Solar Inverters

A Solar Inverter is a device that converts the direct current (DC) from the solar panels into alternating current (AC) which is used by domestic and commercial appliances. It is one of the most critical components of the solar power system as it converts power from the sun into more useful energy and is often referred to as the brain of a solar system. Solar inverters are a crucial part of a solar system since power from the sun cannot be directly used to run electrical appliances. Starting out as just boxes converting DC into AC, today, solar inverters have evolved to become much more smart and intelligent units, performing other functions such as data monitoring, advanced utility controls, etc.

1. What is an Solar Inverter?
2. What is 'VA' in inverter?
3. Inverter Market Size & Trends
4. What is the Requirement of a Solar Inverter?
5. How to Select the Best Inverter for Home?
6. How does Inverter work?
7. Types of Solar Inverters
8. Inverter Vs Solar Inverter
9. PWM Vs MPPT
10. Features of a Solar Inverters
11. Solar Inverter Price List | 2024
12. How to Install Solar Inverter?
13. Maintenance, Efficiency & warranty
14. Top 10 Solar Inverter Companies in India
15. Best Solar Inverters in 2024-25
16. How to Connect Inverter to Distribution Board?
17. How to Install Inverter at Home?
18. How to Connect Inverter to Battery?
19. How to Check Inverter is charging Battery?
20. What is the difference between ups and inverters?
21. Solar Inverter – FAQs

What is a Solar Inverter?

At the heart of the grid-connected system, the inverter extracts as much DC power as possible from the PV array and converts it into AC power at the right voltage and frequency for feeding into the grid or supplying domestic loads. 

The inverter is the key item of equipment for converting DC electricity produced by a PV array into AC suitable for feeding into a power grid. Inverters use advanced electronics to produce AC power at the right frequency and voltage to match the grid supply. While a single inverter may well be sufficient for a domestic installation, multiple units become the norm as we advance up the power scale and their efficiency, reliability, and safety are major concerns of the system designer. 

Inverters must obviously be able to handle the power output of a PV array over a wide range of sunlight conditions. Normally they do this using maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to optimize the energy yeild. DC-to-AC conversion efficiencies up to 98% can be achieved over much of the range, although efficiency tends to fall off if an inverter is operated below about 25% of its maximum power rating. Overall, inverter system design is quite a challenge, especially with high-capacity units; few electronic systems are expected to maintain high efficiency over such a wide power range. 

A solar inverter is an electronic device used in solar PV systems to convert direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity suitable for feeding into the electrical grid, charging battery and running home appliances. They play a crucial role in maximizing energy production, optimizing system performance, and enabling grid stability and reliability.

What is 'VA' in the inverter?

VA defined the rating of Inverter. Most of the electrical rating is defined in terms of voltage and current (VA) because of AC power factor of current is decided by the load connected. AC Power = V X I X pf. Since the load power factor is not known while the Electrical equipment is manufactured, that’s why the rating of the Transformer and other equipment is defined in VA instead of Watt.

Inverter Market Size & Trends

In India, approximately 1 crore inverters are sold every year in India. Inverters are being sold which have both normal inverters and solar inverters. A normal inverter means that it will be used for charging the battery by using electricity only, whereas a solar inverter has the facility of both electricity and solar charging of the battery.

What is the Requirement of a Solar Inverter?

We are all aware of the use of electricity nowadays & it’s an important part of our life. We are using Grid Electric Power supply provided by the Government or by some Private agencies in multistoried apartments. In India due to frequent power supply interruptions/cut generally, we are using a Diesel Generator set and Inverter as Backup Power supply at home as well as in industries to avoid shutdown conditions. Nowadays Solar is one the best options as a Main or Backup power supply for home & small-scale Industries and one of the best options for Ruler areas where the electrical power supply is irregular very much.

How to Select the Best Inverter for Home?

While you are planning to buy a heavy capacity inverter for big homes where the average power consumption is 2,000 watts (2KW), below are the main decision-making factors, you should keep in mind.   

How does Inverter work?

An inverter is like a converter of the power supply DC power into the AC power supply. It will take 110V / 220V DC input voltage and convert it into an AC power supply of 230V, 50 Hz. The inverter also may be a phase or phase output AC supply type and also can operate under & voltage conditions up to a range of a minimum of 190V and a maximum of 250V for a single phase Inverter.

A Full bridge or Six-pulse converter is used to convert DC voltage into AC voltage The device can produce output voltage, and frequencies are controlled by the inversion process & the output voltage is connected to a transformer matching system it is feeding power into. Thyristor bridges are designed with a combination of diodes/rectifiers in forwarding & revere mode or blocking mode.

If you have brought a normal inverter for your home, then your inverter will charge the battery with electricity only and bypass the supply to the home appliance. But when the power supply goes off then the inverter will feed the supply in your home appliance with the help of a charged battery.

Now if you have brought a solar inverter to your home, then your inverter will provide a power supply to your home appliances during the day as well as charge the battery with the help of solar modules/ solar plates. During the night the inverter will charge your battery with electricity and bypass the supply for home appliances but in case of power supply goes out then your charged battery will take care of your home load with the help of an inverter.

Types of Solar Inverters

Based on the required load and space availability for the Solar System, you can choose the Solar Inverter. There are the following Solar models described here to understand the working function & that will help you to choose or invert the solar inverter.

Three models are there to understand the solar function.

• Grid-Interactive/ Connected System
• Off-Grid System
• Hybrid system

Inverters can be broadly classified into three major types:

i) Off-grid/ Standalone inverters– work independently off the grid and require battery storage.

ii) On-grid/ Grid-tied inverters– are dependent upon the grid.

iii) Hybrid inverters – incorporate both battery and grid connection and have an inbuilt solar charge controller.

Grid-tied solar inverters are further categorized into micro, string, and central inverters.

1. Grid interactive/ connected system

The most common, low-cost, economical, and better operation we use the Grid interactive/ connected system. This system will operate only when both solar and grid power is available & the first load feed from solar & balance will be imported from the grid. If case of excess solar power is either exported or trimmed (No export).  Based on the application of both the supply one as Main & other as Backup or as load sharing depending upon the conditions.

CONDITION-1

PV /Solar available & Grid available

PV Energy<Load Requirement

Load supplied through PV Energy + Grid

In that case, both supply available and solar-generated power are lower than the required Load (due to low capacity of installed solar, heavy loads, space constraints for solar or due to budget issues) then the first load feeds through PV and balanced will feed on Grid supply.

CONDITION-2

PV available & Grid available

PV Energy> Load Requirement

Load supplied through PV Energy

In that case, both supplies available and solar-generated power are greater than the required Load that the complete load will feed through PV and excess supply will trim or feed to the grid.

CONDITION-3

PV Not available & Grid available

Load supplied through Grid Energy

In that case, PV/Solar Power is not available (during bad weather, at night duration, or due to maintenance of the PV System), and then the complete load will feed through grid power.

CONDITION-4

PV is Not available & Grid is not available & Emergency DG is available

Load supplied through Emergency DG set

This is the case in which electricity very essential like hospitals, offices, banks, hotels, multistory apartments, etc. and PV/Solar Power and grid power are not available then an emergency Diesel Generator (DG Set) will feed to complete the load.

Advantages of Grid-Interactive/ Connected System

The drawback of Grid-Interactive/ Connected System

2. Off-Grid System

This is a battery-based system, and grid supply is not available this is used for remote areas or in locations where grid supply is not available as a Backup supply during the night hours or rainy season. This is used for battery charging & load sharing during the availability of the PV system & feeds load through the charged Battery during the unavailability of the PV system refer to the below diagram.

Case –I During the availability of PV/solar system Battery will charge with the parallel power supply to loads as shown in the below diagram with the flow of energy power.

Case –II During the unavailability of PV/solar system Battery will feed to loads as shown in the below diagram with the flow of energy power.

The drawback of Grid-Interactive/ Connected System

3. Hybrid System

This is similar to the Grid-connected Model, In which multiple sources of supply such as solar/PV, Grid, Battery Storage, DG set, Hydro plant any other power source connect parallel to feed load.

This is a complicated system and is not used at the domestic level. Synchronization is required between all connected systems and loads.

Inverter Vs Solar Inverter

Inverter	Solar Inverter
The Inverter does not work without a battery, adding a battery is a must	It has dual-use 1) It can operate with a battery and 2) without a battery
It supplies 230 Volt AC power to the home from the battery when power fails	It supplies 230 Volt AC power to the home from a battery and solar panels both
It charges the battery from Grid power,	It has a dual facility to charge batteries 1) Grid Power and 2) solar Panels
Highest Power rating Home Inverter 10 KVA	Highest power rating home Inverter 100 KVA

PWM Vs MPPT

PWM Solar Inverters – The smaller rating inverters less than 2 kW to be used in Rural areas and to make it affordable, it is made with PWM (pulse width modulation) technology.

MPPT Solar Inverter – It is the best charge controller technology with the highest efficiency between 95-97%. All high-efficiency inverters and grid-connected inverters are built with MPPT (maximum power point tracker) technology. An inverter built with MPPT technology takes 30% less time to charge a battery using solar panels.  

Criteria	PWM	MPPT
Full-Form	Pulse width modulation	Maximum power point tracker
Efficiency	65-70%	95 -97%
Built with	Off-grid Inverters	Grid-Connected Inverters
Cost	Low	High

Features of a Solar Inverter

MPPT – An MPPT Inverter is always a good choice as it charges a battery 30% faster compared to a PWM technology-built inverter.

LCD- An LCD Screen helps Homeowners understand Inverter operations such as real-time analysis of power generation, power consumption, battery charging status, and reason for Inverter failure.

Mobile App (IoT)- All the features available in LCD Display can be monitored, controlled, and serviced online through the mobile app if the Inverter has Wi-Fi functionality.

By Pass Switch- When the Inverter fails, the power supply to the home will be disturbed, Bypass Switch allows homeowners to use electricity even if the inverter is faulty.

MCB Protection: the grid power always has voltage fluctuations, and chances for short circuits, MCB Saves the Inverter from High Voltage and Short circuit failures.

What is a Hybrid Solar Inverter?

The technology of inverters in India has improved quite a lot since the arrival of new technology. Earlier, the batteries were charged up by the inverters and after a power, all the electrical appliances were run by the inverter battery such as lights, fans, coolers, TVs, refrigerators, etc. but due to extreme power cuts of long hours, the power backup of the inverter battery was 3 to 4 hours, which led to the invention of solar inverter and the ‘solar charge controller’ was built inside the inverter.

However, the solar inverter was successful only in those areas where the power cut had a period of 7 to 8 hours. In those areas where the power cuts were frequent, the user wanted to decrease their electricity bills and needed power during the power cuts. For this problem, Loom Solar invented a ‘Hybrid Solar Inverter’, which decreased the electricity bills and provided enough power during heavy power cuts to sustain the electrical functions of a home or business. This hybrid inverter includes transformers, and MPPT solar inverter, which can work with maximum efficiency and is available with IOT (Internet of Things).

What is the Price of a Solar Inverter in India, in 2024?

A solar inverter accounts for approximately 25-30% of the total solar system cost. Given below is the price list of the best solar inverters in India. The price of the solar inverter varies from ₹ 6 - ₹ 20 per watt based on technology such as whether it is off-grid, grid-tied, or Microinverter.

Multiple factors affect solar inverter prices such as inverter technology, efficiency, warranty period, and the quality of the brand. Below are the prevailing prices of solar inverter brands in India.

Last Updated on:

Solar Inverter Model	Selling Price
Solar Inverter Msun 1435 – 12 V with Digital display	₹ 7,000
Solar Inverter MSUN 2335 VA - Off-Grid with digital display	₹ 11,750
Solar Inverter – 2500 / 24 Volt	₹ 15,750
3.75 kVA /48 V Off Grid – Mppt Solar Inverter	₹ 44,750
5 kVa / 48 V – Mppt, Wall mount off-grid inverter with Mobile app	₹ 90,000
7.5 kVA / 96 V – Mppt Solar Off grid inverter	₹ 75,000
10 kVA / 120 V – Mppt solar off grid inverter	₹ 135,000

How to Install Solar Inverter?

Identify space near to Power distribution box > Make a stand in case of surface mount inverter, > Make wiring change for Inverter connection in power sockets > Connect Output Wire with Home Wiring > Connect inverter with battery (off-grid) using 10 mm DC wire,> Make a power socket for on-off  for battery charging from Grid >  Connect Inverter AC wire with power socket>  Give Grid Supply 

Maintenance, Efficiency & warranty

Solar Inverter is an electronic component, hence it should be kept away from water and dust, in case of power fluctuation, short circuit, or inverter gets dead, Only the Manufacturer can repair and service it.

Grid-connected inverters have an efficiency higher than 97% while Off-Grid inverters have efficiencies ranging between 80%-87%. In India, there is up to 5 5-year warranty on a Grid-Tied inverter, whereas off-grid inverters have for 1-2-year warranty. 

Top 10 Solar Inverter Companies in India

In off-grid Microtek, Luminous, V-Guard, Havells, and Tata Power Solar are some of the top solar inverter companies in India while In on-grid, Enphase, Solar Edge, and Fronius, are the leading solar inverter manufacturers (brands) supplying India, commanding double-digit market share. Selection of the Top 10 solar Inverter manufacturers depends upon multiple factors including, years of presence in the market, Sales Revenue, Nos. of Inverter sold, Inverter performance reviews and How is post-sales service.

Best Solar Inverters in 2023-25

India is a large market with a demand for Solar inverters with batteries due to frequent power failures, the list of the top 10 best solar inverters is compiled after researching the data and feedback from an online and offline store. 

Which is the Best Inverter for Big Homes in India in 2021-25?

How to Connect Inverter to Distribution Board?

Based on the output rating MCB/MCCB of the Inverter or the load current we can select the adequate copper/aluminium cable size for connection between the Inverter and to AC distribution board.

How to Install Inverter at Home?

Fix the solar plate on the roof with the support of the base frame and connect the plates with the Inverter terminal (with the help of guide book provided along with the Inverter plate) through cable leads/cable. The inverter output supply connects to the load directly in case no battery.

How to Connect Inverter to Battery?

To understand the connection of the inverter easily, we have kept the inverter in two categories. First up to 2500VA capacity of inverter and second up to 3kW to 10kW. For up to 3 kW inverter installation follow the below-mentioned steps

1. In the Battery, there are two terminals Positive (+) and Negative (-) and the same Terminal shall be mentioned in Inverter DC Input Side Positive and Negative. Connect the positive and negative of the battery to the positive and negative of the inverter by using cable lead or copper flat.
2. Connect the output of the inverter to the distribution box of the house.
3. Connect the wire coming from the solar panel to the inverter.
4. Now connect the input of the inverter to the grid.
5. Now check by running load on it

For the above 3 kW rating of Inverter with multiple battery cells, technical experience is required & you can take the support of the loom solar expert team for installation. However, we can add battery cells in series with one cell Negative terminal into another cell positive terminal and both end cell negative points can connect to inverter Negative, and the last Battery positive terminal can connect to Inverter positive terminals.

How to Check if Inverter is Charging Battery?

In today's time, the technology of inverters is increasing very fast as like,

• IoT Based Technology
• Transformerless Inverter
• Lithium Battery & Lead Acid Battery Compatible
• Wall Mounted

Basic Input & output displacement, protections are provided in each Inverter, Overload trip, Short circuit protection, LED display of Battery charging status, Battery health supervision, Outgoing feeder healthiness, etc. The entire features you can compare with the Inverter catalogue and General Technical Particular (GTP).

What is the difference between ups and inverters?

UPS comes with an inbuilt battery and a complete charging set of modules for small applications & low ratings only.  UPS takes AC input for battery charging & feeds the load while in normal condition. An inverter is a separate part without an inbuilt battery that converts the DC Input supply into the AC output supply and also charges the battery during healthy conditions.

Solar Inverter – Question & Answers

#1. How to calculate solar panels, batteries, and inverters?

To calculate the size of your solar system, first, you need to figure out, your daily peak power consumption, In the process of selecting a solar system, an Inverter is selected first, buy a solar inverter that needs your daily peak power consumption. After that, the Battery is selected, in the off-grid solar system, the number of batteries that will be connected is fixed. Lastly, a Solar panel up to the capacity of the inverter should be connected.  

#2. What is the price of a solar panel with an inverter and battery?

An off-grid solar system consists of solar panels, a solar inverter, and a solar battery. At Loom solar, the price of the solar system starts from INR 19,000 and it depends on the capacity of the solar inverter, the higher the capacity of the inverter, the higher the price.

#3. How to connect the solar panel to the battery and inverter?

You may need the help of a professional installer to install solar panels on your rooftop. Once the panels are installed on the mounting structure, connect it with a solar inverter (positive to positive). Next, connect the batteries to the inverter taking care of the terminals. Once all connections are established, power on your inverter to check the load. It is advisable to do installations in front of an electrician to avoid unnecessary accidents

#3. How to charge an inverter battery without electricity?

Power from solar panels cannot be directly used to charge the batteries as the current is variable. Hence, a solar charge controller is used to control the current we receive from solar panels and eventually charge the batteries. Batteries can be charged from the power of the sun and keep supplying charge to the inverters simultaneously.

#4. How does a solar power inverter work?

A solar power inverter is a hybrid inverter that charges the lead-acid battery from the Grid and Solar. There are two types of charge controllers built-in solar power inverters having a grid charger and a solar charger. It is like a conventional inverter but uses energy from the sun. Solar energy is converted into electrical energy and is stored in batteries. The inverter then inverts this direct current from the batteries into alternating current.

#5. How and where to buy a solar inverter for your home?

It is easy to buy solar inverters for homes online if you know what you are looking for. Few websites are offering online shopping options for inverters. You can avail of significant discounts and easy returns when buying online from reliable sellers. Otherwise, you can visit physical stores and take the advice of sales experts and buy the product.

#6. How to make a solar inverter from a normal inverter?

Any normal inverter can also be converted into a solar inverter with the help of solar conversion kits. The main difference between a solar inverter and a normal inverter is the presence of a solar charge controller and some switching circuits in a solar inverter. Su-Kam Solarcon conversion device, Tata Solar Sunjeevni, and Luminous Solar Retrofit Solution are leading conversion kits available in the Indian market.

#7. How to install a solar inverter?

After you have bought a solar system and installed solar panels, batteries and a charge controller, you will need to connect your solar inverter to your batteries. To do that you need to connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery and inverter i.e. positive to positive of the battery and inverter and vice versa.

#8. Can I connect the inverter directly to the solar panel?

Since the power from the sun is always fluctuating and not constant, it is not advisable to connect the inverter directly to the panels. Instead, we can use a device called the solar charge controller to control the flow of current into the inverter/ battery. Nowadays, inverters with inbuilt solar charge controllers are also available in the market, but they are expensive.

#9. How much does an inverter cost in India?

If you are planning to buy an inverter for your home, then there are two types of inverter: Non-Solar Inverter and Solar Inverter. A non-solar inverter is also known as a Normal Inverter and its starting range is 650VA – 1800VA Its price range is Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 9,500 depending on brands, performance, and warranty.  The second type of inverter is a Solar Inverter. The benefit of buying a solar inverter is that the battery can charge grid power as well as solar power. Its starting range is 1100VA – 2250VA available in the market and its average cost is Rs. Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 9,500. If you want to buy a high-capacity inverter for running a home water pump, air conditioner, deep freezer, or medical appliances, you can choose a 3kW to 10kW MPPT solar inverter and Its price range is Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 2,00,000. 

#10. Which are the best solar inverter brands available in India?

Loom Solar, <brand 2>, <brand 3>, <brand 4>, and <brand 5> are some of the best solar inverter brands available in the Indian market.

#11. What are some important features to consider when buying a solar inverter?

Before purchasing a solar inverter, you must ensure that you consider features and specifications such as the inverter technology, type, capacity, max. wattages of solar panel support, load capacity, and base to ensure you purchase a variant that meets all your requirements.

#12. How much is the price range of solar inverter?

The solar inverter price ranges from ₹ 7,000 to ₹ 1,50,000.

#13. Can I purchase a solar inverter on EMI?

Yes, a majority of solar inverter brands offer financing options like EMI and loans.

#14. Which solar inverter Is Best for Home?

- MSUN1435VA & MSUN2550VA Solar Inverter

#15. Which solar inverter Is Best For Business?

FUSION 5kVA, 48V MPPT Based Solar Inverter by Loom Solar

Download the Off-Grid Inverter Product Catalogue from here

Download the On-Grid Inverter Product Catalogue from here

इन्वर्टर रेट - Inverter Price / Inverter Cost / Inverter Rate

बता दें कि आज के समय में बाजार में 3 प्रकार के Inverter आसानी से उपलब्ध हैं। Normal Inverter, Solar Inverter और Hybrid Inverter।बता दें कि Normal Inverter एक ऐसा इंवर्टर है, जो पुरानी तकनीक पर चलता है और इसे आप सिर्फ बिजली पर ही चला सकते हैं। वहीं, Solar Inverter ऐसा इंवर्टर होता है, जिसे आप सरकारी बिजली और सोलर पैनल, दोनों पर चला सकते हैं। इसके अलावा, Hybrid Inverter ऐसा इंवर्टर होता है, जिसे आप बिजली और सोलर, दोनों पर चला सकते हैं और अतिरिक्त बिजली को आप सरकार को भी बेच सकते हैं।

आज के समय में, बाजार में Off Grid Connection के लिए 1 किलोवाट से लेकर 10 किलोवाट तक के इंवर्टर आसानी से उपलब्ध हैं। वहीं, On Grid और Hybrid के मामले में 3 किलोवाट से लेकर 100 किलोवाट तक के इंवर्टर आसानी से उपलब्ध हैं। वहीं, इसकी कीमत 5 हजार रुपये से लेकर 5 लाख रुपये तक होती है।

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