There are a lot of solar inverters on the market, from many different manufacturers. How do you know which brand is the best option for your system? If you’re in the market for a solar inverter, it’s important to do some research into the different brands available so you can find the right one for your needs. To get you started, here’s a close comparison of the pros and cons of 3 top solar inverter brands: Fronius, SolarEdge, and SMA.
Fronius Inverters
Fronius is known for its high-quality string inverters, especiallyin the Primo and Symo series. These inverters are widely known for their reliability, smart energy management, and excellent monitoring abilitiesthrough Fronius’s online system, Solar.web. The SnapINverter design of these inverters also makes installation and maintenance user-friendly, and Fronius inverters come with active cooling, which can extend their lifespan in very hot climates.
On the downside, Fronius inverters can be noisier than competitors because of those active cooling fans mentioned above. Integration with some module-level power electronics (MLPEs), like power optimizers is also somewhat limited, which can affect performance in shaded conditions. They also tend to be slightly more expensive than some competing brands.
SolarEdge Inverters
SolarEdge has one big edge (pun intended) over many of its competitors: their inverters are designed for DC-optimized systems. This means each panel can operate independently using power optimizers, providing excellent performance in shaded or very complex solar arrays. Their monitoring platform also provides detailed insights into panel performance, so you can see how each individual panel is doing. These inverters are compact and have a longer warranty than most inverters, starting at 12 years and extendable up to 25 years.
In terms of cons, these systems rely heavily on optimizers, which means that there are more potential points of failure in the system and may require more maintenance. They’re also less compatible with other systems, so you may need to design your entire solar power system within the SolarEdge brand, which can lead to higher costs.
SMA Inverters
SMA is another top brand, but it’s primarily known for its simplicity and reliability. SMA units are generally quiet thanks to their passive cooling systems, and they have a solid track record for their performance. The Sunny Boy series is especially popular as a reliable, lower-cost option.
However, SMA inverters don’t provide module-level optimization unless you add third-party MLPEs. Their monitoring is also less detailed than either Fronius or SolarEdge, and the SMA system can have limited technical support in some areas.
Once you better understand what different brands of inverters have to offer, you’ll be more prepared to decide between Fronius, SMA, SolarEdge, or other brands of solar inverters.
