Inverter wired directly to solar panel

Can you connect an AC inverter directly to a solar panel? Let's find out! In this video I connect a 500 watt inverter directly to a 50 watt solar panel. The panels open circuit voltage is around 20 volts.

This is simply a proof of concept / 'can it be done' scenario. In real life you'd want to ensure you use a charge controller and battery. See my other videos for example setups.

In the video I mention using a small battery connected directly to the solar panel and then the inverter connected to the battery. Essentially making the small battery work like a capacitor. This should work fine provided you're pulling power out of the inverter while the panel is dumping it's power into the battery. But in most circumstances you should not connect a solar panel directly to a battery and instead should be using a charge controller which will regulate the voltage to a safer level for the battery.

I'm sorry for the piece of wood that can be seen to the right of the screen throughout the video. Because of technical issues, noisy traffic and general interruptions; I ended up shooting this video about 6 times. After melting in the sun for a couple of hours, I decided to just settle with this and edit it as best as possible!

[nanjewabetondi]

A well presented case. No messing about and straight to what viewers want to hear. 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[PeterScargill]

Hah! I did that in Spain... to explain - I have a 250w panel in our summer home in Southern Spain - an area (Andalusia) where you can pretty much guarantee sun all summer - unlike where I am now back in the Northeast of England where you can pretty much guarantee the opposite. The very first thing I did on setting the panel up, was to play with my new 12v invertor - but what I did was to put a step-down buck converter onto the solar panel - mine is 24v and chucks out a lot more than that obviously as it is for charging 24v batteries.... the step down produced 12v which I fed into my 500w invertor which looks remarkably like yours... I have to say it worked a treat...and recovered well from any passing clouds. Today I have a pair of deep discharge batteries (100ah, 12v) in series on that rig which runs all year around lighting up the outside of the place - and also powering a couple of FriendlyArm Nano (with little hard drives) constantly - but those initial experiments without the battery were lots of fun. Aliexpress do cheap step-down units very cheap that will handle 15 amps.

[andrewhale]

Good video, short and to the would have been interesting to see how the voltage into the inverter changed as different loads were plug in.

[samslamkalota]

Can it work better if you connect MPPT charge controller in between the panel inverter?

[electronicsNmore]

Just as long as you turn on the inverter with the load connected, the 20V output from the solar panel will not be an issue. That 20V will immediately drop lower due to the load.

[pauls]

I posted a message nearly a year ago about using a buck converter to step down the voltage going to an inverter. I have an update. For many months, I've been doing just that. I have 500 watts from two panels in my backyard and the voltage under load is just over 30V. I have a 24V inverter whose upper limit is 30V. Since it's JUST on the borderline, I use a high current buck converter to regulate to 29.5V. I found that the 24V pure sine wave inverter I have will actually draw LESS amps for a given load if I give it more volts. This has been working flawlessly for me. I don't mind that the inverter shuts off if a cloud shades it too much. It's rare enough during my experiments that I don't have to reset it very often. I play around with electronics during the day and will not use a battery unless I absolutely have to. My house is separately powered by more solar panels on the roof with net metering.

[huckleberry]

Put a meter on the solar panel output while the inverter is under load. You will see that the panel is not putting out 20 volts, it is now down to around 13-14 volts which is safe for the inverter. Solar panels have a rating called VMP which is the point at which it can produce the most power in watts.

[behemothinferno]

Some inverters have DC inputs directly from solar panels but I would highly advise one not to connect it up to where the DC battery input is supposed be. At least use a buck converter to convert that 20V DC into 12-13 V DC as that's what the inverter is expecting to receive that way there's no risk of damaging your unit.

[erikbreaman]

Most inverters have a volt cap around 21V and a fuse that matches it's input current cap. Then they typically have a <0.1A and <10.1V shutoff. The best inverters are pure sine 2000/4000 with aluminum enclosure and fans and the best panels are usually this size 12V and 100W. The best batteries are 250AH 12V deep cycle AGM for around $350(unless you can afford nickel Edison batteries) each and you never go below 50% on any deep cycle so 125AH per cell. You need a charge controller and 2AWG cable too if you use batteries.. That's all you need to know..

You can't accurately control or even monitor charge percentage just go by consumption and total AH divided by 2 on single cell or banks.


Those "install experts" and "engineers" who do home installs are BS artists who just use elementary school math and bolt-on everything..

[allstarpawn]

You need a buffer of some sort. most inverters have capacitors inside and on a 12v inverter they are likely only rated to 16volts. Open load your solar panels is likely 18-21 volts. It wont take but several minutes to let out the magic smoke. The only time the inverter will see safe voltage is under enough load. as soon as you unplug your light, it becomes unsafe again. I know from experience after destroying a 300w automotive inverter.

[ahoyskid]

Handy idea if you already have a maxed out hybird inverter with battery. Can use this method to decrease self usage during high sun. Reduce the load or alow the hybrid charger to kick in when it detects excess from this simple setup then will return to grid or better case, the hybrid inverter will divert to an Eddie if for example the battery is already full? Am I right??

[FrostyBud]

John Steel IV
1 second ago
they say you can disconnect the battery backup. connect wire from solar output of charge controller directly to inverter, and power things. I have seen it done. it's awesome, they said it was by mistake as the wire from the charge controller (C.C.) and inverter where conect to same terminal and when terminal was removed for working on system, it still stayed on.

[gelinadesilah]

Can solar panel 10w and the battery is 12v is compatible?plaining to charge my phone .thank u for answering .

[david]

Do you know if in the market there is an equipment that can do it?, because the energy pass directly from panel to 220v.

Normally: Panel Solar Charger Controller Inverter 220v

[nelsonchu]

just watching the power and ground wire dangling so close to each other gets me nervous

[Anhidema]

If I connect buck boost converter in between will it operate steady ? Or it's based on how much amps we get input? I think solar amp would not be enough for inverter to run if we connect more than 200 watt load . So for this needs at least 20 amps 12 v battery through the charge controller to have steady and powerful output . But again it's a game of electronic so you have to build all cleverly with correct schematics and measurements .

[GGN-]

Thanks for these very clear explanations. Take care of yourself.

[Mat-dzhh]

regardless of it being okay to connect an inverter directly to solar cells, the question has been answered; for, inevitably some rookie will ask, and, moreover, there exists a thing that is "A Priory knowledge"

Liked the video

[endwalkvideos]

how many panels do we need to got wortking any basic frigde? and its secure for the fridge ?

[butchgsimolde]

i like the idea of mr. hough. but since the the battery is connected to the solar panel, is it posible to add a switch that will trip off incase the battery s full charge & vice versa