Solar Panels Electronics

Written-by

Janet Richardson

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett-Gardiner

Updated on

Sep 29, 2024

Solar Panels Electronics

What are the different electrical components that make up a solar array?

There are relatively few electrical components in a standard PV installation. All Solar Panels systems will contain the following, however:

• AC&DC isolators (at least 3 per system) - positioned between the various components of the PV system (such as between the array and the inverter, and between the inverter and the grid connection) in order to allow for safe maintenance of your PV system or your property's other electrical systems
• PV system generation meters - measures the amount of electricity produced by your PV system from the inverter. An Ofgem-approved generation meter is essential for FiT eligibility
• PV cables and connectors - connect the PV panels to the inverter and carry the DC power
• Junction box - allows for the safe combination of multiple strings of PV arrays (only necessary for larger systems)

 

 

Inverters for solar Panel systems

String Inverters

Solar inverters (or grid-tied inverters) are a crucial part of a PV system. Inverters are units located inside your property - preferably in the loft - which convert the direct current (DC) power generated by your photovoltaic panels into alternating current (AC) power that can either be used by appliances or exported back to the grid.

The inverter is the one of few moving parts in a solar PV system, and is therefore one of the only elements which will need replacing during the system’s 25-year lifespan (often after around 10 years). Inverters are generally very efficient, and convert around 95% of the DC input power into AC (the other 5% being used to power the inverter). They maximise electricity production by constantly varying their resistance (load) in a way that ensures that PV panels always operate under optimal conditions for the level of sunlight they receive – this is called maximum power point tracking (MPPT).

Ensuring that your PV installer installs a high quality and well matched inverter is essential, both for maximum system efficiency and in order to keep replacement costs (typically £1000 for an inverter) to a minimum. Some inverters will allow you to monitor the total output of your array, although dedicated PV system monitoring units are also available. Most inverters installed in PV systems are ‘string inverters’, and are suitable for arrays of which all the panels operate under the same conditions (inclination, shading, etc.). One string inverter is sufficient for an entire array of PV panels.

Micro Inverters

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Micro inverters’ are useful when the panels of an array operate in varying light conditions; they are attached directly to the panels and allow for the monitoring of each individual panel. One of the main benefits of micro inverters is that if one inverter or panel becomes faulty, the other panels will still be able to function normally. The same applies if one panel is dirty or shaded - the others will continue to function optimally.

Micro inverters also tend to have a longer lifespan than string inverters but have the price tag to match. They are likely to add between £500 to £2000 to the price of an installation, however they have increased warranties of between 15 - 25 years, so some are claimed to be able to last just as long as the solar panels themselves. On the other hand, their being installed directly onto the PV panel, means that a repair might incur increased labour costs, along with the cost of any scaffolding that may be required to access them.

As previously noted, since there are still relatively few micro inverter manufacturers, their cost is can be higher than that of a single string inverter.

Solar panel electronic monitoring equipment.

 

These technologies enable you to monitor the effectiveness, quantify output and detect issues with your solar array both locally and via the internet. On an industrial scale they are normally made up of a PDM (Power Distribution Monitor) that monitors the electrical circuit(s) and transmits the data via the internet to a webserver (website).

This website then provides the user with near ‘Live’ information regarding their renewable energy generation and / or consumption at a very granular level. In a residential or small scale installation, a smart hub or similar data monitoring and transmission device can be installed. This will measure the output from your solar panel array and the energy usage from your home or business.

Some models have the facility to transmit the data to a web server where you can monitor it from any internet connected device, anywhere in the world, enabling both live and historical reporting and predicted output forecasting. This functionality permits the users to see if a fault develops in the inverter(s) or identify a panel that is not performing as required and act accordingly. Some systems even switch on and off appliances in your home or business automatically, based upon the availability of the energy being generated by your Solar Panels. This functionality adds an element of automation to your energy consumption, decreasing your dependence on the national grid and further reducing your energy bills.