String Inverter explained
A string inverter is the most common and cost-effective type of solar inverter. Your solar panels are wired together in one or more "strings," and all the DC power flows to a single inverter box — typically mounted on a garage or utility room wall — which converts it to the 230V AC electricity used in your home.
Advantages of string inverters:
- Lower cost: significantly cheaper than microinverter systems for the same panel count
- Simpler installation and maintenance: one device to monitor and service
- Proven technology: reliable and widely understood by installers
- Lifespan: typically 10–15 years (shorter than panels — budget for a replacement)
The main limitation of string inverters is the "weakest link" problem: if one panel in a string is shaded or dirty, the entire string's output drops to that panel's level. This makes them less suitable for roofs with complex shapes, multiple orientations, or significant shading.
Modern string inverters often include optimisers (power optimisers fitted to each panel) to overcome partial shading, giving performance closer to microinverters without the full per-panel cost. Brands like SolarEdge and Huawei offer popular string inverter + optimiser combinations.