Do you need a solar inverter?

Solar inverters are a necessary but often forgotten part of a home solar panel system since they convert sunlight into usable electricity for your home appliances. Without a solar inverter, you wouldn't be able to use those solar panels to power your home.

Which solar inverter should I buy in 2025?

Every solar system needs some kind of inverter to convert sunlight into usable electricity. CNET experts have compared the most popular solar inverters' specs, warranties, prices and more. The SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter is our top pick in 2025.

Which solar inverter is best?

CNET experts have compared the most popular solar inverters' specs, warranties, prices and more. The SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter is our top pick in 2025. It was the most efficient inverter we looked at, letting you use a larger percentage of the energy your solar panels generate. This translates to less and more power to use around the house.

How does a solar inverter work?

A solar inverter's job is simple: It converts the direct current -- the electricity generated by your solar panels -- into alternating current electricity that your appliances run on. Selecting the right solar inverter for your home is tricky, but most solar installers usually handle the task, meaning you likely won't have much choice.

What are the different types of solar inverters?

When it comes to home solar installation, homeowners have three types of solar inverters to consider: string inverters, string inverters with DC power optimizers and microinverters. Each inverter setup comes with upsides and downsides. Here's what you should know.

Is Growatt a good solar inverter?

A hybrid inverter is essentially a solar inverter and battery inverter combined into one unit, making it a good inverter option if you have solar storage plans in the future. Efficiency ratings are decent too, However, Growatt customers don't seem to have the best experiences using the accompanying app software.