Solar inverters serve as the brain of a solar installation and make it so you can actually use the electricity your solar panels are producing.

• Solar inverters convert the DC electricity the solar panels produce into AC electricity that can actually be used by home appliances.
• String inverters are the oldest inverter type and work well for homes with simple roofs that have no shading.
• Microinverters are attached to each panel, increase system production, and are great for complex system designs - but they are the most expensive option.
• Power optimizers give you the best value by providing many of the same benefits of microinverters, without the high price tag.
• Microinverters and DC power optimizers will continue to rise in popularity as their prices fall because of their advanced features over using string inverters alone.