Do I need a solar inverter?

Solar inverters are a necessary, but often forgotten part of a home solar panel system since they convert sunlight into usable electricity for your home appliances. Without a solar inverter, you wouldn't be able to use those solar panels to power your home.

Which solar inverter is best?

CNET experts have compared the most popular solar inverters' specs, warranties, prices and more. The SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter is our top pick in 2024. It was the most efficient inverter we looked at, letting you use a larger percentage of the energy your solar panels generate. This translates to less and more power to use around the house.

Can I install a hybrid solar inverter without a battery?

You can still install a hybrid solar inverter without a battery. Solar batteries need a battery inverter to be able to power your home. Some solar batteries on the market come with their own built-in (or integrated) battery inverter.

Do solar inverters need a grid connection?

As the name suggests, these inverters require a grid connection to operate and are capable of pulling power from the grid as well as feeding power to the grid. If the power grid ever goes down, a grid-tied inverter will automatically shut off, which leaves you prone to power outages even with solar panels.

How do I choose the best solar inverter for my home?

Reading through user reviews on app stores can give you a decent understanding of what you'll be experiencing when using a specific solar app. The "best" solar inverter for your home depends less on the inverter manufacturer and more on what your home's specific energy needs are.

What are the different types of solar inverters?

Most solar inverters will fall into one of these three categories. Grid-tied inverter: Grid-tied solar inverters are the most common inverter type you'll come across. As the name suggests, these inverters require a grid connection to operate and are capable of pulling power from the grid as well as feeding power to the grid.