How to Install a Solar Inverter
Solar inverters, also known as alternating current (AC) power inverters, convert the direct current (DC) electricity from the deep-cycle batteries of a solar power system into AC, a form of electricity that nearly all home appliances can use. Up until this point, you have assembled a solar panel array and connected it to a charge controller, which in turn has been connected to a series of deep-cycle batteries. Now the only step left is to install an inverter, so you can begin to use the stored solar energy that you have harnessed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Power inverter
- screwdriver
- American wire gauge (AWG) cable (sized according to the inverter's manual)
- Deep-cycle battery
- Extension cord
- Power strip
- Voltmeter
Instructions
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Plan for where you want to place appliances, so you can access the solar energy that you have collected. The placement of the inverter, which will have one or more standard electrical outlets, depending on the model that you have purchased, can determine which appliances are easily hooked up to a solar-energy system. Another option is to plan on installing your inverter in a storage area of your home and running an extension cord, which can connect to a power strip. This will allow you to relocate the access point for plugging in appliances to your inverter. Ideally, you will want to have the inverter as close as possible to the deep-cycle battery bank.
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Turn the power switch to your inverter, so it is in the "off" position. This will help to prevent the risk of electrical shock while hooking the inverter up to your deep-cycle battery system.
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Connect your inverter to your deep-cycle battery bank. Different inverters will have different methods of connecting with a battery. Smaller inverters will have a positive and negative clamp that can simply be put onto a positive and negative battery terminal of one of the deep-cycle batteries. However, as inverters grow in size, installing wires to connect the inverter to your battery will be required. As a rule of thumb, according to the DonRowe.com website, inverters should connect to a battery using the thickest wire available with the shortest length that is practical for your system. For inverters rated below 1,500 watts, #4 gauge American wire gauge (AWG) cables should be used if the connection length is within 4 inches. If the connection length is longer, then a #0 gauge cable with a 0-4 gauge adapter should be installed. Inverters 1,500 watts and over will require #1/0 cable. AWG cables are easily screwed on and connected to the inverter's input terminals, as well as the positive and negative deep-cycle battery terminals. Depending on the type of inverter you have, you may need specialized cables with ring terminals on the battery end and stud terminals on the inverter end. It is important to consult with your power inverter manual to make sure that you are selecting the correct sized cable and connections.
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Test each of the connections with a voltmeter. Turn on the inverter. A light or message in a text box will indicate that the inverter is adequately powered.
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Tips & Warnings
Using a three-stage inverter is the current industry standard; however, if you are installing a large solar-energy system, then you may want to consider a maximum power point tracking inverter, which is designed to have a greater efficiency than other inverters on the market.
Although it is not part of the inverter installation process, it is advisable to install a battery monitor and to calibrate your charge controller, so the battery bank maximizes its functionality.
