Inverters for Solar Power Systems

Quick Essential Information

Inverters are used to change direct current (DC) from batteries to
alternating current (AC) which is required by many household and shop
devices.

I.

Definitions
AC vs DC:
In a wire with direct current (DC) running through it, the electricity
flow only passes in one direction: Positive flows to Negative.
In a wire with alternating current
(AC), the electricity is running in one
direction and then the other thus
alternating its direction.

Time

The smoothness with which this

current flows is described by a sine
wave where, if you were watching
electrons flow from one point in the
wire, they might appear to go first
one way and then the other.

II.

Positive
Negative

Power Quality Types

There are 4 general types available in terms of the quality of their
power output but only 3 are suited for solar energy system
applications.

A. Modified Sine Wave Inverters:

In turning DC current into AC, the more
perfectly smooth you try to make the wave,
the more expensive the inverter becomes
because of materials & labor.
For many common devices, it is usually
acceptable to simulate the sine wave using
a squared off version.
Pure sine wave vs
modified sine wave

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However, devices
such as ultra
modern washing
machines,
electronic control
systems, some
medical equipment
and rechargeable or
variable speed tools
may not function
correctly with
modified sine wave
AC.

Stays the same

Jumps
up from
zero to
positive

Jumps down from

positive to zero

Jumps down from

zero to negative

Jumps
up from
negative
to zero
Stays the same

How electrical flow changes in a modified sine wave

Advantages: Considerably lower purchase cost; generally works fine

in most computer equipment, inkjet printers, power tools, consumer
entertainment devices and lighting. Technology is reliable and stable if
purchased from reputable manufacturers (Xantrex, Outback Power,
and Exeltech are amongst the best names). This type of inverter is the
most widely used type on the market.
Disadvantages: To sensitive devices, electricity in this form might
seem noisy. Electrical noise is any kind of fluctuation in the voltage,
amperage or changes in the wave form of the electrical current. Such
noise could cause:
o

hum in radios

lines on some TV screens

buzzing in fluorescent lights, dimming switches, fan control

switches

mis-functioning of sensitive electronic control devices

laser printers and some rechargeable battery power tools may

not function at all

excess heat production, lower lifespan, lower efficiency in some

variable speed electric motors and transformers

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B. Stepped Sine Wave Inverters:

This is the same idea as the modified
sine wave except with many more
steps. It is a compromise between
good (modified sine wave) and best
(pure sine wave)
Their output AC power is considered
cleaner and is often more acceptable
to the sensitive devices.
Different stepped sine wave inverters
may have more or few steps and are
usually progressively more expensive as
the number of steps increase.
Their advantages / disadvantages are the same as with modified sine
wave but less pronounced, depending upon how many steps in the
wave form.
C. Pure Sine Wave Inverters:
They deliver the cleanest power, same as
the utility companies. In fact, pure sine wave
inverters can provide even cleaner power
since utilities have to deal a whole range of
power noise and disruption problems from
the effects of lightning and sunspots to
equipment failures of all types resulting in
power surges or power reductions.
Pure sine wave inverters are usually as much
as 75% more expensive than modified sine
wave inverters.

III. Inverter Application Types

Inverters used in solar power systems divide into 3 types:
A. Grid-tie Inverters: You would use this type of inverter if you wanted
to tie into the local power grid and sell power back to the electric
company. They must produce pure sine wave electricity for this
purpose and are required to shut down in the event of a power loss
(blackout) to prevent damage to power utilities and utility personnel
who may be working on restoring power (called anti-islanding
protection). For this reason, they cannot provide you with backup
power in the event of a power emergency.
In general, home-built solar power systems would not be designed to
sell power back to the utilities and thus this type of inverter would not
be useful.
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B. Stand-Alone Inverters: These are designed to run off-grid systems

without interfacing with the external utility power distribution network.
This is typically what an off-grid household would use.
C. Battery Backup Inverters: This device can perform the functions of
both of the above and often includes an internal charge controller
permitting it to serve the charging requirements of the battery bank.
Thus it can shunt power back to the external utility grid when there is
power in excess of what is required by the solar power system
batteries. In the event of a utility power failure, battery backup
inverters will automatically cut in local battery power.

Inverter Selection Guidelines

Heavy Duty vs Light Duty Inverters
There are many inexpensive inverters available which can be usually
identified by their light weight. They use light-duty transformers made
with very small diameter copper wire and attempt to compensate
using complex electronic circuitry.
The problem is that these light-duty coils cannot withstand the high
power surges, heat and mechanical stresses commonly encountered
during use. For this reason they are not robust, have short life spans
and should not be considered for anything more than non-critical,
occasional use.
For emergency or critical applications, use only equipment from longstanding manufacturers such as Xantrex, Outback Power and Exeltech
who design highly reliable equipment for non-stop, critical operations
(24/7 for years).
Because of these heavy-duty transformer coils, such inverters can
often be used to charge batteries when connected to an AC current
source. Thus one can save money by not having to buy separate
equipment for this function. Such units are usually labeled as
inverter/chargers and can cost significantly less than buying each
separately.

Automatic AC transfer switch

Look for an inverter/charger that also includes an AC transfer switch.
This permits you to draw AC current to simultaneously provide power
to your AC devices and charge batteries. In the event of a power loss,
the system would switch over automatically to run on batteries, thus
making your system an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).

Wiring together inverters

Unless they are specifically designed for the purpose, never wire
inverters together in either parallel or series. The result will be two
destroyed inverters.
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Sizing an inverter for your system

Continuous (normal operating) Loads: Determine the normal
operating wattages of all the equipment you expect to be running
simultaneously.
Starting (surge, peak) Loads: When certain electrical equipment
such as refrigerators or anything with a motor starts up, it typically
requires 50% more wattage than after it has come to speed. Thus a
1,000 watt motor might have a starting power demand of 1,500 watts.
Warning! When sizing an inverter for a system, the safest way to do
it is to look up the surge loads for all the equipment you are likely to
be running. Some devices such as pumps, refrigerators and air
conditioners can have surge power demands 3 to 7 times their
continuous power ratings.
Inverter inefficiencies
To accommodate inverter inefficiencies (power loss), add:
Pure Sine Wave Inverter: At least 10% above max. loads
Modified Sine Wave Inverter: At least 15% max. loads
Overall Computation
1 Compute Surge (peak) Loads: Determine which equipment
might possibly be started at the same time and what their surge
loads would be.
2

Continuous Loads: Add to that the continuous loads demanded

by equipment that might be operating at the same time.

Inverter Inefficiencies: Compensate for inverter inefficiencies

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Example:
Device
Refrigerator

Continuous loads

Surge loads

200 watts

400 watts

Power saw

1,500 watts

3,000 watts

Washing machine

1,250 watts

2,500 watts

Well pump

1,250 watts

2,500 watts

Lights

1,500 watts

none

Computer equipment

50 watts

none

Small misc equipment

30 watts

none

5,780 watts

----

-----

8,400 watts

Total surge loads

Total continuous loads

If you are going to use a modified sine wave inverter, now compensate
for the inverters inefficiency (power loss) rating:
Raw totals

Add 15%

Continuous loads

5,780 watts

6,647 watts

Surge loads

8,400 watts

9,660 watts

Therefore assume you would need an inverter that provides 7,000

watts continuous and 10,000 watts surge, though typically surge
(peak) wattage is provided at 2x the continuous load rating.
Thus your inverter would probably be rated at 7,000 watts continuous
load and 14,000 watts peak load.

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