Ask John

Q: Why Is It Recommended That I Build My Panels Before Buying A Power Inverter?

posted August 26th 2010 at 9:45AM

I keep running into customers who are determined to get everything they need up-front. I’m a no-foolin’ kind of guy, so I kind of get this… But the fact is that you can never even make an educated guess as to the inverter capacity that you will need until you have built your system and it is ready for installation.

Why?

Well, for starters, every solar panel is different – each yielding a different electrical output. For that matter, every single individual solar cell that wires together to make up complete panels is different. Any two solar cells may have been manufactured together in the same facility, but their performance may still differ – operating in accordance to ranged specifications. And yes, this means that even pre-assembled, commercially-manufactured solar systems of the same type will also perform differently… Just like your homemade system!

The completion of a fully-optimized solar panel relies on a number of factors that go into its construction, namely the quality and integrity of the cells, the suitability of other materials and the attention to detail payed in the craftsmanship. Other factors unique to your property, such as shade, high winds or surrounding buildings may either diminish or enhance your system’s overall effectiveness.

It is for these reasons that it is imperative that you assess your power-handling needs before you shop for a power inverter. Be advised that meeting your minimum requirements will not be enough: You will require about a 20 percent buffer on top of your total output to allow room for your inverter to safely manage the power spikes and hotspots that can fluctuate within this range.

Even higher-end power inverters don’t cost much, but it’s important to get one with the right characteristics for your renewable home energy system and your long-term home energy plans. Many people are so pleased with the money they save, and are pleasantly surprised to learn how easy the systems are to build that they begin developing their system further. But this means that they must upgrade to a higher capacity inverter almost immediately.

Fortunately, this hassle can be avoided by following the exercises for determining your power needs and testing your completed project prior to installation as outlined in the Power4Home Pro System. If you make a strategic plan before you begin, you will reduce the chances of lost time or money, and you will be able to enjoy the freedom of on-demand green energy in your home that much sooner!

Sincerely,

John Russel

Electrician, Researcher, Inventor, Home Energy Consultant, and Creator
of the Power4Home System