A recent surge in the number of people reporting faulty inverters on their solar panel systems means that our team has been kept busy with call outs.
But what are inverters, where are they located and how do we make sure they are in top working order?
Our resident expert Chay Esson, i-Protech’s Lead Renewables Co-ordinator, gives us the low down.
What are inverters and what are they used for?
Inverters are at the heart of every Solar PV system.
They are the device that converts the DC power from the solar panels to the AC power that the house uses.
Why might an inverter develop a fault?
Despite generally requiring very little maintenance, inverters are like any piece of equipment and can develop faults, especially the older they are. Because they are continuously converting power, the internal parts are constantly heating up and cooling and this can lead to breakages.
There are hundreds if not possibly thousands of parts inside an inverter.
How do I know if my inverter is faulty?
Most systems will display a warning of some kind on their monitoring system or main screen if something goes wrong.
Customers may also notice their electric bills being higher than normal, which could alert them to a faulty inverter should they not check it regularly.
How easy is it to get them fixed?
Most of the time, we replace an inverter with a like for like as usually the existing wiring and switch gear should still be OK. We would of course highlight any issues – such as undersized cables or faulty safety switches – to the customer.
If all existing cables, switch gear and mounting surface are in good working order and good physical condition; a like-for-like can usually be installed in as little as three hours.
How do I avoid faults and breakages?
We recommend a full health check of your solar system once a year.
It’s always better to maintain the equipment to prevent issues rather than wait until they are already broken.
Learn more
Find out more about solar PV system installation.
For more information about solar panels, and which systems would work best for your home or business, contact us today. We are professional accredited installers.
