A microinverter is a small inverter attached to each solar panel that converts the panel's direct current to alternating current right on the roof. Because each panel works independently, shade or a fault on one panel does not drag down the others, and monitoring is available panel by panel. Microinverters also satisfy the electrical code's rapid shutdown requirement by design. The trade-offs are more electronics on the roof and, with some systems, extra equipment when you add a battery. The alternative is a string inverter, a single wall-mounted unit, sometimes paired with panel-level optimizers. Compare warranty length and the manufacturer's weighted efficiency rating on the datasheet rather than marketing claims.
Related terms and pages
- String inverter: One central inverter that converts the DC output of a series of panels to AC.
- Round-trip efficiency: The share of energy put into a battery that you can get back out.
- Inverters compared