1. What is the lifespan of a solar inverter?
The lifespan of a solar inverter is around 10-20 years. However, this depends on the type of inverter, the overall operating environment in which the solar system is installed, the pre-installation and the level of maintenance.
2. Will the solar inverter turn off at night?
The answer is yes, solar inverters will turn off at night when there is no sunlight. The main reason is that solar panels will only produce electricity when there is sunlight during the daytime, and the role of the solar inverter is to convert the electricity it produces from DC to AC. Therefore, at night or when there is little sunlight, the inverter will remain off.
3. Do solar panels emit radiation?
First of all, solar panels do not produce ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a form of radiation that is known to damage and alter cellular DNA, and it generally comes from specific radioactive substances, such as nuclear reactors or certain radioactive elements.
However, it is worth noting that solar panels emit electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation emitted by solar panels comes mainly from the semiconductor material silicon on the surface of the photovoltaic panels. The intensity of this electromagnetic radiation is so weak that it dissipates into the atmosphere very quickly after it is emitted and does not have a significant impact on the human body. Secondly, solar panels are usually installed in places that are not easily accessible, such as rooftops, open fields, etc., which further reduces the risk of the human body coming into contact with these radiations.
4. Are solar panels waterproof?
Solar panels are waterproof. In order to resist rain for decades to come, solar panels are designed to be waterproof to avoid damage caused by water ingress.
Solar panels utilize their photovoltaic surface to capture and collect solar energy to generate electricity, which is collected by internal wiring. Compared to other parts, the wiring inside the solar panel is the most vulnerable to damage when water enters the panel. Therefore, solar panels make a variety of waterproof components, not only with glass panels and polymer materials to protect the front and back sides, and with the use of metal frames and sealants to further enhance the waterproof performance.
5. Can the inverter run inverter air conditioners?
The answer is yes. Both regular air conditioners and inverter air conditioners are able to rely on the inverter to run during a power outage. However, it is worth noting that your inverter must reach a certain level of power in order to be able to withstand the load of a home air conditioner.
6. Can the inverter be turned on all the time?
Generally speaking, inverters cannot be turned on all the time. This is because the inverter will automatically decide to turn on or off depending on the current sunlight conditions and the energy demand in the home. Secondly, the operation of the inverter consumes power from the solar cells, so the exact operating time depends on the capacity of the solar battery. Therefore, it is important to turn off the inverter before the batteries run out of power in order to prevent over-discharge of the solar battery, which can drastically shorten the lifespan of the batteries.
7. How to turn off the solar inverter
Turning off the solar inverter needs to be done on the basis of your own safety, which is divided into the following steps.
7.1 Find the solar AC convergence box
First of all, you need to check the assembly diagram of the whole solar PV system, and then find the solar AC power distribution board, also known as the solar AC converter box through the assembly diagram. If you are unable to locate it according to the assembly diagram, try looking for it in the electrical room of your house or in a place that specializes in managing solar PV electrical equipment.
7.2 Turning off the AC side of the inverter
Once you have located the AC box, look for the circuit breaker that needs to be disconnected to turn off the solar inverter, following the instructions labelled inside the box. Once the circuit breaker is located, flip its switch to the OFF position. Then check, using an instrument, to ensure that shutdown of the AC side of the inverter is complete.
7.3 Shutting down the inverter
Then follow the assembly diagram to find the actual location of the inverter, which is usually installed in the electrical room of the solar PV system or in a separate inverter room. After locating the solar inverter, make sure that the DC switch is connected to the inverter. If the DC switch is connected directly to the solar inverter, turn it to the OFF position to complete the task. If the DC switch is individually connected to the DC isolator, operate the shutdown on the DC isolator to complete the task.
7.4 Waiting for the indicator to jump
The final step is to wait for the indicator light to jump after the solar inverter is turned off, monitor it to show that the inverter is turned off and then close the electrical room to complete the task.
8. Can I use a normal inverter on the solar panels?
It is possible to use ordinary inverters on solar panels. However, when installing a regular inverter on them, you need to consider the compatibility of the two, which plays an important role in maintaining the performance of both the solar panel and the inverter. For this reason, we usually choose hybrid inverters for solar panels.
9. Can I use a UPS as an inverter?
The answer is yes. UPS is designed to provide power in case of circuit failure, but how long the UPS can last as an inverter depends on the battery capacity inside the UPS and the size of your load.
To summarize:
These are the answers to a few frequently asked questions about solar inverters. As one of the essential components in a solar system, the choice of solar inverter is especially important to have a better power supply performance for your solar system. Before choosing a manufacturer, you need to make a comparative reference to the parameters and quality of their inverters before choosing the most suitable one.
