Learn How to Choose the Right Off-Grid Solar Power Inverter

Before selecting or purchasing any equipment required for a stand-alone or hybrid power system, a thorough understanding of the basics of sizing a power storage system will be achieved.

The most crucial step in this process is to create a load profile or build a load table that will be used to estimate the amount of energy generated and stored daily. If you cannot build a load table, you should seek the help of a professional solar panel installer or system designer. The following are general steps to take:

  • Determine the loads – how much energy is required each day, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). In the case of off-grid power systems, a load table must be created that considers both summer and winter needs. When choosing a battery and inverter/charger, it is also essential to study impulse loads, power factors, and, among other things, maximum or peak consumption.
  • Calculate the required battery size in Ah or Wh. The decision should consider the type and chemistry of the battery, the transmit/receive (charge) efficiency, the maximum depth of discharge (DoD), and the maximum charge rate.
  • Calculate the number of solar panels required to charge the battery and power the loads, considering local conditions such as average illumination throughout the year, shading problems, panel orientation, and thermal degradation factors.

By following steps 1 to 3, you can select the appropriate inverter/charger, solar inverter/s, or MPPT solar charge controller/s for your system.

Different Solar Inverter Types

On-grid, off-grid, and hybrid inverters are the three types of solar inverters.

A battery-powered off-grid inverter converts DC to AC. Such inverters can power many business and residential projects.

On-grid Inverter: This device converts DC to AC and feeds any excess energy back into the grid. The electric grid is also connected to these inverters.