Solar power is becoming more popular and more affordable all the time. Naturally, this means you may have a lot of questions regarding solar power and especially solar inverters. Although single-phase inverters are quite common, there are some distinct advantages to using a Fronius three-phase inverter. However, it's important to understand the distinctions between the two.

Three Phase Inverter

 

Singe Phase or Three Phase

A single phase inverter is fairly obvious. It converts the DC power generated by your solar panels into a single phase of AC power that you can use. This is how your home or business is able to make effective use of the energy generated by your solar panels. An inverter is needed, since you can't do anything with a DC feed from your solar panels.

With a three-phase inverter, the DC is converted into three phases of AC that you can use. This is especially important for larger solar inverters. A 5kW or less inverter would feed the power into a single phase, whereas a three-phase inverter would split it into three different phases of roughly 1.7kW each. If you have a 6kW or larger inverter, you may end up with too much of a load on a single phase. Thus, a three-phase inverter becomes very helpful.

However, it's worth considering if you can really make the most out of a three-phase inverter. Looking at your company's electric switchboard should tell you whether your business is receiving a single line or three separate lines from the power grid. The "main" will have either a single switch or three. If it's three, they should be marked.

Using a three-phase inverter, you can potentially provide more electricity back to the grid. Having three lines also allows you to pull more power from the grid. This helps with heated pulls, larger AC units, and other high-consumption needs. One obvious downside is that a three-phase inverter does cost more money. If you can make use of it, it may well be worth the added cost.

 

Voltage

Over-voltage is a common issue. This is an advantage with a three-phase inverter. With a single-phase inverter, all of the power is being pushed through one phase. This means on a sunny day with abundant solar power being produced, it could be pushing too much power through your switchboard. Safety measures are built in to prevent this from happening, which means the system may shut down to prevent damage.

A three-phase inverter splits power across three different phases. This reduces the power in each phase and reduces the voltage needed to "push" the electricity. With a three-phase inverter, over-voltage is a problem that can typically be avoided. Obviously, you don't want to lose power when your solar panels should be working at their best.

Solar Inverters for Solar Panels

 

Self-Consumption

Overproduction gets routed to the grid, but most business owners aren't overly concerned about producing extra electricity. They're most concerned about self-consumption. After all, any "free" power being produced lowers their electric bill each month. Less throttling or tripping due to over-voltage issues enables your system to be more effective and increase its reliability. This allows you to get the most out of the system. As mentioned previously, the kW rating comes into play here, as does your switchboard and local grid. Using a three-phase inverter won't be ideal for every business. However, if you can make use of it, it's generally recommended.

When you buy solar inverters, keep these options in mind. Contact The PowerStore Inc., at 813-739-8914 if you have any questions or would like a recommendation.