Maximum efficiency
Inverter efficiency for solar panels.
The efficiency indicator is the percentage ratio between the amount of energy that the device delivers to the load and the energy consumed from the solar panel. The higher this parameter, the more efficient the operation of the device and the lower the losses during conversion. In modern inverters for solar panels, efficiency values of up to 90% are considered average, and above 90% are considered good.
Euro efficiency
The European inverter efficiency is measured based on several load values (e.g. 10%, 30%, 50%, 100%), which better reflects the actual operating conditions of the device. Indeed, in fact, inverters rarely operate at full power in constant mode. To calculate the Euro index, the weighted average of the inverter efficiency at different load levels is taken into account. Note that there is no single generally accepted formula here - it may vary depending on the specific standard or equipment manufacturer. Nevertheless, Euro efficiency allows you to more accurately assess the efficiency of the inverter under conditions of partial and full power use
Rated power
The rated output power of the inverter, expressed in volt-amperes (VA). Essentially, this value is equivalent to power in watts (W).
This parameter refers to the power that the device can continuously deliver to consumers. When choosing based on this parameter, ensure that the rated power of the inverter exceeds the expected load power by approximately 15-20%. Additionally, keep in mind that some electrical appliances (particularly those with electric motors, such as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, etc.) consume significantly more energy at startup than during regular operation. For such loads, it's important to check the peak power of the inverter (see the relevant paragraph) — it should be higher than the starting power of the load.
Rated power
The rated output power of the inverter, expressed in watts (W).
This parameter means the power that the device can provide to consumers for an unlimited time. It is necessary to choose according to this indicator so that the rated power of the inverter covers the power consumption of the expected load by approximately 15-20%. It is also worth considering that some electrical appliances (in particular, units with electric motors - vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, etc.) consume significantly more energy when starting up than after entering the mode. For such a load, it is also necessary to clarify the peak power of the inverter (see the corresponding paragraph) - it should be higher than the starting power of the load.
Peak power
The highest total output power in watts (W) that the inverter can deliver to a load for a relatively short period of time, on the order of 2 to 3 seconds. As a rule, this power is 30 - 50% more than the rated power (see above). The peak load value can be useful when calculating how the inverter works together with appliances that consume a lot of energy at start-up (vacuum cleaners, borehole pumps, power tools, etc.). The rule here is simple - the peak power of the inverter must not be lower than the starting power of the load.
Rated AC current
The current strength that the device is capable of stably and safely delivering when operating in rated mode (i.e. for the longest possible time without the risk of overloads and failures). The indicator is expressed in Amperes (A).
Maximum AC power
The maximum current in amperes (A) that the inverter, when operating, is capable of outputting without overloads or failures.
Number of sockets
The number of standard 230 V sockets provided in the inverter design.
The more
sockets there are, the more electrical appliances can be connected to the inverter at once. At the same time, the specificity of using inverters is such that they rarely have to be used for several devices at once. In addition, simultaneous connection requires appropriate power (see “Rated output power”), and the sockets themselves also significantly affect the dimensions. Therefore, most often in modern home inverters one socket is used – this, usually, is enough. However, high-quality powerful inverters can have two sockets.
Maximum charge current
The maximum amount of direct current in amperes that the inverter can convert. If the solar panel produces a current exceeding this value, the inverter simply does not use it. This is often justified when connecting an inverter to high-power solar panels - the maximum input current of the inverter is reduced to acceptable values so that moderate-sized wires can be used to transmit energy.
