What is a power inverter?
An inverter is a critical piece of equipment in any PV system. The inverter takes DC power, either from your solar panels or batteries, and turns it into AC power, ready and usable for your household appliances.
Grid-tie and off-grid solar systems use different types of inverters.
Grid-Tie Solar Inverters
In a grid-tied system, solar panels connect directly to an inverter which ties into your main household electrical panel. It sends power into the home to run appliances and turns back the meter with excess energy.
Grid-Tie inverters come in several options: string inverters, microinverters, and optimizers. Each varies with features and costs. For helping choosing the right one, check out our article on the best grid-tie solar inverters.