DC power optimizers and string inverters typically come with separate warranties too. However, installing DC power optimizers with your string inverter will cost extra. String inverters are also usually cheaper than microinverters. Note that certain manufacturers require the installation of DC power optimizers with their string inverters. And then it'll probably have to be replaced only halfway or so through the lifetime of the panels." That thing's going to last like 10 to 15 years. So the labor and safety considerations of replacing it are not as arduous. "Whereas with a central string inverter, that would typically not be on the roof. "With a microinverter, there's one for every panel, so it would be a big pain if you had to replace a bunch of microinverters because there might be potentially as many of them as you have panels," Kurchin said. DC power optimizers are recommended if your roof is partially shaded or not at the best angle for catching sunlight. This means that if one panel is shaded or shuts down, all the other panels will still perform normally. To prevent this, many homeowners will also choose to install DC power optimizers with their string inverter.ĭC power optimizers are installed on each panel individually and take into account the performance of each panel in the string separately. But if a solar panel in that string is partially shaded, blocked or facing maintenance issues, it jeopardizes the performance and efficiency of all the other panels on that string. The inverter will convert the DC electricity from every solar panel connected to that string. String invertersĪs the name implies, string inverters connect a set of solar panels, also called a string, to a singular inverter. Each inverter setup comes with upsides and downsides. When it comes to home solar installation, homeowners have three types of solar inverter to consider: string inverters, string inverters plus DC power optimizers, or microinverters. Those are the kinds of things that can make a real difference in what type of inverter solution makes the most sense." "Maybe your house has a really slanted roof or maybe there are trees around that shade it for part of the day, or maybe that's not so much of an issue. "Residential solar installations can look really different depending on what the residence looks like," Rachel Kurchin, assistant research professor of materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told CNET. Picking which type of inverter setup you want for your home's solar panel system is arguably the most important part of your inverter decision. However, like most manufacturers we've seen, Enphase's customer service could be better. Pricing for Enphase's microinverters is consistent with others we've looked at. Overall user review scores for Enphase's user interface app, Enphase Enlighten, are favorable as well. IQ8 microinverters have a peak efficiency rating range of 97.4% to 97.6% and a CEC efficiency rating range of 97% to 97.5%. But 25 years is the industry standard warranty for microinverters.Įach Enphase microinverter is decently efficient, too. Each microinverter is warranted for 25 years, which is definitely much longer than a string inverter warranty. But you'll need to install additional equipment to make it happen. Enphase IQ8 microinverters are grid-agnostic, meaning they are grid-tied and can power your home during a grid outage without needing a battery installation. ![]() Each IQ8 microinverter has a power output range, with no specifically enforced DC/AC ratio. However, Enphase's IQ8 Series Microinverters are the best residential microinverters we found. There aren't nearly as many microinverter options to choose from in comparison to the abundance of string inverters on the market. However, if you're considering a SolarEdge inverter, keep in mind that they do tend to be more expensive than other inverter brands. Most string inverter warranties we saw only covered 10 years. This SolarEdge inverter comes with a 12-year limited warranty, with an option to extend it to 20 or 25 years at an additional cost. Most inverter apps we've seen have much lower scores due to poor functionality, so SolarEdge must be doing something right. SolarEdge's app also has the highest overall user review score of any other inverter apps we looked at. This means you'll barely be losing out on any of your generated electricity. It has a peak efficiency rating of 99.20% and a CEC efficiency rating of 99%. The SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter has the highest peak efficiency rating and CEC efficiency rating of all the inverters we looked at by far. But where SolarEdge really stands above the competition is in efficiency. The SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter is a grid-tied string inverter available in six sizes, spanning 3.8 kW to 11 kW. SolarEdge's Home Wave Inverter is our pick for the best overall inverter, earning high marks in nearly every category.
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