BEST LOCATION FOR INVERTERS

*The most important thing is that the inverter is in a shaded spot. Direct sunlight will reduce its
lifespan. A cool garage is best.

* The installer should also try to place the inverter as close to the meter as possible – to reduce
voltage drops (and efficiency losses).

* However, if you have to choose between a shaded location and being close to the meter, being
shaded is more important.

* Your installer can make up for a larger distance to the meter by simply using thicker wire to
reduce voltage drop. The loss in this cable should be less than 1%.

* Solar technician has an easy access for repair and maintenance when the inverters are located
near at the main panel.

* When inverters exposed outside on the rooftop, sooner or later extreme weather condition will

damage the inverters.

https://support.solarquotes.com.au

Can an inverter be installed outdoors?

The great majority of grid-tied or string inverters available today are designed for
outdoor installation
There are many inverters for PV systems that can be installed outdoors. In fact, most
grid-tied inverters are designed for outdoor use, although most off-grid inverters are not
weatherproof and are generally mounted indoors, close to the battery bank. As a rule,
inverters designed for outdoor use may be installed either outdoors or indoors, however
indoor inverters can only be installed indoors.

The great majority of grid-tied or string inverters available today are designed for
outdoor installation. A survey of all the major manufacturers shows that nearly all of
their products are encased either in NEMA 3R (protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet,
and snow) or NEMA 4X (additional protection against windblown dust, splashing water,
hose-directed water, and corrosion) enclosures.(see tech help article NEMA Rating and IP
Code for Enclosure Types)

When choosing the site for installing an inverter, it is essential that the environmental
conditions specified by the manufacturer be maintained. There are both temperature
and humidity requirements for these devices. The installation must provide adequate
ventilation and heat dissipation and the units must be protected from corrosive vapors or
fine particles that may be present in some environments. For example, inverters should
be kept away from such potential sources of vapor as swimming pool pumps or storage
containers of chlorine.

Apart from the manufacturer’s requirements for the units, there are also safety and other
regulatory factors that must be considered. The inverter should not be located where it
may be a hazard to people passing by it, such as in a narrow passageway. It also should
not be located where it may be damaged by nearby activities or passing vehicles as may
happen near the entrances of garages or workshops. These items are intended to make
sure the installed equipment is appropriate for its location and doesn’t pose a hazard to
anyone who might come into contact with it. Such issues as well as the requirement that
all equipment be installed per the manufacturers’ instructions are explicit elements of the
National Electrical Code.

A final, but by no means less significant issue is that of inverter performance. Like most
electronic devices, inverters operate more efficiently at cooler temperatures. While most
grid-tied inverters are designed for outside installation, they should not be mounted in
direct sunlight, as this will degrade their efficiency. In addition to the lost output, the
lifetime of the unit is likely to be shortened. Even though PV financial models generally
include inverter replacements over the lifetime of the system, designing an installation to
prolong inverter life rather than shorten it is the most sensible strategy. Thus, even
inverters that incorporate robust outdoor packaging should be kept shaded, even if it
means installing an awning over them.

The ideal installation site for inverters is cool, dry, dust-free and indoors. However, there
are a growing number of applications for which this is impractical or undesirable. With
appropriate system design, an outdoor inverter installation can be a reasonable and
successful option.

Resources
(photo credit: Scott Ely http://sunsensesolar.com/)