hp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/0-75kw-solar-pump-inverter">1 hp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/1-5kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">2 hp</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/37kw-three-phase-solar-pump-inverter">50 hp</a>, widely used in solar water pump system. The system is simple in composition and easy to debug, and requires no special sampling unit and protection unit (They are all realized by the internal functions of the solar pump inverter), can realize full-automatic control, suitable for use in some remote and dry areas.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:54 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-main-components-of-a-solar-pv-system What are Main Components of a Solar PV System? <p>The solar PV system is constituted by the solar cell, storage battery pack, charge controller, inverter, AC power distribution cabinet, lightning protection system, combiner box, DC power distribution cabinet, environmental monitoring system, monitoring system and other devices. The following is the overview of the main components of a solar PV system.</p> <p><strong>Solar cell</strong></p> <p>With sunshine, the solar cell absorbs light energy, and the accumulation of heterocharge occurs at both ends of the solar cell, thus producing the photo voltage, which is called the photovoltaic effect. Under the action of the photovoltaic effect, the two ends of the solar cell generate an electromotive force to convert light energy into electrical energy, so the solar cell is a device for energy conversion. Solar cells are generally silicon cells, which are classified into the monocrystalline silicon cell, the polycrystalline silicon solar cell, and the non-monocrystalline silicon solar cell.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-cell-array.jpg" alt="Solar Cell Array" width="800" height="444" /></p> <p><strong>Storage battery</strong></p> <p>The function of storage battery pack is to store the electrical energy emitted by the solar array when it is illuminated and supply power to the load at any time. The basic requirement of solar cell power generation for the battery pack used are as below.</p> <ul> <li>Low self-discharge rate</li> <li>Long service life</li> <li>Strong deep discharge capability</li> <li>High charging efficiency</li> <li>Less maintenance or even no maintenance</li> <li>Wide range of working temperature</li> <li>Low price yet high quality</li> </ul> <p>At present, the batteries matched with solar power systems are mainly lead-acid batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. If it is matched with the lead-acid batteries above 200Ah, fixed-type or industrial-sealed maintenance-free lead-acid batteries are usually used. The rated voltage of each battery is 2VDC. If it is matched with the lead-acid batteries below 200Ah, small-size sealed maintenance-free lead-acid batteries are generally used. The rated voltage of each battery is 12VDC.</p> <p><strong>Solar charge controller<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Solar Charge Controller" width="400" height="260" /></strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is a kind of equipment that can automatically prevent overcharging and over discharging of the batteries. Since the times of the battery circular charging and discharging, and the depth of discharge are important factors determining the service life of the battery, the solar charge controller which can control the over charge and over discharge of the battery pack is an indispensable equipment.</p> <p><strong>Solar inverter</strong></p> <p>The inverter is used for converting DC power into AC power. Since the solar cell and the battery are DC power sources while the load usually needs AC power supply, the solar inverter is indispensable. The solar inverter can be divided into the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off-grid inverter</a> and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on-grid inverter</a> according to the operation mode. The off-grid solar inverter is used for the stand-alone solar power generation system. The grid-tie solar inverter is used in the solar power system that is connected with the power grid.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-block-diagram.jpg" alt="Inverter block diagram" width="615" height="234" /></p> <p><strong>Combiner box</strong></p> <p>In the solar PV power generation system, a combiner box is used to reduce the connection between the solar PV cell array and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>. We can connect a certain number of PV cells with the same specifications in series to form a PV string and then connect several PV strings in parallel to the lightning protection combiner box. After the junction in the combiner box, the controller, DC distribution cabinet, solar inverter and AC distribution box are used in a matched manner, to constitute the entire PV power generation system, thus realizing the connection with the mains supply.</p> <p>In order to improve the reliability and practicability of the system, the PV special DC lightning protection module, DC fuse protector and circuit breaker are arranged in the lightning protection combiner box, thus being convenient for users to grasp the working condition of solar cells in time and ensuring the solar PV power generation system to play the biggest effect.</p> <p><strong>DC distribution cabinet</strong></p> <p>The DC power distribution cabinet is mainly used in large-scale PV power plants to connect combiner boxes and PV inverters. In addition, it also provides lightning protection and overcurrent protection, monitoring the single string current, voltage and lightning arrester status of the PV array, as well as the status of the short circuit.</p> <p><strong>AC distribution cabinet</strong></p> <p>Its main function in the PV system is the switchover function to the inverter, ensuring the normal power supply of the system, and the power measurement of the circuit at the same time.</p> <p><strong>Lightning protection system</strong></p> <p>The bracket of the solar cell array adopts the metal material and occupies a rather big space, and it is usually placed on top of the building or in an open area. In case of a lightning, it is especially easily to be damaged because of the lightning. In addition, the solar panels and inverter are rather expensive. In order to avoid the economic loss caused by lightning, the effective lightning protection measures are essential. The basic schematic diagram of PV system's lightning protection is shown as below.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/schematic-diagram-of-lightning-protection-for-grid-tie-solar-power-system.jpg" alt="Schematic diagram of lightning protection for grid-tie solar power system" width="1000" height="428" /></p> <p><strong>Environment monitoring system</strong></p> <p>The environmental monitoring system is mainly constituted by a main collector, a total solar radiation collector, a wind speed and direction collector, an outdoor ambient temperature sensor (with a light shutter), a surface temperature sensor, a total radiation sensor, a wind speed sensor, a wind direction sensor, a RS485 communication, a wind pole, a wind cross arm, a sensor cross arm and other components, thus completing the monitoring of five data on environment of the solar PV system (outdoor ambient temperature, battery panel surface temperature, total solar radiation, wind speed and wind direction).</p> <p><strong>Monitoring system</strong></p> <p>The solar power station monitoring system adopts a computer control system with the PLC programmable controller and modern computer network communication technology as the core, combines the characteristics of solar power generation system, and uses the anti-electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility technologies to realize the control of solar energy system. It transmits the analog acquisition signal to the local monitoring computer after PLC program treatment to reflect various operating states of the equipment, so that we can control and discover the problems and faults of the solar power system timely.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/main-elements-of-PV-solar-system.jpg" alt="Main elements of PV solar system" width="644" height="332" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:52 https://www.inverter.com/10-reasons-for-installing-solar-water-pump-system 10 Reasons for Installing Solar Water Pump System <p>Solar water pump system can provide water for remote district lacking of electricity or places where the electricity supply is unstable. In low-power solar pump systems, DC brushless motors are often used to drive pumps in order to achieve the highest possible system efficiency. We supply <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pumps</a> driven by brushless DC motors, which come with a DC controller. AC asynchronous motors are also used to drive water pumps in solar pump systems. In this case, the solar pump inverter is usually used for control. Both the DC controller and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar pump inverter</a> can convert DC power of the solar panel into AC power to drive the water pump. Also implements control and regulation on the operation of the system to achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The solar water pump system is the most attractive water supply method in the sun-rich areas of the world, especially in remote areas where electricity are not available. Here are ten reasons why solar water pump system should be installed.<br /><br />1. Send water pump anywhere on earth and no need for external power supply<br />The solar system provides energy for DC pumps, so you can install it anywhere. <img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump.jpg" alt="solar water pump with DC controller" width="400" height="400" />Once the system is installed and ready, it can run indefinitely. It only needs some simple maintenance, such as solar panels need to be cleaned regularly for optimal energy efficiency.</p> <p>2. Renewal of solar water pump technology and materials<br />Stainless steel is used in pump housing and pump mechanism to ensure hygiene and long life. Stainless steel suspended in water for many years to resist corrosion. Stainless steel housing is also hygienic and does not pollute water sources. In addition, the pumping mechanism made of stainless steel can reduce the wear and tear caused by sand and other particles, while lifting water from deep underground.<br />Brushless DC motor is one of the most effective DC motors in the market. One of the main advantages of brushless DC motor is that it does not need to be removed from the well to replace the brush.</p> <p>3. The system is in low cost and easy to use<br />In the past, solar power systems were expensive, and technological advances made low-cost systems easy to obtain. Today, the price of solar cells and panels has been reduced, and solar cell manufacturing has developed to a very affordable level.</p> <p>4. No sustained operating costs<br />After the initial system cost, there is no continuous operating cost. Every day, when the sun shines and water is pumped out of the deep underground, high-priced electricity can be saved.</p> <p>5. Much cheaper than installing the main power supply in a remote location.<br />One of the reasons why windmills were so popular in the past is that the main force of imperceptibility was expensive both in time and money, because they do not require electricity for running. Solar water pump system can pump water without connecting the main power, and don't worry about how long the power line is submerged in the ground or how long the wind blows.</p> <p>6. Solar pump system is efficient<br />Modern solar pumps are much better than previous systems. They generate a lot of energy, require little maintenance, and can be extended for commercial <br />use. In cloudy weather, solar panels consume less energy, but they won’t stop production altogether. Even on cloudy days, solar panels generate enough <br />energy to pump water.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">7. The system is modular and can be upgraded over time.<br />The components that make up the solar pump system are very modular. They can be replaced and upgraded according to their needs. Additional solar panels <br />can be added if overcast, low light and performance requirements are increased. If more water is needed every day, batteries and additional panels can <br />be added. If more volume is needed, the pump can be replaced with a higher power model with higher flow rate.<br /><br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-pump-inverter-and-solar-water-pump-system.jpg" alt="solar pump inverter and solar water pump system" width="700" height="438" /></p> <p>8. Farmers can be benefited<br />In farms, solar water pumps maintain irrigation functions to maintain land and crop growth, and solar pumps are used to help farmers irrigate crops.</p> <p>9. Cheap maintenance<br />The most important maintenance task is to keep the solar panels and batteries clean, which allows the system to generate enough energy to run the pump. <br />Usually, cleaning involves using soapy water to remove dust, dirt and dust from the panel, usually once a year.</p> <p>10. Easy to install<br />Solar water pump systems can be installed by professionals or by professionals themselves, and the power system is native and does not need to run the <br />main power supply or extend the power supply to remote locations.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:51 https://www.inverter.com/difference-between-dc-and-ac-coupling-for-pv-system Difference between DC and AC Coupling for PV System <p>In recent years, the PV power generation technology is advancing at an extremely high speed, and the installed capacity is increasing rapidly as well. However, the PV power generation has the disadvantages of intermittent and uncontrollable. Before the treatment, the large-scale direct access to the power grid will bring great impact and affect the stable operation of the power grid. Through increasing an energy storage process, the PV power generation can be smoothly and stably put into the power grid, and large-scale access to the power grid will not affect the stability of the power grid. Moreover, with the PV+ energy storage, the system will have a wider application scope.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-system-1.jpg" alt="PV system" width="700" height="397" /></p> <p>The light storage system includes solar energy components, controllers, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>, batteries, loads and other equipment. At present, there are many technical routes, but the energy needs to be gathered on a certain point. At present, there are mainly two kinds of topological structures: DC coupling and AC coupling.</p> <p><strong>DC Coupling</strong></p> <p>As shown in the diagram below, the DC power sent by the PV component is stored in the storage battery through the controller, and the grid can also charge the battery through the bidirectional DC-AC converter. The gathering point of energy is at the DC battery end.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/dc-coupling.jpg" alt="DC coupling diagram" width="700" height="371" /></p> <p>The working principle of DC coupling: When the PV system is running, the battery is charged by the MPPT controller. When there is demand for the electrical load, the storage battery will release the power, and the current is determined by the load. The energy storage system is connected to the power grid. If the load is small and the battery is full, the PV system can supply power to the grid. When the load power is greater than the PV power, the grid and PV can simultaneously supply power to the load. Because the PV power generation and load power using are not stable, it depends on the battery to balance the system energy.</p> <p><strong>AC Coupling</strong></p> <p>As shown in the figure below, the DC power sent by the PV component is converted into AC power through the solar inverter, directly to the load or the grid. The grid can also charge the battery through the bidirectional DC-AC bidirectional converter. The gathering point of energy is at the communication end.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/ac-coupling.jpg" alt="AC coupling diagram" width="700" height="370" /></p> <p>The working principle of AC coupling: Include the PV power supply system and storage battery power supply system. The PV system is constituted by a PV array and a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid-tie inverter</a>. The battery system consists of a storage battery and a bidirectional inverter. These two systems can operate independently without interfering with each other, or they can be separated from the large power grid to form a microgrid system.</p> <p>Both DC coupling and AC coupling are mature solutions, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. According to different applications, the most appropriate solution should be selected. The following is a comparison of the two solutions.</p> <p><strong>Cost comparison</strong></p> <p>DC coupling includes controllers, bidirectional inverters and switchers. AC coupling includes grid-tie inverters, bidirectional inverters and power distribution cabinets. From the perspective of the cost, the controller is cheaper than the grid-tie inverter, and the switcher is also cheaper than the power distribution cabinet. The DC coupling scheme can also be used to control the inverter integrated machine. The equipment cost and installation cost can be saved. Therefore, the DC coupling scheme is lower than the AC coupling scheme.</p> <p><strong>Applicability comparison</strong></p> <p>The DC coupling system, controller, battery, and solar inverter are connected in serial, with tight connections, but less flexibility. The AC coupling system, grid-tie inverter, battery and bidirectional inverter are parallel, with no tight connection but better flexibility. If it is necessary to install an energy storage system in an installed PV system, it is better to use the AC coupling. As long as the battery and the bidirectional converter are installed, it does not affect the original PV system, and the design of the energy storage system is not directly related to the PV system in principle and can be determined according to the needs. If it is a newly installed off-grid system, the PV, storage battery, and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> should be designed according to the user's load power and power consumption, and it is more suitable to use the DC coupling system. However, the power of the DC coupling system is relatively low, generally less than 500 kW. The larger system is better controlled by AC coupling.</p> <p><strong>Efficiency comparison</strong></p> <p>From the perspective of the PV utilization efficiency, the two schemes have their own characteristics. If the user has more load during the day and less load at night, the AC coupling is better. The PV module directly supplies power to the load through the grid-tie inverter, and the efficiency can reach as high as 96%. If the user has less load during the day and more load at night, the PV power generated during the day time needs to be stored and reused during the day. In such condition, it is better to use DC coupling. The PV component stores electricity to the battery through the controller, and the efficiency can reach 95% or more. If it is the AC coupling, the PV must firstly be converted into AC current through the solar inverter, and then converted into DC through the bidirectional converter, and the efficiency will drop to around 90%.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:50 https://www.inverter.com/leakage-current-control-in-solar-inverter Leakage Current Control in Solar Inverter <p><strong>Why does the photovoltaic system generate leakage current?</strong></p> <p>Leakage current of the photovoltaic system, which is also known as the square matrix residual current, is essentially a kind of common mode current. The cause is that there is parasitic capacitance between the photovoltaic system and the earth. When the parasitic capacitance-photovoltaic system-grid forms a loop, the common mode voltage will produce the common mode current on the parasitic capacitance. When the photovoltaic system is equipped with a industrial frequency transformer, because of the relatively high parasitic capacitance between the transformer windings in the loop, the common mode current generated by the common mode voltage in the loop can be suppressed to a certain extent. However, in a photovoltaic system with no transformer, the loop impedance is relatively low, and the common mode voltage will form a large common mode current, ie, leakage current, on the parasitic capacitance between the photovoltaic system and the earth.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/circuit-diagram-of-leak-current-generated-by-pv-system.jpg" alt="Circuit diagram of leak current generated by pv system" width="800" height="361" /></p> <p><strong>Hazard of leakage current</strong></p> <p>If the leakage current in the photovoltaic system, including the DC part and the AC part, is connected to the grid, it can cause problems such as grid-connected current distortion and electromagnetic interference, so as to affect the operation of the equipment in the grid. In addition, leak current can also electrify the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> casing, thus threatening physical safety.</p> <p><strong>Standard and detection of leakage current</strong></p> <p>According to the 7.10.2 regulation of NB32004-2013 standard, in any case where the solar inverter is connected to the AC grid and the AC breaker is turned off, the inverter should provide leak current detection. Leak current detection should be able to detect the total (including the DC and AC parts) effective value current, continuous residual current. If the continuous residual current exceeds the following limits, the inverter should be disconnected and send a fault signal within 0.3s:</p> <ol> <li>For the inverter with a rated output less than or equal to 30KVA, 300mA.</li> <li>For the inverter with a rated output greater than 30KVA, 10mA/KVA.</li> </ol> <p>There are two characteristics of photovoltaic system leak current. First is the complex ingredient. There are both DC parts and AC parts. Secondly, the current sub-value is very low, which is in the milliamp level. And it has an extremely high precision requirement, a special current sensor is required. The photovoltaic standard stipulates that for the detection of photovoltaic leakage current, Type B, that is, a current sensor capable of measuring both AC and DC leakage currents, must be used. The current sensor is installed on the external line output interface of the inverter, so as to detect the current of the solar inverter output ground electrode.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/current-sensor.jpg" alt="Current sensor" width="547" height="300" /></p> <p><strong>Leakage current control technology</strong></p> <p>At present, leak current suppression technology has become a hot issue in the research of photovoltaic grid-connected systems. Research institutes and manufacturers are studying on it. The magnitude of leak current depends on the parasitic capacitance Cpv between photovoltaic PV and earth, as well as the change rate of the common mode voltage. The value of parasitic capacitance is related to the external environmental condition, photovoltaic cell size and structure and other factors. It usually values around 50~150nF/kW. The change rate of the common mode voltage is related to the topological structure, modulation algorithm of the solar inverter and other factors.</p> <p>As to the traditional single-phase / three-phase PV <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid-tied inverter</a> topology with no transformer, the two basic conditions for effective suppression of common mode current (leak current) are: Consistently select the inductance values of the bridge arms, synthesize the non-zero vectors into the reference vector to maintain constant common mode voltage.</p> <p>1. Entire H4 bridge topology</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/entire-H4-bridge-topology-1.jpg" alt="Entire H4 bridge topology" width="500" height="300" /></p> <p>In order to solve the problem of leakage current in a full H-bridge PV inverter, bipolar PWM modulation can be used. This kind of modulation eliminates the high frequency component of the common mode voltage to the board, so that the common mode voltage generally has only the low frequency component of the first harmonic, thereby reducing the effects of leak current.</p> <p>2. H5 topological structure</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/H5-topological-structure.jpg" alt="H5 topological structure" width="500" height="269" /></p> <p>This topological structure requires to add only one additional transistor compared to the full-bridge type. This is the reason of naming it H5. The photovoltaic cell is disconnected from the grid during current freewheeling to prevent the panel pole-to-ground voltage from fluctuating with the switching frequency, thereby keeping the common mode voltage almost constant.</p> <p>3. HERIC topology</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/HERIC-topology.jpg" alt="HERIC topology" width="494" height="244" /></p> <p>The HERIC AC bypass topology has the following working principle: During the positive half cycle, the switch S5 is always off and S6 is always on, and S1 and S4 are modulated by the switching frequency. When S1 and S4 are turned on, the constant voltage is Udc and 0 respectively, and the common mode voltage = Udc/2. When S1 and S4 are off, the current flows through the antiparallel diodes of S6 and S5, and the constant voltage is Udc/2, and the common mode voltage = Udc/2 at this moment.</p> <p>4. H6 topological structure</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/H6-topological-structure.jpg" alt="H6 topological structure" width="480" height="257" /></p> <p>H6 DC bypass topology has the following working principle: In the positive half cycle, the switches S1 and S4 are always on, and S5, S6 and S2, S3 are alternately turned on. When S5 and S6 are on, S2 and S3 are off, then the common mode voltage = Udc/2. When S2 and S3 are on, and S5 and S6 are off, there are two current freewheeling paths: (1). S1 , S3 anti-parallel diode, (2). S4, S2 anti-parallel diode. Diodes D7 and D8 clamp the voltage to Udc/2, and the common mode voltage = Udc/2 at this moment. The common mode voltage in the negative half cycle is also Udc/2, so the leak current can be effectively suppressed.</p> <p>All the topological structures above reduce the leak current by lowering the common mode voltage. Multi-level technology such as 3-level or 5-level can also be used reduce the grounding voltage of the positive and negative components, thus reducing leak current.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:49 https://www.inverter.com/the-core-component-of-power-inverter-igbt The Core Component of Power Inverter - IGBT <p>IGBT is a kind of power device, which assumes the function of power conversion and energy transmission in the power inverter. It is the heart of the inverter. At the same time, IGBT is also one of the most unreliable components in the power inverter. It is very sensitive to the temperature, voltage and current of the device. In case of even a slight stand exceeding, it becomes incompetent and cannot be repaired. IGBT damage means the inverter must be replaced or overhauled. Therefore, IGBT is the key protection object of the power inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/IGBT-fails-in-three-modes.jpg" alt="IGBT fails in three modes" width="832" height="380" /></p> <p>The above is the three modes of IGBT failure. Electrical fault is the most common, because IGBT assumes the function of current and voltage conversion, and the frequency is very high. A too high IGBT main circuit, a too high driving voltage, or a too high external spike voltage may cause overvoltage damage. In addition, overload or short circuit of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> may cause overcurrent. The second is the temperature fault. The IGBT generates a lot of heat during the operation. If the heat cannot be dissipated in time, it may be damaged by overheating. The mechanical failure is likely to be generated in the manufacturing, processing, transportation and installation processes. Such a condition is quite rare.</p> <p><strong>1. IGBT drive protection</strong><br />The IGBT itself is a current switching device. When is it turned on, when is it turned off, how long it is on or off is controlled by the CPU of the inverter. However, the DSP puts out a PWM signal, which has a fast speed but insufficient power. The main function of the driver is to amplify the PWM signal.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/IGBT-drive-protection.jpg" alt="IGBT drive protection" width="429" height="240" /></p> <p>The IGBT controls a very high high-frequency current, and it generates the electromagnetic interference signal. In addition, since the driver is close to the IGBT, the driving circuit must have an isolation function. At present, the driving isolation schemes include the optocoupler, optical fiber, pulse transformer, magnetic coupling and so on. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are as follows:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/isolated-drive-circuit-schemes-comparison.jpg" alt="Isolated drive circuit schemes comparison" width="1011" height="290" /></p> <p><strong>2. IGBT overcurrent / short circuit protection</strong><br />In designing the IGBT, the current is usually given a margin of more than 10%. However, when the power inverter is working, due to the short circuit of the component and load, the load side fault causes overcurrent, and the load side has a particularly large inductive load. When starting and stopping, there will be a high harmonic current. At this time, the inverter output current will rise sharply, causing the operating current of the IGBT to rise sharply. The IGBT short circuit is divided into two cases: The through-current occurs in the bridge arm of the converter, which is called the type-I short circuit. The short-circuit point of the converter occurs on the load side, and the equivalent short-circuit impedance is high, which is called the type-II short circuit. The type-II short circuit can generally be considered as a serious overcurrent in the inverter. When the short circuit occurs, if the relevant measures are not taken, the IGBT will quickly enter the desaturation, and the transient power consumption will exceed the limit and be damaged, because the IGBT can only sustain the overcurrent for only a few microseconds. Therefore, when a short circuit occurs, the IGBT should be turned off as soon as possible, and the turn-off speed should be gentle, so as to ensure that the rate of current change is within a certain range, thus avoiding the voltage being cut too fast, causing the voltage stress to exceed the limit and damaging the IGBT. The active clamping scheme is provided with the quick response measure, which enables the IGBT driver to operate as quickly as possible.</p> <p><strong>3. IGBT over-temperature protection</strong><br />When the ambient temperature of the power inverter is too high, or the inverter has a poor heat dissipation, continuous overheating will damage the IGBT. If the device continues to have short-circuit, the power generated by the high current will cause a temperature rise. If the chip temperature exceeds the silicon intrinsic temperature (about 250 °C), the device will lose its blocking capability, and the gate control will not be protected, resulting in IGBT failure. Two aspects are mainly considered in designing: First, strengthen and improve the heat dissipation condition of the IGBT tube, including air duct design, heat sink design and production, and strengthen refrigeration and so on; second, design overheat detection protection circuit, adopt the built-in thermistor on the IGBT module to measure the IGBT heat dissipation temperature. It is very accurate. When the temperature exceeds the set value, the IGBT will be turned off to stop working.</p> <p><strong>4. IGBT mechanical failure protection</strong><br />In order to facilitate heat dissipation, the IGBT is connected by screws and mounted on the radiator. The connection strength of this screw is very particular, which should be appropriate. If the force is too strong, it will damage the IGBT. If the force is too light, during the transportation and installation process, the vibration will cause poor contact, the thermal resistance will increase, and the device will have over-temperature damage. In installing the IGBT, a special screwdriver will be used. According to the IGBT model, the corresponding torque is used to ensure that the IGBT is firmly connected and not be damaged easily.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong><br />IGBT is the most sensitive and vulnerable device in the power inverter. At the same time, it is also the most expensive and critical component in the inverter, and many different measures should be taken to protect it.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:48 https://www.inverter.com/fire-safety-of-photovoltaic-system Fire Safety of Photovoltaic System <p>PV modules are afraid of heat, and inverters and distribution boxes are also afraid of heat as well. The inverter and the power distribution box are constituted by many electronic components inside. In working, the main components will generate heat. In the design and development process, the manufacturer will use heat sinks and fans to reduce the internal heat of the machine. If the temperature of the inverter and the distribution box is too high, the performance of the components will decrease, thus affecting the life of the inverter and the distribution box. It is very important to understand the fire safety knowledge of photovoltaic power generation systems, then how to prevent from fire disasters in the photovoltaic system?</p> <p>It is most important to ventilate and shield the sine wave inverter and distribution box. The household owner should pay attention that the distribution box and the inverter should not be stacked with debris around to affect the ventilation. If the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverter</a> and the distribution box are outdoors, it is best to install a sunshade for them.</p> <p>PV modules and inverters must be kept ventilated. Generally speaking, when the photovoltaic power station is designed, the bracket will usually be raised (except for household, industrial and commercial tile roof photovoltaic power stations), so as to ensure that there is enough space around the components, thus ensuring the circulation of air and achieving the purpose of cooling. In addition, the metal frame around the components also has a certain heat dissipation effect.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-system-fire-safety.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic system fire safety" width="750" height="499" /></p> <p>The inverter should be shaded. Most of the PV inverters on the present market are generally in the IP65 protection level, with a certain degree of wind, dust and water resistance. However, in the summer, the ambient temperature is high, and various components in the inverter are prone to high temperatures during operation, resulting in a decrease in power generation efficiency and even affecting the service life of the components. Therefore, the inverter in some photovoltaic systems is installed with a sunshade to reduce the temperature of the equipment. In addition, the installation environment of the inverter should be well shaded and ventilated to ensure the convection of the air and also increase the power generation capacity of the power station.</p> <p>For the fire risk management and control of photovoltaic power stations, prevention is more important than treatment. The standard technical management and safety management are the greatest guarantees to reduce the risk of fire accidents in power stations.</p> <p>As to the distributed photovoltaic projects, especially the color steel tile projects, it is required to regularly detect the hot spots of the components. The detection should be made in the period with low environment and high radiation photography. It is recommended to test in the spring and autumn The thermal imager has a more significant color difference display, so as to find more hot spots.</p> <p>Inspect and promptly remove the garbage generated during the construction period, especially the debris of the package and the flammable materials left by the employees, check the flammable foreign matter that is caught in the bottom of the module due to the air cyclone at the same time.</p> <p>Can not only rely on the alarm of the data platform, and regularly organize the in-depth analysis and comparison of the string current, and promptly clarify the cause of the current difference. The square connector (MC plug) fails and breaks down the roof of the color steel tile, causing building fire. If it is feasible, not only the data of the platform should be read, but also the daily data comparison analysis should be formed to further ensure the safety of the power station.</p> <p>Some distributed projects with DC combiner boxes should be conducted with the temperature measurement of the system before the high temperature season. The inspection should be made during the period when the power station operation load is high, so as to avoid the condition of finding no problem in low load but having abnormal temperature in high load.</p> <p>Lay emphasis on checking the connector (MC plug) made during the installation phase of the site, check weather there are conditions of suppressed wire, irregular connection in construction, thus increasing the relieve resistance and causing heat. If the string inverter is used, the temperature at the connector should be checked.</p> <p>In the end, it is required to establish a safety inspection system and use systematic management to reduce the probability of occurrence of photovoltaic fires.</p> <p>Although almost all distributed photovoltaic power stations would buy commercial insurance, because distributed photovoltaic power plants are generally built on the user's roof, once the user's major direct and indirect economic losses are caused, the reconstruction of the power station and the subsequent collection of electricity charges will bring great troubles to the stations, these losses are far greater than the benefits caused by the annual increase in power generation. Professional operation and maintenance management brings not only the guarantee of power generation revenue, but also the key to the reduction of security risks and the sharing of risks.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:47 https://www.inverter.com/6-factors-affecting-solar-power-system-efficiency 6 Factors Affecting Solar Power System Efficiency <p>The energy flow path of a grid-tie solar system usually contains a solar panels, a combiner box, a DC power distribution cabinet, an <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on-grid inverter</a>, an AC power distribution cabinet, and the connection cables.</p> <p>Based on the energy flow of the PV system, it is necessary to fully consider the six important factors affecting the conversion efficiency in the design of the solar power system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-solar-power-system.jpg" alt="Grid-tie solar power system" width="800" height="489" />1. Climate conditions</p> <p>The solar panel modules are exposed in the natural environment for a long time, and factors such as wind and lightning will affect the solar cell. Light, wind, temperature and so on will change the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solar panels (cells), and some factors may even damage the functions and structures of the solar panels. It is required to fully collect the meteorological and environmental monitoring data in the solar power system design process.</p> <p>2. Angle of inclination of solar panel</p> <p>The solar panels need to absorb sunlight at the best angle, so that they can really play the role of improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency. Under different seasons, geographical locations and sunshine conditions, the optimal angleof inclination of solar panel will also have great changes, so the angleof inclination of the solar panels should be actively adjusted according to changes in seasons, latitude and longitude and sunshine hours. The fixed inclination angle should be chosen as the angle of inclination based on the maximum power generation in the whole year.</p> <p>3. Cleanliness of solar panel surface</p> <p>The cleanliness of solar panel surface also affects the photoelectric power conversion. It is required to know much about the actual situation of solar panel to be polluted in the environment, determine the contamination of the solar panel surface, especially the impact of strong wind, strong convection and sandstorm weather on the surface of solar panel, and then determine the cleaning frequency of the solar panels according to the local labor cost.</p> <p>4. Solar panel spacing design (Shading)</p> <p>Once the solar panel is sheltered, it will affect the power generation capacity of the solar system. Therefore, when designing the solar panel array spacing, it is necessary to consider the shading of the building to the solar panels and the self-shading between solar panels.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panel.jpg" alt="Solar panel" width="800" height="534" />5. MPPT tracking accuracy</p> <p>As the sunshine and temperature change, the output voltage of the solar panels changes accordingly, and the output power of the PV array will change as well. The goal of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the solar inverter is to enable the PV array to achieve maximum power output in case of any sunlight and temperature change, so the accuracy of the MPPT greatly affects the system efficiency. Now, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is also widely used to track the maximum power point of solar power generation in real time. Our MPPT solar charge controllers including 20 Amp to 60 Amp have high charging efficiency over 98.5% and tracking accuracy over 99.73%.</p> <p>6. Power loss of each part</p> <p>The power loss of the RV system in energy conversion and transmission process includes:</p> <ul> <li>Solar panel matching loss<br /> These losses are caused by the series connection of solar panels in different light conditions.</li> <li>Loss of deviating from the maximum power point<br />The power loss is caused by temperature influence, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) accuracy and so on.</li> <li>DC line loss<br />According to the relevant standards, the cable loss needs to be controlled within a certain range.</li> <li>Conversion loss of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a><br />Different operation power points affect efficiency in the DC/AC conversion process.</li> <li>Loss of AC grid connection<br />The transmission efficiency from the inverter output to the high voltage grid is mainly considered to the transformer efficiency.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:46 https://www.inverter.com/where-does-a-solar-pv-inverter-be-installed Where Does a Solar PV Inverter be Installed? <p><strong>Install on the PV rack</strong><br />The installation scheme of common ground distributed projects is to install near a string of components at the closest. It adopts the fixed-rack installation or hoop-type installation to directly fix the equipment on the stand column. If this kind of scheme is used, it is required to pay attention to the strength of the rack and column, as well as the height of the solar PV inverter over ground, avoiding being submerged in stormy days because of being placed at a too low height.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-inverter-is-installed-on-the-pv-rack.jpg" alt="Solar pv inverter is installed on the pv rack" width="800" height="460" /></p> <p><strong>Install on the roof</strong><br />This type of installation is mainly used in large-scale industrial and commercial plants. Since the roof is empty and there is no roof, and the PV inverter has nowhere to be suspended, considering the reduction of cable cost, the self-made mounting racks are usually required to suspend PV. In designing the self-made mounting racks, it is required to take into account the load-bearing and fixed form of the inverter and the typhoon resistance in coastal areas.</p> <p>As we all know, for every 10 ℃ increase in ambient temperature, the life of the electronic device will be shortened for 50%. For this type of installation, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> will be exposed to the sun for a long time, and the internal temperature of the inverter will increase greatly, which will seriously affect the life of the key components of the inverter. The inverter will be derated in operation in order to protect the inner components. When the temperature is too high, it will cause the temperature failure of the solar inverter. It is recommended to add sunshades to the PV inverter to avoid sun exposure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-inverter-is-installed-on-the-roof.jpg" alt="Solar pv inverter is installed on the roof" width="800" height="460" /></p> <p>If the solar PV inverter is installed vertically on a flat roof, shadows will be generated, so it is required to try to install the components outside the shadow of the solar inverter during installation to avoid shadowing the components.</p> <p><strong>Install on the wall</strong><br />The common roof power station of the household distributed project adopts such an installation means. The solar PV inverter should be installed on the south wall as much as possible. The panel of the PV inverter should face the north to avoid sun basking. The detailed installation requirements are as follows:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-inverter-is-installed-on-the-wall.jpg" alt="Solar pv inverter is installed on the wall" width="800" height="460" /></p> <ol> <li>The installation of the machine should be away from the ground with an appropriate height, for the convenience of observing and reading the LED display.</li> <li>When installing outdoors, the PV inverter should be equipped with rain-proof sunscreen, avoiding direct sunlight and rain. Measures should be taken to avoid exposing the inverter directly to the sun or other heat sources.</li> <li>Leave enough space for the solar inverter installation and moving. A minimum of 50 cm of space is required around the inverter with upward and downward wind ventilation. The solar inverter that has wind ventilation from the left and right has the air entering from the side, and a distance of more than 100cm should be maintained on both sides.</li> <li>There must be sufficient load-bearing capacity, the load-bearing capacity is more than 1.5 times the weight of the inverter.</li> <li>The cooling air duct of the PV inverter is the downward air inlet and upward air outlet. The inverter should be installed vertically. It is strictly prohibited to install horizontally or upside down.</li> <li>The PV inverter must be placed in a space with air circulation. The inverter is divided into forced air cooling and natural heat dissipation. The inverter itself is a heat source, and all the heat should be emitted in time. It can not be placed in a closed space, otherwise the temperature will keep on rising.</li> </ol> <p>The above is the common installation site of solar PV inverter and its precautions. I hope to help you have a better understanding on the PV inverter. The PV inverter is a relatively sophisticated instrument, so it is suggested to be installed by professionals. Please do not install on your own.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:60 https://www.inverter.com/5-factors-affect-pv-module-and-inverter-capacity-ratio 5 Factors Affect PV Module and Inverter Capacity Ratio <p>The PV module capacity and solar inverter capacity ratio are commonly referred to as capacity ratio. Reasonable capacity ratio design needs to be considered comprehensively in the light of the specific project. The main influencing factors include irradiance, system loss, inverter efficiency, inverter life, inverter voltage range, assembly installation angle and so on. Because the inverter accounts for only about 5% of the system cost, the number or power of the inverter is reduced by the overmatching of the components in the distributed photovoltaic power station system, and the investment income is very small, which also bring other problems, the specific analysis is as follows.</p> <p><strong>Different irradiance in the different regions</strong></p> <p>According to the standard of wind energy and solar energy evaluation center of National Meteorological Administration, the solar energy resources in China are divided into four categories, and the irradiance of different regions is quite different. Even the annual radiation levels vary greatly from place to place in the same resource area. For example, the total annual radiation of the Gaer Tibet and Golmud, Qinghai, the resource area of Class I, Gaer is 7998 MJ/m<sup>2</sup>, which is 17% higher than Golmud's 6815 MJ/m<sup>2</sup>. It means that under the same system configuration, that is, the same capacity ratio, the power generation in the Gaer region is 17% higher than that in Golmud. In order to achieve the same power generation, it can be achieved by changing the ratio of capacity to distribution.</p> <p><strong>System loss</strong></p> <p>There is a loss in every link of energy from solar radiation to photovoltaic modules, through DC cables, confluence boxes, DC distribution to solar inverters in photovoltaic system. As shown in the figure, the DC side loss is usually about 7-11%, the inverter loss is about 1-2%, and the total loss is about 8-13%. (the system loss mentioned here does not include the transformer and line loss behind the inverter).</p> <p>That is to say, under the condition that the module capacity is equal to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> capacity, due to the objective existence of various losses, the actual maximum output capacity of the inverter is only about 90% of the rated capacity of the inverter, even when the light is the best, the inverter does not work at full load.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-system-loss-diagram.jpg" alt="PV system loss diagram" width="900" height="307" /></p> <p><strong>Solar inverter efficiency</strong></p> <p>The efficiency of the solar inverter is not constant, there are power switching device losses and magnetic losses. The efficiency is relatively low at low power. When the power is 40% to 60%, the efficiency is the highest, and when the efficiency is more than 60%, the efficiency decreases gradually. Therefore, the total power of photovoltaic power should be controlled between 40% and 60% of inverter power to obtain the best efficiency.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-inverter-efficiency.jpg" alt="PV inverter efficiency" width="614" height="382" /></p> <p><strong>Solar inverter life</strong></p> <p>Photovoltaic solar inverter is an electronic product, its reliability is closely related to the operating temperature of the inverter, of which, the temperature of components, such as capacitance, fan and relay can be increased by 10℃, and the failure rate can be increased by more than 50%. and the operating temperature is related to power. According to statistics, the long-term working power of the inverter is 80-100%, which is about 20% lower than that of the power of 40-60%, and the life of the inverter is about 20% lower than the inverter.</p> <p><strong>Optimal operating voltage range of Inverter</strong></p> <p>The working voltage is about the rated working voltage of the solar inverter, and the efficiency is the highest. The single-phase 220V inverter and the inverter input rated voltage are 360V, the three-phase 380V inverter and the inverter input rated voltage re 650V. Such as <a href="https://www.inverter.com/3000-watt-off-grid-solar-inverter">3000 watt solar inverter</a>, equipped with 260W module, 30.5V operating voltage, equipped with 12*366V operating voltages, the total power is 3.12kW is the best. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">30kW solar inverter</a> is equipped with 260W module, connected with 126modules, 21 strands each, the voltage is 640.5V, and the total power is 32.76kW.</p> <p>According to all kinds of factors, the power of the system is between 40 and 60% of the rated power of the solar inverter, the efficiency is the highest and the life is the longest. In order to optimize the performance of the inverter, the components and inverter have different proportions depending on the lighting conditions.</p> <ol> <li>The average sunshine time is more than five hours in Class I light area, the power generation time is calculated at 10 hours per day, and the recommended components and solar inverter are configured as 1:1 with an average power of about 50%.</li> <li>The average sunshine time is more than five hours in Class II light area, the power generation time is calculated at 9 hours per day, and the recommended components and inverter are configured as 1.1:1, (4*1.1)/9, with an average power of about 49%.</li> <li>The average sunshine time is more than five hours in Class IIII light area, the power generation time is calculated at 3.5 hours per day, and the recommended components and inverter are configured as 1.2:1, (3.5*1.2)/8.5, with an average power of about 49.4%.</li> <li>The power generation time is calculated at 8 hours a day in Class IIII light area where the average sunshine time is less than 3 hours, and the recommended components and inverter are configured as 1.3:1, (3*1.3)/8, with an average power of about 48.75%.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:45 https://www.inverter.com/what-size-of-an-inverter-do-i-need-for-my-rv What Size of an Inverter Do I Need for my RV? <p>Some RV owner may ask: “Is an inverter necessary for the RV or how to choose the right one."</p> <p>Some reply: "No, it is OK to use small power appliance in the RV."</p> <p>But, a senior RV owner also say: "The RV will have the same comfort as home. A delicious meal is very necessary. I used a 12V car rice cooker before, and it works really slowly, and the cigarette lighter is relatively hot. I feel very upset about it. Now I buy a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a>. When necessary, I can stop and connect the inverter to the car battery directly and use it at idle speed. Thus, I can buy a small electric pressure cooker and prepare the dishes in ten to twenty minutes. In addition, I can use a 120Ah lithium battery, which has the sufficient power to cook rice for 6-7 times. The portable gas stove can be used to prepare some simple dishes, and I will have the feeling of staying at home at any time.”</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/RV.jpg" alt="RV" width="980" height="518" /></p> <p>Some say that the inverter is not necessary, while some others say that it is required. Why is there such a difference? As a matter of fact, it depends on our electricity demand. The 12V battery of the RV can only enable electrical appliances with low power to work normally, such as 12V refrigerator and LED light, ventilation fan or small TV. If you want to use a high-powered electric appliance such as a rice cooker, a microwave oven, an electric kettle, or an induction cooker, you need a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>.</p> <p>The inverter is to convert the 12V DC power of the RV to 110V or 220V AC power, which provides stable AC power for all the electric appliances in the RV. Most of the power inverters are 1000W, 2000W, 3000W, so what size of an inverter is suitable for the RV?</p> <p>It depends on the actual load power of the RV. As to the high-power electrical appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators, the starting current is equivalent to 3-9 times of the normal working current, and then it is required to select an inverter with higher power. Taking 3000W as an example, if the sum of the rated powers of the loads to be used in the RV at the same time is no more than 2800W, the 3000W can guarantee stable current. It should also be noted that in order to prolong the service life of the inverter, do not operate it at full load for a long time, and do not use the inverter in a condition exceeding 80% of the rated power.</p> <p>What problems should I pay attention to when using the inverter in the RV?</p> <p>First of all, the output voltage of the inverter is 110V or 220V AC, and the RV has a small space and is moving status, so measures should be taken to prevent electric shock.</p> <p>Secondly, the operating environment temperature requirement of the inverter is not higher than 40℃, and the power should be cut off when it is not working.</p> <p>Thirdly, please ensure that the working environment of the inverter is ventilated and dry, and do not place anything around the inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-for-RV.jpg" alt="Power inverter for RV" width="700" height="442" /></p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:40 https://www.inverter.com/solar-grid-tie-inverter-protection-function-introduction Solar Grid Tie Inverter Protection Function Introduction <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid tie inverter" width="700" height="280" /></p> <p><strong>1. Input overvoltage protection: </strong>When the DC-side input voltage is higher than the maximum allowable DC array access voltage of the grid tie inverter, the inverter is not allowed to start or stop within 0.1s (in operation) and a warning signal is released at the same time. After the DC-side voltage is restored to the allowable working range of the inverter, the inverter should be started and operated normally.</p> <p><strong>2. Input reversed connection protection: </strong>When the positive input terminal and negative input terminal of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> are connected in a reversed manner, the inverter should be able to automatically protect. When the polarities are correctly connected, the equipment should be able to work normally.</p> <p><strong>3. Input overcurrent protection: </strong>After the PV modules are connected in series and in parallel, each string is connected to the DC-side of the PV solar inverter. After the MPPT interference, when the input current is higher than the allowable DC maximum input current set by the inverter, the inverter (in operation) stops MPPT interference and sends a warning signal. After the DC-side current returns to the operating range allowed by the solar inverter, the inverter should be able to start and operate normally.</p> <p><strong>4. Output overcurrent protection: </strong>Overcurrent protection should be set on the AC output side of the grid-tied inverter. When a short circuit is detected on the grid side, the grid-tied inverter should stop supplying power to the grid within 0.1 s and send a warning signal. After eliminating the fault, the grid-tied inverter should work normally.</p> <p><strong>5. Output short-circuit protection: </strong>In case of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> output short circuit, they must be short-circuit protective measures. The short-circuit protection action time of the inverter should not exceed 0.5s. After the short-circuit fault is removed, the equipment should work normally.</p> <p><strong>6. AC / DC surge protection: </strong>The solar on grid inverter should have lightning-prevention protection function, and the technical index of the lightning protection device should ensure to absorb the expected impact energy.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-pv-system.jpg" alt="Solar pv system" width="700" height="300" /></p> <p><strong>7. Anti-islanding protection: </strong>The grid-tied inverter should have reliable and complete anti-islanding protection function. The grid-connected inverter usually has the passive or active detection methods. Passive island protection: Detect the magnitude, frequency and phase of the grid voltage in a real-time manner. When the grid is out of power, it will generate a hopping signal on the amplitude, frequency and phase parameters of the grid voltage, and the hopping signal will be detected to judge if the grid is out of power or not. Active island protection: generate small interference signals through the timing of the inverter to observe whether the power grid is affected or not as the judgment basis, such as pulse current injection method, output power change detection method, active frequency offset method and sliding frequency offset method and so on. When the grid has power, the interference has no effect on the frequency of the grid voltage. When the grid is out of power, the interference will cause a large change in the grid voltage frequency, thereby judging whether the grid is out of power or not.</p> <p><strong>8. Output overvoltage / undervoltage, overfrequency / underfrequency protection: </strong>On the AC output side of the grid-tied inverter, the grid-tied inverter should be able to accurately determine the overvoltage / undervoltage, overfrequency / underfrequency and other abnormal conditions of the power supply grid (wiring). The grid-tied inverter should protect according to the required time. Warning signal should be issued when cutting off. When the grid voltage and frequency return to the allowable voltage and frequency range, the inverter should be able to start normally.</p> <p><strong>9. Inner short-circuit protection: </strong>When a short circuit occurs inside the grid-tied inverter, the protection of electronic circuits and fuses in the inverter should be fast and reliable.</p> <p><strong>10. Over-temperature protection: </strong>The grid-tied inverter should have over-temperature protection functions, such as too high inner ambient temperature alarm (such as the too high temperature in the case caused by fire), too high temperature of the key components in the machine (such as IGBT, Mosfet and so on).</p> <p><strong>11. Automatic recovery of the grid-connected protection: </strong>After the grid-tied inverter stops supplying power to the grid because of the fault of the grid, the grid-tie inverter should be able to automatically send power to the grid 5 min after the grid voltage and frequency return to the normal range for 20s. In power supplying, the output power should increase slowly, but not impact the grid.</p> <p><strong>12. Insulation resistance monitoring: </strong>The on grid inverter has the complete insulation resistance monitoring function. When the electrical part of the equipment is grounded, the insulation monitoring system should be able to immediately monitor the fault status of the inverter, stop and alarm. The inverter calculates PV+ and PV– grounding resistance by detecting PV+ and PV- grounding voltage. If the resistance of any side is lower than the threshold, the inverter will stop working and the alarm will display "low insulation resistance of PV".</p> <p><strong>13. Leak current monitoring and protection: </strong>The solar grid tie inverter has the perfect leak current monitoring function. In the operation process of the inverter, it monitors the leak current in real time. When the residual current monitored exceeds the following limits, the inverter should be disconnected from the network within 0.3s, and a fault signal shall be sent out: As to the inverters with rated output less than or equal to 30KVA: 300mA; as to the inverters with rated output greater than 30KVA: 10mA/KVA.</p> <p><strong>14. Zero (low) voltage traversal function: </strong>Zero (low) voltage traversal function: When the power system has an accident or interference, causing the voltage drop of the voltage at the grid connection point of the photovoltaic power station, within a certain voltage drop range and time interval, the photovoltaic power station can ensure continuous operation without grid disconnection. This function is achieved by the inverter. The cause of the voltage sag is that when a short circuit fault occurs in a branch of the power system, the current increases sharply. At this time, the protection device in the fault branch acts to isolate the fault point, so the voltage recovers. From fault generation to detection and then to disconnection, it takes a while, which will cause the voltage of each branch to suddenly drop, forming a short-term voltage drop. At this time, if the solar power station is cut off immediately, the stability of the power grid will be affected, and even other fault-free branches will be disconnected as well, thus causing a large-scale power grid blackout. At this time, the PV solar inverter is required to support for a period of time (within 1s) until the grid voltage recovers. The zero (low) voltage traversal function is suitable for large-scale ground power stations. The grid voltage level is above 10KV, and solar power is all connected to the Internet and is not directly supplied to the load. However, in distributed photovoltaic power stations, the zero (low) voltage traversal function is not required.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:39 https://www.inverter.com/how-solar-power-works-in-monitoring-system How Solar Power Works in Monitoring System? <p>In outdoor electric projects, there are usually difficulties of power acquisition or high powering construction cost. Adopting the solar power supply is a common solution, which is widely used in outdoor wireless network coverage and outdoor wireless monitoring.</p> <p>The working principle of the solar energy system is to convert the solar light energy into electricity. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>, as a central control device, storages the electrical energy converted by the solar cell into the battery pack on one hand, and manages the battery pack to supply power to the equipment on the other hand. If the load requires the AC power, the DC power needs to be inverted into AC power through the inverter. According to the power demand of the equipment, different voltages such as 12V/24V/36V/48/220V can be put out to meet the power supply requirements of various devices. The solar energy system has reliable and stable operation, thus being able to meet various harsh working environments in the outside area.</p> <p><strong>Constitution of the solar power system</strong></p> <p>The solar energy system is constituted by solar panel, solar charge controller, battery (group), and inverter.</p> <ul> <li>Solar panel: convert light energy into electricity.</li> <li>Storage battery: store electrical energy and discharge when needed.</li> <li>Charge controller: control the charging and discharging of the PV panels and batteries, the core control part of the PV power system.</li> <li><a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverter</a>: convert DC power (storage battery) into AC power.</li> </ul> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-power-in-monitoring-system.jpg" alt="Solar Power in Monitoring System" width="650" height="369" /><strong>Choosing the appropriate solar power system</strong></p> <p>As to the solar power supply, people will usually care about this problem: what capacity of batteries should we use if we want to guarantee that it can also supply power for 2 days when there is no sunlight? If the battery specification is 100AH, how long can the monitoring camera be working if it is powered by the battery? The selections for the battery and solar panel specifications are described below.</p> <p>The three most important specifications related to power supply time of solar system are:</p> <ul> <li>Power of solar panel: the ability of power generation. The greater the power of the solar panel, the greater the amount of solar panel, the stronger the power generation capacity, and the battery can be filled in a shorter time.</li> <li>Capacity of the storage battery: the ability to store electrical energy and how much power is stored.</li> <li>Power consumption of the equipment: the sum power of the loads. The larger the load power, the greater the power consumption per unit time.</li> </ul> <p>The capacity of the storage battery determines the maximum power supply time of the load. However, whether the storage battery can have the maximum power depends on the power generation capacity of the solar panel. The power of the solar panel needs to be calculated according to the battery capacity, load power, and annual average daily sunshine time of the local area.</p> <p>Power supply time = capacity of the storage battery * voltage * discharge coefficient * conversion efficiency / (load power)<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-monitoring-system.jpg" alt="Solar Monitoring System" width="400" height="400" /></p> <p>For instance:</p> <p>The battery capacity is 100AH, and the total power of the outdoor wireless bridge and camera is about 20W, then the longest power supply time is about: <br />100AH * 12V * 0.8 (discharge coefficient) * 0.9 (conversion efficiency)/ 20W = 43 hours.</p> <p>The total power of the outdoor wireless bridge and camera is about 20W. <br />If it is required to ensure a power supply of 48 hours, the battery capacity is 48H * 20W / (12V*0.8*0.9) = 111AH.<br />Thus, two groups of 12V 60AH batteries can be used.</p> <p><strong>Tips for the solar energy system installation</strong></p> <p>The power supply effect of solar system is closely related to the engineering construction. The following two points must be attached with attention:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>The placement angle of the solar panel: it is recommended to have a horizontal inclination of 40° to 45° in the south direction, and it is required to avoid possible obstacles or obstructions.</li> <li>The position of the battery well or the battery direct burying should be well selected to avoid the low-lying position, and the waterproof, drained and ventilated measures should be taken.</li> </ol> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:28 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-a-solar-micro-inverter What is a Solar Micro Inverter? <p><strong>Appearance background of the solar micro inverter</strong></p> <p>On the current market, the central inverter is the most widely-used in the photovoltaic system. By definition, the central inverter is to connect the solar photovoltaic cells in series to reach a high voltage DC, and then convert it into the AC. However, the partial shadows, different inclination angles, orientations, stains, different degrees of aging, slight cracks and different temperatures of different photoelectric panels in the photovoltaic power station can easily cause system mismatch and drop of the output efficiency. Finally, the integrated output power will also be dramatically reduced. This has been a tricky issue facing the central inverter.</p> <p>In response to this problem, the new framework, such as the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro-inverter</a> or micro-converter, has been emerging in recent years. Every solar cell module is equipped with the micro-inversion power source. Through optimization of different modules' output power, the integrated output power is maximized. Even if some battery panels are affected by shadows and dust, the inversion power source optimizer can still track the best partial maximum power point (MPP), which can retrieve more than 57% of the power generation capacity lost. At the same time, the power source optimizer converts the input voltage/ current into a different output voltage/current to maximally improve the energy transmission in the system.</p> <p><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar micro inverter/ Grid tie inverter" width="577" height="409" /></p> <p><strong>Definition of the solar micro inverter</strong></p> <p>The micro-inverter technology directly combines the inverter with a single photovoltaic module to equip every photovoltaic module with an inverter module which is capable of DC-AC conversion and the MPP tracking. The inverter module can directly convert the power generated by the photovoltaic module into the AC for the AC load use or transmit it to the grid.</p> <p>When there is one cell panel cannot work smoothly, then only this cell panel will be affected. Other photovoltaic panels will still work under the optimal status to ensure a higher overall efficiency of the system and also a higher power generation capacity. In practical applications, when the combined inverter is in fault, cell panels of several kilowatts cannot be given into full play, while the influence caused by the fault of the micro-inverter is slight.</p> <p><strong>Advantages of a solar micro inverter</strong></p> <ol> <li>Try to improve the power generation capacity of every inversion power source module, trace the maximum power and track the MPP of every module to improve the power generation capacity of the photovoltaic system by 25%.</li> <li>Adjust the voltage and current of every row of photoelectric panels until a full balance is achieved to avoid system mismatch.</li> <li>Besides, every module is equipped with the monitoring function to lower the system maintenance cost and increase the operation stability and reliability.</li> <li>Flexible configurations: The home users can install photovoltaic cells of different sizes according to their budget.</li> <li>There is no high voltage, which is safer, easier to install, and convenient and cheaper to maintain. Meanwhile, users can DIY the solar power generation system with less reliance on the installation service providers.</li> <li>The cost of the micro-inverter is similar to or even lower than that of the central inverter.</li> </ol> <p>Buy a cheap price <a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter">300 watt</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/600-watt-solar-micro-inverter">600 watt</a>...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/1400-watt-solar-micro-inverter">1400 watt</a> solar micro inverter on inverter.com.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:38 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-maintain-photovoltaic-inverter-in-winter How to Maintain Photovoltaic Inverter in Winter? <p>As the weather turns colder, what we should firstly consider is not the problem of power generation, but the maintenance of photovoltaic equipment. As winter comes nearer, we must firstly take the following points into account:</p> <p>PV array, please inspect and fasten the coupling bot and conduct wire, test the output, and adjust the inclined angle.</p> <p>Tracker, lubricate the bearing, inspect the bolt and shock absorption.</p> <p>Standby fuel system, confirm the wire connection, and inspect the equipment to be in good condition, can be used at any time.</p> <p>Charging controller, check the voltage setting of the rectifier and check the voltmeter to have normal indication. If the battery temperature is below 55°F (about 12.778°C), charging to a higher voltage (at least 14.8 volts for a 12 volt system) should be allowed. If your charge controller has the temperature compensation function, it will automatically adjust. If there is an external temperature sensor, please make sure that it has been attached to the battery. If there is no automatic adjustment function, it is required to manually increase the voltage and adjust back in the spring (adjust to 14.3 volts). If the charge controller is not adjustable, try to keep the battery in a warmer environment.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/photovoltaic-inverter-power-station.jpg" alt="Photovoltaic inverter power station" width="780" height="423" /></p> <p>Battery (lead acid), check the voltage of each battery, eliminate the disabled and determine if a balanced charge is required. Please conduct balanced charge maintenance if needed (usually 8 hours of moderate overcharge after the battery is fully charged). Wash the liquid or dust on the battery (neutralize the acidic precipitate with dry soda powder). Clean or replace corroded terminals, apply paraffinum liquidum to the terminals to prevent further corrosion. Check the battery fluid and add distilled or deionized water if necessary. Check ventilation (whether there are insects or the like in the air duct). Note: Check the wire size, connection, fusesand other safety measures. Ground lightning protection: install or check the grounding post or ground wire.</p> <p>Load or electric appliance, check invisible loads or inefficient applications. For example, a wall-mounted transformer and a TV with remote control consume power whenever the power is turned on. Check whether your electric heater is automatically tempered, which makes the inverter work 24 hours a day. Check the blackened incandescent lamp and consider replacing it with a halogen or fluorescent lamp. Replace the black fluorescent tube. Clean the dust on the light and its mounting bracket.</p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">Solar inverter</a>, check regulator, installation setting and wiring. Note: The charging voltage of the inverter with charging function should be set to 14.5 (29) volts. Please refer to the instruction manual.</p> <p>The battery temperature lead-acid battery loses 25% at 30 °F. When being fully changed, it freezes at 20 °F, which will cause damage. Overheating in summer can also affect its life. Therefore, the battery should be avoided being used in an extreme outdoor temperature environment.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:41 https://www.inverter.com/solar-photovoltaic-system-in-wastewater-treatment Solar Photovoltaic System in Wastewater Treatment <p>As one of the multiple development and utilization approaches of solar energy, solar photovoltaic power generation has the characteristics of pollution-free, renewable, flexible and storable and so on. The photovoltaic power generation system has been put into practical use in the fields of road lighting and residential construction. The water treatment industry is also suitable for the application of the photovoltaic power generation system because of its unique industry characteristics. The solar photovoltaic system is composed of a solar battery pack, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>, and a battery.</p> <p>The application of the photovoltaic power generation system has the following advantages in the wastewater treatment industry:</p> <p><strong>No sheltering of tall buildings around</strong></p> <p>Most of the water treatment plants are located in areas with relatively concentrated industrial enterprises and remote positions. The surrounding buildings are mostly low-rise buildings such as industrial plants, and there is less shielding for the photovoltaic power generation system in water treatment plants. At the same time, since the construction condition of the water treatment plant itself, the structure and the building unit itself are low in height and sparse in layout, and are not easy to cause occlusion, thus having better illumination conditions.</p> <p><strong>Rather big installable roof area</strong></p> <p>Due to the need of the technological procedure, most water treatment plants have rather big architectures, such as biological reaction tanks, secondary sedimentation tanks, blower rooms and so on, which usually have large installation spaces for photovoltaic systems above. In addition, the photovoltaic power generation system of the water treatment plant mostly belongs to the roof-type distributed photovoltaic system, thus involving no newly increased land, changing no land application, affecting no cultural relic protection requirement, increasing no building area and changing no building structure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-inverter-system-in-water-treatment.jpg" alt="pv system in water treatment." width="754" height="606" /></p> <p><strong>Improve the technological treatment effect</strong></p> <p>The reasonable layout and design of the photovoltaic power generation system of the water treatment plant can reduce the evaporation amount of the pool water, increase the water treatment capacity, reduce the impact of sewage evaporation on the environment. At the same time, it can still reduce the wind speed above the pool, improve the local small environment, increase the temperature of the pool water, enhance the growth activity of the microorganisms, improve the sewage treatment effect, and finally achieve the purpose of improving the water treatment capacity and the comprehensive economic benefits of the project.</p> <p><strong>High and stable power generation of the water treatment plant</strong></p> <p>The loads of water treatment plant include high-power loads such as blowers and submersible pumps, as well as low-power loads such as gates, grilles, and submersible flowers, which usually have higher computational powers. Moreover, due to the relatively balanced water volume, the operation of each technological equipment is relatively stable, and the load characteristics are stable, thus being convenient for the design of the solar photovoltaic power generation system.</p> <p>Since the water treatment plant has great power consumption and small changes, the reasonable design of the photovoltaic system can fully utilize the photovoltaic power, avoid power waste of the solar inverter, and reduce the light rejection rate.</p> <p><strong>Good financing conditions</strong></p> <p>Water treatment plants usually have long operating cycles, guaranteed operations, stable benefits, high self-sufficiency ratio, and high return on investment, thus avoiding the problem of financing difficulties.</p> <p><strong>Low maintenance cost</strong></p> <p>After the establishment of the solar photovoltaic system, its operating costs, in addition to equipment damage caused by force majeure, are mainly the cleaning water expense and other maintenance costs. The cleanliness of the effluent or recycled water of the sewage treatment plant can meet the cleaning needs of the PV modules. At the same time, the water source after cleaning can be directly collected into the sewage treatment process, thus saving water and reducing maintenance costs.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:36 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-design-an-off-grid-solar-power-system How to Design an Off Grid Solar Power System? <p>Nowadays, there are still a large number of people living in impoverished or remote areas, which are far away from power plants and public power grids. Due to shortage of power or even without power, they cannot enjoy the information and convenience brought by modern civilization. The off-grid solar power system is an independent self-sufficient renewable energy power supply system, which can resolve their basic power use demands.</p> <p>A typical off-grid solar PV system is made up of six parts, including solar panels, the holder, solar charge controller, off-grid inverter, batteries, and distribution box. The solar cells are connected to the solar charge controller, it produces the energy to first satisfy user’s daily use, and then the superfluous power is stored in the batteries for use at night and during overcast and rainy days. When the power in the batteries is used up, a majority of inverters can support the input of mains supply (or the diesel generator) as the supplementary energy source for the load.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/typical-off-grid-solar-power-system-block-diagram.jpg" alt="Typical off-grid solar power system block diagram" width="637" height="219" /></p> <p>The off-grid solar power system design is different from the grid-tie solar power system. The former needs to take into considerations many factors including the load, daily electricity quantity and local climate conditions and so on, to choose different design plans according to clients’ practical demands. Therefore, the off-grid solar photovoltaic system is comparatively complex.</p> <p><strong>Get to know how much power of your load</strong></p> <p>In order to ensure reliability of the off-grid PV system, a thorough survey of customer demands for the electricity is very necessary. That is, you should figure out how much power you need, including the power ratings of all the appliances or devices, running time and the daily electricity consumption (i.e. How many kilowatt-hours is it in total). After that, the design of the off-grid solar power system are mainly based on these data, including the solar inverter selection, solar panel capacity calculation, and batteries capacity calculation.</p> <p><strong>Solar inverter selection<br /></strong></p> <p>The power rating of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> to be selected should not be smaller than the total power of the loads. However, considering the lifespan and follow-up capacity expansion of the inverter, certain margin of safety should be left for the inverter power, which is generally 1.2 to 1.5 folds as much as that of the load power.</p> <p>Besides, if the load includes the sensitive appliances, such as the refrigerator, air-conditioner, water pump, and smoke exhaust ventilator with electric motor (the startup power of the electric motor is 3 to 5 folds of its rated power), then the startup power of these load should also be taken into account. In other words, the startup power of these load should be smaller than the maximum surge power of the inverter.</p> <p>Below is the formula for the solar inverter’s power selection, which is just for reference upon design.</p> <p>Power of inverter = (Power of load * Margin factor)/ Power factor of inverter</p> <p><strong>Solar panel capacity <strong>calcultation</strong><br /></strong></p> <p>The power generated by solar panel modules in the daytime is partly for the load use, and the remaining is for charging the storage battery. When the night comes or when the solar radiation is inadequate, the electricity in the storage batteries will be discharged for the load use. Thus, it can be seen that the all the electricity consumed by the load is from the electricity generated by photovoltaic modules in the daytime, when there is no mains supply or when the diesel engine serves as the supplementary energy source. Considering differences of illumination intensity in different seasons and in different regions, the capacity design of the solar panel should be capable of meeting demands even in worst season of sunshine lighting so as to ensure the solar system’s reliable operation. Below is the formula for computing of the solar panel capacity:</p> <p>Power of solar panel = (Load daily eletricity consumption * Margin factor)/ (Peak sunshine hours of worst month*Efficiency of the system)</p> <p><strong>Batteries capacity calcultation<br /></strong></p> <p>The batteries of the off-grid solar power system is mainly used to store energy and ensure that the load can work normally when the solar radiation is insufficient. In terms of the off-grid solar photovoltaic system for important equipment, the design of the batteries capacity should take the number of local longest overcast and rainy days into consideration. The ordinary off-grid solar system does not have such high requirement of power supply to the load and considering the cost of the system, the number of overcast and rainy days can be left unconsidered, and the load use can be adjusted according to the actual illumination intensity.</p> <p>In addition, most off-grid solar PV systems adopt lead-acid batteries, whose depth of discharge generally ranges from 0.5 to 0.7. The batteries’ capacity to be choose can refer to the following formula:</p> <p>Batteries' capacity = (Daily electricity consumption × Number of successive rainy and overcast days) / Batteries’ depth of discharge</p> <p><strong>Solar charge controller selection</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">Solar charge controller</a> is a device that manages the charging and discharging the power from the solar panel to the batteries. The two key factors to select a suitable charge controller are rated voltage and current. The rated voltage of charge controller in line with the operating voltage of the batteries in the solar system. As for the current rating, it can be roughly calculated by the power from the solar panel divided by the voltage of batteries, and also reserve a margin of 25% for safety consideration.</p> <p>In addition, there are two type of solar charge controller in the market, PWM and MPPT. Generally, PWM solar charge controller is priced lower than MPPT and more suitable for small solar power inverter system. However, MPPT solar charge controller is more cost effective due to its unique advantages over the others. It can be selected based on specific design plan.</p> <p><strong>A typical design plan for 10kVA off-grid solar power system</strong></p> <p>Project background: To design an off-grid solar system for a school to satisfy its daily power consumption.</p> <p>1. Survey on electricity demand</p> <p>A survey of customer demands should be carried out in the early stage of design plan. The information on load power consumption should be accurate. Below are more details:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/survey-on-electricity-demand-for-a-school.jpg" alt="Survey on electricity demand for a school" width="1000" height="362" />2. Choosing solar inverter</p> <p>Client’s load mainly includes the classroom lighting, classroom fans, lighting of public places, wall lighting, broadcasting system, etc. The total load power is 6.84%kW and the solar inverter power should be no smaller than 9.8kVA. According to these requirements, the 10kVA solar inverter with MPPT charge controller can be selected, which plays a role of inverter and charge controller in one unit.</p> <p>3. Calculating solar panel capacity</p> <p>According to the client demand survey, it can be seen that the school’s average daily electricity consumption is around 61.5kWh. The local illumination conditions are favorable, it can calculate the daily duration of sunshine by 4.23h. The solar panel is configured with 1.1 fold of allowance. In this design, 88 pieces of 270W polycrystal photovoltaic modules are adopted with a total power of 23.76W and the average daily power generation of 100.5kWh. The system efficiency is generally around 0.8, so the daily electricity consumption is 80kWH.</p> <p>4. Calculating batteries capacity</p> <p>The school’s lighting is usually during the night. Considering the batteries’ service life, the battery capacity should be properly increased, and the battery backup time is two days as required by the client. The depth of discharge of the battery is set to 0.7. This project adopts the 110-node 1000AH/2V gel batteries in series, whose total capacity is around 220,000VAH, and the utilizable electricity quantity is around 154kWH, which can satisfy the power demand of two day backup time.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:35 https://www.inverter.com/5000-watt-off-grid-solar-power-system-design 5000 Watt Off Grid Solar Power System Design <p>Today we will introduce a design of 5kW off-grid solar photovoltaic power system for small fish farmer including the configuration and some calculation methods step by step.</p> <p>There are some basic data to be clarified for the preparation of solar power system design.</p> <ul> <li>First of all, the user’s voltage &amp; phase should be identified, either to be the single-phase AC 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, or 240V or the three-phase AC 380V, 440V, 480V, etc. It decides the output specification of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>.</li> <li>Second, the load type should be confirmed to be either inductive load or resistive load, because the load type can decide the inverter’s on-load power and output waveform.</li> <li>Third, the full-load operation time, namely average daily electricity consumption, should be determined. In case of the grid-connected photovoltaic power generation station, there are no energy-storage devices, then only a reasonable power of the photovoltaic module is needed. In case of the off-grid solar photovoltaic power system, the battery capacity should be calculated, including the system’s self-stored power when there are no photovoltaic power generation conditions during successive overcast and rainy days.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Design of 5000W off-grid solar power system<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-power-system-for-home.jpg" alt="Solar power system for home" width="500" height="375" /></strong></p> <p>Now we take a design of off-grid solar power system for a small-scale fish farmer near a lake as case study. Due to long-distance power grid construction, not only the cost is high, but also the conductor power loss and voltage loss are huge. Meanwhile, the stability of power use cannot be ensured due to the typhoons, and the accidental power failure happens on a frequent basis, which can affect the power use for production and life. Therefore, the off-grid solar power system is adopted. The sunlight radiation intensity in the daytime is high, and the power generated by solar power system is directly provided to the solar inverter output to support the operation of electric devices. At the same time, the batteries are charged, and provides the power for the devices via the inverter at night.</p> <p><strong>1. Survey on electricity demand</strong></p> <p>Here is some basic data to be known before. The voltage here in daily life is AC 220V 50Hz, and the commonly used appliances or devices mainly include:</p> <p>Ten sets of fishpond pump oxygen-generating machines (300W)<br />One set of Television + Satellite receiver (200W)<br />One electric cooker (750W)<br />One induction cooker (2,000W)<br />One small refrigerator (100W)<br />Lighting (100W)</p> <p>These devices are not used simultaneously. The pump oxygen-generating machine operates in the daytime when there is sun radiation but rests at night. The power of other devices is around 3000W, and their daily electricity consumption is around 10 kilowatts. Since the lake surface illumination is adequate, the self-stored electricity on overcast and rainy days is not taken into consideration.</p> <p><strong><strong><img style="float: left;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter-with-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="solar inverter with MPPT charge controller" width="400" height="292" /></strong>2. Solar inverter</strong></p> <p>According to the data provided by users above, at this off grid solar PV system design, the all-in-one solar inverter with MPPT charge controller is adopted. This <a href="https://www.inverter.com/5000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">5000W solar inverter with MPPT charge controller</a> has 48V 7kV power capacity, power factor ≥0.8 and conversion efficiency ≥85%. The actual on-load power can reach 5000W, which can satisfy the requirements of user’s devices output power.</p> <p><strong>3. Battery capacity</strong></p> <p>This off-grid solar power system adopts the commonly-used lead-acid battery as the energy storage, which has a large capacity and a high cost performance ratio. The reserved electric quantity of the storage battery is 10KWh. Since the DC input voltage of the solar inverter is 48V DC, the theoretical capacity of the storage battery can be calculated as below:</p> <p>10,000VAh/48V=208Ah</p> <p>According to relevant technological standards of the batteries, to set the battery discharge rate to be 0.5C2 is relatively economically reliable, which can ensure the battery’s circulated charge and discharge times, and effectively extend the battery’s service life. Thanks to the ample lighting on the lake, the photovoltaic directly adopts the inverter output in the daytime. Not through the repeated discharge procedures of the batteries, the electricity consumption of electric devices at night is small, and the discharge duration is short. Therefore, this design properly increases the battery discharge capacity to 0.6C2. Then, the actual batteries’ capacity can be given as below:</p> <p>208Ah/0.6 = 347Ah.</p> <p>Here, the battery capacity is set to be 400Ah, then the total capacity is 48V 400Ah. The lead-acid batteries is 12V 200Ah per piece. Four pieces are connected in series, while four connected in parallel. So eight batteries are needed in total.</p> <p><strong>4. Power of solar panel module</strong></p> <p>After the capacity of the batteries is calculated, the power of solar panel module is calculated. The lake is located in a position with a high solar radiation intensity, and the effective sunshine time is as long as 6 hours. The polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules are chosen, with the photoelectric conversion efficiency being as high as 16%.</p> <p>The solar power generation can be given by the following equation:</p> <p>System power generation = Power of solar panel module × Sunshine duration × Coefficient of colligation.</p> <p>The coefficient of colligation refers to the loss coefficient caused by the temperature changes, line loss, and solar charge controller (or inverter) conversion efficiency. Its value is generally set to be 0.5 to 0.7, and in this case, the coefficient of colligation is set to be 0.6. Therefore, the photovoltaic module power can be given as below:</p> <p>48V × 400Ah/ (6h × 0.6) = 5333W</p> <p>The specification of the PV panel module is set to be 36V 275W, its dimensions to be 1900×980×45mm, and its area to be 2 square meters. Every two pieces (72V) are connected in series into one group. Then, there are ten groups connected in parallel. In total, 20 pieces of solar panel module are required, with the total power 72V 5500W. The solar array area of the photovoltaic panel module is 40 square meters.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-solar-power-system.jpg" alt="Off grid solar power system" width="750" height="555" /><strong>5. Anti-thunder photovoltaic combiner box</strong></p> <p>The photovoltaic combiner box is used to reduce the ligature between the photovoltaic module array and the inverter. The user can connect photovoltaic modules of certain quantity and of the same specifications together to form the photovoltaic array. Then, connect several photovoltaic modules in series and connect them in parallel in the photovoltaic combiner box. After confluence in the photovoltaic combiner box, it can be output to the inverter through the DC breaker.</p> <p>The lake belongs to the area with the frequent occurrence of thunders. The isolated sheds and the surrounding forests are vulnerable to lightning stroke. Therefore, the photovoltaic power station must pay attention to the lighting stroke of devices. To introduce the DC high-voltage anti-thunder module can effectively protect the use safety of the inverter, AC distribution cabinet and other devices. At the same time, the large-power anti-countercurrent diode within the combiner box can effectively avoid the back discharge of the batteries to the module and cause the module’s burning when there is no photovoltaic at night.</p> <p><strong>6. Photovoltaic supporter and cable</strong></p> <p>The solar panel supporter is an indispensable accessory to the photovoltaic power system, which can fix the photovoltaic module. The user can also set up the supporter onsite to reduce the costs, fasten the module and resist against rustiness.</p> <p>The cable is a wire which connects the module, inverter and the DC distribution cabinet. Part of the cable is used in the open air. Considering long-term exposure to the sunlight and rain-wash, the cable, which is resistant towards high temperature, oxidization and UV, can be chosen to guarantee the system’s normal operation. The cable should be the rough copper core full line with a large cross section and a small resistance to reduce the voltage reduction caused by long distance, which, if not prevented, might affect the power generation efficiency.</p> <p>To sum up, the case study above provides a comprehensive introduction of design of the off-grid solar photovoltaic power system. It is hoped that the above introduction can be helpful to you.</p> <p> </p> urn:store:1:blog:post:32 https://www.inverter.com/will-grid-voltage-affect-photovoltaic-system Will Grid Voltage Affect Photovoltaic System? <p>When two photovoltaic systems are the same, the components, solar inverters, cables and other relevant components are completely consistent with each other, so are the installation inclination angle and direction. Then, when they are installed on the same location, are their power generation capacity also the same? In fact, there is a close connection between the photovoltaic power generation capacity and the grid voltage. The power generation capacity gap between regions with extremely unstable voltage and regions with stable voltage is around 10% to 20%.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="photovoltaic system" width="600" height="400" /></p> <p>This paper mainly discusses the influence of the grid voltage on the system. The grid voltage can be divided into three conditions, namely low voltage, high voltage and dramatic voltage fluctuation. These three conditions will all influence the system’s power generation capacity.</p> <p><strong>1. Low grid voltage</strong></p> <p>In the photovoltaic system, no matter how large the module is installed, it should not exceed the maximum output current of the solar inverter. In case of exceeding, the inverter might be overheated to cause explosion. Under the condition of rated voltage of the grid, the maximum output current can reach the rated output power, but if under the rated voltage, the maximum output current cannot be output at a full load.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/15kW-inverter-ac-output-parameter.jpg" alt="15kW inverter ac output parameter" width="600" height="207" /></p> <p>Take the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/15kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">15kW off grid solar inverter</a> for example. Its maximum output current is 27.4A. Under the rated voltage of 400V, the maximum output power is 27.4*400*1.732=18.98kW, which can satisfy overload by 1.1 folds. When the voltage of the grid is relatively low or around 340V, then the maximum output power of the inverter is 27.4*340*1.732=16kW. Under this voltage, no matter how large the module power is, the full-load output is impossible.</p> <p><strong>2. High grid voltage</strong></p> <p>There are two conditions which might lead to a slightly high grid voltage. Under the first condition, in order to ensure a normal voltage in areas far away from the transformer, the transformer's output voltage nearby the step-down transformer is usually increased. Under the second condition, when the photovoltaic power generation is too much for the user to use up, the voltage should be increased to transmit the power to faraway places. Due to resistance of the line, the voltage loss is inevitable. Then, the voltage of the solar inverter output side should be increased to get transmitted to the grid.</p> <p> <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-system-at-high-grid-voltage.jpg" alt="PV system at high grid voltage" width="1000" height="346" /></p> <p>Loss of the power generation capacity caused by the rising voltage is mainly attributable to three aspects. First, the solar inverter's overvoltage protection results in the inverter’s turn off, and loss of the electric quantity. Second, the inverter's overvoltage load shedding, which is a new technology adopted by the inverter for some parts of the grid whose voltage and is too high. When the grid voltage rises to certain level, the inverter takes the initiative to reduce the power to prevent the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> from being disconnected. This, though reducing the loss of downtime, will also cause loss of certain power generation capacity.</p> <p>Besides, efficiency loss. When the grid voltage rises, the DC bus voltage will also rise. For example, the DC bus voltage of the 400V AC voltage is around 610V. The rated voltage of the general inverters falls within the scope of the voltage. If the series voltage is around 600V, the PWM duty cycle is close to 1. Under the condition, the inverter's DC conversion part is the highest in efficiency. If the AC voltage rises to 460V, the DC bus voltage should rise to around 700V. When the series voltage is around 600V, the PWM duty cycle is 0.86. Under the condition, the efficiency of the inverter’s DC conversion part will be reduced to around 90%.</p> <p>There are three methods to reduce the high grid voltage:</p> <ol> <li>Increasing the output cable path. (The thicker the cable is, the lower the resistance is.)</li> <li>Moving the inverter close to the grid connection point. (The shorter the cable is, the lower the resistance is.)</li> <li>Manually adjusting the inverter’s voltage scope, which should not be adjusted to be too high. (If exceeding 270V, the other electric devices of the user might get damaged.)</li> </ol> <p><strong>3. Wildly fluctuating voltage</strong></p> <p>The photovoltaic solar inverter transmits the electricity to the grid. The quality of the grid can influence the inverter as well. In some machinery processing plants, there are large-power devices, such as vehicles, welding machines, and planer-type milling machines, and some electric-arc furnaces. The electric power changes between the on and off of these devices are dramatic, leaving little time for grid adjustment. The voltage changes between 320V and 460V within a short period of time, which are also accompanied by lots of harmonic waves.</p> <p>The larger the module input power is, the larger the inverter output power is. Meanwhile, the inverter’s output power is linked to the voltage and current. When the grid voltage fluctuates dramatically, the solar inverter’s adjustment capacity is limited, which might cause chaos of the MPPT tracking function and its failure to find out the maximum power point, which will cause loss of the power generation capacity. Worse still, the photovoltaic solar inverter might be restarted, or even the inverter might be damaged to cause downtime and electricity loss.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p> <p>Serious loss of the power generation capacity can be caused by AC voltage. In the inspection process of the photovoltaic field, the voltage stability of the grid is an indispensable part. When the voltage is stable, the installation is viable. When the voltage is unstable, then one should consider whether adding devices, such as the voltage stabilizer. Otherwise, the system's power generation capacity will be affected.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:34 https://www.inverter.com/how-boost-circuit-affects-a-solar-inverter How Boost Circuit Affects a Solar Inverter? <p>To a solar energy grid-tie system, the time and climate will cause changes of solar radiation, thus resulting in constant changes of the power point voltage. In order to improve the generating capacity, and ensure that the solar panels can output the highest power, either when the sunshine is weak or when the sunshine is strong, the solar inverter usually introduces the boost circuit to expand the voltage of its working point.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Boost-circuit.jpg" alt="Boost circuit" width="800" height="276" />Now let me make a brief introduction why the boost circuit is used, and how the boost circuit helps the solar power system increase the generation capacity.</p> <p><strong>Why is the boost circuit necessary?</strong></p> <p>First, let us take a look at the composition of a commonly-seen <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> on the market, which is made up of the boost circuit and the inverting circuit. These two parts are connected by the DC bus.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter-circuit-structure.jpg" alt="Solar inverter circuit structure" width="800" height="276" /></p> <p>To ensure the inverting circuit to work normally, the DC bus voltage must be higher than the peak value of the grid voltage (the three-phase system is higher than the peak value of the line voltage) so that the power can guarantee positive output to the grid. For the sake of efficiency, the DC bus changes with the grid voltage to ensure it higher than the grid.<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/DC-bus-and-grid-voltage-relationship.jpg" alt="DC bus and grid voltage relationship" width="800" height="420" />When the solar panel voltage is higher than the voltage needed by the bus, it directly make the part of inversion start operation. The inversion can have MPPT voltage constantly track the maximum point, but after reaching the minimum requirement of the bus voltage, the MPPT voltage cannot drop anymore nor reach the maximum efficiency point. The extremely low scope of MPPT will largely impair the power generation efficiency, thus being unable to guarantee user earnings. Therefore, there should be a method to make up the defect, and the engineer has made use of the boost circuit to achieve this objective.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-tracking-at-the-working-of-inverter.jpg" alt="MPPT tracking of an inverter" width="800" height="387" /><strong>How does the boost circuit expand the scope of MPPT to increase the power generation?</strong></p> <p>When the voltage of the solar panel is higher than the voltage required by the bus, the boost circuit will be in a rest status, whose energy can be transmitted to the inversion part via the diode. At the same time, the inversion part, after finishing MPPT tracking and reaching the voltage required by the bus, will no longer undertake the MPPT work. At the moment, the boost part can track MPPT via MPPT’s control right, and lift the bus to ensure its voltage.<br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Boost-tracking-MPPT.jpg" alt="Boost tracking MPPT" width="800" height="447" />With a broader tracking scope of MPPT, the inversion system can play an important improving role when the solar panel voltage is inadequate during the morning, at dusk or on overcast and rainy days. The following chart shows an obvious improvement of the real-time power.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Boost-circuit-vs-no-boost-circuit.jpg" alt="Boost circuit vs no boost circuit" width="800" height="319" /><strong>Why does a high power solar inverter use multiple boost circuit to increase the circuit number of MPPT?</strong></p> <p>Take a 6kW solar power system for example. The 6kW system is divided into two 3kW solar panels and separately installed on the roof of the two surfaces (See figure below). And now the solar inverter with two-circuit MPPT must be chosen due to the existence of two independent maximum power points. The sun rises from the east in the morning, and then casts its light directly on the A surface of the solar panel, thus increasing the voltage and power of the A surface to a high level. In contrast, the voltage and power of the B surface are much lower. The opposite phenomena are observed in the afternoon. When the voltage of the two circuits is different, the circuit with lower voltage must transmit the energy to the bus to guarantee it to work at the maximum power point.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-panels-installing-on-the-roof.jpg" alt="Solar panels installing on the roof" width="800" height="624" /></p> urn:store:1:blog:post:31 https://www.inverter.com/how-mppt-works-in-solar-charge-controller How MPPT Works in Solar Charge Controller? <p><strong>What is photovoltaic MPPT?</strong></p> <p>The photovoltaic <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> is a central component of the photovoltaic power generation system, and the MPPT technology is a core technology of the photovoltaic inverter. Then, what is the photovoltaic MPPT?</p> <p>The Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system is an electric system which can ensure the photovoltaic panel to output more electricity by adjusting the electric module’s working status. It can effectively store the DC emitted by the solar cell panel in the accumulator to effectively resolve the problem with the conventional grid that the domestic and industrial power use in remote areas and tourist destinations is not satisfied, while avoiding causing environmental pollution.</p> <p>The solar MPPT charge controller can detect the power generation voltage of the solar panel on a real-time basis, and track the maximum voltage current value (VI) so that the system can charge the accumulator with the maximum power output. If applied to the solar photovoltaic system, it can help adjust the solar cell, accumulator and load. This has gained it the name as the "brain" of the photovoltaic system.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/control-diagram-of-MPPT-controller-in-PV-system.jpg" alt="Control diagram of MPPT controller in PV system" width="688" height="219" /></p> <p><strong>Role of MPPT</strong></p> <p>The role of MPPT can be boiled down as below: The output power of the photovoltaic cell is linked to the working voltage of the MPPT <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>. Only when working under the most suitable voltage will MPPT achieve the exclusive maximum value for its output power.</p> <p>Since the solar cell is subject to the influence of external factors, including light intensity and environment, the output power is ever-changing, and more electricity will be generated by the light intensity. The inverter with the MPPT is to make full use of solar cells, ensuring them to operate at the MPP. In other words, when the solar radiation remains unchanged, the output power after the introduction of MPPT is higher than that before the introduction of MPPT.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/function-of-MPPT.jpg" alt="Function of MPPT" width="600" height="368" /></p> <p><strong>Principle of MPPT</strong></p> <p>MPPT control is generally accomplished by the DC/DC inverter. The photovoltaic battery array and load are connected via the DC/DC circuit. The MPPT can constantly detect the current and voltage changes of the photovoltaic array, and adjusts the duty cycle of the PWM-driven signals of the DC/DC converter according to these changes.</p> <p>To the linear circuit, when the load resistance is equal to the internal resistance of the load resistance, the power source will have the maximum power output. Though the photovoltaic cell and the DC/DC switching circuit are strongly nonlinear, they can be regarded as linear circuits within a short period of time. Therefore, as long as the equivalent resistance of the DC-DC switching circuit can be adjusted to ensure its equivalence to the internal resistance of the photovoltaic cell, the maximum output of the photovoltaic cell can be realized, which is equal to realization of the photovoltaic cell's MPPT.</p> <p>To sum up, MPPT solar charge controller can track the MPP in the solar panel on a real-time basis to give full play to the maximum function of the solar panel. The higher the voltage is, the more the electric power capacity can be output through the MPPT to improve the charging efficiency.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:37 https://www.inverter.com/design-4000w-off-grid-solar-system-for-home Design 4000W Off Grid Solar System for Home <p>The off-grid photovoltaic power generation system for household use consists of the photovoltaic module, supporter, controller, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>, accumulator and power distribution system. The system's electric plan design should take the selection and computing of modules, inverters (controllers), and accumulators into consideration. Before the plan design, necessary preparation should be made, because the off-grid is customized without a unified plan. Therefore, the user load type and power, electricity consumption in the daytime and in the evening, and climate conditions of the installation place should be first learned. The power supply for the off-grid photovoltaic system relies on the weather, which is not 100% reliable.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-off-grid-solar-system.jpg" alt="pv off grid solar system" width="600" height="246" /></p> <p>The off-grid solar system must be equipped with the accumulator, which takes up 30% to 50% of the power generation system costs. Meanwhile, the general service life of the lead-acid accumulator ranges from 3 years to 5 years. After the expiration of its service life, an exchange is necessary. From the economical point of view, the accumulator can hardly find wide applications on an extensive scale, and it is only applicable to places suffering from shortage of power supply.</p> <p>The off-grid system is different from the grid-connected system. Components and inverters are not configured in a certain proportion, but are designed according to the user's load, electricity consumption and local weather conditions:</p> <p><strong>1. Confirm the off-grid inverter's power according to the user's load type and power</strong></p> <p>Generally, the load for home use can be divided into inductive load and resistive load. The load with the motor, such as the washing machine, air-conditioner, refrigerator, water pump and smoke exhaust ventilator is the inductive load. The motor start-up power is three to five holds as much as that of the rated power. In computing the inverter's power, it is necessary to take the start-up power of the load into consideration. The output power of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a> is higher than the load power. However, to impoverished families, it is impossible to start all loads. Therefore, in order to save costs, the sum of the load power can be multiplied by the coefficient, ranging from 0.7 to 0.9. Below is a list of the power of electric devices for household use, which is for reference upon design.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-of-home-applicance.jpg" alt="Power of home applicance" width="600" height="286" /></p> <p><strong>2. Identify the module power according to user's daily electricity consumption</strong></p> <p>Electricity available for the off grid system = Total power of modules * Average hours of solar power consumption * Efficiency of controller * Efficiency of accumulator. In principle, the module should be designed to satisfy the daily electricity consumption of the load under the general weather conditions. In other words, the daily power generation of the solar cell module should be larger than the load's daily electricity consumption. Since the weather conditions are either lower or higher than the average, the solar cell module design should basically satisfy the need of the season with the poorest illumination. In other words, the accumulator should be ensured to be fully charged in the season with the poorest illumination. However, the seasonal poorest illumination in some places is far lower than the annual average. If the power of the solar cell module is still designed according to the poorest conditions, then the annual power generation might far exceed the actual demand, thus causing huge waste. Under the condition, the designed capacity of the accumulator should be properly increased to enlarge the electric energy storage and ensure the accumulator to be at a shallow discharge status, which can make up the shortage of power generation in the season with the poorest illumination, and prevent it from damaging the accumulator cell. The power generated the module cannot be fully converted into the power for use, because the controller efficiency, machine loss and accumulator loss should also be considered.</p> <p>The installation angle of the module should take the user's geographical location into consideration to satisfy user's requirements in the summer and winter. The angle of the solar cell generally faces the south so that the power generated by the solar cell unit capacity can be maximized. The most ideal angle of inclination is to maximize the annual power generation of the solar cell, while minimizing the difference of power generation between the winter and the summer.</p> <p>The electricity consumption of the load like the bulb, electric fan and electric hair dryer equals the power multiplied with the time. As to the load, such as the air-conditioner and refrigerator, the air-conditioner's power consumption has a close bearing on the temperature difference between the indoor and the outdoor, the housing area, and the air-conditioner's energy efficiency. One 1P air-conditioner, if used for eight hours a night, consumes 1 to 5 kilowatts of electricity.</p> <p><strong>3. Confirm the accumulator capacity according to the user's night power use or expected stand-by time</strong></p> <p>The task of the accumulator is to ensure the system load's normal power use when the solar radiation is insufficient. The important load should ensure the system to function normally in several days, and the number of successive overcast and rainy days should be considered. In terms of general loads, such as the solar streetlamp, the accumulator capacity should be selected in two to three days according to experience or need. To impoverished families, the price is a major consideration. The accumulator is not needed on rainy and overcast days, and is used when there is ample sunlight. When the sunlight is insufficient or there is no sun, then the accumulator will not be used. In choosing the load, one should choose the energy-saving equipment, such as the LED light and variable-frequency air-conditioner. The accumulator designer includes the accumulator capacity design and the accumulator cell series-parallel connection combination. In the photovoltaic power generation system, the lead-acid accumulator is often used. Considering the life span of the battery, the depth of discharge is generally set to be 0.5 to 0.7. Designed capacity of the accumulator = (Average daily electricity use of the load * Number of successive overcast and rainy days) / Accumulator's depth of discharge.</p> <p><strong>4. Design plan for 4000 watt system for household use</strong></p> <p>The client’s electricity use demand: Lighting (200W, 6 hours a day), Refrigerator (50W, 24 hours a day), Frequency-variable air-conditioner (1hp, 12 hours a day), Television (50W, 10 hours a day). Other household appliances used for unfixed length of time, including the washing machine, desktop, electric cooker, electric fan, etc.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/design-plan-of-4kw-system-for-household-use.jpg" alt="Design plan of 4kw system for home use" width="600" height="337" /></p> <p>(1) Statistics of the total load power</p> <p>The lighting is 200W, the refrigerator is 50W, the air-conditioner is 750W, the television is 50W, the washing machine is 300W, the desktop is 200W, the electric cooker is 1200W and the electric fan is 100W. In total, they are 2,850W. Therefore, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/4000-watt-volt-off-grid-solar-inverter">4000W off grid solar inverter</a> is selected.</p> <p>(2) Statistics of daily electricity use</p> <p>The lighting consumes 1.2 kWH, the refrigerator consumes 1 kWH, the air-conditioner consumes 2 kWH, the television consumes 0.5 kw, the washing machine consumes 1 kWH, the desktop consumes 0.5 kWH, the electric cooker consumes 1 kWH, the electric fan consumes 0.5 kWH. They are 7.7 kWH in total.. In fact, the daily electricity consumption averages at around 6 to 10 kWH. In some areas, the illumination conditions are favorable, which can last for 4.5 hours every day. 9 pieces of 280W modules are adopted for design, whose electricity consumption totals at 2.52kW, and can generate 11.34 kWH. The off-grid system efficiency is low, which is around 0.8, and the average daily power supply which is available for use is 9 kWH. It can generally satisfy more than 99% of the electricity use demands.</p> <p>(3) Computing of the accumulator</p> <p>The electric devices for home use are mostly used in the evening, leaving only 20% for the daytime. In order to increase the life span of the accumulator, the accumulator capacity can be properly increased, for the daily depth of discharge is low. This project adopts four sections of 12V 250AH colloid lead-acid accumulator, whose total capacity is 12,000 VAH. The utilizable electricity quantity is around 8.4 kWH, and the average electricity consumption at night is 6kWH. The depth of discharge is around 50%.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:30 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-connect-a-mppt-solar-charge-controller How to Connect a MPPT Solar Charge Controller? <p>The solar power generation system consists of solar cell, solar charge controller and storage battery (pack). If you want the solar power system to output 220V or 110V AC power, you need to configure a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a>. The solar charge controller regulates the charging and discharging of the battery, and controls the solar cell and the battery's power output to the load according to the power demand of the load, which is the core part of the whole photovoltaic power system.</p> <p>The popular <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controllers</a> on the market are mainly PWM charge controller and MPPT charge controller. The PWM solar charge controller adopts Pulse Width Modulation control mode, which solves the problem of battery dissatisfaction, and the charging conversion efficiency is 75 ~ 80%, but the solar panel is not fully utilized. The MPPT solar charge controller is an upgraded version of PWM controller of solar energy. The MPPT charge controller can detect the voltage and current of solar panels in real time and continuously track maximum power, thus the system is always charging the battery in the maximum power. The MPPT tracking efficiency is up to 99%, and the power generation efficiency of the whole PV system reaches 97%.</p> <p><strong>MPPT solar charge controller connection</strong></p> <p>The figure below is a basic wiring diagram of the MPPT solar charge controller on inverter.com. Next, we will show you step by step how to properly connect the controller with the solar panel, battery and DC load.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-solar-charge-controller-connection-diagram.jpg" alt="MPPT solar charge controller connection diagram" width="725" height="416" /></p> <p>1. Before connection</p> <p>Before the wiring, you first remove the cover and loosen the connection lock, and then your will see the wiring terminals for solar panel, battery, load as well as temperature sensor and Rs 485 port for PC.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Before-wiring-of-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Before wiring of MPPT charge controller" width="830" height="202" />2. Connect batteries to MPPT charge controller</p> <p>See the wiring diagram below for the connection between the charge controller and batteries. Make sure that the positive and negative terminals of the charge controller and batteries are properly connected. The batteries are connected in series. Please note that when connecting the batteries, it must disconnect circuit breaker.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/connect-batteries-to-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Connecting batteries to MPPT charge controller" width="767" height="440" /></p> <p>3. Connect DC load to MPPT charge controller</p> <p>The “DC LOAD” terminal of MPPT solar charge controller can be connected to DC load of the same rated voltage as the batteries. The charge controller provides the power based on the battery voltage. The wiring diagram of the solar charge controller and DC load is shown as below.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/connect-DC-load-to-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Connecting DC load to MPPT charge controller" width="800" height="445" />4. Connect PV panel module to MPPT charge controller</p> <p>The MPPT solar charge controllers are suitable for 12V, 24V, 48V off-grid solar panel module, and also applied for the grid tie module of which the open voltage does not exceed the specified maximum input voltage. The PV module in the solar system cannot be lower than the system voltage. Please note that when connecting the PV module, it must disconnect circuit breaker. The connection is displayed in the below figure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/connect-PV-panel-module-to-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Connecting PV panel module to MPPT charge controller" width="800" height="397" />5. Temperature sensor, MPPT charge controller and PC connection</p> <p>The MPPT solar charge controller can be connected to the temperature sensor and PC via Rs485. The Rs485 communication line is optional. You can buy extra if necessary.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/temperature-sensor-MPPT-charge-controller-and-PC-connection.jpg" alt="Temperature sensor &amp; MPPT charge controller and PC connection" width="560" height="446" /></p> <p><strong>MPPT solar charge controller installation<br /></strong></p> <p>In addition to the wiring, there are something to be noted when install the MPPT solar charge controller.</p> <p>1. Environment condition</p> <ul> <li>The charge controller should be installed on a solid surface.</li> <li>The installation site can be accessible at any time.</li> <li>The charge controller should be installed at a location where it can be disassembled at any time.</li> <li>The ambient temperature should be -20℃ ~ 50℃, so as to ensure the optimal working environment.</li> </ul> <p>2. Safety distance</p> <p>Please follow the safety clearance to ensure that other equipment or objects are not within this range, so as to guarantee adequate cooling space.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/safety-distance-of-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="Safety distance of MPPT charge controller" width="800" height="406" /></p> <p>Buy low price yet high efficiency solar charge controller from Inverter.com, including <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">10 Amp</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">20 Amp</a>,...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/60a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">60 Amp</a> PWM solar charge controllers and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20A</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">30A</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">60A</a> MPPT solar charge controllers.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:33 https://www.inverter.com/how-do-solar-power-systems-produce-electricity How Do Solar Power Systems Produce Electricity? <p>The solar power system is used to convert the solar energy directly into the electric power via the solar cell module. The solar cell module is a solid device, which makes use of electronic characteristics of semiconductor materials to realize P-V conversion. In many areas without the power grid, the solar photovoltaic system can facilitate the lighting and domestic power supply for users. In some developed areas, it can be connected with the regional power grid to realize complementation. Then, how does the solar PV system work to generate the electricity used in our daily life?</p> <p><strong>How does a solar power system produce energy?</strong></p> <p>The solar power system is made up of the solar cell module, solar charge controller, storage battery (pack), inverter, lamp or other loads. Among them, the solar cell and the storage batteries are the power source system, the charge controller and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> are the control and protection system, and the loads like lamps are terminals of the system. The following schematic diagram shows how every part of solar photovoltaic system works.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-power-generation-diagram.jpg" alt="Solar power generation diagram" width="700" height="230" /></p> <p>Solar cell module</p> <p>The solar cell is a devices which can react with the light and convert the solar energy into the electric power. The main principle of solar cell power generation is the photoelectric effect of semiconductors. There are a variety of materials which can generate the photovoltaic effect, such as the monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon (A-Si), gallium arsenide, and copper indium gallium diselenide (CulnSe). Their power generation principle is generally the same.</p> <p>In the following part, the crystalline silicon is taken for an example to show the photoelectric generation process. With the adulteration of phosphorous in the P-type crystalline silicon, the N-type silicon can be obtained, and the P-N node can be formed. When rays of light penetrate the solar cell surface, part of photons is absorbed by silicon materials. The photons’ energy is transmitted to the silicon atom to result in transition of electrons, which will then become free electrons to form the potential difference through gathering on two sides of the P-N node. When it is external connected with the circuit, the current will flow through the external circuit under the effect of the voltage to generate specific output power. This process is in essence to transmit the solar energy into the electric power.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.inverter.com/images/uploaded/solar-cell-photoelectric-effect.jpg" alt="Solar cell photoelectric effect" width="730" height="362" /></p> <p>Storage battery</p> <p>The DC electricity generated by the solar cell is first stored in the storage batteries. The characteristics of the storage batteries can influence the working efficiency and characteristics of the whole solar power system. So far, the battery technology has been quite mature, but its capacity is subject to the influence of the terminal power demand and sunshine duration (time of power generation). Therefore, the watt-hour capacity and ampere-hour capacity of the batteries are decided by the continuous non-sunshine duration.</p> <p>Solar charge controller</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is applied to the solar power generation system to further regulate and control the battery’s discharge and charge conditions. Meanwhile, according to the power demand of the load, the charge controller manages the electric output of the solar cell module and batteries to the load. It can ensure the solar power system to be nearby the maximum power point of power generation to acquire the highest efficiency.</p> <p>Solar inverter</p> <p>The solar inverter can convert DC power of the batteries into the AC power. So, how the inverter realizes this inversion from DC to AC? Through the full-bridge converter of the solar inverter, the SPWM processor is usually adopted to obtain the pure sine wave AC power matches with the frequency and rated voltage of the lighting or other loads for terminal users through modulation, filtering, and boosting. The solar inverters can be divided into the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a> and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> by the operation mode. Similarly, the solar power system can also be divided into grid tie (or on grid) and off grid power system based on operation mode.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-solar-photovoltaic-system.jpg" alt="Off grid solar photovoltaic system" width="664" height="261" /><strong>Why choose the solar power to generate electricity?</strong></p> <p>Compared with the commonly-used power generation system, the solar power generation has many unique advantages.</p> <ul> <li>The solar energy is an inexhaustible clean energy.</li> <li>The solar energy is safe, reliable, noise-free, and pollution-free.</li> <li>The solar energy is free of the regional limitations, and the building roof is a favorable place to gather solar energy.</li> <li>Solar power generation calls for no consumption of fuels and erection of power transmission circuits, which can reduce the operation costs, and facilitate installation and maintenance.</li> <li>Solar power generation features a short construction period, a long service life of power generation modules, flexible power generation modes, and a short energy recycling period of the power generation system.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:29 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-solar-street-light-controller How to Choose a Solar Street Light Controller? <p>In the solar photovoltaic system, the solar energy controller is used to coordinate the solar energy battery panel, accumulator, and load to ensure the whole solar photovoltaic system to function efficiently and safely. The solar streetlamp controller is the most central part in the whole solar streetlamp system. Therefore, to choose the quality solar street controller will influence the service life of the whole solar streetlamp system.</p> <p><strong>Major considerations to choose the solar streetlamp controller<br /></strong>First, complete protection functions are necessary, such as storage battery charging overvoltage protection, discharge undervoltage protection, reverse connection protection, LED output short-circuit protection, and lightning protection. Meanwhile, the controller with the two-circuit regulatory power. So far, the controller with the power regulation function has found wide applications. When there are not too many people walking at night, one circuit or two circuits of lighting can be automatically turned off to save electricity. At the same time, the LED light power can be adjusted. Apart from the above electricity-saving function, attention should also be paid to the controller's protection of modules, including the accumulator. For example, the controller of the trickle charge mode can well protect the accumulator, and lengthen the accumulator's service life. Additionally, when the controller undervoltage protection value is set, try to adjust the undervoltage protection value to ≥11.1V to prevent the accumulator from over-discharge.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-street-controller.jpg" alt="Solar street light controller" /></p> <p>The higher the charge efficiency of the solar streetlamp controller and the efficiency of the constant current to drive LED are, the better. A higher charge efficiency can save the solar cell panel and the charging hours, and a high efficiency of the constant current to drive LED can reduce the accumulator's electricity consumption, thus ensuring more energy conservation and environmental protection. The controller with a low power consumption should be chosen to work for 24 hours uninterruptedly. If its power consumption is huge, it will consume part of the electricity voltage. Therefore, the controller whose power consumption is below 1 mAh is preferred.</p> <p>The solar streetlamp controller should be equipped with light control, three-time-period control, light-dimming, intelligently-driven LED, and high-precision control. High precision is a comprehensive reflection of product design, and reflection of favorable material selection and refined production process. The solar streetlamp controller without precision control is usually sold at a low price but found with a high repair rate and poor reliability because of unreasonable product design and use of poor materials.</p> <p><strong>Analysis of the charging technology of the MPPT solar charge controller and the PWM solar charge controller</strong></p> <p>There are two prevailing charging technologies for the current off-grid solar controller, namely MPPT and PWM. Technologically, MPPT has an edge over PWM, the charging efficiency of the former is around 10% to 30% higher than that of PWM. However, the cost of MPPT is also higher. Additionally, whether PWM or MPPT should be used in a specific engineering project should be decided by the specifications of the solar panel and accumulator.</p> <p><strong>Voltage specifications of solar panel</strong></p> <p>The voltage specifications of the solar panel are fixed for the PWM solar streetlamp controller. The working voltage for the 12V accumulator is 17.5V, which is twice that of the 24V accumulator. The value is generally fixed and unvaried. The MPPT controller is relatively flexible. As long as the solar panel voltage does not exceed the maximum voltage of the controller, the charge is viable. For example, when the solar panel open-circuit voltage is 50V, it can directly charge the 12V accumulator. But the PWM controller cannot do it. Therefore, in choosing the controller type, one should take the solar panel voltage into consideration.</p> <p>If the solar panel is far away from the accumulator, one should also consider the issue of line loss. In terms of the solar panel of the same power, the higher the voltage is, the smaller the voltage and line loss are. From this perspective, the solar panel of a high voltage has a greater advantage in using the MPPT controller.</p> <p>Therefore, the selection of the MPPT solar charge controller or PWM solar charge controller depends on the voltage and power of the solar panel, voltage of the accumulator, and the price of the controller. <br /><br />Inverter.com offers low price <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20 amps</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/40-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">40 amps</a>...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/50-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">50 amps</a> 12V/ 24V/ 48V MPPT solar charge controller and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">20A</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/40a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">40A</a> 12V/ 24V/ 48V PWM solar charge controller to choose.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:26 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-install-a-solar-micro-inverter How to Install a Solar Micro Inverter? <p>Micro inverter technology proposes to integrate the inverter directly with a single photovoltaic module, and equip each photovoltaic module with an inverter module with DC to AC conversion function and maximum power point tracking function, and convert the electric energy generated by the photovoltaic module directly into AC electric energy for use by AC load or transmission to the grid. When one of the panels does not work well, only this one will be affected. All other photovoltaic panels will operate in optimal working conditions, making the system more efficient overall and generating more power.</p> <p><strong>Solar micro inverter port diagram</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/micro-inverter-port-diagram.jpg" alt="Micro inverter port diagram" width="982" height="385" /></strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/300-watt-solar-micro-inverter">300W</a>-<a href="https://www.inverter.com/1400-watt-solar-micro-inverter">1400W</a> solar micro inverters from inverter.com adopt IP67 waterproof streamline appearance design, which can effectively prevent rain erosion on the surface, and has built-in high-performance Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) function, which can better track the changes of solar photometry and control different output power, effectively capture and collect sunlight. Reverse AC power transmission technology is one of our patented technologies. The power output from micro inverters can be used preferentially to provide load. The endless power is transmitted to the power grid in the opposite direction. The power output from inverters can be used efficiently, and the power transmission rate can reach more than 99%. To show you what you can expect, we've outlined a simple six-step guide for a typical solar microinverter installation process.</p> <p><strong>Six-step to install a solar micro inverter</strong></p> <p><strong>1.</strong> Fix the inverter on the support of the photovoltaic panel with the screw attached to the machine, as shown in the following figure:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/first-step-installation-of-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="First step installation of micro inverter" width="848" height="430" /></p> <p><strong>2.</strong> Connect the two DC terminal of the PV to the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a>, positive to positive, negative to negative. As shown below:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/second-step-installation-of-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Second step installation of micro inverter" width="782" height="429" /></p> <p><strong>3.</strong> Open the waterproof cap on AC output side of the micro inverter, then plug to AC power line. As shown below:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/third-step-installation-of-micro-inverter.jpg" alt="Third step installation of micro inverter" width="996" height="340" /></p> <p><strong>4.</strong> Plug the AC output line to main AC cable.</p> <p><strong>5.</strong> Repeat the first step to the third step to complete the installation of micro inverters.</p> <p><strong>6.</strong> Finally, please connect the AC main cable to the utility grid to run renewable energy and saving money.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:24 https://www.inverter.com/why-you-need-a-mppt-solar-charge-controller Why You Need a MPPT Solar Charge Controller? <p>Why do you need a MPPT solar charge controller for your PV system? For its excellent technology features, and for its huge advantages over other kinds of charge controller, MPPT charge controller is your first choice right now.</p> <p><strong>Features of Maximum Power Point Tracking</strong></p> <p>In most cases, the maximum power point tracking technology will increase the charging current of the system. Assuming that a system may have 10 amps of current flowing from the solar array into the MPPT charge controller, then there will be 12 amps current flowing from the MPPT controller to the battery. MPPT charge controller does not generate current. The input energy to the MPPT controller is equal to its input energy. Since the power (Watt) is the production of voltage and current (Volt x Ampere), the following equation would be established:</p> <p>1. MPPT charge controller input power = MPPT charge controller output power<br />2. Input voltage x input current = output voltage x output current<br />* Suppose that the efficiency is 100%, ignoring the power loss of during wire and conversion.</p> <p>If the voltage Vmp of the maximum power point of the solar array is larger than the battery voltage, the battery charge current must be proportionally larger than the output current of solar array, so that the input and output power can be balanced. The greater difference between the Vmp voltage and the battery voltage, the greater current enhancement. Current enhancement is extremely important in the PV system, because the maximum power point Vmp voltage of solar panel in a PV system is usually higher than the battery voltage.</p> <p><strong>Advantages of MPPT solar charge controller</strong></p> <p>The traditional charge controllers have the solar array be directly connected to the battery when charging, and it requires the solar array usually operates below the Vmp voltage range. Take a 12V system as example, the battery voltage range usually is 11- 15V, and the Vmp voltage of the solar array is usually about 16V or 17V. See the below figure, showing the current, voltage and output power curves of the nominal voltage 12V off grid solar cell.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/12V-solar-cell-I-V-curve-and-output-power.jpg" alt="12V solar cell I-V curve and output power figure" width="898" height="406" /></p> <p>The maximum power point voltage of solar PV array is the maximum voltage of out power (Ampere x Voltage), and it is in the highest point of the I-V curve as shown in the left figure above. The traditional controller does not always operate at the Vmp of solar array, so the energy is wasted which could have been used to charge the battery and supply power to the system load. The greater difference between the battery voltage and the Vmp of the solar array, the more energy can be wasted. The MPPT solar charge controller will always run with the maximum power point, which reduce the waste of energy compared with the traditional controller.</p> <p><strong>Factors that affect the efficiency of MPPT solar charge controller<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="MPPT Solar Charge Controller" width="450" height="450" /></strong></p> <p>The voltage Vmp of the solar PV array will decrease as the temperature of the array increases. In hot weather, Vmp may be close to or even lower than the battery voltage. In this case, the MPPT controller will obtain a few or even no energy compared to traditional controller. However, as long as the nominal voltage of the PV module is higher than the battery voltage, the Vmp of the PV module will always be higher than the battery voltage. In addition, the MPPT solar charge controller has a significant advantage even in hot weather, since it reduces the current of solar array and saves the wiring.</p> <p>Our ATO-MPPT series of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> utilizes MPPT (maximum power point tracking) technology to extract the maximum power from the solar array to charge the batteries. The maximum power point tracking mode is full automatic and the user doesn't need adjustment. When the maximum power point of the array changes with ambient conditions, the charge controller automatically tracks the maximum power point of the array to ensure that the maximum energy of a day is obtained from the solar array. The MPPT solar charge controllers range from 20 Amp to 60 Amp with great advantages.</p> <ul> <li>Excellent heat dissipation design and intelligent cooling fan.</li> <li>Advanced maximum power tracking technology can significantly improve the utilization rate of PV system, the conversion rate up to 97%.</li> <li>Fast scan the entire I-V curve to track the maximum power point in a few second.</li> <li>Sealed, colloid, open lead-acid battery and lithium battery charging program is optional.</li> <li>Has automatic protection function for overcharge, over discharge, overload, short circuit, etc.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:27 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-an-inverter-generator What is an Inverter Generator? <p>The portable digital inverter generator adopts the super-silent generator made by the inverter technology. Many of its advantages are unparalleled by traditional generators. The inverter generator can purify the primitive AC. After secondary conversion of AC-DC-AC, the voltage output is irrelevant to the engine revolution speed. Meanwhile, the voltage waveform distortion is brought to the minimum level, and finally, the primitive AC is converted again into the clean and steady AC output. Its waveform features a smooth sine waveform. Thus, some electric devices, which are very sensitive to voltage fluctuations can be operated, including the computer. Besides, the unit is installed with a unique intelligent throttle valve, which can automatically adjust the value of the revolution speed according to the actual changes of the load, making its fuel oil consumption 20% to 40% lower than the ordinary unit and lengthening the operation hours as well.<br /><br /><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-generator-for-camping.jpg" alt="Inverter generator for camping" width="650" height="433" /></p> <p>The electric motor of the inverter generator has the microcomputer control system control the revolving speed, voltage, current, frequency and power of the electric generator. The output power can be automatically recognized and adjusted according to the value of the externally-connected electric devices to ensure the normal operation of electric devices, and improve the electric generator's output efficiency by 90%. (The efficiency of the ordinary electric generator constantly staying at 3,000 revolutions is 30%, so whether so much fuel oil should be consumed is a question.) The portable inverter generator is efficient, energy-saving, convenient, silent, voltage-steady, and extensive in applications. Not only is it applicable to household appliances, computers, and machinery equipment, it is also applicable to some commonly-seen outdoor devices, including tents, camp lights, generators, jacketed kettles, kettles, etc.</p> <p>The quality power source waveform distortion rate provided by the frequency-variable generator is lower than 2.5%. The electric waveform features a perfect sine waveform. The steady voltage deviation is smaller than ±2%, the steady frequency band is smaller than 0.5%, the electric output is very clean and steady. Therefore, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/inverter-generator">inverter generator</a> is the most suitable for precision equipment with a high requirement of the power source quality, and sensitive to voltage and current fluctuations.</p> <p>The inverter generator adopts the intelligent throttle valve system, which can automatically adjust the revolution speed according to the actual changes of the load. Meanwhile, the efficient permanent magnet synchronous generator should be adopted to largely reduce the fuel oil consumption to a level which is around 30% lower than that of the ordinary unit. The intelligent air damper system is introduced, and the special damping materials together with the specially-designed silencer and fully-enclosed mute design is employed to largely reduce noises, so the inverter generator is more suitable for a quiet environment. The new-type permanent magnet generator is used to realize the integration between the electric generator and the cooling fan, and largely reduce the machine weight. Compared with the traditional generator set of the same power, its volume and weight are both reduced by around 50%.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:23 https://www.inverter.com/8-key-things-of-selecting-a-right-solar-inverter 8 Key Things of Selecting a Right Solar Inverter <p>A solar inverter functions to convert the variable direct current (DC) output generated by PV solar panels into the alternating current (AC) which is fed into a commercial electrical grid or used by a local, off grid electrical network. Buy the right product for a particular application is very important and there are many factors that go into selecting the best solar inverter. Here are 8 key instructions that you may follow in order to choose the best suited solar inverter for you.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="grid tie inverter" width="700" height="280" /></p> <p><strong>1. Stability of output voltage</strong></p> <p>In photovoltaic systems, the electrical energy generated by solar cells is first stored in storage batteries and then converted into 220V or 380V AC by solar inverters. However, influenced by the charge and discharge of storage batteries themselves, storage batteries vary widely in the output voltage. For example, storage batteries with 12V of nominal value can vary between 10.8V and 14.4V in the voltage (beyond this range, storage batteries may be damaged). For a qualified solar inverter, when the input voltage varies within this range, the variation of steady-state output voltage should not exceed 5% of the rated value. Meanwhile, when the load suddenly changes, the deviation of output voltage should not exceed 10% of the rated value.</p> <p><strong>2. Waveform distortion of output voltage</strong></p> <p>For <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">sine wave inverters</a>, the maximum allowable waveform distortion (or harmonic content) should be specified. In general, it is expressed by the total waveform distortion of the output voltage, which should not exceed 5% (10% is allowed for single-phase output). Since the high-order harmonic current output by inverters will produce eddy current and other additional losses on the inductive load, excessive waveform distortion of inverters will cause serious heating to load components, which is not conducive to the safety of electrical equipment and affects the operational efficiency of the system.</p> <p><strong>3. Rated output frequency</strong></p> <p>For loads including motors, such as washing machines and refrigerators, too high or too low frequency will cause the equipment to heat up and reduce the efficiency and service life of the system, because their optimal frequency is 50Hz. Therefore, the output frequency of solar inverters should be a relatively stable value, which is generally 50Hz, and the deviation should be less than 1% under normal working conditions.</p> <p><strong>4. Load power factor</strong></p> <p>Power inverters have the ability of inductive load or capacitive load, while the load power factor of sine wave inverters ranges from 0.7 to 0.9 with a rated value of 0.9. When the load power is fixed, if the power factor of the inverter is low, the required capacity of the power inverter will increase. On the one hand, the cost will increase. On the other hand, the apparent power of the AC circuit of the photovoltaic system will increase and the loop current will increase, which will inevitably increase the loss and decrease the efficiency of the system.</p> <p><strong>5. Solar inverter efficiency</strong></p> <p>solar inverter efficiency refers to the ratio of output power to input power under specified working conditions, which is expressed in percentage. In general, the nominal efficiency of photovoltaic inverters refers to the efficiency under 80% of pure resistance load. Since the overall cost of photovoltaic system is relatively high, it is necessary to maximize the efficiency of photovoltaic solar inverters, reduce the cost of the system and improve the cost performance of photovoltaic system. At present, the nominal efficiency of mainstream inverters is between 80% and 95%. For low-power inverters, the efficiency is not less than 85%. In the actual design of photovoltaic system, not only the high-efficient inverters should be selected, but also the load of photovoltaic system should work near the optimal efficiency through the rational configuration of the system.</p> <p><strong>6. Rated output current (or rated output capacity)</strong></p> <p>Rated output current refers to the rated output current of the solar inverter within the range of specified load power factor. Some solar inverters offer rated output capacity in the unit of VA or KVA. Rated output capacity of the inverter refers to the product of the rated output voltage and the rated output current when the output power factor is 1 (i.e. the pure resistance load).</p> <p><strong>7. Protection measures</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> with good performance should also have complete protective functions or measures, so as to deal with various abnormal situations in the actual use, so that the inverter itself and other parts of the system will not be damaged.</p> <p>1). Input under-voltage protection<br />When the input voltage is less than 85% of the rated voltage, the inverter should be protected and displayed with a prompt.</p> <p>2). Input over-voltage protection<br />When the input voltage is more than 130%, the solar inverter should be protected and displayed with a prompt.</p> <p>3). Over-current protection<br />Over-current protection of inverters should ensure timely operation when short-circuit occurs or current exceeds the allowable value, so as to avoid the damage of surge current. When the working current exceeds 150% of the rated value, the converter should be able to automatically protect itself.</p> <p>4). Output short-circuit protection<br />The operation time of short-circuit protection of inverters should not exceed 0.5s.</p> <p>5). Input converse-connection protection<br />When the positive and negative poles of the input end are inversely connected, the inverters should have protective function and display.</p> <p>6). Lightning protection<br />Solar inverter should have lightning protection.</p> <p>7). Over-temperature protection<br />In addition, for the Inverters without voltage stabilization measures, they should also have protective measures for over-voltage output, so as to protect the load from over-voltage damage.</p> <p><strong>8. Noise</strong></p> <p>Transformers, filters, inductors, electromagnetic switches and fans in power and electronic devices all produce noise. In normal operation, solar inverters should not produce more than 80dB of noise and small-scale inverters should not produce more than 65dB of noise.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/micro-inverter">micro inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar pump inverter</a> for your selection.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:21 https://www.inverter.com/mppt-vs-pwm-solar-charge-controller MPPT vs. PWM Solar Charge Controller <p>In the solar off-grid system, the photovoltaic controller is to store the electricity generated by the photovoltaic module in the storage battery after transformation. In addition, it also has the functions of protecting the storage battery and preventing the battery from overcharging. At present, there are two main technical routes of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a>: Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and pulse width modulation (PWM), both of which have its advantages and disadvantages, so users can select according to different scenarios.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pv-off-grid-system.jpg" alt="PV off grid system" width="600" height="430" /></p> <p><strong>MPPT solar charge controller</strong></p> <p>As the second generation solar controller, MPPT charge controller has one more inductor and power diode than PWM charge controller, so it has more powerful function.</p> <p>On the one hand, it has the function of maximum power point tracking. During the battery charging, the solar module can output the maximum power unless the battery reaches saturation. On the other hand, its voltage range of the photovoltaic module is wide. With a power switch, inductor and circuit in the controller, the voltage of the module is 1.2-3.5 times that of the storage battery. For example, when the input voltage of the module is between 30V and 80V for 24V storage battery, one or two modules can be equipped with each series, while if the input voltage of module is between 60V and 110V for 48V storage battery, two or three modules can be equipped with each series.</p> <p><strong>PWM solar charge controller</strong></p> <p>In earlier stage, all the photovoltaic controllers are PWM. This kind of photovoltaic controller has a simple structure, which consists of a power main switch and capacitor, as well as drive and protection circuit. By the PWM duty cycle of the switch, the output voltage can be controlled.</p> <p>The PWM solar charge controller has only one switch to connect the solar array and the battery panel. As the battery is fully charged gradually and the battery voltage increases, the PWM solar charge controller will gradually reduce the amount of power supplied to the battery. When the photovoltaic output is different, the maximum power output will prevail. In addition, the PWM controller has the function of charging and discharging management like a storage battery, which can prevent the battery from overcharging and discharging.</p> <p>Since the PWM charge controller has only one switch to connect the solar module and the storage battery without inductance and other voltage divider in the middle, the voltage of the module is about 1.2-2.0 times that of the storage battery. For example, when the input voltage of the module is between 30V and 50V for 24V storage battery, and only one module can be equipped with each series, while if the input voltage of module is between 60V and 80V for 48V storage battery, only two modules can be equipped with each series.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-and-PWM-solar-charge-controller.jpg" alt="MPPT and PWM solar charge controller" width="803" height="362" /></p> <p><strong>How to choose MPPT controller and PWM solar charge controller?</strong></p> <p>Both MPPT and MPPT solar charge controller have their own advantages and disadvantages, so how to choose them depends on the design characteristics, cost and external environment of solar photovoltaic arrays. The following factors should be taken into account:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">1. PWM charge controller has mature technology, simple and reliable circuit, as well as low price, but its utilization rate of the module is low, which is about 80% while MPPT controller is a solar controller with maximum power point tracking function, which has a BUCK circuit between the module and the storage battery, as well as 90% of utilization ratio of the module.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">2. For small-scale off-grid system under 2kW, mainly used for lighting in poor and non-electric areas, such as remote mountainous areas and some poor countries in Africa, the users are very sensitive to the price, so it is suggested to use PWM charge controller and corrective wave inverters, so as to integrate the controller, inverters and storage battery, which has the advantages of simple structure, high efficiency, easy connection for users and low price. In addition, it can also drive light bulbs, little televisions and small fans.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">3. MPPT charge controller is recommended for off-grid system more than 2kW, because it has high utilization ratio of the module, high efficiency and flexible configuration of modules. Generally speaking, there is no perfect technology, so it is better for users to take the advice of experts, thus ensuring that they choose the proper controller to meet their needs.</p> <p>Inverter.com offers <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">20 amps</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">30 amps</a>...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/60-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">60 amps</a> 12V/ 24V/ 48V MPPT solar charge controller and <a href="https://www.inverter.com/10-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">10A</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/20-amp-pwm-solar-charge-controller">20A</a>...<a href="https://www.inverter.com/60a-pwm-solar-charge-controller">60A</a> 12V/ 24V/ 48V PWM solar charge controller to choose. Buy a right charge controller for your off-grid system now!</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:22 https://www.inverter.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-frequency-inverter What are the Benefits of a Frequency Inverter? <p><strong>Frequency inverter brief introduction</strong></p> <p>Frequency inverter, mainly composed of rectifier (AC to DC), filter, inverter (DC to AC), brake unit, drive unit, detection unit, micro-processing unit, etc., is a kind of electric control equipment, which uses frequency conversion technology and microelectronic technology to control AC motor by changing the working power frequency of the motor. In general, frequency inverter adjusts the voltage and frequency of output power supply by the breaking of internal IGBT, and provides the required power supply and voltage according to the actual needs of the motor, so as to achieve the purpose of energy saving and speed regulation. In addition, the inverter also has many protective functions, such as over-current protection, over-voltage protection, over-load protection and so on. With the continuous improvement of industrial automation, frequency inverter has also been widely used.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/circuit-of-variable-ac-frequency.jpg" alt="Circuit of variable ac frequency" width="461" height="226" /></p> <p>The figure above is a circuit that with variable AC frequency. Among them, P and N are converter circuits, which can adjust AC to DC and load it to load Z. When the pulse signal to P is sinusoidal, the tuned DC is sinusoidal, which is the first half of the sinusoidal curve, and the period is the sinusoidal regular period of the pulse signal, which is an integral multiple of the AC period. Through the cooperation of P and N, the periodic sinusoidal current on load Z is formed, and the frequency can be adjusted according to the period of pulse signal, which is the working principle of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/frequency-inverter">frequency inverter</a>.</p> <p><strong>Frequency inverter benefits</strong></p> <p>1. Adjustable torque limit</p> <p>After adjusting the speed by frequency conversion, the corresponding torque limit can be set to protect the machine from damage, so as to ensure the continuity of the process and the reliability of the product. At present, the frequency conversion technology makes not only the torque limit adjustable, but also the control accuracy of the torque reach about 3%-5%. In the power frequency state, the motor can only be controlled by detecting the current value or thermal protection, but can not be operated by setting the precise torque value as in the frequency conversion control.</p> <p>2. Controllable stopping mode</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Like controllable acceleration, the stopping mode can be controlled in the frequency control system and different stopping modes can be selected (decelerated parking, free parking, decelerated parking + DC braking). Similarly, it can reduce the impact on mechanical components and motors, thus making the whole system more reliable and prolonging the service life accordingly.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/frequency-inverter-1.jpg" alt="Frequency inverter" width="299" height="320" /></p> <p>3. Energy-saving</p> <p>The energy saving of frequency inverter is mainly manifested in the application of fans and pumps. In order to ensure the reliability of production, all kinds of manufacturing machine have a certain amount of surplus when they are designed and equipped with power drive. When the motor fails to run under full load, it may not meet the requirements of power drive or excess torque increases the consumption of active power, resulting in waste of electrical energy. For traditional equipment such as fans and pumps, the frequency control method is to adjust the air supply and water supply by adjusting the baffle and valve opening at the inlet or outlet, where has a large input power, and a large amount of energy is consumed in the process of closure by the baffle and valve. In the use of frequently control, when the flow requirement is decreased, the frequency control can be achieved by reducing the speed of the pump or fan.</p> <p>4. Reversible operation control</p> <p>In the control of frequency inverter, there is no need for additional reversible control devices to realize reversible operation control, just change the phase sequence of output voltage, which can reduce maintenance costs and save installation space.</p> <p>5. Reduce mechanical transmission components</p> <p>At present, vector control converter plus synchronous motor can achieve high-efficient torque output, thus saving mechanical transmission components, such as gearboxes, and ultimately constituting a direct frequency conversion drive system. Thus, the cost and space can be reduced and the stability can be improved.</p> <p>Buy a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-output-inverter">single phase output frequency inverter</a>, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/single-phase-to-three-phase-inverter">single to three phase frequency inverter</a> or <a href="https://www.inverter.com/three-phase-inverter">three phase frequency inverter</a> on inverter.com.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:19 https://www.inverter.com/when-to-fuse-when-not-to-fuse-for-solar-system When to Fuse, When not to Fuse for Solar System? <p>For the current string power inverters, different manufacturers have different technical routes. Single-phase inverters of below 6 kW and three-phase inverters of below 10 kW generally use two MPPT loops. Each MPPT loop is equipped with one string. For the small industrial and commercial projects, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverters</a> of 20kW to 40kW are usually used. The number of MPPTs ranges from 2 to 4, and each MPPT loop is equipped with 2 to 4 strings. As to the large-scale power stations, high-power string inverters of 60kW to 80kW are generally selected. The number of MPPTs ranges from 1 to 6, and each MPPT loop is matched with 2 to 12 strings.</p> <p>Selecting different MPPT loops has a certain impact on the system power generation amount. From the perspective of solving the mismatch problem, one MPPT has to have fewer strings at the back, because each MPPT loop is operating independently, and the system design is more flexible. In terms of stability and efficiency, one MPPT has to have more strings at the back, because the more MPPT quantity tends to cause higher system cost, poorer stability and more loss.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tied-pv-system.jpg" alt="grid tied pv system" width="800" height="351" /></p> <p>The most common fault of the photovoltaic system is the direct current side fault. The common failure modes of fuse are divided into over-current fusing, aging fusing and over-temperature fusing. Over-current fusing is a protective fusing that occurs when overload, short-circuit and so on exceed the rated condition. Aging fusing means that the closure ability is reduced because of the aging in the long-term work process. It is the fault fusion occurred in the condition of having no overflow. The current of the fuse has a great relationship with the temperature. If the fuse is operated at a high temperature, the intercepting ability is lowered, and the possibility of a faulty fuse is relatively high.</p> <p>One MPPT is configured with 1 to 2 strings. Even if a loop of component is short-circuited, the total current will not exceed 15%. Therefore, there is no need to configure a fuse protector. If an MPPT is configured with N (N≥3) strings, when the component of a loop has the short circuit, the (N-1)* short-circuit current appears in this string. At this time, the fuse protector needs to be configured. After theoretical analysis and perennial practice, this method is proved to be correct. The principle is as follows:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/principle-of-MPPT-strings-equip-with-fuse-protector.jpg" alt="principle of MPPT strings equip with fuse protector" width="900" height="448" /></p> <p>As shown in the figure above, one MPPT is connected to two loops of components, which are respectively S1 and S2. When a short circuit to ground occurs in some place in S2, it can be seen from the figure that the negative current of S2 does not flow to the grounding point through the fuse, and the negative current of S1 flows to the grounding point through the public convergence point and S2 fuse protector. The total current of the fuse does not exceed 15% of the rated current, it fails below the fusing condition. It will not cause any fire risk, so the fuse protector is not required.</p> <p>When a MPPT is configured with N (N ≥ 3) strings, the short circuit will be increased.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/MPPT-with-N-strings.jpg" alt="MPPT with N (N ≥3) strings" width="661" height="426" /></p> <p>As shown in the figure above, one MPPT is connected to three loops of components, which are respectively S1, S2 and S3. When a grounding short circuit occurs somewhere in S3, it can be seen from the figure that the negative current of S3 does not flow to the grounding point through the fuse, and the negative current of S1 and S2 flows to the grounding point through the public convergence point and S3 fuse protector. The total current of the fuse is 2 times of the short-circuit current, and it reaches the fusing condition. There will be the fire risk. Therefore, the multiple strings should be configured with the fuse protector for protection.</p> <p>Combining with the practical and scientific design, according to different terrain and component sheltering situations, the power inverters with different MPPT architectures shall be selected, so as to reduce the procurement cost and maintenance cost, and improve the economic efficiency of the power station.</p> <p>1. On flat areas with no sheltering and good lighting conditions, it is recommended to select the power inverter with single-loop MPPT and single-stage structure to improve system reliability and reduce system cost like solar inverter with MPPT <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">charge controller</a> on inverter.com.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-inverter-with-MPPT-charge-controller.jpg" alt="solar inverter with MPPT charge controller" width="400" height="292" /></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.inverter.com/700w-24v-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">700W</a> to <a href="https://www.inverter.com/6000w-solar-inverter-with-mppt-charge-controller">6kW</a> solar inverter with MPPT charge controller</li> <li>Voltage of DC input/ AC output can be customized</li> <li>Selectable 30A/ 60A battery max charge current</li> <li>The maximum conversion efficiency is 98%</li> <li>(DC) battery preferred mode</li> <li>(AC) commercial power preferred mode</li> <li>Powerful protection functon                                             </li> </ul> <p>2. As to the mountainous power stations with complicated terrains, such as the large-scale power station of pacemaker base, there are phenomena of inconsistent orientation and partial sheltering, and different mountains have different sheltering characteristics, which will cause the component mismatch problem. Then, it is required to select the multiple-loop MPPT, then the power inverter with 2 string inputs for each MPPT loop is a better choice, which has no fuse wearing part, high fault positioning accuracy and easy maintenance.</p> <p>3. As to the mountainous power stations and roof power stations with no complicated terrains, there is no component sheltering, it is suggested to choose one MPPT to configure the power inverter with several strings, so as to take into account both string mismatch and high efficiency. Its design is more flexible.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:20 https://www.inverter.com/pv-off-grid-solar-system-troubleshooting PV Off-Grid Solar System Troubleshooting <p>The photovoltaic off-grid power generation system is mainly used to solve the basic electricity consumption problem for residents in areas without electricity or insufficient electricity. The photovoltaic off-grid power generation system is mainly constituted by the photovoltaic component, bracket, controller, power inverter, storage battery and power distribution system. Compared with the photovoltaic grid-connected system, the off-grid system has an additional controller and storage battery. In addition, the inverter directly drives the load, so the electrical system is more complicated. Since the off-grid system may be the only power source of the user and the user relies more on the system, the off-grid solar system design and operation must be more reliable.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/off-grid-inverter-for-pv-solar-system.jpg" alt="Off grid inverter for pv solar system" width="800" height="330" /></p> <p><strong>Common design problems of the off-grid solar system</strong></p> <p>The photovoltaic off-grid system has no uniform specification and it must be designed according to the user demand. The model selection and calculation of components, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverters</a>, controllers, batteries, cables, switches and other equipment are mainly considered. Before the design, in order to do a good job in the preliminary work, it is required to understand the user's load type and power, the climatic condition of the installation site and the electricity consumption of the user. After making clear the demand, the scheme can be well compiled.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">1. The voltage of the component and the voltage of the battery should be matched. The PWM controller solar module and the storage battery are connected by an electronic switch, without an inductance equipment in the middle. The voltage of the component is between 1.2 and 2.0 times the voltage of the battery. If the battery has a voltage of 24V, the input voltage of the component is within 30-50V. The MPPT controller has a power switch tube and an inductor circuit in the middle. The voltage of the component is about1.2-3.5 times of the voltage of the battery. If the battery has a voltage of 24V, the component input voltage is within 30-90V.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">2. The output power of the component must approach to that of the controller. For example, in case of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inverter.com/30-amp-mppt-solar-charge-controller">48V 30A charge controller</a> with an output power of 1440VA, the power of the component should be around 1500W. In selecting the controller, please firstly check the voltage of the battery, and then divide the component power by the voltage of the battery, which is exactly the output current of the controller.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">3. If the power of one inverter is insufficient, multiple inverters must be connected in parallel. The output of the photovoltaic off-grid system is connected to the load. The voltage, current phase and amplitude of each inverter output terminal are different. If the solar inverter is connected in parallel with the output terminal, it is required to add an inverter with the parallel operation function.</p> <p><strong>Common problems occurred in off-grid solar system debugging</strong></p> <p><strong>1. The inverter LCD has no display</strong></p> <p>Fault analysis:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">There is no battery current input. The power inverter LCD power source is supplied by the battery.</p> <p>Possible reason:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">A: The battery voltage is not enough. When the battery is just delivered out of the factory, it is usually fully charged. However, if the battery is not used for a long time, it will be slowly discharged (self-discharge). The off-grid system has the voltage of 12V, 24V, 48V, 96V and so on. Some applications require multiple batteries in series to meet the system voltage. If the cable is not well connected, the battery voltage will be insufficient.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">B: The battery terminal is reversely connected. The battery terminal has the positive and negative poles. Generally, the red is connected with the positive pole and the black is connected with the negative pole.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">C: The DC switch is not connected or the switch has a fault.</p> <p>Solution:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">A: If the battery voltage is not enough, the system can't work and the solar energy can't charge the battery. Then, it is required to go to another place to charge the battery to over 30%.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">B: If it is a problem of the circuit, please measure the voltage of each battery with a multimeter voltage gear. When the voltage is normal, the total voltage is the sum of various battery voltages. If there is no voltage, check whether the DC switch, terminal block, cable connector and so on are normal one by one.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">C: If the battery voltage is normal, the wiring is normal and the switch is also turned on, but the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>&nbsp;still has no display, it may be the problem of the inverter. Then, it is required to notify the manufacturer for maintenance.</p> <p><strong>2. The battery is unable to be charged</strong></p> <p>Fault analysis:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The battery is charged through the photovoltaic module and controller, or through the mains supply and controller.</p> <p>Possible reason:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">A: Component reason: The component voltage is not sufficient, the sunshine is low, and the component and DC cable are not well wired.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">B: The battery circuit is not well wired.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">C: The battery has been fully charged and reached the highest voltage.</p> <p>Solution:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">A: Check whether the DC switch, terminal block, cable connector, component, battery and so on are normal. If there are multiple components, they must be tested separately.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">B: When the battery reaches full charge, it can't be recharged. However, the voltage is different when different batteries are fully charged. For example, as to the battery with a rated voltage of 12V, the voltage is between 12.8~13.5V when it is fully charged, which is related to the electrolyte proportion when the battery is fully charged. The maximum pressure limit should be adjusted according to the model of the battery.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">C: Input overcurrent: The charging current of the battery is generally 0.1C-0.2C, and the maximum does not exceed 0.3C. For example, as to a lead-acid battery 12V200AH, the charging current is generally between 20A and 40A, and can not exceed 60A to the maximum. The component power must be matched to the controller power.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">D: Input overvoltage: If the component input voltage is too high, it is required to check the voltage of the battery panel. If it is really high, the possible cause is that the number of strings in the panel is too large, and the number of strings must be reduced.</p> <p><strong>3. Inverter display overload or unable to be started</strong></p> <p>Fault analysis:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The load power is greater than the inverter or battery power.</p> <p>Possible reason:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">A: Inverter overload: If the power inverter overload exceeds the time scope, the load power exceeds the maximum value, please adjust the load.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">B: Battery overload: The discharge current is generally 0.2C-0.3C, and the maximum value does not exceed 0.5C. As to one 12V200AH lead-acid battery, the output maximum power does not exceed 2400W. As to the batteries of different manufacturers and different models, the specific values are also different.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">C: The load is a load such as an elevator that cannot be directly connected to the output terminal of the inverter. Because when the elevator is descending, the motor reverses, and a back electromotive force is generated. In entering the inverter, the inverter is damaged. If an off-grid system must be used, it is recommended to add a frequency converter between the power inverter and the elevator motor.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">D: The inductive load start-up power is too high.</p> <p>Solution:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The rated power of the load must be lower than the power of the inverter power, and the peak power of the load cannot be greater than 1.5 times the rated power of the inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:16 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-input-voltage-affect-a-grid-tie-inverter How Does Input Voltage Affect a Grid-Tie Inverter? <p>In the photovoltaic grid-tie inverter, there are many input voltage technical parameters: Maximum DC input voltage, MPPT operating voltage range, full-load voltage range, start-up voltage, rated input voltage and so on. These parameters have their own focus and all of them are useful.</p> <p><strong>Maximum DC input voltage</strong></p> <p>The maximum DC input voltage is to restrict the maximum open-circuit voltage of the string. It is required that the maximum open circuit voltage of the string cannot exceed the maximum DC input voltage at the lowest limit temperature. For example, the open-circuit voltage of the component is 38V and the temperature coefficient is -0.3%/°C, at minus 25 °C, the open-circuit voltage is 43.7V, then the maximum number of strings is 25. 25*43.7=1092.5V.</p> <p>The maximum DC input voltage is a little higher than the MPPT operating maximum voltage. The start-up voltage is higher than the MPPT operating minimum voltage. This is because the maximum DC input voltage and the start-up voltage are two parameters corresponding to the open-circuit state of the component. Moreover, the open-circuit voltage of the component is generally about 20% higher than the working voltage.</p> <p><strong>MPPT operating voltage range</strong></p> <p>MPPT operating voltage range is designed for the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid tie inverter</a> to adapt to the changing voltages of the component. The voltage of the component changes according to the changes of illumination and temperature. The number of components connected in series is also designed according to the specific conditions of the project, so the inverter is set with a working range. As long as it is within this range, the on grid inverter can always work normally. If the voltage scope is wider, it means that the applicability of the inverter is wider.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="Solar grid tie inverter" width="577" height="409" /></p> <p><strong>Full-load voltage range</strong></p> <p>The full-load voltage range is that the inverter can output the rated power within this voltage range. It means that, in addition to the PV module, there are some other applications of the inverter. The inverter has a maximum input current, such as 40A for 40kW. Only when the input voltage exceeds 550V, the output is likely to reach 40kW. When the input voltage exceeds 800V, the heat generated by the loss increases sharply, causing the inverter to derate the output. Therefore, the string voltage should be designed in the middle of the full load voltage range as much as possible .</p> <p><strong>Start-up voltage</strong></p> <p>Before the power inverter starts, the component does not work and it is in the open state, the voltage will be relatively high. When the inverter starts, the component is in working state and the voltage will decrease. In order to prevent the inverter from being started repeatedly, the start-up voltage of the inverter is higher than the minimum operating voltage. After the grid tie inverter is started, it does not mean that the inverter will have power output immediately. The control part of the on grid inverter, the CPU and the screen and other devices work first. Firstly, the inverter inspects itself, and then the component and the power grid are detected. When there is completely no problem, the inverter will have an output if the photovoltaic power exceeds the standby power of the inverter.</p> <p><strong>Rated input voltage</strong></p> <p>Please remember that it is rather difficult to have several parameters for the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>. In the design of photovoltaic system, as a matter of fact, remembering the "rated input voltage" parameter is once for all. It can automatically meet other technical parameters. The secret is in the following diagram:</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter-efficiency-curve.jpg" alt="Grid tie inverter efficiency curve" width="577" height="493" /></p> <p>This figure has 3 lines, representing the efficiency of the grid tie inverter when there are three kinds of input voltages. It is visible that that different voltages have different efficiency. Among them, the blue line 360V has the highest efficiency, followed by red line 500V, and the purple line 250V has the lowest efficiency. This conveys the message that if the voltage of the string is designed around the rated voltage, the efficiency of the inverter will be very high and the power generation capacity will be high.</p> <p>The reason for this starts from the principle of the power inverter. For the DC-DC-BOOST circuit of the string inverter, the DC voltage needs to be boosted and stabilized to a certain value (this is called the DC bus voltage) before it can be converted to AC power. As to the 230V output, its DC bus voltage should be about 360V. As to the 400V output, its DC bus voltage should be about 600V. As to the 500V output, its DC bus voltage should be about 750V. As to the 540V output, its DC bus voltage should be about 800V. However, the component series connected voltage is generally not so high, and the circuit needs to be adjusted. The grid tie inverter is generally adjusted by PWM. There is a term called duty ratio, which is equal to the component series voltage/ DC bus voltage. The duty ratio has a close relationship with the efficiency. A higher duty ratio tends to generate smaller voltage difference and higher efficiency.</p> <p>If you master this secret, the component with the power inverter does not need to calculate complex formulas. Just try to match the string voltage to the rated operating voltage of the inverter, you will have the highest efficiency, and the maximum voltage will not be exceeded at the extreme low temperature. It will also be within the full load MPPT voltage range during operation, which is absolutely simple and practical. Take 60 pieces of 280W polycrystalline components as an example, single-phase 220V inverter with the input rated voltage of 360V, equipping with 11 and 12 components will have the best effect. Three-phase 400V inverter with the input rated voltage of 600V, equipping with 20 and 21 components will have the best effect. Three-phase 480V power inverter with the input rated voltage of 700V, equipping with 23 and 24 components will have the best effect. If this condition is not met, you can try to get close to this voltage as much as possible.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:18 https://www.inverter.com/differences-between-central-inverter-and-string-inverter Differences between Central Inverter and String Inverter <p>The National grid has the following requirements to the distributed photovoltaic power station: The single grid connection point is less than 6MW, the annual self-use power consumption is greater than 50%. 8kW or less can be connected to 220V, 8kW-400KW can be connected to 380V, 400kW-6MW can be connected to 10kV. According to the characteristics of the inverter, the model selection method of the inverter of the PV station is: The 220V project selects the single-phase string inverter, the 8kW-500kW selects the three-phase string inverter, and the project above 500kW can select the string inverter and central inverter according to the practical condition.</p> <p><strong>Inverter scheme comparison</strong></p> <p>Central inverter: The power is between 100kW and 2500kW. With the development of power electronics technology, the string inverter is having an increasingly bigger market, and the central inverters below 500KW have already basically been eliminated from the market. The power device adopts high-current IGBT. The system topology adopts DC-AC first-level power electronic device to transform the full-bridge inverter. The latter stage is generally connected to the double-split power-frequency boost isolation transformer. The protection level is generally IP20. It has a large size and is vertically installed indoor.</p> <p>String inverter: The power is from 1kW to 80kW. The low-power inverter switch tube generally uses the MOSFET with a small current. The medium-power inverter generally uses a power module that integrates multiple discrete devices. The topology uses DC-DC-BOOST boost and DC-AC full-bridge inverter two-stage power electronic device for transformation, and the protection level is generally IP65. It has a small size and is suspended outdoor.</p> <p><strong>Comparison of main system components</strong></p> <p>Central inverter: PV module, DC cable, combiner box, DC convergence power distribution, inverter, isolation transformer, AC power distribution, power grid.</p> <p>String inverter: Component, DC cable, invertes, AC power distribution, power grid.</p> <p><strong>Main advantages and disadvantages, applied occasions</strong></p> <p>The central inverter is generally used in large power generation systems of the desert power plants and ground power stations. The total power of the system is large, generally above megawatts.</p> <p>Its main advantages include:</p> <ol> <li>Fewer inverters, can be centralized installed, easier maintenance.</li> <li>Fewer <a href="https://www.inverter.com/">inverter</a> elements, fewer fault points and higher reliability.</li> <li>Fewer harmonic contents, less dc component, higher power quality.</li> <li>High inverter integration level, higher power density, lower cost.</li> <li>Complete protection functions of the inverter, higher safety of the power station.</li> <li>Possess the power factor adjustment function and low-voltage crossing function, good grid adjusting performance.</li> </ol> <p>Main disadvantages:</p> <ol> <li>High fault rate of the DC convergence box, affect the entire system.</li> <li>Narrow MPPT voltage scope of the central inverter, generally 500-820V, inflexible component configuration, short power generation time in rainy or misty days.</li> <li>Difficult inverter machine room installation and deployment, require the dedicated machine room and equipment.</li> <li>The inverter itself consumes power and the machine room ventilation and dissipation consumes power, thus having rather complicated system maintenance.</li> <li>In the centralized grid-tied inverter system, the component square array reaches the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> through two convergences, and the maximum power tracking function (MPPT) of the inverter cannot monitor the operation of each component, so it is unable to make each component in the best working condition. If a component fails or is blocked by shadows, the power generation efficiency of the entire system will be affected.</li> <li>The centralized grid-connected inverter system has no redundancy ability. If it stops because of a fault, the entire system will stop power generation.</li> </ol> <p>The string inverter is suitable for small and medium-sized rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems and small ground power stations.</p> <p>The main advantages include:</p> <ol> <li>The string inverter adopts the modular design. Each photovoltaic string corresponds to one power inverter. The DC terminal has the maximum power tracking function, and the AC terminal is connected in parallel. The advantage is that it is not affected by the difference between the modules and shadow sheltering. While reducing the optimal operating point of the photovoltaic module and the inverter does not match, the generated power will be increased to the maximum.</li> <li>The string inverter has a wide MPPT voltage range, generally 200-800V, and the component configuration is more flexible. In areas of rainy and misty days, the power generation time is long.</li> <li>The string <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">grid-tied inverter</a> is small in size and light in weight, thus being easy to be handled and installed. It does not require professional tools and equipment, and does not require a dedicated power distribution room. It can simplify construction and reduce occupation in various applications. The DC line connection does not require any DC combiner box or DC power distribution cabinet. The string type also has the advantages of low self-consumption, low impact, convenient replacement and maintenance.</li> </ol> <p>The main disadvantages are:</p> <ol> <li>There are many electronic components. The power equipment and signal circuit are on the same panel, thus having difficult design and manufacturing, and poorer reliability.</li> <li>The inverter using the discrete power device has the small electrical clearance, thus not being suitable for high-altitude areas. The power inverter using the power module is not affected. Outdoor installation, wind and sun exposure can easily lead to aging of the outer casing and heat sink.</li> <li>The design with no isolated transformer, and the electrical safety is rather poor. The film component negative earthing system must be increased with the isolation transformer, thus having great dc component and affecting the power grid greatly.</li> <li>When multiple inverters are connected in parallel, the total harmonics are high, and the single inverter THDI can be controlled to more than 2%. However, if more than 100 inverters are connected in parallel, the total harmonics will be superimposed and it is difficult to suppress.</li> <li>If there are many power inverters, the total fault rate will rise and the system monitoring is difficult.</li> <li>It has no dc circuit breaker and ac circuit breaker. If there is no dc fuse protector, in case of a system fault, it is not easy to be disconnected.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:17 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-troubleshoot-the-wrong-wired-on-grid-inverter How to Troubleshoot the Wrong Wired On Grid Inverter? <p>As to the photovoltaic grid-tie inverter, the input end is connected to the photovoltaic component and the output end is connected to the power grid. The component has only positive and negative poles, and it is not easy to wire incorrectly. Since the component is a certain distance away from the inverter, it is required to add an extension cable. The correct connection method is that the photovoltaic connector has a female connector on one side and a male connector on the other side, so that the positive and negative directions will not change. However, some green hands will also make the two connectors of the extension cable the same. If the power inverter is connected, the positive and negative poles will be reversed. The inverter AC output line and single-phase inverter have three lines: One phase line, one zero line and one ground line. The three-phase inverter usually has five lines: Three phase lines, one zero line and one ground wire. A small part of the medium voltage grid-tie inverters have four lines: Three phase lines and one ground line. The experienced installation master will not take the wrong, but the green hands sometimes make mistakes.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter.jpg" alt="Grid tie inverter" width="700" height="280" /></p> <p><strong>Influence of wrongly connecting the components</strong></p> <p>1. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid inverter</a> only has one string</p> <p>The on grid inverter is powered by the component. If there is only one string, the positive and negative poles are reversed, the inverter cannot be started, and the indicator light and screen of the inverter can not be turned on. However, the inverter will not be damaged. If it is changed and then connected, the inverter will work normally.</p> <p>2. The on grid inverter has one MPPT and two strings</p> <p>If both strings are reversed, as in the above case, the on grid inverter cannot be started, and the indicator light and screen of the inverter can not be turned on. If there are two strings, but one string is correctly connected but the other string is reversed, the two strings are equivalent to internal short circuit. If the component short-circuit current is amplified by 15%, the fuse will not blow. This MPPT voltage is very low and cannot generate electricity. The inverter will not be damaged, but the component will burn out slowly, which may cause fire.</p> <p>3. The on grid inverter has one MPPT and several strings</p> <p>If the strings are reversed, as in the above case, the inverter cannot be started, and the indicator light and screen of the power inverter can not be turned on. If one string is connected accurately, and the other strings are reversed, or one string is reversedm and the other strings are connected accurately, the strings will have short-circuit inside. The current will multiply by over 2 times. If the power inverter has a fuse protector, the fuse protector will fuse and the circuit disconnects, but it will not cause fire. After the fuse is blown, the voltage on the two ends of the fuse doubles, causing overvoltage damage to the inverter.</p> <p>If the components are reversed, the consequences are more serious. In not serious conditions, the inverter will be damaged. In serious conditions, the component may cause fire. Therefore, it should be paid with great attention. If the green hand is not very skilled, it is suggested to use a multimeter to measure the voltage in the first. Be sure to use the DC voltage file. If the directions of the measured voltage and inverter are correct, it can be connected to the power inverter.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/PV-system-testing.jpg" alt="PV system testing" width="700" height="467" /></p> <p><strong>Influence of wrong wired AC output terminal</strong></p> <p>If the AC line is connected incorrectly, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> will probably be unable to be started, some protection functions will miss, but the inverter will not be damaged. The following paragraph is a brief analysis of the wrong wired situation.</p> <p>1. The sequence of three phase lines (A, B, C lines). There is no problem of wrong connection, because the grid-tie inverter has the function of automatically adjusting the phase sequence. Before the grid-tie power generation, please firstly take electricity from the grid, detect the voltage, frequency, phase sequence and other parameters of the power grid, and then adjust the parameters of the power generation. After synchronizing with the electrical parameters of the power grid, grid-connected power generation will be realized.</p> <p>2. The phase line and the neutral line are connected incorrectly. At this time, the on grid inverter will report the grid voltage fault. The inverter A phase will display the line voltage of 380V. B and C will display the phase voltage of 220V. The inverter is unable to be started because of the too low voltage.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/each-phase-voltage-of-the-grid.jpg" alt="Each phase voltage o the grid" width="539" height="298" /></p> <p>The above figure is the voltage of each phase of the grid seen from the APP monitoring when the power inverter reports the grid voltage over-range warning. The AC1 is normal, the AC2 and AC3 voltages are low. After on-site detection, it can be found that the phase line L1 and the zero line N are reversed.</p> <p>3. The ground line and the zero line are reversed. The ground line and zero line will be connected together when they reach the transformer end. As to the three-phase converter current, the zero line and the ground line basically have no current. However, when the inverter terminal is wired, they can not be connected together because they play different roles. The main role of the ground line is lightning protection safety, inverter reference potential, anti-electromagnetic interference shielding grounding, anti-component PID and so on. The role of the zero line is to constitute one loop with the phase line. The single-phase zero line has current, and if the three-phase system is unbalanced, the zero line will also have current as well. If the zero line and the ground line are reversed, these functions of the ground line are gone, and there may be failures such as lightning damage, inaccurate AC voltage measurement, and vulnerability of the power inverter. The ground line of the single-phase inverter may be charged, and the inverter casing may be charged. There may be an electric shock accident, and the leakage protector might trip because of an error.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/3-phase-5-wire-on-grid-inverter.jpg" alt="3 phase 5 wire on grid inverter" width="700" height="377" /></p> <p>The three phase low voltage on grid inverter generally adopts the three-phase five-wire system, including three phase lines of three-phase power (A, B, C lines), a neutral line (N line), and a ground line (PE line). The ground line is connected to the neutral line on the power supply transformer side, but cannot be used as a neutral line after entering the user side. The voltage between the phase lines of the power supply line (ie, the line voltage) is 380V, and the voltage between the phase line and the ground or neutral line (ie, the phase voltage) is 220V. The entry line generally adopts the single-phase three-wire system, that is, one of the three phase lines, neutral line (zero line) and ground line. National standard, the three-phase five-wire standard wire has the color as follows: A line yellow, B line green, C line red, N line blue, PE line yellow and green. The AC output lines of the grid tie inverters are generally arranged in the order of A, B, C, N, and PE. Therefore, you will certainly make no mistakes if you wire according to the colors stipulated by the national standard.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:15 https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller-in-pv-off-grid-system Solar Charge Controller in PV Off-Grid System <p>The solar energy charge controller is an automatic control device controlling the solar battery array to charge the battery and the battery supplies power to the solar inverter load in the photovoltaic power generation system. It can set the control conditions according to the charging and discharging characteristics of the battery, so as to control the power output of the solar energy battery component and battery to the load. Its main function is to protect the battery and stabilize the working state of the power station. The photovoltaic solar controller can be divided into a switch type controller, a pulse width modulation (PWM) type charge controller, a maximum power point tracing (MPPT) charge controller, and an intelligent controller according to functions and circuit structures.</p> <p><strong>Switch type controller</strong></p> <p>The main function of the general charging and discharging controller is to restrict the charging current and voltage, so as to ensure that the battery can be quickly and effectively charged and discharged, thus protecting the battery and avoiding overcharging and overdischarging. In addition to the functions of the usual controllers, the photovoltaic charging and discharging controller must also take into account the volt-ampere characteristics of photovoltaic modules in power generating. The early photovoltaic controllers are relatively simple, which usually adopt the single-stage control method. In other words, the so-called controller is to set one electronic switch between the photovoltaic component and battery as shown in figure 1. When the battery reaches the set voltage, the switch is cut off and the charging stops. When the voltage drops, the charging is restarted. Such a process repeats until the battery is charged full. Due to the influence of the floating charging voltage during the charging process of the battery itself, it frequently charges and stops in the rear period of this charging mode, and it requires a rather long time, However, for solar power generation, the time of sunshine during the day is limited, so the battery is often not fully charged. At the same time, when there is a sun in the daytime, the power generated by the photovoltaic is greatly wasted and the efficiency is rather low. It is usually used in small power generation systems below 100W.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/switch-type-controller-work-mode.jpg" alt="Switch type controller working mode" width="719" height="238" />Figure 1: Switch type controller working mode</p> <p>As to the switch-type charge controller, the output of the PV module is directly connected to the two ends of the battery through the control switch, therefore, the output voltage of the PV module must be designed strictly according to the battery voltage. If it is too low, it cannot be charged normally. If it is too high, it will cause waste or even damage the controller and battery. The battery voltage has a close relationship to the charging state of the battery. For example, a 12V battery has a voltage of about 11V in a deficient state, in a fully charged status, it approaches 15V. For such a battery, our input voltage must be greater than 15V. Combined with the voltage declining factor of the PV module because of the temperature influence, the design voltage of the PV module is usually 17-18V. Obviously, in the early stage of charging a depleted battery, the output voltage of the PV module will be clamped to a lower range by the battery, and the efficiency is very low. When the battery almost fully charged, the battery will enter the floating charge state, that is, the charging and stopping state. When the battery is in the floating charge, the electricity generated by the PV is actually wasted, and the battery is not fully charged at this moment. Such a photovoltaic <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-charge-controller">solar charge controller</a> is simple and inexpensive. However, the electricity generated by the PV module is not fully utilized during the charging process, and the charging conversion efficiency is only 70 to 76%.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/switch-type-controller-I-V-curve.jpg" alt="Switch type controller I-V curve" width="600" height="399" />Figure 2: Switch type controller I-V curve</p> <p>The multi-stage switching controller has a better charging effect than the single-stage controller. Figure 3 shows a typical four-stage controller that divides the PV modules into several groups. It adopts multiple controllers to charge the battery. Each controller can be set with different disconnection voltages, so that the purpose of step current charging can be realized. The charging effect of such a controller is significantly higher than that of the single-stage controller. Such a control scheme is usually used in small and medium-sized power plants below 10 kW.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/4-stage-controller.jpg" alt="4-stage controller charging diagram" width="750" height="240" />Figure 3: 4 - stage controller and charging current diagram</p> <p><strong>Pulse width modulation (PMW) charge controller</strong></p> <p>The pulse width modulation type (PMW) control means is a charging and discharging controller that automatically controls the output voltage and current according to the charging status the battery, and adopts the pulse width duty ratio. It can fully utilize the photovoltaic power generation to efficiently charge the battery, and guarantee almost no wasted energy. If the maximum power point tracing (MPPT) circuit is set at the mating end with the photovoltaic module, the controllers of this category can have the control efficiency of more than 97%. Since such a controller uses pulsating current to charge, the instantaneous voltage of the pulsating charging is high, which can effectively avoid the suspended animation and sleeping status of the battery. Moreover, it even has a repairing and activating effect on the ordinary lead-acid battery. When the battery is almost fully charged, the pulse width modulation controller can gradually reduce the duty cycle of the output pulse width, and still maintain a sufficient charging voltage. However, it can reduce the charging current to the battery according to the charging status of the battery. Adopting the similar "trickle charge" can greatly improve the charging effect and improve the service life of the battery at the same time. The voltage loss of the PWM charging circuit is low, and the charging efficiency is 3%-6% higher than that of the ordinary switching type. Therefore, the technology has been widely applied, and the problem of battery dissatisfaction can be solved. The charging conversion efficiency is 75 to 80%.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/PWM-solar-charge-controller-working-principle.jpg" alt="PWM solar charge controller working principle" width="1000" height="396" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Figure 4: PWM charge controller working principle</p> <p><strong>Maximum power point tracing (MPPT) charge controller</strong></p> <p>The PMW technology solves the problem of efficient charging, but the output of the PV module is still affected by the charging state of the battery. The PV module cannot work at the maximum power point, showing that the power generation efficiency of the PV module is not really reflected. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology ensures that the output of the PV module is always in the best status and not affected by the battery voltage. The MPPT solar controller can detect the solar panel voltage and current in real time, and keep on tracking the maximum power (P=U*I), so that the system can always charge the battery with maximum power. The MPPT tracking efficiency is 99%, and the power generating efficiency of the whole system is as high as 97%. This charging process can be divided into MPPT charging, constant voltage equalizing charging and constant voltage floating charging. It adopts the MPPT charging and discharging controller, and the input voltage has a wide scope, so the voltage for the PV module is no longer the dedicated off-grid component required by the early off-grid PV power station. The PV module or component string voltages only need to reach the controller input voltage scope or MPPT voltage scope. The combination of MPPT technology and PMW technology is also a hot spot for the development of the photovoltaic controller.</p> <p><strong>Intelligent controller</strong></p> <p>With the development of electronic and computer technologies, the microcomputer technology has also been widely used in the control system of the PV power generation system. The intelligent controller usually adopts the MPPT technology and PMW technology. The intelligent PV controller adopts the high-speed CPU microprocessor and high-precision A/D analog-to-digital converter and other related circuits, so as to charge the battery through multiple-loop solar energy battery array and carry out the intelligent automatic control to the solar energy inverter load. The data acquisition and monitoring control system of the microcomputer provides convenience for collecting and storing real-time PV off grid system data and working status. The intelligent PV controller also has the communication data transmission function, which provides the operation platform for data telemetry, centralized management and remote control of PV stations. Through using innovative maximum power tracking technology, the PV controller can ensure maximum efficiency of solar arrays throughout the day and in any climate condition. The work efficiency of the PV module can be increased by 30% (The efficiency can be increased by 10%-25% in average).</p> <p>Since the battery capacity and the charging and discharging voltage are closely related to the battery temperature, the charging and discharging controller generally has a temperature compensation function, so as to adapt to different environmental operating temperatures and set a more reasonable charging voltage for the battery. The temperature compensation value is generally -20~40mV/°C.</p> <p>Another function of the charging and discharging controller is over-discharge control protection, ie voltage terminating protection in over-discharge situation. Most batteries do not allow excessive discharge, which can lead to severe degradation in battery performance and service life. The overdischarge controller is usually an electronic switch. When the battery discharge voltage is lower than the set value, the load circuit is cut off and the discharge is stopped to achieve the purpose of protecting the battery. The battery discharge protection setting value is usually determined according to the type and performance of the battery. For example, the voltage of the 12V lead-acid battery over-discharge protection point is generally set to: 11.10V, the over-discharge protection point voltage of the 24V system is 22.20V, and the cut-off voltage of the single lithium battery is set to about 3.2V.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:12 https://www.inverter.com/how-solar-inverter-mppt-affects-pv-system How Solar Inverter MPPT Affects PV System? <p>In the photovoltaic system, the cost of the solar inverter is less than 5%, but it is one of the decisive factors of power generation efficiency. When the accessories such as the component are completely consistent, if different inverters are selected, the total power generation capacity of the system has a difference ranging from 5% to 10%. Such a difference is mainly caused by the inverter. The MPPT efficiency is the key factor determining the PV solar inverter power generation capacity, and its importance even exceeds the efficiency of the PV inverter itself. The MPPT efficiency is equal to the hardware efficiency multiplied by the software efficiency. The hardware efficiency is mainly determined by the accuracy of the sampling circuit, the MPPT voltage range and the number of MPPT paths. The software efficiency is determined by the control algorithm.</p> <p>Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT for short) is a core technology in photovoltaic power generation system. It means to adjust the output power of the photovoltaic array according to different environmental temperature and light intensity, so that the photovoltaic array could always put out the maximum power.</p> <p><strong>Accuracy of MPPT sampling circuit</strong></p> <p>There are a great variety of methods to realize MPPT. However, no matter which method is used, it is firstly required to measure the component power change and then react to the changes. The most critical component in this process is the current sensor. Its measurement accuracy and linearity error will directly determine the hardware efficiency. There are mainly two kinds of current srnsors: closed-loop and open-loop types. The open-loop current sensor is generally the voltage type, which has the small size, light weight, no plug loss, low cost and the linear accuracy of 99%. Its total measurement error is about 1%. As to the closed-loop current sensor, its frequency band scope is wide, the accuracy is high, the response time is fast, and the interference resistance ability is strong. Its linear accuracy is around 99.9% and the total measurement error is 0.4%.</p> <p>When the weather condition changes fiercely, the closed-loop sensor has advantages.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/closed-loop-sensor-of-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Closed loop sensor of solar inverter" width="600" height="164" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> Closed loop current sensor</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/uploaded/open-loop-sensor-of-solar-inverter.jpg" alt="Open loop sensor of solar inverter" width="600" height="249" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Open loop current sensor</p> <p><strong>MPPT voltage scope</strong></p> <p>The operating voltage range of the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is related to the electrical topological structure of the inverter and the output voltage of the inverter. The string inverter and the distributed inverter adopt the two-stage electrical topological structure. The MPPT operating voltage range is within 250-850V. The centralized inverter adopts the single-stage structure, and its output voltage has 270V, 315V, 400V and other specifications. The input MPPT has the voltage ranges of 450-850V, 500-850V, 570-850V and so on, and there is a string inverter in the single-stage structure, which has only one DC-AC inverter. Its output voltage is 400V, and the MPPT input voltage range is 570-850V. From an application point of view, each inverter has its own advantages and disadvantages.</p> <ol> <li>From the perspective of the inverter, as to the inverter with a higher output voltage, if the power grade is the same, a lower current tends to have a higher efficiency. Compared with the two-stage structure, the single-stage structure has a simpler structure, higher reliability, lower cost, and cheaper cost.</li> <li>From the perspective of the system, if the inverter has a wider MPPT voltage scope, it can be started earlier and stopped later, and the power generating time is longer.</li> <li>According to the voltage source series connection principle, the system output voltages are added and the current is unchanged. After the PV modules are connected in series, the output current is determined by the minimum number of panels. Due to the influence of the component raw material, processing technology, shadow, dust and so on, if the power of one component is reduced, the power of this series of components will be reduced. Therefore, the number of components connected in series should be fewer and the number of components connected in parallel should be more, so as tor educe the influence brought by component consistency.</li> </ol> <p><strong>MPPT loops</strong></p> <p>At present, the string inverter has a number of 1-5 MPPT loops, and the power frequency centralized inverter also has 1-3 MPPT loops. The distributed inverter integrates the combiner box and the MPPT boost. There are multiple MPPTs, and there is also a high-frequency modular centralized inverter. Each module has an MPPT. This solution was launched by Emerson in 2010. However, the market response is not too ideal probably because of the immature technology at that time.</p> <p>From the perspective of solving the mismatch problem, the more MPPT is, the more favorable it is. From the perspective of the stability and efficiency, it is better to have fewer MPPTs, because the increased MPPT quantity tends to result in a higher system cost, poorer stability and more loss. Therefore, it is necessary to select an appropriate solution in combination with actual terrain requirements. In theory, the inconsistency of components should exceed 0.5%, then there is some operation values.</p> <ol> <li>Functional loss: There are many MPPT algorithms, such as interference observation method, incremental conductivity method, conductance increment method and so on. No matter which algorithm is used, the sunlight intensity is judged by constantly changing the DC voltage, so an error can not be avoided. For example, when the voltage is actually at the optimal operating point, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-inverter">solar inverter</a> will still try to change the voltage to determine whether it is the best operating point. If there is an increased MPPT loop, there will be more loss.</li> <li>Measure the loss: When the MPPT is working, the inverter has to measure the current and voltage. Generally speaking, the larger the current, the greater the anti-interference ability, and the less the error. The 2-loop MPPT has the current 2 times as much as that of the 4-loop MPPT, and the error is reduced greatly. For example, a <a href="https://www.inverter.com/50kw-pure-sine-wave-off-grid-solar-inverter">50kW solar inverter</a> of a company uses an open-loop DC current sensor HLSR20-P with a current of 20A and an error of 1%. When the input current is less than 0.5A, the error often occurs. When the input current is less than 0.2A, it basically can not work.</li> <li>Circuit loss: The MPPT main circuit has an inductor and a switching transistor that also generates losses during operation. generally speaking, a higher current tends to realize lower inductance value and fewer losses.</li> </ol> <p>The following figure shows the actual power generation of different MPPT inverters in two different places. It can be seen from the figure that on the flat area with no sheltering, the power generation of the two inverters is similar. In mountainous areas or on roofs with general sheltered light conditions, the inverter of the two-stage multi-channel MPPT has a high power generation capability.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-generation-of-solar-inverters-in-different-places.jpg" alt="Power generation of solar inverters in different places" width="850" height="263" /></p> <p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>The diversity of inverter MPPT technology has brought great convenience to power station design. Combined with the actual and scientific design, on different terrains and in different lighting conditions, different inverters will be selected to reduce power station cost and improve economic efficiency. Mountain power stations and rooftop power stations have inconsistent and partial sheltering phenomena, and different mountains have different sheltering characteristics, resulting in component mismatch problems. It is recommended to select the two-stage inverter with multi-channel MPPT and wide voltage range, which can prolong the power generation time in the morning and evening. In flat areas with no sheltering and good lighting conditions, it is recommended to select the single-staged inverter with the single-loop MPPT to improve system reliability and reduce system cost.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:11 https://www.inverter.com/4-functions-of-grid-tie-solar-inverter 4 Functions of Grid Tie Solar Inverter <p>The photovoltaic solar inverters are classified into grid-tie inverters, off-grid inverters, and microgrid energy storage inverters according to their different applications. The grid-tie inverters can be further classified into micro inverters, string-type inverters, concentrated inverters and centralized distributing inverters according to power and usage. The micro inverter has the power class of 180W to 1200W, thus being suitable for small power generation system. The string-type inverter is the single-phase inverter with power from 1kW to 5kW. It is suitable for household power generation system. The three-phase inverter with the grid-tie voltages of 220V, 5kW to 70kW is suitable for industrial and commercial power generation systems. Its on grid voltage is three-phase 380V.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/grid-tie-inverter-for-PV-system.jpg" alt="grid tie inverter for PV system" width="508" height="339" /></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/on-grid-inverter">on grid solar inverter</a> is a key component connecting the photovoltaic array and the grid. In addition to converting the DC power generated by the component into AC power that the grid can receive, the following special functions are also available:</p> <p><strong>Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) function</strong><br />When the sunlight intensity and ambient temperature change, the input power of the PV module exhibits a nonlinear change. As shown in the figure, it can be seen from the figure that the PV module is neither a constant voltage source nor a constant current source, and its power varies as the output voltage changes and has nothing to do with the load. Its output current begins as a horizontal line as the voltage rises. When it reaches a certain power, it decreases as the voltage rises. When the component open circuit voltage is reached, the current drops to zero.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/PV-module-I-U-curve.jpg" alt="I U curve of grid tie solar inverter PV module" width="508" height="327" /></p> <p>The output power of photovoltaic modules is affected by factors such as sunlight intensity and ambient temperature. When the sunlight intensity decreases, the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic module decreases, the short-circuit current decreases, and the maximum output power decreases. When the temperature of the photovoltaic module decreases, the short-circuit current of the component decreases, but the open circuit voltage of the component increases, and the maximum output power increases. In the case of a certain component temperature and sunlight intensity, the same component has only a single maximum power output point. The MPPT function is the maximum power tracking function. By adjusting the DC voltage and output current, the solar module always works at the maximum operating point, and puts out the maximum power under the present temperature and sunlight condition.</p> <p>The common maximum power tracking control methods include: Constant voltage tracking (CVT), which fixes the terminal voltage of the PV module to a fixed value, and has the characteristics of simple control and good stability, power calculation method, current optimization method, perturbation and observation method, increment conductivity method and other classical control algorithms, as well as the optimal gradient method, fuzzy logic control method, neuroid network control method and other modern control algorithms.</p> <p><strong>Inspection and control of the islanding effect</strong><br />In normal power generation, the photovoltaic grid-tie power generation system is connected to the bulk power system to deliver active power to the grid. However, when the grid is in power loss, the PV on grid power generation system may continue to work and be in independent operation with the local load. This phenomenon is called the islanding effect. When the inverter has an islanding effect, it will cause great safety hazard to the personal safety, power grid operation and the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> itself. Therefore, the inverter grid entry standard stipulates that the PV grid-tie solar inverter must have the inspection and control function of the islanding effect.</p> <p>The inspection method of the islanding effect includes passive inspection and active inspection. The passive inspection method detects the amplitude of the voltage and current at the output of the on grid inverter. The inverter does not add an interference signal to the grid. Through inspecting if the current phase deviation, frequency and other parameters exceed the stipulated value, the grid is judged to be power off or not. This method does not cause power grid pollution, and there is no energy loss. The active inspection means that the grid-tie solar inverter actively and regularly applies some interference signals to the power grid, such as, the frequency shifting and phase shifting. Since the power grid can be regarded as an infinite voltage source, when there is a power grid, these interference signals will be absorbed by the power grid. If the power grid is out of power, these interference signals will form positive feedback, which will eventually form an excessive frequency or voltage, so as to judge whether the islanding effect has occurred.</p> <p><strong>Power grid inspection and grid connection function</strong><br />Before the grid connection and power generation of the grid-tie solar inverter, it needs to take power from the grid, detect the voltage, frequency, phase sequence and other parameters of the grid power transmission, and then adjust the parameters of its own power generation to be in consistent with the grid electrical parameters. After this, the grid connection and power generation can be realized.</p> <p><strong>Zero (low) voltage traversing function</strong><br />In case of an accident or interference of the power system, triggering the voltage decline of the PV station on grid voltage, within a certain voltage drop range and time interval, the PV station can ensure continuous operation without grid disconnection.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:10 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-select-an-inverter-for-pv-off-grid-system How to Select an Inverter for PV Off Grid System? <p>In the photovoltaic off-grid system, the power parameter of the power inverter selecting is generally confirmed according to the load type and power of the user.</p> <p>The load is classified into the following types according to the impedance property: Resistive load, inductive load, and capacitive load.</p> <ol> <li>The resistive load: The load with no phase difference between current and voltage is a resistive load, such as the electric cooker, bulb, electric furnace, electric soldering iron and so on.</li> <li>The inductive load: It is an inductive load if the current is one phase difference lagging behind the voltage, such as the washing machine, air conditioner, refrigerator, water pump, kitchen ventilator, load with motor, transformer, relay, compressor and so on.</li> <li>The capacitive load: It is a capacitive load if the current is one phase difference leading ahead the voltage, such as the compensation capacitor, computer, television and other household switching power supplies. The start-up power of the motor and other inductive loads is 5-7 times of the rated power. In calculating the power of the inverter, the start-up power of these loads should be taken into account.</li> </ol> <p>If the load is an elevator or the like, it cannot be directly connected to the output terminal of the inverter. Because the motor will reverse when the elevator is descending, a counter electromotive force will be generated. When it enters the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/off-grid-inverter">off grid inverter</a>, it might damage the inverter. If a PV off-grid system is required, it is recommended to add a frequency converter between the inverter and the elevator motor.</p> <p>If the photovoltaic off grid system is only used for pumping water, and a water tower can be built, it is recommended to select the photovoltaic pumping inverter, which can save costs. Such as a 2HP <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">water pump</a>, if an ordinary inverter is choosen, it can be driven with the off-grid inverter of over 5KW. In addition, it is required to be equipped with a battery of more than 200AH. The total cost is over 1500USD. However, if a pumping inverter is used, it only requires 2kW, which costs less than 450USD.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/water-pump-for-PV-pumping-water-system.jpg" alt="water pump for PV pumping water system" width="890" height="380" /></p> <p>The waveforms of the inverter are mainly divided into two categories, one is the sine wave inverter and the other is the modified wave inverter. As to the modified wave inverter, it adopts the PWM pulse width modulation means to generate the modified wave output. Since there is a harmonic distortion of around 20%, it can't carry an inductive load such as an air conditioner, but it can carry a resistive load such as a lamp. The modified sine wave inverter adopts a non-isolated coupling circuit. The equipment has a simple structure and high efficiency. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverter</a> adopts the isolated coupling circuit design, which has a rather complicated circuit and a rather high cost. Therefore, it can be connected to any common electrical equipment (including TV set, liquid crystal display and so on, especially the inductive load such as the refrigerator) without any interference.</p> <p>The inverter is divided into the high-frequency machine and power-frequency machine according to isolation. The inverter with a 50Hz power frequency isolation transformer behind it is called the power-frequency inverter. If the high-frequency switching element or high-frequency isolation transformer is used to substitute the power-frequency transformer in the inverter, it is the high-frequency inverter. The advantage of the power-frequency inverter is that the power components have stable and reliable operation, strong overload capacity and impact resistance. The disadvantage lies in low efficiency, heavy weight and high price. The high-frequency inverter has two types: High-frequency isolation and non-isolation. The advantage lies in the small size, high efficiency, and low price. The disadvantage is that the impact resistance is slightly lower. If the load is an inductive load such as a motor with a high impact , but it is not frequently moved, it is suggested to select the power-frequency inverter. If the load is a resistive load with less impact and it will be frequently moved, it is suggested to select the high-frequency inverter.</p> <p>The output power of the inverter must be greater than the power of the load. For the monitoring station, communication station and other occasions with strict requirement, the output power is the sum of all the load powers. However, for the average poor family, considering that all loads cannot be turned on simultaneously, the sum of the load powers can be multiplied by a factor of 0.7-0.9, so as to save the cost.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:8 https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump-system-for-agricultural-irrigation Solar Water Pump System for Agricultural Irrigation <p>Solar photovoltaic water pumping system, also known as photovoltaic water pump or solar water pump system, converts solar energy into electricity through solar cell modules, and then drives the pump to raise water from low level to high level for farmland irrigation or human and livestock drinking. Solar water pump system project can be built in areas rich in solar energy resources, making modular construction or staged construction according to the fund or industrial development, and realize automatic operation, costs low management fees.</p> <p><strong>Main components of solar water pump system</strong></p> <p>The solar pump system is mainly constituted by three parts:</p> <ul> <li>Photovoltaic (PV) power generation part - photovoltaic module, which is the energy source of solar water pump<br />The photovoltaic module can convert solar radiation energy into electric energy.</li> <li>Photovoltaic water pump control part - solar pump inverter<br />The electric energy is converted from the DC current to the AC current by the inverter, and the solar water pump is driven to raise water by the inverter.</li> <li>Water pumping machine part - <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a><br />There are additional facilities including pipes, machine rooms, reservoirs and so on.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Construction conditions of solar water pumping system</strong></p> <ul> <li>Have stable and reliable solar energy resources<br />The sunshine time throughout the year should be no less than 2200h, and the total solar radiation throughout the whole year should be no less than 1000k W.h/(m2.a).</li> <li>Water source condition<br />The water quality and water supply of the source should meet the corresponding standards and requirements. The water source is not advisable to be too far away from the photovoltaic water pumping unit. The distance between the water pumping unit less than 2kW and the water source is not appropriate to exceed 10m, and the distance between the water pumping unit more than 2kW and the water source is not appropriate to exceed 20m.</li> </ul> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-system-for-agricultural-irrigation.jpg" alt="Solar-water pump system for agricultural irrigation" width="724" height="410" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Engineering design and construction of <strong>solar water pump system</strong></strong></p> <p>1. Water source confirmation</p> <p>The nature and water yield of the water source are important basis for the construction and investment of the pump system. Pumps adopted by different water sources are very different. Generally, the water source is in deep underground area, so the submesible pump should be used. If the sediment content in the water is high, the sewage pump should be used. When there are good water inflow conditions, single-stage and multi-stage centrifugal pumps are used. One of the most important conditions for determining the source of water is that the water source does not dry during the dry season. The water level of the general pond varies relatively little, but it is required to confirm the lowest water level and water depth in drying. For deep wells, it is necessary to determine the depth of the well, the diameter of the well, the water level, the moving water level and the water output. For rivers, it is required to determine the lowest water level in the dry season, the water depth and the highest water level during the flood season.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump.jpg" alt="Solar Water Pump" width="400" height="400" /></p> <p>2. Water consumption confirmation</p> <p>Both the water consumption standard of human and livestock drinking water and crop irrigation water should be determined according to the actual situation. It must meet the current needs, do not waste, but also consider the needs of recent development, and most importantly, it is required to behave according to the fund condition.</p> <p>3. Solar water pump selection</p> <p>The pump should meet the requirements of system lift and flow. At present, centrifugal pumps (including various self-priming pumps, pipeline pumps and submersible pumps and so on) are suitable for being used as solar water pump, which has a high efficiency, cheap price and minimum future operation and maintenance cost. As long as the lift and flow are met, this is the first water pump type. The second type is the positive displacement pump (including a piston pump, a reciprocating pump and so on). This type of pump has the characteristics of the highest efficiency and the highest lift. The maximum lift can exceed several kilometers. It is especially suitable for being used in occasions with high lift and small flow. However, it has the disadvantage of high price, big size, heavy weight, and insufficient future exchange cost. Larger PV pump systems use double pump or multiple pump systems wherever possible.</p> <p>4. PV module selection and the square array site construction<strong><br /></strong></p> <p>Photovoltaic array is the power core of the entire system. The model selection and configuration of the photovoltaic module is the main factor determining the cost performance of the photovoltaic module system. According to the light intensity temperature characteristics of the solar cell and the performance evolution characteristics of the life cycle, it is a rather reasonable configuration for the capacity of the general photovoltaic module being 1.3 to 1.6 times larger than the power required by the pump motor. The specific value must be determined according to the lift and the pump model selection. The photovoltaic array needs to be installed in a place with the stable foundation is stable and good sunshine. Photovoltaic subarray layout should minimize land occupation according to terrain, but must meet the standard of independent photovoltaic power plant technical specification.</p> <p>5. Solar pump inverter selection</p> <p>The solar water pump is not like the pump powered by the conventional AC grid. Because the electricity generated by the photovoltaic module is the direct current, it is required to invert the direct current into a three-phase alternating current for being used by the water pump through the inverter. Then, the <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-pump-inverter">solar pump inverter</a> special for PV water pumps should be selected with high reliability and high system efficiency. The capacity of the solar pump inverter must meet the heavy-duty startup of the selected pump. If it is used the highland area, the capacity reduction caused by the high altitude must be taken into account, so as to ensure the long-term and reliable operation of the system. In normal conditions, the power of the PV pump inverter is required to be one stage higher than that of the water pump motor.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/Solar-Inverter-Wiring.jpg" alt="Solar Pump Inverter Wiring" width="900" height="350" /></p> <p>6. Pipeline design</p> <p>The general photovoltaic pump can be considered to operate for 5h in sunny days in full power. The piping design must be able to meet the flow requirements. The general pipeline resistance should be no more than 5%. In addition, it is required to pay attention to the pressure resistance of the pipeline. The general galvanized pipe can only withstand pressure of 10 to 15 kg, so the seamless steel pipe should be adopted.</p> <p>7. Reservoir design</p> <p>For the project of human and animal drinking water, the volume of the high-level pool should be able to meet the daily water yield of at least 3 to 5 days, and the elevation must meet the requirements of being able to flow to all families. For crop irrigation water, the larger the pool volume, the better. For example, if it is required to water for one to two months in a dry period of one year, and the equipment is not used in the rest time, it is suggested to pump water in the reservoir 3 to 5 months in advance. The reservoir used for irrigation water has no high requirement. The reinforced concrete pool is not a must. Some water pools and ponds can be used as long as they do not leak water. When the terrain is a relatively steep slope, one pool or several pools can be built on the half slope where there are more irrigating lands. The dispersed construction of the pool can also reduce investment and, more importantly, avoid damage caused by landslides due to the heavy weight of the large pool. The place with the pool is built must have a stable geological structure and can withstand the weight of the pool after water storage.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:9 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-solar-water-pump What is Solar Water Pump? <p>Solar pump system is a photovoltaic pumping system that uses the power generated by the PV array to drive the pump. The whole system is mainly constituted by the photovoltaic array, solar inverter and water pump. It is the most attractive water supply means in the sun-rich areas of the world today, especially in remote areas where electricity is insufficient or not available.</p> <p><strong>Category of solar water pump</strong></p> <p>There are two main types of solar water pumps. The surface pump is located on the ground and moves water through the pipe. They can move a lot of water slowly. Surface pumps are often found on farms or large irrigation systems where water needs to be moved from the lake to the field. The submersible solar water pump is located underground, but the solar panel is connected on the ground. The submersible pump is used to move water from the well to the surface.</p> <p><strong>How does a solar water pump work?</strong></p> <p>The main difference between the solar water pump and the conventional water pump is the power source. The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/solar-water-pump">solar water pump</a> relies on the solar panel as power supply to operate. The solar panel can be built into the device or it is an independent structure that is connected to the pump by wires. Afterwards, the solar panel supplies power to the pump, making it work independently of any existing electrical system.</p> <p>Using the power generated by the solar cell, the brushless DC motor or the high-efficiency asynchronous motor inside the solar water pump is driven by the maximum power point tracking (MPPT), and inverter and controller to drive the water from the well to the ground for agricultural irrigation or human and animal drinking.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/solar-water-pump-connection-and-applications.jpg" alt="Solar Water Pump Connection and Applications" width="688" height="500" /></p> <p><strong>Applications of solar water pump</strong></p> <ul> <li>Livestock irrigation<br />The solar water pump plays a major role in water supply on pastures in the America, Australia and Southern Africa. The water sources in these areas are scattered over vast pastures with few power lines, and the cost of transportation and maintenance is very high. Some ranchers use solar water pumps to distribute pipes of several kilometers (more than 5 kilometers), others use portable systems to move them from one source to another.</li> <li>Agricultural irrigation<br />The solar water pump is used for small farms, orchards, vineyards and gardens. Direct water pumping (without battery) is the most economic. It stores water in a tank and distributes it by gravity flow. In the case where pressurization is required, the battery stabilizes the voltage to maintain consistent flow and distribution, eliminates the need for a storage tank.</li> <li>Household water supply<br />The solar water pump can also be applied in private houses, villages, medical clinics and so on. The pump can be powered by a PV array or by a main power system that powers the fixtures and home appliances.</li> </ul> urn:store:1:blog:post:7 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-improve-efficiency-of-power-inverters How to Improve Efficiency of Power Inverters? <p>The efficiency of the power inverter is directly related to the generated energy of the system, so it is an important indicator that customers care much about. It is of great importance to increase the conversion efficiency of the power inverter.</p> <p>The only way to improve the efficiency of power inverters is to reduce the losses. The main losses of inverters come from IGBT, MOSFET and other power switch tubes, as well as magnetic devices such as transformers and inductors, which is related to the current, voltage and the process adopted by the selected materials.</p> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Component</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Type</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Factors</strong></td> <td style="text-align: center;"><strong>Measures</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2">IGBT</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Switching loss (dynamic)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Switching frequency, DC voltage</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Multi-level, control strategy</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">Conduction loss (static)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Current, component internal resistance</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Soft switching, new component</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2">Inductance</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Iron loss (no-load loss)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Capacity, magneto resistance</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Improve switching frequency and magnetic conductive material</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;">Copper loss (load loss)</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Current, internal resistance</td> <td style="text-align: center;">Good conductive materials</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>IGBT loss</strong></p> <p>It can be divided into conduction loss and switching loss. Among them, conduction loss is related to internal resistance and current passing through components, while switching loss is related to switching frequency of components and DC voltage endured by components.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-internal-structure.jpg" alt="Power Inverter Internal Structure" width="380" height="357" /></p> <p><strong>Inductance loss</strong></p> <p>It can be divided into copper loss and iron loss. Among them, copper loss refers to the loss caused by resistance of inductance coil. When current is heated by passing through the resistance of inductance coil, part of electric energy is transformed into heat energy and lost, and because the coil is usually wrapped by insulated copper wire, it is also called copper loss, which can be calculated by measuring the short-circuit impedance of transformers. Iron loss includes two aspects: hysteresis loss and eddy current loss, which can be calculated by measuring the no-load current of transformers.</p> <p><strong>Techniques to improve the efficiency of inverters</strong></p> <p>At present, there are three technical routes to improve the efficiency of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverters</a>.</p> <ul> <li>First, space vector pulse width modulation and other control methods are used to reduce loss.</li> <li>Second, components of silicon carbide materials are used to reduce the internal resistance of power devices.</li> <li>Third, three-level, five-level, multi-level electrical topology and soft switching technology are adopted to reduce the voltage at both ends of power devices and the switching frequencies of power devices.</li> </ul> <p>1. Space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM)</p> <p>SVPWM is a fully digital control method with the advantages of high utilization rate of DC voltage and easy control, which has been widely used in power inverters. With high utilization of DC voltage, lower DC bus voltage can be used under the same output voltage, which reduces the voltage stress of power switching devices, reduces the switching loss on devices and improves the conversion efficiency of power inverters to a certain extent. In space vector synthesis, there are many combinations of vector sequences. Through different combinations and sorting, the effect of reducing switching times of power devices can be achieved, which can further reduce the switching losses of power devices of power inverters.</p> <p>2. Adopting components made of silicon carbide material</p> <p>The impedance per unit area of silicon carbide devices is only one percent of that of silicon devices, and IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) and other power devices made of silicon carbide can reduce the on-state impedance to one tenth of the conventional silicon devices. Since silicon carbide technology can effectively reduce the reverse recovery current of diodes, the switching loss of power devices and the current capacity required for the main switch can also be reduced. Therefore, the anti parallel diode with silicon carbide diode as the main switch is the way to improve the efficiency of power inverters. Compared with traditional fast recovery anti parallel diode, the anti parallel diode made of silicon carbide can significantly reduce the reverse recovery current and improve the total conversion efficiency by 1%. After using fast IGBT, the conversion efficiency of the whole machine can be improved by 2% due to the acceleration of switching speed. When the SiC anti parallel diode is combined with the fast IGBT, the efficiency of power inverters will be further improved.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-inner-structure.jpg" alt="Power Inverter Inner Structure" width="800" height="449" /></p> <p>3. Soft switching and multilevel technology</p> <p>By resonance principle, soft switching technology can make the current or voltage in switching devices change according sine or quasi-sine law. When the current crosses zero naturally, the device is turned off, and when the voltage crosses zero naturally, the device is turned on, thus reducing switching loss and solving the problems of inductive disconnection and capacitive opening. Moreover, there is no switching loss in the switch when the voltage at both ends of the switch or the current flowing through the switch is zero, the switch is turned on or off. Three-level powewr inverters are mainly used in high voltage and high power scenarios, which increases zero-level output and reduces the voltage stress of power devices by half compared with the traditional two-level structure. For this reason, three-level inverters can adopt smaller output filter inductance than two-level inverters under the same switching frequency, which can effectively reduce inductance loss, cost and volume. Meanwhile, three-level power inverters can adopt lower switching frequency, lower switching loss and higher conversion efficiency than two-level power inverters under the same output harmonic content.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:6 https://www.inverter.com/will-a-car-inverter-damage-your-car-battery Will a Car Inverter Damage Your Car Battery? <p>A car inverter can convert 12V DC to 110V/220V AC. It is very useful on the go. But many people will be worried about if car inverters are harmful to storage batteries. For all products used in car storage batteries, there will have some impact on the storage battery more or less. Even more, if you fail to operate properly, the impact on the battery will be greater. Therefore, what we can do is to use the car inverters correctly, which will reduce the damage to the car battery.</p> <p>The car starts the engine with the help of storage battery, and the motor starts to generate electricity after the engine turns. Part of the electricity generated is used for engines (mainly spark plugs) and the rest is stored in battery. When the car battery is full, the extra electricity is wasted.</p> <p>The working of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverters</a> include two state: engine start-up state and stop state. Under start-up state, the extra electricity is used completely, which has no effect on the car, while in the stop state, the storage electricity in the battery is used. Since the car storage battery is always in the state of charging - consuming - charging - consuming, it will not be affected by supplying a little power to the car inverter, but it should be noted that the engine neutrality should be started for 10-20 minutes to generate electricity. Otherwise, the power stored in the battery will be used up.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/car-inverter.jpg" alt="Car Inverter" width="500" height="500" /></p> <p>It is recommended not to turn on the air-conditioner after the flame-out, because it consumes too much electricity and can run out of the battery in a few minutes. Also, other appliances should be used as little as possible after the flame-out, because the service life of storage battery will be reduced when they are in power shortage.</p> <p>If the power inverter is only inserted into the cigarette lighter without connecting with other electrical appliances, it is equivalent to no load. If there is a load (i.e. a 65W laptop is connected), and the efficiency of the inverter is 90%, which is equivalent to supply 72W power by the car battery. The service life of car battery is related to the number of charges and discharges, so connecting with electrical appliances will increase the number of charges and discharges of car battery at most, which certainly has an impact on the battery life, but not be very large. However, for smaller-power appliances, the effect on storage battery should be similar to that of turning on the radio. Absolutely, good batteries will be more durable and relatively able to withstand this load. There are batteries specially designed for the frequent use of electronic equipment in the car, which will cause less damage to the battery and the car.</p> <p><strong>Tips for use a car inverter properly</strong></p> <p>1. Car inverters should be used strictly in accordance with the user manual.</p> <p>2. The output voltage of the inverter is high-voltage AC power, which is placed in a narrow space and in a movable state, so you should be more careful. To avoid electric shock, you should put it in a safer place (especially away from children!).</p> <p>3. You’d better cut off its input power supply when not using it.</p> <p>4. Do not expose the inverter to sunlight or outlet of the heater. Had better not run the inverter in an environment over 40 degrees.</p> <p>5. Each car inverter has a certain value of DC input voltage, so the car battery voltage must be consistent with the DC input voltage of the inverter when the car inverter chooses the battery voltage. For example, a 12V car inverter must match a 12V battery.</p> <p>6. The output power of car inverters must be greater than the usage power of electrical devices, especially for the appliances with high start-up power, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, which should be left a larger margin.</p> <p>7. The positive and negative polarities of car inverter must be correctly connected. The input side of the inverters is marked with positive and negative poles, and the diameter of the connecting line must be thick enough. Moreover, the length of the connecting line should be reduced as much as possible.</p> <p>8. Car inverters should be placed in a ventilated and dry place but not expose them to rain. Keep the inverter a distance of more than 20cm from the surrounding objects and away from flammable and explosive products. Avoid placing or covering other items on the car inverter.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:5 https://www.inverter.com/pure-sine-wave-vs-modified-sine-wave-inverters Pure Sine Wave vs. Modified Sine Wave Inverters <p>Power inverters can be mainly divided into two types according to waveforms: pure sine wave inverter and modified sine wave inverter. In fact, there is also another type - square wave inverters, the earliest type of inverters which is seldom seen now.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/waveforms-of-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Waveforms of power inverter" width="742" height="188" /><strong>Pure sine wave inverter</strong></p> <p>Pure sine wave inverters output the true sine wave AC power which is the same as or even better than the power grid we use every day since there is no electromagnetic pollution. Pure sine wave inverters, with high efficiency, stable sine wave output and high frequency technology, are suitable for all kinds of loads without harms, which can not only power any common electrical equipment (including phone, heater, etc.), but also run the sensitive electronics or appliances (like microwave, fridge, etc.).</p> <p>In summary, <a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">pure sine wave inverters</a> provide high-quality AC, which can drive any kind of loads including resistive load and inductive load, and pure sine wave inverters have the highest conversion efficiency and the lowest loss, but they have higher technical requirements and costs than modified sine wave inverters.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/pure-sine-wave-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Pure sine wave power inverter" width="800" height="263" /></p> <p><strong>Modified sine wave inverter</strong></p> <p>Modified sine wave (or corrective sine wave, quasi-sine, simulated sine wave, etc.) inverters have a time interval between their output waveforms from maximum positive value to maximum negative value, which improves their use effect. However, the modified sine wave is still composed of broken lines, which belong to the category of square waves, with poor continuity and blind zones.</p> <p>Modified sine wave inverters should avoid powering inductive load. The inductive load refers to the high-power electrical products produced by the principle of electromagnetic induction, such as motors, compressors, relays, fluorescent lamps and so on, which require a much larger start-up current (about 5-7 times) than the current required to maintain normal operation. For example, a refrigerator that consumes about 150 watts of power in normal operation can start up with a power of more than 1000 watts. In addition, since the inductive load will produce counter electromotive force voltage at the moment of power on or off, and the peak of this voltage is much larger than that of inverters, which can easily cause the instantaneous overload of inverters and affect the service life of inverters.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/modified-sine-wave-power-inverter.jpg" alt="Modified sine wave power inverter" width="800" height="263" /></p> <p>If the demand for power quality is not very high, modified sine wave <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverters</a> can still meet the needs of most electrical equipment. However, the modified sine wave inverters has 20% harmonic distortion, so there are still some problems in the operation of precision equipment and it can cause high-frequency interference to communication equipment. But modified sine wave inverters are much cheaper pure sine wave inverters.</p> <p><strong>Square wave inverter</strong></p> <p>Square wave inverters, which output square wave AC with poor quality, almost produce the maximum positive value to the maximum negative value simultaneously, thus causing severe instability to the load and the inverters themselves. At the same time, square wave inverters have poor load capacity, which is only 40-60% of the rated load, and they can not carry inductive load, because excessive load may make the third harmonic component in the square wave current increase the capacitive current flowing into the load, even seriously damage the power filter capacitance of the load. In addition, square wave inverters are made of simple multivibrators with the technology of the 1950s. Now the square wave inverters can hardly find in the market.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:4 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-make-a-simple-power-inverter How to Make a Simple Power Inverter? <p>Today we'll introduce how to make a power inverter. This homemade inverter has simple circuit, low cost, easy maintain, and high efficiency. And it can be made by anyone who has a little practical ability. Although this DIY inverter does not have the same high-end and complex switching power supply integrated circuit as high-quality power inverters on the market, as well as field effect power amplification, its effectiveness is not inferior to others.</p> <p>This <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is quasi-sine wave output with no-load current less than 450 mA, load capacity more than 300W and efficiency more than 85%. It can power the fan, bulb, electric iron or a small TV in series with a 100W bulb (due to the degaussing coil, the starting current is too large, so it is necessary to start up in series with a bulb. If the degaussing coil is removed, the bulb is not necessary to connect in series). It brings great convenience to life and maintenance. Even if there is a fault, it will not cause voltage rise and burn out household appliances. The circuit of this DIY power inverter is shown in the following figure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/DIY-simple-power-inverter-circuit.jpg" alt="DIY simple power inverter circuit" width="486" height="457" /></p> <p><strong>Working principle of this homemade inverter</strong></p> <p>After the 12V DC power is connected, the multi-vibrator that is composed of V1, V2, R1-R4, C1 and C2 starts oscillation, and the collector of V1 and V2 takes turns to output about 50Hz of square wave with positive polarity. When the integral circuit composed of C3 and R5, C4 and R6 integrates into quasi-sine wave, and then V5 and V6 are excited respectively by phrase inversion and amplification of V3 and V4, the power transistors of V7 and V8 in the last stage take turns to turn on and cut off, and their collector current induce about 50 Hz quasi-sine high voltage output at the high voltage side of the transformer while flowing through the primary winding L1 and L2 of the transformer.</p> <p><strong>Choosing the components for the inverter</strong></p> <p>Most of components of this power inverter can be removed from scrap circuit boards. Among them, V5 and V6 are made with D880 or C2073, while V7 and V8 are made by three of 3DD207 in parallel with parameters of 200V/5A/50W, which can also be replaced by 3DDl5D. As for adjustable resistance RP, it can be removed from the tailboard of old color TV set, and other resistors and capacitors have no special requirements. The coils Ll and L2 are enameled wires of Φ1.62mm, each winding 50 turns, L3, L4 and L5 are all enameled wires of Φ 0.53mm with windings of 12, 12 and 945, respectively. In terms of power tube, it should be equipped with as large a radiator as possible, and the device is equipped with a radiator of 150cm wide. With regard to transformer core, it should have an effective cross-sectional area of more than 20 cm², and you can use the charger core of scrap storage battery large enough or the annular power transformer core on the amplifier.</p> <p><strong>Making and debugging the inverter</strong></p> <p>After installing all the power tubes with radiators, all the other components are welded on the power tubes by lap welding without making circuit boards. Since V1, V2 and components that make up the oscillating circuit may cause inconsistencies in the amplitudes of oscillating signals from collectors of V1 and V2, as well as excessive consumption for nothing due to characteristic difference, adjustable resistance RP is used to adjust the balance of oscillating circuit. The regulation circuit composed of VD and R7 is a necessary part to ensure the stable operation of oscillating circuit, which can solve the problem of unbalanced oscillating circuit caused by the voltage drop of storage battery.</p> <p>When debugging the power inverter, first switch RW to the middle position, set the ammeter in series at the 12V power supply terminal, turn on with no load and adjust the RP to minimize the current. Then, connect 60W bulb at the load terminal, electrify and adjust RP to minimize the current. Repeat no-load adjustments for many times until the current can no longer be adjusted. At this time, the noise should be minimal when listening to the sound close to the transformer. If the balance is not adjusted, the noise will be so loud that you can hear it without pressing your ear close to it. The emitters of V5 and V6 are inversely connected with the base poles of V7 and V8 by winding L3 and L4 respectively, which can deepen the depth of V7 and V8 saturation and cut-off, and improve the efficiency of V7 and V8. Please attention that, the phase of L3 and L4 should be correct, if not, the output voltage will not be high with poor load capacity, even if there will be voltage output on the high voltage terminal. After debugging, you can find a scrap computer power box to put the whole device in it and use its fan to abstract heat.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:3 https://www.inverter.com/how-to-choose-a-car-inverter How to Choose a Car Inverter? <p>Car inverter is a device that can convert 12V or 24V DC energy from car battery into 220V or 110V AC power, which is the same as the grid power for household appliances. With the car inverter, you can connect the cigarette lighter or car storage batteries to run the electronics, appliances or various tools, which can greatly broaden the range of entertainment and work in the car. How to choose a right inverter for your car? Then, let's move on.</p> <p><strong>1. Which power rating is the best choice for car inverter?</strong></p> <p>According to the required load range, almost all car electrical products are marked with the required power. For instance, the car refrigerator is marked with 150W, and the power of a suitable inverter should be more than 150W. If multiple electric loads are used simultaneously in the vehicle, we need to add all the power of the loads together, and then choose a car inverter with greater power than the total power.</p> <p><strong>2. Which type of car inverters is better, modified sine wave or pure sine wave?</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.inverter.com/sine-wave-inverter">Pure sine wave power inverter</a> can provide high-quality AC power which is the same as grid power and drive any kind of loads, but it requires high technical requirements and costs. However, modified sine wave power inverter can meet most of our electricity demands with high efficiency, low noise and favorable price. Therefore, modified sine wave car inverters are the mainstream products in the market. By the way, modified sine wave power inverters should avoid inductive load. Generally speaking, the inductive load refers to high-power electrical products produced by the principle of electromagnetic induction, such as motors, compressors and so on, which require a much larger start-up current (about 5-7 times) than the current required to maintain normal operation. In short, if you need an electrical equipment with large current start-up, pure sine wave inverter is your best choice.<img style="float: right;" src="/images/uploaded/300w-car-inverter.jpg" alt="300w car inverter" width="380" height="293" /></p> <p><strong>3. What is continuous power? What is peak power?</strong></p> <p>The power marked on car inverters includes continuous power and peak power. Among them, continuous power refers to the actual power of car inverters, also known as rated power, while peak power refers to the start-up power that inverters can provide in an instant to start the load electrical equipment. Therefore, it should be noted clearly that what the continuous power of the car inverter is when purchasing it, so as to avoid damage to the equipment.</p> <p><strong>4. Conversion efficiency of car inverters</strong></p> <p>As a very important index of car inverters, the higher conversion efficiency, the longer battery life and the less heat generated by car inverters. Conversion efficiency is the ratio of output watt to input watt, the closer this number is to 1, the better its efficiency is. In general, the efficiency of inverters is more than 80%-90%, that is, input 100W and output 80W-90W, so the inverter itself consumes nearly 10W-20W of power. Conversion efficiency can be divided into no-load and full-load. Without load, the components in the inverter operate at the lowest power, which can generally be as high as 90%. However, it can be considered as a good inverter with the conversion efficiency as high as 85% at full load. Therefore, car owners can simply judge the conversion efficiency from the heat of inverters by high-power load. The greater heat, the greater energy loss and the lower conversion efficiency.</p> <p><strong>5. Intelligent protection function of car inverters</strong></p> <p>A good <a href="https://www.inverter.com/car-inverter">car inverter</a> should have perfect protection function, which can protect your favorite car and power supply in all circumstances. Meanwhile, it should also have sound and light alarm function to remind you to deal with various situations in time. In general, protection functions include input under-voltage (low voltage) protection, over-voltage (high voltage) protection, over-temperature protection, overload protection, over-current protection and short circuit protection. What's more, some car inverters provide LED display, to show the battery voltage, output voltage, frequency and current. Therefore, car owners can timely understand the running conditions.</p> <p><strong>6. Shell material and heat dissipation of car inverters</strong></p> <p>Basically, low-power (less than 150W) inverters on the market are made of aluminum alloy and PP fire-resistant plastics, because PP fire-resistant plastics can withstand high temperature over 150℃ without deformation. For 150W power and more, if no inferior components are used in car inverters, it is theoretically unnecessary to use fans but natural cooling for heat dissipation. In fact, many low-power car inverters on the market are equipped with fans to dissipate heat actively. Normally, the cooling fans in car inverters are intelligent, which will start only when inverters are loaded with electricity and reach a certain temperature.</p> <p><strong>7. Input and output interfaces of car inverters</strong></p> <p>Generally, there are two ways of connections to get the power in car inverters: for the power rating less than 200W, the car inverters can be plugged into car cigarette lighter, for the power higher than 200W, the car inverter is directly connected to the car storage battery by wire. Car inverters are usually equipped with AC socket, USB charging port, cigarette lighter interface and 5V-12VDC interface, and the more types and number of interfaces provided, the higher cost-performance ratio is.</p> <p>So, what power of an inverter is suitable for car? Since there is a maximum allowable current in the design of car circuit, the maximum output power of most cars through the cigarette lighter interface is generally not more than 200W. It is recommended that the input power of car inverters through the cigarette lighter interface is not more than 200W. If you need to use high-power electrical equipment, you need to buy the inverter that can connect to the storage battery. Moreover, the car engine must be started when the high-power inverters are working. Most of the car built-in generators generate less than 1000W power. For the car inverters with more than 1000W power, if inverters work for a long time, it will cause the battery to lose power, because the power consumption is higher than the charging speed of the car generators for the batteries. If you often do it like this, you’d better replace your car’s own generator with a larger one.</p> <p>In a word, an excellent car inverter should meet the following four requirements:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: undefined;"> <li>Good ventilation, heat dissipation, workmanship and electronic components.</li> <li>Provide enough power output interfaces and types of interfaces.</li> <li>High conversion efficiency and clear product power identification.</li> <li>Provide all kinds of intelligent protections.</li> </ol> urn:store:1:blog:post:2 https://www.inverter.com/how-does-an-inverter-work How Does an Inverter Work? <p>In our daily life, most electronic products are used through 110V or 220V AC by switching power supply or some other rectifier circuit to convert AC to DC, and the so-called inversion is the process of converting DC to AC, which is a reverse process of rectifier conversion, so the inverter is named after this. Inverters bring us a lot of convenience in our life, such as outdoor barbecue, outdoor lighting, car refrigerators, etc., which are all used by converting DC power in storage batteries into AC power through inverters. Let's learn about the basic working principle of power inverter.</p> <p><strong>Working principle</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-equivalent-diagram.jpg" alt="Inverter equivalent diagram" width="500" height="271" /></strong></p> <p>As shown above, it is a typical equivalent diagram of <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a>. In the figure, four switches from S1 to S4 constitute two bridge arms, of which S1 and S2 shares the same bridge arm, and S3 and S4 shares the other same bridge arm. When S1 and S4 are connected, and S2 and S3 are disconnected, Uo = Ud can be obtained on their load resistance. On the contrary, when S2 and S3 are connected, and S1 and S4 are disconnected, Uo = -Ud can be obtained on the load resistance. By continuous operation with switch like this, the AC waveform can be obtained on the load, which completes the process of converting DC into AC, as shown by the following figure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-circuit-and-waveform-diagram.jpg" alt="Inverter circuit and waveform diagram" width="611" height="382" /></p> <p>It should be noted that the switch on the same bridge arm cannot be connected simultaneously, so as to avoid short circuit of power supply, and that the frequency of AC can be changed by changing the switch frequency. In fact, the four switches in the figure above are ideal models for various semiconductor switching devices, and common semiconductor switching devices in inverters include thyristors, field effect transistors and insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). For example, the following figure is a switching circuit consisting of a field effect transistor.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-circuit-diagram.jpg" alt="Power inverter circuit diagram" width="611" height="350" /></p> <p>As shown in the figure, the switching device of the circuit is composed of N-channel field transistor and P-channel enhancement field effect transistor, which forms push-pull output. When the driving signal is low-level L, it is the P-channel field effect transistor, and when the input signal is high-level H, it is N-channel field transistor. This alternating conduction can avoid the risk of short circuit caused by the simultaneous conduction of two switches from the same bridge arm. The working process is as follows: the field effect transistors of TR3 and TR4 are from the same bridge arm, TR5 and TR6 are from the other same bridge arm. The conduction of four switches controlled by pulse signals closes to produce alternating signals, which are applied to the low-voltage winding of the transformer, and the high-voltage winding of the transformer will be induced high-voltage AC, so as to complete the inversion from DC to AC.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-schemetic-diagram.jpg" alt="Power inverter schemetic diagram" width="578" height="207" /></strong></p> <p>The above is only the basic working principle of inverters. In practice, the application of inverters is absolutely much more complex. An inverter is completely composed of the main circuit, control circuit, drive circuit and auxiliary power supply.</p> <ul> <li>Main circuit<br />The main circuit includes various switching circuits to complete the inversion, which are mainly composed of DC power supply (capacitor), buffer, switching bridge circuit, filter and transformer, so as to complete the energy-level processing.</li> <li>Drive circuit<br />Drive and ensure the reliable switching on/off of the field effect transistors and other switching devices according to the switching signal of the control board.</li> <li>Control circuit<br />Collect feedback from main circuit, realize control algorithm and protection strategy and obtain switch signal.</li> <li>Auxiliary circuit<br />Auxiliary power supply and circuit of control chip and driver chip.</li> </ul> <p>In short, the inverter is a device that converts DC power into AC power.</p> urn:store:1:blog:post:1 https://www.inverter.com/what-is-an-inverter What is an inverter? <p>An inverter or power inverter, refers to an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). In our daily life, we often convert 110V or 220V AC power into DC power for use, while the inverter plays the opposite role. In other words, the inverter is used to convert the 12V, 24V or 48V DC power via car battery or battery bank to AC 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V, or 240V AC power. The power inverter can provide AC household power on the move, ideal for charging the electronics or appliances such as mobile phones, iPad, computers, TV, washing machines, rice cookers, refrigerators, video recorders, fans, lighting, air conditioning, electric grinding wheel, electric tools, etc. Therefore, the inverter is a must-have when you are working outside, traveling, camping or encountering emergency power failure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/inverter-applicable-occasion.jpg" alt="Inverter applicable occasion" width="1118" height="388" /></p> <p><strong>Features of inverter</strong></p> <ul> <li>High conversion efficiency and fast start-up.</li> <li>Good safety. The inverter has multiple protection functions, such as short circuit, overload, over-voltage, under-voltage, over-temperature and reverse connection.</li> <li>Good physical properties. With the aluminum shell, the inverter has good heat dissipation. With hard oxidized surface, it has good friction resistance and can resist extrusion or impact of a certain external force.</li> <li>Strong adaptability and stability with load.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Structure and principle of inverter</strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.inverter.com/power-inverter">power inverter</a> is a kind of DC to AC transformer, and it is actually a process of voltage inversion compared with the converter. The converter is to convert the AC power of the mains grid into a stable 12V DC output, while the inverter is to convert the 12V DC voltage of the adapter into high-frequency high-voltage alternating current. Both of converter and inverter use the pulse width modulation (PWM) technology. The inverter is made of inverting circuit, logic control circuit and filtering circuit, mainly including input interface, voltage start circuit, MOS switch, PWM controller, DC conversion circuit, feedback circuit, LC oscillation and output circuit, load and so on, as shown in the following figure.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/images/uploaded/power-inverter-block-diagram.jpg" alt="Power inverter block diagram" width="660" height="224" /></p> <ul> <li>Input interface<br />The input interface includes 3 signals, 12V DC input VIN, working enabling voltage ENB and Panel current control signal DIM. Among them, VIN is provided by adapter, and ENB voltage is provided by MCU on the main board with a value of 0 or 3V. When ENB is zero, the inverter does not work, while when ENB is 3V, the inverter works normally. Meanwhile, DIM voltage is provided by the main board with a range of 0 to 5V, which feeds back different DIM values to the feedback terminal of the PWM controller. In addition, power inverter will also provide different currents to the load, the smaller DIM value, the greater output current from the inverter.</li> <li>Voltage start-up circuit<br />When ENB is in high level, the backlight lamp of Panel is lighted by output high voltage.</li> <li>PWM controller<br />It has the following functions: internal reference voltage, error amplifier, oscillator and PWM, over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection, short circuit protection, output transistor.</li> <li>DC conversion<br />Voltage conversion circuit is made of MOS transistor and energy storage inductance. The input pulse is amplified by push-pull amplifier to drive the MOS transistor to switch on or off, so that the DC voltage charges and discharges the inductor, and the other end of the inductor can obtain AC voltage.</li> <li>LC oscillation and output circuit<br />It can ensure the 1600V voltage required to start the lamp and reduce the voltage to 800V after the lamp is started.</li> <li>Output voltage feedback<br />When the load is working, the sampling voltage is reflected to stabilize the voltage output of the inverter.</li> </ul> <p>In brief, the control circuit of the inverter controls the operation of the whole system, the inverting circuit plays role of converting direct current into alternating current, and the filtering circuit is used to filter out undesired signals. The more specific work of the inverting circuit is as follows: firstly, the LC oscillation circuit converts DC power into AC power; secondly, the coil steps up the irregular alternating current into a square alternating current; finally, the square alternating current is rectified to sine wave alternating current.</p>