Solar Inverters & Brands

Call Sharpe Services if you are experiencing any of these:

What is a solar inverter?

Solar Inverters, known as the brains of a solar system, take solar power generated by the solar panels and convert it into electricity that can be used in your home or office.

Our Solar Electricians repair, supply, and install new and replacement solar inverters on Adelaide homes and offices in Adelaide.

We also diagnose inverter faults and error codes to ensure that they provide the correct repairs or replacements when required.

The solar inverters that we work on include string inverters and micro inverters.

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Clean Energy Council - Approved Solar Retailer

Accreditation with the Clean Energy Council recognises solar electricians who have undertaken the necessary training to service, repair, engineer and install solar systems, solar inverters, and home battery systems on Adelaide homes & offices.

CEC-accredited service, repair, installer, and designer solar electricians strive beyond industry best practice standards, producing systems that are safe, reliable, and meet customer expectations and requirements.

New Energy Tech - Approved Solar Retailer

Accreditation with New Energy Tech recognises solar electricians who have undertaken the necessary training to service, repair, engineer and install solar systems, solar inverters, and home battery systems on Adelaide homes & offices.

New Energy Tech Approved Seller-accredited service, repair, installer, and designer solar electricians strive beyond industry best practice standards, producing systems that are safe, reliable, and meet customer expectations and requirements.

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String Inverters vs Micro Inverters

A solar power inverter has one core function: to convert the Direct Current (DC) solar panels generate into an Alternating Current (AC), which is the type of electricity used in your home. Solar panel Inverter technology has been steadily developing over the past several decades to better enable homeowners to reap maximum power from their solar PV systems. Both string inverters and microinverters do this job for you as a solar system owner but go about the process in different ways.

Ever seen a large box that’s been mounted on a wall near to a switchboard? That will be a string inverter, so-called because it is connected to the series or “string” of solar panels up on the roof. A string inverter is the most common solar power type used in domestic and commercial solar photovoltaic systems.

A string inverter functions as a series circuit, generally with 6 to 12 individual solar panels in what is known as a “series string” or a “solar array”.

Pending the size of your solar panel system, there is generally one string inverter, however, larger systems may require a second inverter.

A flaw with a string inverter is that if one panel’s performance is low, it will draw the performance of the entire system down.

Micro-inverters are the option when it comes to solar panels in shaded areas.

All you need to know about String Inverters

With decades of development behind them, the industry-leading string inverters are very affordable, reliable and come with system monitoring features. However, as is the case with solar panels, you get what you pay for. So always go for the better quality and trusted solar inverter brands as recommended by experienced certified solar electricians, which come with long warranties and performance guarantees.

A key consideration is where the string inverter is mounted. The best place is as close to the switchboard as possible, and out of the sun and extreme weather. Although the leading brands feature cooling internal fans, string inverters do not like being exposed to high ambient temperatures.

While string inverters work well in situations where there is consistent light and the panels used on the system are top quality, they do have one disadvantage that could make buyers consider micro-inverters instead.

Solar panels can generate different amounts of power as they get affected by shade from trees, other buildings, faults, or roof fittings such asa vent pipe. Panels also age at different rates, and some can suffer micro-cracking or hot spots. When even a single panel reduces its power generation or stops working altogether it will drag the performance of the whole system down if the voltage is channeled through a single inverter. This isn’t the case with micro inverters.

Having said that, a string inverter is perfectly suitable for a typical solar system that is using the best quality panels and associated components.

A micro inverter is a small solar inverter that is attached to the back of each solar panel in a system.

Microinverters perform the same basic function as string inverters, except a micro-inverter convert the DC electricity generated by a single solar panel, rather than converting the energy produced by entire series of panels. Overall energy production in a string system can be compromised if one or more solar panels in a panel array are affected by shade or has a fault.

The effect of shading or a faulty solar panel on a system that uses microinverters is not affected to the same extent as the shading or fault only affects the panel(s) in a system and not the entire solar panel system.

Enphase is a leading manufacturer of microinverters and has been in operation since 2009. They have become an integral part of their booming micro-inverter industry due to their high quality, uncompromised performance, and trust.

All you need to know about Micro Inverters

Because they work independently, micro inverters allow all panels to operate at their maximum power level and not be affected by the other panels in the system. Converting the DC power to AC at each panel also reduces the high rooftop voltages the string inverter systems have as they transfer the entire system’s DC current down to the wall-mounted single inverter.

Micro inverters also allow each panel’s performance to be monitored, whereas a string inverter usually only allows the entire system to be evaluated. Knowing exactly how each panel is performing means it’s quicker to identify problems with either a panel or micro inverter.

Micro inverters are a great option for system installations that require panels to be facing different directions, be tilted at different angles or be mounted on various parts of a roof, rather than in one array. The advantages of having each panel performing at its peak and not dragging the entire system down means micro inverters will soon repay their higher cost.

Enphase Energy is a pioneer of micro inverter technology and the world’s leading manufacturer. Sales in Australia have greatly increased in recent years as the long-term advantages of micro inverters and their detailed monitoring system are realised.

How Solar Inverters work with Solar Battery Storage

Batteries and other energy storage devices store energy so that it can be used when needed. In a stand-alone power system, the energy stored in batteries can be used when energy demand exceeds the output from renewable energy sources like solar (e.g. on a cloudy day) and wind (e.g. on a still day).

The role of a solar inverter in a conventional solar power system is to convert direct current (DC) generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC), suitable for use in the home or for exporting to the mains grid.

In a system featuring battery storage, the inverter also needs to be able to route DC into the battery for charging. Either from the solar panels or via cheaper off-peak mains grid power.

When you want to feed excess solar system power into battery storage you need to modify your inverter process. You can either install a separate inverter for the battery alongside the existing string inverter or replace the pair with a multi-purpose inverter (Hybrid Battery – Built-in Inverter)

Whether you’re a solar power system owner wanting to upgrade current solar system or add a home battery, or you are wanting to invest in a new solar system and/or home battery system it’s important to get the right advice. That’s where Sharpe Services along with Sharpe Energy Hub can help.

Our solar team is offering competitively priced next-generation solar and home battery systems from the world’s leading manufacturers – such as Tesla Powerwall, sonnenBatterie, Alpha, and Energizer Homepower – installed by knowledgeable solar + storage professionals.

A huge range of Solar Inverters & Solar Panels brands Serviced, Repaired & Installed

As a leading solar repair company, we can assist you with the servicing and repairs of all kinds and brands of solar inverter and solar panels along with the supplying and installation of new ones too.

Solar Inverters Service & Repairs

Solar Panels Service & Repairs

We also do Solar Pool Heating and Repairs

If you are unsure of what to look for in Solar Systems contact us to speak with one of our solar service specialists or complete our booking request today and we will get back to you shortly.

With over 40 years of experience, Sharpe Services delivers you with the best advice and services in Adelaide. Work with our team for reliable, quality and professional services for your solar system requirements. You can trust Sharpe Services for reliable advice and services from accredited Solar Technicians Adelaide who strive to be the best in what they do. Find a solar technician in Adelaide with Sharpe Services which is closer in distance and can be with you as soon as possible.

It is important to get hold of a Solar Electrician technician when in doubt about a solar system issue. Call Sharpe Services on 8262 5000 or fill in our online booking form for guidance until support arrives.