Solar Equipment: Inverters, Solar Panels, and Sunlight. What
else do you need? The solar inverter is the second most
important (and second most expensive) component of a solar PV
system. It’s important because it converts the raw Direct
Current (“DC”) solar power that is produced by your solar panels
into the “plug-the-toaster-in” Alternating Current (AC) power
that comes out of your wall sockets. Inverters also have
technology that maximizes the power output of that DC energy.
There are two basic types of inverters. Central inverters are
well-tested and reliable systems that have been around for
decades. These are the most common types of inverters. With
central inverters, every solar panel is wired in a “string” to
the inverter box. The conversion from DC to AC occurs at one
central location, such as your garage. Because the solar panels
are wired in “series,” each panel’s power output depends on all
of the panels working. Think of a string of Christmas tree
lights. If one bulb goes out, the whole string of