THE INVERTER

Because the batteries store energy in DC (direct current), and your appliances are in 120/240V AC (alternate current), you need a device that converts DC to AC. That is your inverter. Inverters today are very reliable and extremely efficient. They also come with some neat features such as battery charger, automatic transfer switches, and meters. They come in different sizes and applications. They are easy to program to the specifications of your unique system.

Some inverters can be programmed to sell back excess power to the grid. Others are connected directly to the grid without batteries. These are called synchronous inverters. The advantage of synchronous inverters is that they do not need a battery bank to work, and therefore, the system can be much cheaper to install. However, if the grid goes down, the system will stop working and you will have no power either. These synchronous inverters are preferred when the utility pays the same rate for power that you produce as the price that they charge themselves. So, basically, the grid works as a huge battery bank.