Why solar electric systems require inverters Wouldn a solar energy system be much simpler if we could just tie our solar panels together and head right into the electrical panel?
Well the simple answer is yes…it would be much simpler. But unfortunately, solar panels produce a kind of electricity that is different from that which we use in our homes. As you know, solar modules absorb sunlight and convert it to electricity…DC power, or direct current. The problem is that businesses and residences require AC power, or alternating current. Therefore, a device is needed to convert DC power to AC power. A popular way of doing this that is still commonly installed today is to take the DC power harvested by a string of around 15 solar panels and convert it to AC power using one large central inverter. However, this system has many disadvantages. We will get to those shortly. Today, power can be converted from AC to DC using one microinverter for each and every solar panel, a method that is far more efficient than using a single string or central inverter for a group of 15 modules. A microinverter is a small device that mounts underneath a solar module and accomplis
