How big should a solar inverter be?

Generally, it's recommended to size the inverter to 80-100% of the DC system's rated capacity. Before determine the inverter size, the most important thing is to calculate your average daily power consumption (kWh) and calculate your solar panel array size to match your power consumption. You could follow our to make this estimation.

How many solar panels can an inverter handle?

To effectively determine the number of solar panels an inverter can handle, you must first assess the size of your solar panel array. The overall capacity of your solar installation is defined by the wattage and number of panels. You can expect that the inverter should match or slightly exceed the combined wattage produced by the solar panels.

How many solar panels can a 5 kW inverter use?

You will also need to consider the wattage of the solar panels you plan to use. For example, if you have a 5 kW inverter and each of your solar panels is rated at 300 watts, you can calculate the maximum number of panels by dividing the inverter’s capacity by the panel wattage: 5,000 watts (inverter) / 300 watts (panel) = approximately 16.67.

How does the inverter size calculator work?

Our Inverter Size Calculator simplifies this task by accurately estimating the recommended inverter capacity based on your solar panel power and quantity. By inputting your panel's rated power and number of panels, the calculator produces a recommended inverter power range that aligns with 80-100% of your system’s total DC capacity.

Do solar inverters have a rated capacity?

Ratings on solar inverters often give the false impression that you can connect as many panels as you like, as long as you’re under the stated power output. This leads to a misconception that exceeding the rated capacity is acceptable if you distribute loads wisely.

How efficient is a solar inverter?

As long as the input from the panels falls within the range of the window, the inverter can be considered to be operating optimally. In the graph below, the red line represents an average inverter efficiency and the green arrow represents the power output from your solar panels.