Step 7 - Select an Appropriate Inverter

The last key component you need to design and select is the inverter. Inverters convert DC electricity to AC Electricity which can be used to support AC Loads. Most of our common household equipment is designed to run on AC power. Invertors are mainly classified as Grid-Tie/Interactive (Support Islanding) or Stand Alone Invertors. All Grid-Interactive systems must use an approved Grid-Tie inverter before connecting the system to the main power lines. Additional features of Invertors include using AC main line power to charge the battery bank, support a Diesel generator input to support AC loads and Charge the battery etc. Selecting the right Inverter is a key decision in the overall system and the right Inverter depends on many factors, most notably the Run Watts and the Surge Watts. It must also be rated for the DC side input voltage to match the DC System voltage designed in step 3.

When you choose an Inverter, make sure it is capable of supporting the "Run Watts" and "Surge Watts" as calculated in step 1, is rated to handle the PV Array power input, is rated for the DC system voltage and is certified as a "Grid-Tie" capable inverter with built in Islanding capability.

The design section of this site has automated the checks above and comes with a drop down list of all available commercial Inverters to help choose the right Inverter required for your system. Availability and pricing can be found at my partners Inverters section.

• Step 0: Determine the Solar Hours of your location
• Step 1: Estimate the critical loads that need to be supported
• Step 2: Determine the days of Autonomy for the system
• Step 3: Select a "Nominal" DC side voltage that the design will be based on
• Step 4: Select the PV Panels to be used for the system
• Step 5: Select the Battery manufacturer and model to be used in System
• Step 6: Select an appropriate Charge controller
• Step 7: Select an appropriate Inverter
• Step 8: Calculate and select BOS components