Photovoltaic micro inverter mobile

What is a microinverter solar inverter?

Microinverters are a type of solar inverter technology installed at each panel. Microinverters offer many benefits, such as rapid shutdown capabilities, flexibility for panel layouts, and panel-level monitoring and diagnostics. Microinverters are typically more expensive than traditional string inverters.

Do solar panels need micro-inverters?

Solar panels get all the glory, but it’s the micro-inverters that do all the work, unlike the conventional inverters, micro-inverters provide flexibility and optimization for your photovoltaic system.

How many microinverters are in a solar system?

A factor that should be considered when looking at microinverters is that there are far more inverters in one solar installation than with a string inverter. In an 8kW system using 400W panels with micros on each panel, there will be 20 inverters.

How much does a microinverter cost?

Microinverters typically cost a couple of hundred dollars per unit. While they offer many advantages, which we will cover further, microinverters are notably costlier than string inverters when installed on an entire solar power system. Check out this video from Enphase to learn more about microinverters and their benefits.

How efficient are microinverters?

Just like solar panels, microinverters have varying efficiencies. An inverter's efficiency measures energy losses during the conversion from DC to AC electricity. The more efficient the microinverter, the more solar electricity production.

Who makes a microinverter & how does it work?

For those new to solar, learn the basics of how solar works here. Enphase Energy, founded in 2006, has long been regarded as the world leading microinverter manufacturer. Based in the US, Enphase launched the first microinverter, the M175 in 2008, but it wasn’t until the next-gen M190 was launched in 2009 that sales really took off.