Solar power is an environmentally safe way to obtain power. So long as you have a steady amount of sun, you can set up solar panels and receive power for your home or business. Because of this effective setup, solar power has taken massive strides in technological development. Key components of solar setups get tweaked and improved constantly, and the solar inverter has seen many types of improvements over the years. There are many different types of inverters, but one type came into the market just a few years ago, and they offer the benefits of both on-grid and off-grid systems. They are called hybrid inverters. Keep reading to learn more about them.
What is a Hybrid Inverter?
A hybrid inverter is an inverter that can connect to both the grid and a backup power source. Batteries in solar setups store power but usually come separately from the inverter. Some even include a built-in battery. A hybrid inverter with built-in batteries takes both parts’ functionality and combines them. The inverter will take in power and store it in the battery, then continue to supply power to the rest of your home. With this, in the event of a power outage or other incident, you still have power remaining in the inverter’s batteries that can power basic systems, even if you haven’t added a full-sized battery bank to your home.Â
Another huge benefit is that these inverters can still be plugged into a city’s grid. Typically, batteries are just used for off-grid setups. But these hybrid inverters can use renewable and non-renewable energy to charge batteries and offset loads. This means that they are typically used in areas where grid outages are more common or if there are regularly scheduled blackouts during peak energy usage seasons.
The downside to these inverters is that they do tend to be much more expensive than a normal inverter. This is simply due to the fact that these inverters have much more recent technology built into them and more inherent functionality. Wiring is also tricky for these inverters. Different techniques should be used when wiring for panel setups with multiple jobs to perform, such as panels dedicated to critical backup loads. You’ll need to work with a professional solar installer if you’re considering using this inverter in your setup.
Conclusion
Hybrid inverters with built-in batteries are an excellent tool for those willing to invest to expand their system’s functionality. Many brilliant inverters, such as the Schneider hybrid solar inverter, provide additional functions. Each handles different loads as well, so be sure you know which one you need.
