Why You Should Consider Adding a Hybrid-Inverter to Your Off-Grid Solar Power System

Adding a hybrid-inverter allows your rig to operate seamlessly even when the grid goes down. This technology converts multiple power sources, including batteries and low amperage shore power into one single stream of electricity.

It also enables energy from renewables and the grid to be combined, while allowing homeowners to benefit from energy savings through potential revenue from selling excess electricity back to the grid.

Efficiency

When it comes to efficiency, hybrid inverters are masters. They use Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to optimise the performance of solar panels, ensuring that you get the most out of your solar energy system. This results in higher energy production and savings on electricity bills. Additionally, hybrid inverters can work with the grid, allowing homeowners to send excess power back into it for credits and monetary benefits. This fosters a dynamic energy ecosystem and helps you make the most of your sustainable lifestyle.

Another great feature of hybrid inverters is that they have multiple outputs. The first output is for the electrical panel and the second output is for battery charging and powering essential loads in the event of a grid outage. This means you can continue operating your home, camper or boat even if shore power is cut.

A hybrid inverter syncs up different power sources, like batteries and low amperage shore power hookups, into a single stream of electricity that replicates the golden standard of lifepo4-battery-storage-system full power from the mains. This makes living off-grid a lot more bearable over the long run, as you don’t have to worry about blowing a breaker or overloading your generator.

Battery backup

The battery backup of a hybrid inverter makes it possible to run your appliances at night and during periods of low solar irradiation. The inverter can also be used to store energy and sell it back to the grid, which can lead to significant savings on your electricity bills. The system also reduces reliance on fossil fuels, decreases greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizes strain on the grid, which contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

Unlike traditional DC coupled inverters, hybrid inverters use AC to connect to your home’s power grid. This technology significantly reduces losses by converting the direct current (DC) from your solar panels into alternating current (AC), which is used for household appliances. The AC signal then passes through another set of coils that induce current into the second coil by magnetic induction to produce the grid voltage.

In addition to battery backup, hybrid inverters can also be used to generate power during peak demand times. This can reduce your energy bill and enable you to take advantage of net metering (or feed-in tariff) programs, which can give you credit on your utility bill in exchange for the excess energy that you send back to the grid. Some hybrid inverters even have a built-in lithium battery, which means they offer a complete energy storage solution in a single package that is about the size of a refrigerator.

Solar power monitoring

A hybrid inverter with built-in solar power monitoring provides insights into the overall system’s performance. This can help identify and detect charger underperforming components, optimize energy yield, and manage maintenance on a proactive basis. Retgen’s solar inverter monitoring solutions provide real-time access to data, notifications and troubleshooting capabilities to keep solar owners informed from anywhere.

When used with battery storage, a hybrid inverter can maximize the amount of power that is made during the day and stored to be used during peak demand hours. This can increase the proportion of household demand that is covered by solar to about 20% on average.

A hybrid inverter can also help you save money on electricity costs by buying cheaper off-peak power to charge your batteries during the day. In addition, it can monitor grid consumption and adjust its output according to your energy needs.

Most hybrid inverters come with a display unit to show energy production and other metrics. However, many homeowners prefer to use a cloud-based monitoring system, like Retgen’s state-of-the-art mobile app, to monitor their energy production. With this option, information about the solar inverter’s performance is transmitted over an internet connection to a router, and can then be viewed on any computer or mobile device with an internet browser. The app also displays local weather alerts and electricity usage data, allowing users to make smarter energy decisions.

Grid backup

A hybrid inverter is a key component of an off-grid solar power system. It enables multiple power sources, including solar panels and batteries, to communicate harmoniously and function as one unit. Essentially, the inverter converts DC electricity into AC electricity so that it can be used by appliances and systems. This is done by passing it through a transformer, which has two coils. This process forces the electricity to flow into one coil more than the other, repeatedly, and converts it into alternating current (AC) electricity.

The hybrid inverter can also be integrated with battery backup, which allows it to work like a grid-tie system on a day-to-day basis. This means that it can export energy to the grid and draw from it when solar production is low. This feature is important because it enables the homeowner to take advantage of net metering programs, which offer credits on their utility bill.

The hybrid inverter can also be set to operate in a UPS mode, which provides emergency power during outages. When it is in UPS mode, the inverter monitors the status of the power grid and switches to off-grid operation if the grid fails. It then activates the battery backup and transfers power to critical equipment. It also regulates the voltage output to prevent over- or undercharging of the batteries, protecting it from potential damage.