Whenever you head down the path of solar energy or battery power, you’re going to come across power inverters. They’re an essential element in transforming the direct current (DC) from solar panels or batteries into the alternating current (AC) that runs through home circuits and transmission lines.
Knowing how inverters work with solar panels and batteries is critical. After reading this inverter explanation, you’ll understand what an inverter is used for and other important aspects of how solar inverters work.
We’ll cover:
- How portable power station inverters work
- Traditional solar inverters, including string inverters and microinverters
- Hybrid inverters, off-grid inverters, and charger inverters
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What Is an Inverter?
An inverter is a device that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). These are two different types of electricity that have unique properties. Every device generates or consumes either DC or AC. You cannot send DC power from solar panels or batteries to home circuits that require AC without a power inverter.
While some inverters can have other features, the primary function of every inverter is to change DC into AC.
AC vs. DC Electricity
Alternating current periodically inverts its direction and the voltage flips polarity (positive to negative) accordingly. That may seem complicated, but alternating current powers most outlets at homes and businesses. It is also used for delivering electricity through transmission lines. In the US, you’ll find 120V AC outlets nearly everywhere. Other countries use different voltages and frequencies (speed the current changes direction), but they’re still AC power.
Direct current constantly flows in one direction with little voltage change. While you might not know it, DC power is all around as well. It is the preferred type for electronic devices. Solar panels generate DC electricity and batteries accept/store/deliver power in DC. Many devices that plug into AC outlets run on DC power.
Changing Current Type
Going from AC power to DC power is very common and easy. You are likely reading this from a device that uses DC to run the device but can plug into AC power. That’s done through a simple AC adapter (rectifier), which is usually a small box somewhere along the charging or power cable of electronic devices.
The small cube that you put a USB cable into one end and plug into an outlet is an AC adapter. Basically anything that can plug into a USB port or a 12V barrel plug also runs on DC power.
Getting from DC to AC is more rare and challenging. That’s where you need a power inverter. A power inverter works by accepting DC power from batteries, solar panels, or other DC energy sources and converting it to an appropriate AC electrical supply.
This metaphor can help explain inverters:
- Imagine a device with a removable battery, like a flashlight.
- When you put the battery in, the positive side faces one way and the negative the other. This feeds a direct current one way through the circuit, feeding power to the bulb.
- If you take out the battery and flip it around, now the circuit will flow in the other direction, but the light works.
- Inverters essentially perform this action over and over again, very rapidly and in a specific pattern. They reverse the flow of electricity back and forth, ]creating an alternating current.
Pure Sine Wave vs. Modified Sine Wave
One of the most important features of any inverter is whether it is a pure sine wave inverter or a modified sine wave inverter. You’ll notice that modified sine options are much cheaper. While you might be tempted to save money, it’s often much better to choose a pure sine inverter.
- Modified sine wave: The AC produced has a jagged oscillation, with lower efficiency. This is like an abrupt flipping of the battery. The changes in current are more violent and this can cause problems with certain devices. While this is easier to produce, it’s crude and not easier to work with.
- Pure sine wave: The alternating current produced has a smooth, periodic oscillation. Devices like inductors and capacitors help create this less abrupt change. This is a more consistent and cleaner power supply, ideal for all home appliances and delicate devices. Most outlets offer a pure sine wave.
Modified inverters are the low-cost way out that can cause problems. Pure sine inverters are what most people want to use, especially with any expensive or sophisticated electronics.
Inverter Wattage Rating
AC power inverters are rated in watts. This is a measurement of the AC power that they are capable of delivering at one time. The higher the wattage of the power inverter, the more power it sends and the more devices it can power.
Very small AC inverters are around 1,000W or less. These are inexpensive and can run small AC devices. They’re often modified sine wave inverters to keep costs down.
A more respectable inverter rating is around 2,000W to 3,000W. These can handle a more powerful device, like a hair dryer or large blender. Or they can take on a handful of different devices at the same time, like a home fridge, television, and multiple lights. Many inverters for portable use like RVs or lightweight home backup use without heavy-duty appliances can use inverters of this size.
For a more serious whole-home solar inverter, you’ll see ratings of 5,000W or more. This can run most household devices and at least one heavy-duty appliance, like an air conditioner. Many of the standard solar inverters will be at this level since they’re designed for whole-home use. This is also the range where the best solar generators will be capable of, although it might take more than one unit.
If you want to power multiple heavy-duty devices at once, such as air conditioning, electric dryer, electric water heater, or other major electrical devices, your solar inverter may need to be closer to 10kW or more.
How Do Inverters Work With Solar Panels?
The way inverters work with solar panels is quite simple, regardless of the type of inverter. There are different ways to connect solar panels to inverters and batteries – and there are different types of inverters that can have varied functions – but the solar panel inverter basics are still the same.
The first step is the solar panels generate power in direct current flow. Sunlight hits the solar panel cells, electrons start jumping around, and it flows out as direct current electricity. The specific voltage depends on the solar panel characteristics and the way the solar panels are connected. But it’s always DC coming off the solar panel directly.
You can use this DC power coming from solar panels to charge batteries, run devices with DC power, or convert it immediately to AC power. The conversion from DC to AC can happen on the back of each panel (microinverters) or in a central spot (every other type of inverter).
You can charge batteries or run DC devices with solar panels and you do not need an inverter. But to use AC power from solar panels, you will always need an inverter. For home power, inverters are a necessity because nearly every home is fully wired for AC power.
For RVs and campervans, many people try to use DC power and DC devices so that AC power is not a necessity. Lights, USB ports, fridges, vent fans, air conditioners, and other devices can run on DC alone. If you want to use a regular AC outlet or device that requires AC power, you turn on the inverter during its use. Some RVs do not have inverters. They can still have AC outlets, but those will only work when connected to shore power.
Types of Solar Inverters
You have some choices about what types of solar inverters to use. These come with differences in cost, as well as the ability to handle different functions, such as battery backups and grid connections.
Standard Inverters
Normal battery-based inverters don’t connect directly to solar panels. But they can work with solar panel systems as long as you have a battery. They’re ideal for battery backup systems and off-grid applications.
The power generated from solar panels is used to charge a battery (through a charge controller). Then the battery connects to the AC inverter, which sends power to the AC circuits as needed.
Many normal inverters, like the BougeRV 2000W DC to AC Inverter, only send power one way: from the battery to the AC circuits. But you can get a battery inverter (aka inverter charger) which can send power back in the other direction: use the AC circuit power to charge the battery. By combining the AC charging capability with the inverter, you can reduce the amount of electronics your system has.
Portable power stations (aka solar generators) perform like normal inverters while also offering functions usually found in other inverters. They can use AC power to charge an internal battery. Or you can connect the solar panels directly to charge the battery. You can also use other generation sources, like a vehicle or another battery. It’s one multifaceted box with literally everything you need.
This exceptional level of convenience is unmatched by other inverter options. They all have pros and cons, but they do not combine a full charging system, integrated battery, and an AC inverter into one product. The only way to get this is by using a power station, like the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra or Anker F3800.
Solar Inverters
If you ask many solar industry professionals, “How do inverters work with solar panels?” they’re going to tell you about this device. Simply known as a solar inverter or grid-tied inverter, these are the most common type of solar inverter.
They transform the DC power flowing off the solar panels and turn it into AC power that is directly fed into your AC circuits. This essentially provides a direct connection from your DC panels to your AC devices, which lets you use solar power when the sun shines.
The biggest downside is that these are designed for homes on the grid since they do not provide an easy way to use solar power for backup batteries. While the current industry standards might find that acceptable, companies like EcoFlow and Bluetti are throwing this idea to the curb and giving customers the ability to use inverters and battery backups with ease and at a low cost.
These traditional solar inverters, like the Solis String Inverter 5.0kW Single Phase, can work well for people on the grid to keep costs down while using solar power, but they’re not great for those who want to create a battery backup system. And they are essentially not functional for off-grid use.
There are two subtypes of these inverters:
- String inverters: One device that connects to the entire string of solar panels to convert the entire DC flow into AC. These are typically placed near the subpanel or grid connection. Lower cost and easier maintenance, but have more problems when individual solar panels lack output. Can be combined with power optimizers to maximize solar panel output.
- Microinverters: Many small inverters are placed on the back of each solar panel. They convert from DC to AC at each panel before connecting in parallel and sending AC power to the grid-tied circuits. Higher cost and difficult maintenance, but handles partial solar panel outages better.
Many pros will lead you to microinverters, but even this is a heated topic for some. We see a lot of value in backup systems and don’t like the lack of versatility with either of these traditional solar inverter options.
Hybrid Inverters
Hybrid inverters work well for grid-tied homes with or without battery backup. These are also known as multi-mode inverters and they usually feature these abilities:
- Use solar panel power to run AC devices and home circuits directly
- Feed excess solar panel power back into the grid (for rebate/credit/sale back to the utility company)
- Integrate with battery backup systems to charge with solar panel or grid power and use battery power when grid it out or to avoid peak grid pricing hours
The two-way grid connection and battery integration make these the most versatile solar inverter. But if you don’t need both of those, then going with the other options will usually save you money.
The downside to hybrid inverters, such as the EG4 Hybrid Inverter 18k PV 12kW AC, is that they don’t include batteries. They can often charge batteries and take power from them, but you have to figure out an external battery bank on your own. This can not only be problematic just to design and implement, but it also means that you’re most likely going to have a unique one-off solution which can result in a lack of reliability and significantly more difficulty in troubleshooting.
Most people hire expensive experts to get this done. And this extreme personalization leads to extreme costs, which is why many solar industry veterans avoid battery backup systems entirely. They also might have to provide support or warranty coverage for their work, an added business risk.
Power Stations With Inverters
The choice of inverters within the best home backup solar generators and power stations can help you achieve all the solar inverter functions you need in a streamlined and simple solution you can unplug and take anywhere.
The main benefit of portable power stations and solar generators is that they pack everything into one device. Traditional solar inverters rarely work with a battery backup system. Hybrid inverters offer that capability, but they require you to create, connect, and manage your separate battery system and related components.
No one wants to deal with this hassle. And hiring pros to create a custom home solution is expensive. It also lacks the oversight that comes from mass-produced products.
Power stations like the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra, Bluetti AC300, and Anker F3800 all include:
- Simple connection to powerful solar panel arrays
- Integrated batteries to accept that power
- Powerful AC inverters send energy to AC devices or home circuits (often through high-amp outlets)
- One system to monitor and control everything, including app connection through WiFi and Bluetooth
They are all meticulously designed by full engineering teams. And the brands we trust the most have been around for many years, literally producing millions of units used across the world. Instead of relying on a relatively low-volume local installer to create, connect, and manage a very expensive custom home solution, you can buy one flawless product.
If something goes wrong, power stations are backed by extensive warranty coverage and support systems. You can troubleshoot with a knowledgeable staff who knows every detail of your system. You’re not calling out a random person to inspect a custom system they might know nothing about. Brands like EcoFlow even have an enthusiastic fan base that you can lean on for information and tips.
The bottom line is that if you want the easiest solar inverter with a battery backup included, turning to a portable power station has a lot of benefits. It’s one sleek package with convenient, reliable, next-generation features and capabilities.
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EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra |
DPU on EcoFlow DPU on Amazon |
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BLUETTI AC300 + B300 Home Battery Backup |
AC300 on Bluetti AC300 on Amazon |
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Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station |
F3800 on Anker F3800 on Amazon |
Wrap-Up: The Solar Inverter Choice
How do inverters work with solar panels? By taking DC power from solar panels and converting it into AC power for your devices and home circuits.
You can use microinverters on the back of each panel or string inverters to convert everything in one spot, but neither supports off-grid or battery backup integration. Hybrid inverters provide two-way grid connections and battery function, but you’ll still have to supply your own battery system and other components.
The easiest solar inverter is the one tucked inside the best home solar generators. Plug in your DC solar on one end and use the integrated AC power inverter to run your devices or connect to home circuits for whole-home backup power.
