Why Inverter Choice Matters More Than Panels

When most people think about going solar, they focus on the panels. Brand, efficiency, warranties-- those things matter, but not as much as you might think when it comes to system reliability. What actually makes the bigger difference is the inverter architecture.

The panels you choose will affect how much power you produce. But the inverter setup determines how reliably that power gets to your home. All of the panel brands I listed elsewhere are solid. But not all of the inverter systems are created equal.

If you’re not sure what an inverter is, here’s a quick explanation. Solar panels produce electricity in Direct Current (DC), but your home runs on Alternating Current (AC). So every solar system needs a way to convert DC to AC. That’s where inverters come in.

There are a few different architectures used in residential systems. Here’s how they compare.

1. Central Inverter (String System)

This is the oldest and simplest type of inverter architecture. In this setup, all the solar panels are wired together in a string and send their power to one central inverter that does all the conversion from DC to AC.

If any one part of the system fails—whether it’s the inverter itself or a single panel—the entire system goes down. And if one panel is shaded or underperforming, the whole system is limited to that panel’s output. In other words, the weakest panel dictates the performance of the rest.

This architecture is considered obsolete for residential installations. It’s still used in some larger commercial systems, but for homes, it doesn’t make sense anymore.

2. Optimized Inverter System (SolarEdge)

This system is similar to the one above but includes power optimizers at each panel. These optimizers help ensure that if one panel is shaded or underproducing, it doesn’t limit the others. That’s a step up from a basic string inverter.

But the power optimizers themselves do not convert DC to AC. The actual inversion still happens at a single central inverter. That means there is still a single point of failure. If the central inverter fails, the entire system stops working.

The power optimizers help with performance issues related to shading or mismatched panels. But they don’t solve the reliability issue of having everything depend on one central inverter.

3. Microinverter System (Enphase Energy)

This is the system I recommend most often.

In a microinverter setup, each solar panel has its own dedicated microinverter. This means each panel operates independently of the others. If one panel is shaded or fails, the rest of the system keeps running without interruption.

There is no central point of failure, and the system tends to be more efficient overall. You also get better visibility into how each individual panel is performing. If one unit needs service, it's isolated to that panel, not your whole system.

Microinverter systems also tend to produce a bit more energy overall, just from being better optimized and more resilient to issues like partial shading or hardware problems.

Don't overlook the inverter!

If you’re planning to go solar, take a close look at the inverter architecture. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing panel specs, but your inverter choice will have a bigger impact on how reliable and efficient your system is over time.