Micro Inverters A Step Forward For Solar Energy

Enphase Energy has developed a great new product. It's a micro-inverter that attaches directly to the solar panel. In most systems, DC current come from the panels and go into a large inverter that converts it to AC for use in the house or to tie into the grid.

The Enphase micro inverters now convert it directly to AC current for use in the house and tie into the electric grid. According to Enphase it is also more efficient than normal inverters.

There are some terrific advantages to this approach:

• You can start out with a smaller system and add panels as you can afford them or need them -mismatch is not as much of an issue.
  
• The panels don't need to be the same type or wattage.
• If there is a problem on one micro inverter, you don't lose all of your output as you would if a large inverter went on the blitz.
• Installation is simplified as the panels are wired in parallel and there are no DC strings
• The micro inverters mount on a rack under the solar panel
• The performance of each module is tracked in five minute intervals and is transmitted over the same AC lines - if a problem develops the data will indicate it.
• The system is reliable with meantime between failures at 119 years.
• According to Enphase the micro inverters allows a greater harvest of energy of between five and twenty percent over traditional inverters.

For an animated presentation of the system.

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