Tag Archives: inverters

Solar inverter warranties: what’s covered, and what’s not?

If you’ve already started exploring your inverter options, you may have noticed that many products come with a 25-year warranty. However, simply comparing the length of one warranty term to the next doesn’t give you a full picture: what is and isn’t included in a warranty differs quite a bit from one inverter company to the next. And considering how important a solar inverter is to the functionality of your system, you want to make sure you’re covered in case anything goes awry.

In this article, we’ll review the most important aspects of a solar inverter warranty, and discuss what’s standard for the industry.

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String inverters vs. power optimizers vs. microinverters: what you need to know

As you consider a solar panel system for your home, one of the key decisions you need to make is the type of inverter to install. Inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity generated by your solar panels into usable alternating current (AC) electricity. Given the complex power electronics and software contained within, inverters are vital to the ongoing performance of your solar power system.

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Q&A with SMA

Outside of solar panels, solar inverters are the most important part of a solar energy system, responsible for converting electricity generated by your solar panels into usable electricity for your home’s electronics and appliances. When it comes to deciding which equipment is best for your solar panel system, you have many different inverters to choose from, including options for both the type of technology (string vs. microinverter vs. string + power optimizers), and well as the inverter brand. 

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The SolarEdge Energy Hub: what you need to know

In 2020, SolarEdge launched their newest and most versatile home inverter: the SolarEdge Energy Hub Inverter. The aptly named Energy Hub combines the functionality of all of SolarEdge’s existing inverters under one hood to provide a future-proof solution that allows you to easily integrate additional SolarEdge home energy products into the same inverter product, from home battery backup to a Level 2 Smart EV Charger to their growing line of additional smart home/smart energy options. And the best part? Energy Hub has been well received throughout the industry, with the inverter winning PV Magazine’s 2020’s Inverter of the Year Award.

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Solar monitoring systems: Enphase vs. SolarEdge

A solar monitoring system can help you evaluate your PV system’s performance. It offers information about energy consumption and generation, optimizing energy usage, and damage to your solar system, among other data. It’s important to monitor your solar setup in some manner – without monitoring, it can be difficult to figure out if your solar panels are operating at the level they should be.

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What is a solar inverter? How does a solar inverter work?

Solar panels aren’t the only component that you should be thinking about when you evaluate your solar system equipment. Solar power inverters play an equally important role in a solar system: they convert the electricity your solar panels create into a form that can be used by the appliances, lighting, and other electronics that are in your home. Once you understand how solar inverters work, and the different types of inverters available for solar, the EnergySage Solar Marketplace can help you compare solar quotes with different inverter types.

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What the Tesla inverter means for solar

In January 2021, Tesla launched a new product: the Tesla Solar Inverter. In the realm of Tesla announcements, this one went a little under the radar for the general public — it’s nowhere near as flashy or exciting of a launch as any of their electric vehicles, the initial Powerwall, or Solar Roof. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that this announcement is insignificant: by building their own Solar Inverter, Tesla has the potential to drive the cost of solar even lower. Here’s what Tesla’s announcement means for the solar industry.

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Hybrid inverters: what you need to know

There are plenty of options available when it comes to selecting a solar inverter: these inverters vary in size, efficiency, performance, and capabilities. So what’s the best solution for you? If you’re thinking about adding a battery to your solar panel system now or in the future, you may want to consider installing a hybrid inverter.

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What happens if your solar inverter fails?

Solar energy systems are built to last and are designed to produce solar electricity reliably for 25 years or more. In some instances, though, individual components of a solar energy system may malfunction or break altogether. If you’ve installed solar, here’s what to do if your solar inverter fails. 

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