Difference between Solar UPS and Inverters

What is an inverter?

                    A power inverter is a device that converts Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) using transformers, switching and control circuits. And this is the basic function of any inverter: be it solar or regular inverter. A home UPS or home inverter takes the DC power from the batteries and converts it to AC power used by appliances.

Solar inverters that are used in our homes must be named as solar home UPS system, as it has two built-in chargers: solar charger and grid charger and it delivers immediate power supply while the grid power fails.

Working of a Home UPS/Inverter

A regular home UPS/inverter system has a system of inverter and batteries that are connected to the home power connection. When the power is coming from the grid, the UPS/inverter system charges the batteries using the power coming from the grid. When the power is off, the inverter takes the DC power from the batteries and converts it into AC used by appliances. There is an automated switch in the system that senses if the grid is not supplying power and switches the UPS into battery mode.

With solar charge controller, inverter uses solar panels to charge the battery and thus, solar inverter also converts DC electricity into AC electricity. Solar inverter does not take current constantly from the battery; it has some built-in activity for sparing the battery from deep discharge and makes sure long lifespan for the inverter battery. In the same way, the solar home UPS saves the battery with its inbuilt functions. As the solar UPS has built-in solar charge controller, you can directly connect your solar panels to the solar home UPS system. However, we can’t connect our solar panels directly with DC output to the solar inverter, as we separately require a solar charge controller device for regulating the current from the solar panels. Hybrid solar inverter or Solar Home UPS system has two inbuilt chargers, grid charger and solar charger, which gives instant power supply in case of grid power failure. Although both devices share some common functionality normal solar home inverter is quite different from solar home UPS.

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