Hybrid, Off-Grid, and Grid-Tied Inverters, What Maintenance Do They Need?
Inverters are the linchpin in a solar PV system. The panels on the roof create power in Direct Current (DC), but unfortunately our appliances use Alternating current (AC) to operate. It is the job of an inverter to convert the DC to AC power.
There are a few main types of inverters that exist: Grid tied, Hybrid and Off Grid. Each has a different purpose and their own maintenance requirements.
Grid tied inverters
Grid Tied inverters are the most common type of inverters in Australia. As the name suggests, they are tied to the grid. In practice that means they do not operate in a blackout. These are simple to install and relatively affordable. Chances are if you have a solar system without a battery and you still have a contract with an electricity retailer, you have a grid tied inverter.
Hybrid inverters
Along with panels, battery cells also need DC power, so a hybrid can have a battery attached to it. Here is the clever bit because the panels make DC power, and the battery cells receives and sends out DC power. A hybrid inverter can take the panels DC power produced, send some to the building as useable AC, then send the rest to the battery cells. After nightfall, it can pull DC power from the battery cells and convert it to AC ready to use, or shift that power to be used at other points of the day, perhaps when specific machinery are running or when you pay higher tariffs to your retailer. Once the battery is full and the building needs are met, the surplus can be sent to the grid.
In the event of a black-out, the battery can be used to power a few circuits and be topped up by the solar panels.
Off grid inverters.
If you don’t have power lines connected to your building, your solar is probably an off grid. It has much of the function that a hybrid inverter has but will not connect to a grid.
Maintenance
All three inverters need very similar maintenance. As an inverter owner you can do simple maintenance yourself including:
- Keeping items away from the inverter to allow for easy access and good airflow.
- Keep the inverter free of dust and cobwebs, especially the ventilation outlet.
- Keep an eye out for any red lights or error fault messages on the front screen (if it has one)
Professional Maintenance
It is highly recommended, both from major industry groups such as the CER, CEC and SAA, as well as the manufacturers themselves, that a proactive and consistent maintenance program be undertaken on your solar system both for performance and safety reasons. The inverters play a critical and material part of this inspection. This way, you can identify problems either before they occur, or before they become much larger ones, thereby reducing downtime, optimising performance and mitigating site risks.
Industrias Services Group can perform this maintenance for you, no matter if you have 1 system or a portfolio of systems, whether you are in a capital city, or a regional town, in Australia or in New Zealand. This can include but not limited to:
- Confirming the integrity, health and soiling of the panels,
- Checking electrical connections and fuses,
- Electrical testing on AC and DC,
- Cleaning filters and checking fan operability,
- Thermal scanning for over-heating componentry,
- Security and access control around inverter,
- Checking mounting and fastening systems,
- Remote Active Monitoring of the overall performance of your system or portfolio.
If you would like to book in a System Inspection, Panel Clean, Active Monitoring, or even for a technician to check an existing issue, please Contact Industrias here for an obligation free consult so we can build the right maintenance plan for you.