You know about solar inverters, but not sure how they function. A solar inverter takes DC from the solar panels and converts it to AC.
Domestic and commercial buildings use this current to power all of their electrical appliances. This post will give you an overview of solar inverter prices in India in 2021.
These devices have evolved throughout time. Becoming wiser and more sophisticated to provide good service to the current generation of users.
A solar inverter accounts for about 25-30% of the entire cost of a solar system. The cost of a solar inverter in India is based on factors such as brand, efficiency, and warranty length.
Types of Solar Inverters
Solar inverters are divided into three categories based on the applications, benefits, and functions they provide.
Off-grid, on-grid, and hybrid inverters are the three types.
Later in this section, we will learn about types of inverters and their features.
Off-grid/Standalone Inverters:
These are self-contained inverters that do not require grid power. But they do require battery storage. It is not necessary to connect this inverter to a solar panel. Instead of using AC power, they use DC power from batteries. To charge these batteries, PV arrays or other resources such as hydro-turbines, engine generators, and wind turbines are used.
Because these inverters are isolated from utility grids, they don’t need much anti-islanding protection. These standalone inverters are unable to transfer excess solar energy to the grid. These are particularly beneficial in distant places where a utility grid is not feasible.
The best part of these inverters is that you no longer have to deal with problems caused by a power outage or other technical issues on the utility grid.
Off-Grid inverters also has some disadvantages, such as a load restriction and a higher cost than grid inverters. Off-grid solar inverters in India typically come with a two-year guarantee.
On-grid/Grid-tied Inverters:
On-grid inverters, as the name implies, rely on the solar system’s grid to function properly. To function, it is reliant on government-supplied electricity. Grid-tied inverters work by matching their frequency to the sine wave of the electric grid. These inverters are designed to shut down automatically in the event of a power outage to safeguard safety.
On-grid inverters have the disadvantage of not being able to provide power during a power outage. These inverters are smart gadgets that are safe to operate because they have built-in safety features. There are four types of grid-tied inverters on the market today: central plant inverter systems, string inverter systems, multi-string inverter systems, and microgrid inverter systems.
In urban and industrial locations, where electricity bills are greater, on-grid inverter systems are widely employed. These are ideally suited for use in both residential and business settings. On-grid solar inverters in India come with a 5-year warranty. This gadget has many advantages, including the fact that it runs entirely on solar power, that there is no load limit, that it can receive up to a 70% subsidy, and that it takes up less space during installation.
- String Inverters: String inverters are the most widely used on-grid solar inverters in India, with both residential and commercial users. These are directly connected to the grid and, in the vast majority of cases, do not support battery backup. They often survive for 25 years or longer and come with a 5-year warranty. The most efficient string inverters are 97-99% efficient, while the rest are less efficient.
- Micro-Inverters: The primary physical distinction between string and micro-inverters is that the latter is significantly smaller in size and capacity. These inverters are mounted on the back of each solar panel on the roof and are responsible for the energy conversion in that panel. This is a wonderful alternative for places with partial shading.
- Central Inverters: MW scale plants are known to employ central inverters because they are large, have their rooms with exhaust, and so on. The efficiency of these inverters is significantly higher than that of the other two on-grid inverters. Central inverters have grid-related capabilities including fluctuation management, balancing, and so on.
Hybrid Inverters:
The hybrid inverter is the third type of inverter that you should be aware of while researching solar inverter costs in India. This is a blend or combination of on-grid and off-grid inverters, as the name implies. You can be self-sufficient but rely on the utility system for energy when lighting conditions are poor or there isn’t enough sunlight.
After charging the linked battery, these gadgets send extra electricity to the grid. This inverter uses the stored energy from the sun on cloudy days or at night, and when that is depleted, it turns to the grid to recharge the battery. Grid-syncing necessitates the use of anti-island protection.
Most manufacturers give a 3-year warranty on hybrid inverters. These are not currently common in India since utilities do not accept net-metering connections, and the legislation around the process is also unclear. Hybrid inverters are more expensive than on-grid and off-grid inverters, making them unattractive to Indian customers. There is also a limit to the amount of weight it can carry.
Hybrid Solar Inverter Prices in India 2023:
We’ve put together a list of hybrid solar inverter costs for you. You can browse over these and select which one best fits your needs and, more importantly, your budget. Transformer-based solar inverters are covered in this list, but transformer less solar inverters can be less expensive.
Hybrid Inverter Model | kW Rating of Inverter | Price of Inverter (Approx.) |
3 kW hybrid solar inverter | 3 kW , 1 P | Rs. 75,000 |
5 kW hybrid solar inverter | 5 kW , 1 P | Rs. 78,500 |
6 kW hybrid solar inverter | 6 kW , 1 P | Rs. 83,500 |
10 kW hybrid solar inverter | 10 kW , 1 P | Rs. 1,78,500 |
10 kW hybrid solar inverter | 10 kW , 3 P | Rs. 2,39,000 |
On-Grid/Grid-tie Solar Inverter Prices in India:
When compared to hybrid solar inverters, on-grid solar inverters are less expensive. We have listed the solar inverter prices in India for residential use in this section. This is a price list for MPPT-based on-grid solar inverters with built-in remote or web monitoring.
Inverter Model | kW Rating of Inverter | Price of Inverter (Approx.) |
1 kW On-grid solar inverters | 1 kW , 1 P | Rs. 19,000 |
2 kW On-grid solar inverters | 2 kW, 1 P | Rs. 25,000 |
31 kW On-grid solar inverters | 3 kW, 1 P | Rs. 30,000 |
5 kW On-grid solar inverters | 5 kW, 1 P | Rs. 45,000 |
6 kW On-grid solar inverters | 6 kW , 3 P | Rs. 75,000 |
10 kW On-grid solar inverters | 10 kW , 10 P | Rs. 90,000 |
Features of Solar Inverters
The cost of a solar inverter is determined by the functions it has. The higher the price of a solar inverter, the more features, and the smarter the features. If you have a specific budget in mind, choose a solar inverter that falls within that range. However, do not skimp on crucial elements that are required for a solar inverter to perform properly.
IP Rating:
Ingress Protection Rating is the full version of the IP rating. This indicates how well the inverter is protected from the damaging effects of dust, water, and other factors. Because inverters are exposed to extreme circumstances such as changing voltages, water, dust, and high temperatures, this rating is an important aspect to check for when purchasing one. The machine’s IP rating will tell you how well it is protected against all of these.
Look for a two-digit number while examining the rating, and remember that each of the two digits represents a level of protection taken by the inverter.
For example if the IP rating is 0, it signifies that the inverter provides no protection.
If it’s 2, the inverter is safe against solid things larger than 12 mm, such as hands and tools. In the second position, the same numeral stands for protection against direct water sprays up to 15 degrees.
Efficiency:
It is critical to evaluate the efficiency of the gadget while browsing through the pricing of the many solar inverters accessible. What determines a solar inverter’s efficiency? It is determined by how much of the energy generated by solar panels is transformed into usable AC power. Some of the DC that reach the inverter are wasted due to heat and other factors.
When efficiency is great, the loss is reduced. The efficiency of the solar inverter will improve as you use more power. This means that when you use very little energy, the efficiency is around 50%, and when you use a lot of energy to power all of the appliances in your home, it might reach 90%.
The peak efficiency value is the utmost efficiency a solar inverter can achieve, and if yours has it, it indicates your output will be higher. This will be advantageous to you and will make the equipment worth the money you paid for it.
Anti-islanding Protection for Grid-connected Inverters:
Anti-islanding protection is the most critical characteristic to look for in a grid-connected inverter. The anti-island protection ensures that the solar PV system does not send electricity generated by the solar system to the grid in the event of a power outage. Engineers may be working to fix a utility connection, and these characteristics protect them from being shocked. Your inverter will not be approved to connect to the grid until it has this feature.
Output Waveform:
The devices can produce a variety of waveforms, including sine wave, square wave, modified sine wave, and more, depending on the circuit architecture of the inverter. You should seek out an inverter that generates a genuine sine wave. When powering inductive loads, a genuine sine wave is the most efficient, which is why you should seek this output waveform. Other waveforms need 20 percent more energy to power the same loads. The usage of this surplus energy can shorten the machine’s lifespan by causing it to overheat. Before choosing a solar inverter, we recommend that you check for true sine waves for the benefit of your home’s electrical equipment.
Duration of the Battery Backup:
Another important factor to consider while comparing solar inverter prices in India is the duration of the inverter’s battery backup. The duration is calculated using a straightforward method.
Time= Battery voltage (volts) x battery capacity (AH) x inverter efficiency/load (VA)
Consider the following scenario:
The battery voltage is 15 volts, and the battery capacity is 160 AH, and you need to power a table light of 50 watts, a tiny bed light of 30 watts, and a fan of 80 watts.
The inverter’s efficiency is listed at 80%. The duration of the battery backup may be calculated using the calculation above, and the result is 12 hours.
Additional Features to look for in Grid-connected Inverters:
Grid-connected inverters are the most widely utilized inverters in urban areas, therefore you’ll want to look for a few extra features in the inverter. Surge prevention, overcurrent protection, monitoring of PV array string faults, data logging, and other display features are also required. With software provided by a grid-connected inverter, you must be able to monitor the electricity supplied by your PV system.
You should also inspect the health of your PV system to ensure that it is sufficiently protected against surges and overcurrent.
Features to be checked for in Off-grid Inverters:
A normal power inverter is remarkably similar to an off-grid inverter. Make sure the inverter you buy has a good battery management system and, preferably, a temperature control system to avoid battery overcharging. The longevity of an off-grid inverter might be drastically reduced if it overheats.
Warranty:
Any excellent electrical device, regardless of price, must have a warranty period during which you can contact the provider to get any problems covered. In most circumstances, a grid-tied inverter has a 5-year warranty, whereas off-grid inverters have only a 1-year or even 2-year warranty. If you choose a high-quality on-grid inverter, you won’t have to worry about damage once it’s installed because the equipment is nearly faultless.
Other features:
- MPPT, LCD, mobile app, bypass switch, and MCB protection are some of the other characteristics to look for when purchasing a solar inverter.
- MPPT- We recommend choosing MPPT technology for your inverter because it is 30% more efficient and faster than a PWM-based inverter.
- LCD Display- Individuals can use an LCD to keep track of the status of their solar inverter. You may monitor the battery state, as well as do real-time analysis of power generation, consumption, and even the cause of inverter failure.
- Mobile App (IoT)- If your inverter has Wi-Fi, you should download the mobile app that allows you to monitor, operate, and maintain it.
- Bypass Switch- If your inverter fails, your home’s power supply will be disrupted. The bypass switch ensures that the supply of electricity does not sag and that you have constant access to electricity.
- MCB- The MCB protection prevents voltage fluctuations and the possibility of a short circuit.
How to install a solar inverter?
Installing solar inverters is a difficult task, which is why you should get professional assistance. We provide all of the information you’ll need to build a solar inverter in this section.
The inverter must be positioned in a specific location and a specific position. You should install the solar inverter in the cleanest and coolest location possible, away from direct sunlight. The solar inverter is a powerful device that works best when it is kept out of direct sunlight. In the shade, the components tend to survive longer.
Another essential consideration is the location of the solar inverter. There must be easy access to the inverter so that it may be maintained and repaired without difficulty. To guarantee that the inverter works properly and is safe to use, follow all safety regulations and local codes.
The wiring and mounting of a solar inverter are also an important part of the installation process. You must keep things basic and ensure that the wiring is neat and well-organized. Getting your hands into a deep wire can be difficult, and installing ground bushes and lugs can be even more difficult. In well-installed solar inverters, there must be ample space for service loops. To maintain the cable management neat, there must be attachment points.
Conclusion
Solar inverter prices vary depending on factors such as the brand, the location from which you are purchasing, the features available, the amount of electricity it can create, and so on. To compare solar inverter prices in India, you must have a thorough understanding of these elements. This post has attempted to walk you through the process so that you may easily purchase a nice solar inverter for your house or office.
Also Read: Solar Battery Price in India 2023