HOW DO I KNOW IF THE INVERTER MANUFACTURER
IS REPUTABLE?
There are a few different types of inverters within the industry. Each inverter brings its own speciality to the party.
The most commonly installed inverter is the "String Inverter". A string inverter is just that, a "string" of panels is connected to the inverter. There can be more than one string of panels.
"Hybrid Inverter" Inverters are a great way to either future proof your system or to utilise both battery storage while having the comfort of the grid as a back up when needed. A Hybrid or Grid Connect Inverter with Battery Storage is using a String Inverter that will utilise battery storage for night time use or when the power is out and will only draw power from the grid if required.
"Central Inverters" are used for large scale systems containing hundreds of kilowatts and even megawatts! You will only find these on solar farms or large scale commercial systems.
"Microinverter" are tiny inverters placed directly onto each and every panel. These are a dying breed as there is no proven benefit that far outweighs the use of a String Inverter, in particular for an area such as Alice Springs and the NT.
"Battery Inverter" if you want to retrofit batteries to your solar power system, or simply keep your battery system separate from your solar panels (i.e. not going through the same inverter), then a separate battery inverter is a good choice. This simply converts your battery power into 230V AC and feeds it into your switchboard instead of grid power where possible
What to look for in a good solar inverter:
Volume
How many solar panels does the manufacturer sell each year
Quality Control Systems
Procedures a manufacturer takes to ensure premium quality products every time
Financial Stability
How prosperous the company is. Is there a risk of going bankrupt or insolvent
Research and Development
How much a manufacturer spends on researching and developing solar panels
Vertical Integration
Manufacturer controlling their supply line from silicone cells to the final panel product
Innovative Robotic Processes
Manufactured using highly automated techniques. Robotic processes guarantee panels with higher quality standards, consistency and reliability.
Warranty
The process to attain warranty claims, local or Australian based service office
Risk Diversification
Arguably the most important. Manufacturers having a risk diversified manufacturing portfolio, compared to solar manufacturers only making solar panels. Without diversification, can lead to the company going bankrupt or insolvent.
Manufacturing Solar Panels for more than 5 years
This reveals the company's longevity and ability to serve any potential warranty claims in the future.
