How To Install Hybrid Solar Inverter(Like A)

Knowing how to install a hybrid solar inverter is straightforward. The best step is connecting the inverter to your solar panels, battery storage system, and electrical grid.

The first time I installed my first hybrid solar inverter, my family loaded every electronics in the house to it that night without considering what level of kw the hybrid solar inverter was meant to carry.

What did you expect? It stopped working; everything went down within 2 hrs. The issue of choosing the right hybrid solar inverter came into play.

This article will give you the correct process from my 13 years of experience installing solar inverters.

Installing Hybrid Solar Inverters In Parallel.

Solar panels can be linked in parallel, series, or distributed configurations. By having two hybrid inverters in our installation, we have assurance that there will never be a shortage of electricity supply.

If any of the inverters break down or stop working for any reason, it will have the support of the second inverter so that the supply is not interrupted. Court.

However, the good thing about hybrid solar inverters is that they allow you to connect several devices in parallel very simply. To increase the available power and connect them to feed a three-phase line.

To install two hybrid solar inverters in parallel, it is necessary to have a communication card in each one of them and connect them in a crossed way.

If this is the case with the installation, we will have to consider whether it is possible to expand it in the future. If so, opting for a parallelizable hybrid inverter instead of a series one should be the best.

However, to achieve this, a communications card must be installed in each inverter and connected crosswise.

Once the communication between both inverters has been established and both are connected to the same battery bank in parallel, it is synchronized.

Step 1: Gather your tools and materials

To get the work started, ensure you have all the necessary tools ready, including the hybrid solar inverters, solar panels, DC cables(5 to 10mm), AC cables(2mm), mounting brackets, screws, screwdrivers, wrenches, wire strippers, and safety equipment.

Step 2: Mount the inverters

You have to mount the inverter; by now, you must have concluded where you want to place the inverter. It should be a well-ventilated room, not faced with direct sunlight, and free from moisture.

It is time to mount the inverter using the mounting brackets to attach the inverters to the wall securely. When mounting your inverter, always create space for free airflow.

Step 3: Install DC & AC wiring

Here, you must be very attentive to fix the terminals properly. Connect the solar panels’ positive and negative DC terminals to each inverter’s corresponding DC input terminals.

When you push in each point to their respective terminals, ensure to screw tight.

The AC output terminals of each inverter are to be used for the distribution board, where you have to connect your home’s electrical system.

When setting up my AC, I normally use a junction box to organize my wiring and for easy distribution.

Step 4: Bring out the dummy card

The inverter installed a dummy card from the origin to safeguard the connectors and keep the cables tidy.

To remove it and install the network card, we must first remove the covering that shields protect that area when they are not installed, accessing from behind, and removing the two screws.

Unscrew the two screws that hold the dummy plate to the chassis from the bottom front section.

It is preferable to remove the additional plate with an RJ45 connector to connect the inverter to the PC and use the inverter’s setup software and the potential-free contacts, which may be used for any external activation or alarm.

Step 5: Install communications card

We unpacked the parallel connection kit, in which we found the communications card, a cable with RS232 connectors, and another black and red braided cable.

We release the screws of the RS connectors, which will fix the connectors to the chassis from the bottom once the cards are installed.

Here we can see the communications card already installed in its location, with the RS connector screws tightened and the SC1 and SC2 screws, which hold the board to the chassis.

Step 6: Wire and Interconnect Inverters

We repeat the operation in both inverters and once both cards are installed, we interconnect them with the cables, following the instructions in the instruction manual.

Step 7: Configure, test, and reboot.

We turn on the two inverters, and in a few seconds, after checking each other, they decide among themselves who assumes the role of master and who the enslaved person (indicated on the screen), after which they begin to function without further setbacks.

Step 8: Grounding

Ensure that the inverters are properly grounded to prevent electrical shocks or hazards. Connect the grounding terminals of each inverter to a suitable grounding point following local electrical codes.

Step 9: Test the system

Before connecting to the grid or using the system, test each inverter individually to ensure they function correctly. Check for any error messages or abnormal behavior.

Step 10: Parallel operation test

With all the inverters wired and configured, power them on simultaneously and monitor their behavior. Confirm that they are operating in parallel as expected, producing power collectively.

And that’s it. You have to review a couple more parameters in the configuration of the inverters and restart them, after which they are configured for parallel operation forever.

As you can see, the procedure is very simple and can be done without disconnecting the rest of the inverter wiring (battery, network, AC output, and solar).

Well, with these simple steps, we can expand the power of our isolated photovoltaic installation with hardly any complications. Yet another reason to trust these wonderful, affordable, and versatile hybrid solar inverters.

How Does A Hybrid Inverter Work?

A hybrid inverter works dually by integrating the functions of the traditional solar inverter and a battery inverter to convert the direct current (DC) supplied by solar panels into an alternating current (AC) for your electrical usage.

At the same time, it also manages the charging and discharging of the battery’s energy storage. With a hybrid inverter, a distinction can be made between single-phase and three-phase models.

Single-phase hybrid inverters usually have an output power of 350 to 4,000 volt-amperes. They provide the missing energy from the battery. This is then drawn on all three phases.

Three-phase hybrid inverters have 3,400 VAC three-phase outputs. The nominal power is 4,200 to 24,000 volt-amperes.

Although changing the current’s polarity is an inverter’s primary job, this device has another very important job.

The advantage of three-phase inverters is that they achieve a significantly higher nominal power than single-phase ones and can, therefore, supply electricity consumers with electricity more quickly and reliably.

For this reason, three-phase inverters are currently being installed. An apparent power is the maximum AC output power of the inverter. The power generated by photovoltaic modules is referred to as active power.

By varying the power resistance, the relationship between current and voltage in the solar cell is changed to maximize the product of these two parameters. This product represents the usable power of the solar cell.

If a solar cell achieves the maximum possible output, this is referred to as reaching the Maximum Power Point(MPP). The inverter continuously adjusts the ratio of current and voltage in the solar cell.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Hybrid Inverter

Compared to a solar battery separated from the inverter, hybrid inverters have the advantage that, depending on the design, the electricity can also be stored as direct current. This results in lower memory losses.

However, hybrid inverters are relatively expensive compared to other types of inverters. But they are usually cheaper than buying separate solar batteries and inverters.

It is worth dimensioning hybrid inverters as large as possible to take full advantage of the built-in storage. This means that, in most cases, the entire photovoltaic system is powered by a hybrid inverter.

The advantage, then, is that the efficiency of a large inverter is usually very high. However, it can be disadvantageous that only one MPP can be set for the entire solar system.

If the individual modules deliver very different outputs, for example, due to partial shading of the system, this fact can be reflected in the system’s relatively low efficiency.

This is because many modules are then not operated on the MPP.

The Characteristics Of A Hybrid Solar Inverter

The electrical power of an inverter must be adjusted according to the power of your solar installation. This is called the rated output power, expressed in W or VA.

It is important not to oversize an inverter at the risk of losing part of the power.

Umax (Uoc) and Imax (Icc)

The Imax and Umax resulting from the connection of the solar panels must be lower than the maximum voltages and currents allowed at the input of the photovoltaic inverter, taking into account the influence of the temperature on the voltage in the event of negative temperatures.

The MPP(Maximum Power Point) voltage range

It must be ensured that the solar installation’s minimum and maximum mpp voltage is well within this range.

Battery compatibility

Hybrid inverters are designed to be connected to a battery and thus manage the battery charge and discharge according to the consumption needs and the production of the solar panels.

It is, therefore, important to check the compatibility of the sizing of your battery bank with the solar inverter.

The data to check are:

Tension nominal DC
DC voltage range
Maximum discharge current
Maximum battery charging current
Type of batteries accepted

Why Should I Choose A Hybrid Inverter?

The first reason you choose a hybrid inverter is to manage your energy consumption and save more money. Another reason we chose to go with a hybrid inverter is that it employs solar panels and batteries to store excess solar electricity.

This means power storage to use whenever needed, usually at night. Furthermore, in certain regions, incentives are offered for using hybrid solar inverters,

Lastly, hybrid inverters give you greater control over your energy consumption, which might be an excellent option if you want to be more self-sufficient from the grid while saving money in the long term, as I said before.

Final Thought

A hybrid inverter has the task of converting direct current into alternating current. Compared to a conventional inverter, it can temporarily store the electricity using internal or external storage.

Hybrid inverters unfold their full economic potential when the integrated power storage increases self-consumption or an emergency power generator can be saved.