Solar power system connected to the grid in series with high voltage

The current most common configuration of a solar power system connected to the grid is high voltage series connection. All solar panels will be connected in series to generate high voltage DC power. This DC power source will be fed to the central inverter to be converted into AC power. This AC power is then connected to the standard electrical system in your home. This is the best economical grid-connected solar power system design. Moreover, the installation of the system is also relatively easy, the maintenance process is simple, the components are available.

Besides operating solar panel array with high voltage. The high voltage series grid connected solar power system is also very efficient with very little loss through the panel array. That allows the inverter to operate at extremely high efficiency. That's why this design became so popular.

A major disadvantage of connecting solar panels in series.

When we connect solar panels in series, the solar panel array will have the same durability as weak connection locations. If our solar panel has a problem like:

The shade blocks the light to several photovoltaic cells.

Power cable is damaged.

Then, the power of all solar panel arrays will be reduced to the same value of that panel.

Low voltage system.

Besides the high-voltage series-connected grid-tied solar power system, there are also a few grid-tied solar power systems using low-voltage panel arrays. This will be done when connecting solar panel branches in parallel and then continuing to connect in short series (connected in series with parallel). This connection is safer than the high voltage configuration. However, the performance is not equal, the effect of shading is also less.

Series-connected designs have less installation costs than low-voltage designs. To design a low voltage system, we need to buy an inverter capable of receiving power from the solar panel branches connected in series. Or we can also buy separate inverters for each branch. This option is almost unpopular because of its low applicability. A combination of low voltage and high voltage systems are currently available in series.

System of micro-inverters.

The micro-inverter system appeared only a few years ago, but the cost is relatively high. However, with the development of grid-connected solar power systems globally, micro-inverter systems are used more and more popularly with many advantages. The price of micro-inverter systems tends to decrease over time. At present, the price of the system is approximated to that of a high-voltage series-connected system.

As for the micro-inverter system structure, each solar panel will have a separate inverter that converts the DC current into AC current at the output. Each solar panel will be an independent solar system.

The inverter will normally be installed externally in most micro-inverter systems. They use bolts to attach to the panel locator frame. The individual solar panels are connected to an AC cable that runs along one side of the panel and supplies power directly to your home's electrical system.