Inverter
PV modules and energy storage systems function with direct current (DC), yet due to the advantages of alternating current (AC) the majority of the appliances produced in the world are built to function with an AC input source. This means that it is common to incorporate an inverter, which can convert from DC to AC, into any any system that is intended to function with more than just basic appliances like lighting, cell phones and radios. There term inverter covers many different products with different functionality and cost, thus it is important to understand the different factors that go into choosing an inverter to determine the right one for your application.
Inverters are the most electronically complex component and thus are a likely failure point, meaning that investing in a quality inverter is a wise choice. If the inverter in a system that is built around AC fails, then the system will stop functioning completely. For this reason, many system designers of small offgrid systems choose to incorporate DC lighting or a DC-based refrigerator into a system to offer the a more robust system that will continue to provide these basic functions even in the event of an inverter failure.
