How Long Do Solar Inverters Last?

The main factors that affect the service life of solar inverters include the type of solar inverter, component quality, environmental conditions, and the way you install and use solar inverters. The following is a detailed analysis of these factors:

Lifespan Type of Different Solar Inverter

Component Quality

High-quality components usually use high-quality raw materials and advanced manufacturing processes to withstand various working conditions and provide longer service life. For example, electrolytic capacitors are one of the most fragile components in the inverter, and their life is greatly affected by temperature. For every 10°C increase in temperature, the life will be reduced by half.

In addition, the quality of IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) and other power devices also directly affects the reliability and life of the inverter. Therefore, choosing a reputable brand and reliable model will help improve the durability of the inverter.

Environmental Conditions

Harsh environments such as high temperature, high humidity, and sand and dust will accelerate the aging of components inside the inverter and increase the risk of failure.

Excessive internal temperature of the inverter will significantly reduce the performance and life of the components. Electrolytic capacitors are one of the most sensitive components in the inverter, and their life is closely related to the ambient temperature. According to the "Ten-degree Rule", the life of the electrolytic capacitor can be doubled for every 10-degree decrease in ambient temperature; conversely, the life is shortened by half for every 10-degree increase in ambient temperature.

Excessive external temperature will accelerate the aging of the internal components of the inverter. For example, if the inverter is installed in a location with direct sunlight or in a closed environment, the internal temperature will rise rapidly, shortening the service life. Therefore, it is recommended to install the inverter in a space with air circulation, avoid direct sunlight, and maintain sufficient heat dissipation space.

A humid environment may cause the circuit board inside the inverter to become damp, causing short circuits and corrosion problems. Especially in coastal areas or areas with a long rainy season, special attention should be paid to the moisture-proof measures of the inverter. In addition, dust and pollutants will accumulate on the surface and inside of the inverter, affecting the heat dissipation effect, causing overheating and component damage.

Another point that is easily overlooked is that voltage fluctuations and harmonic interference in the power grid will increase the burden on the inverter, leading to an increase in the failure rate and affecting its life. Therefore, maintaining the stable power quality of the power grid and installing voltage protection devices and voltage stabilizers can effectively extend the service life of the inverter.

Installation and Usage

The choice of the inverter installation location largely determines the environment in which it is located during operation. In the above content, I believe you have learned that the environment has a great impact on the life of the inverter. In addition, poor installation practices, such as insufficient cooling or improper wiring, may lead to early failures.

The impact of the use load on the life of the solar inverter cannot be ignored. In cloudy weather, photovoltaic panels may generate instantaneous power higher than the rated power of the inverter for a short period of time. For example, some power stations may use inverters with lower installed power (such as 25 kW inverters for 30 kW installed power) in order to save costs. In this case, if the instantaneous power exceeds the rated power of the inverter (such as more than 25 kW), the inverter may be damaged, thereby shortening its life.

Frequent voltage fluctuations and load changes will negatively affect the stability of the inverter. High temperature environment may cause aging of electronic components, and frequent voltage fluctuations and load changes will also accelerate the aging process of components. Therefore, reasonable load design and voltage management can reduce the working pressure of the inverter and slow down the aging of components.

How to Maintain Solar Inverters to Avoid Excessive Wear and Tear

Regular cleaning and maintenance of the inverter can extend its service life. Choose a well-ventilated, low-humidity location to install the inverter, and ensure that there is enough space between each inverter to help prevent overheating and dust accumulation. Reasonable load design and voltage management can reduce the working pressure of the inverter and slow down the aging of components.

In addition, regularly checking the connection lines, capacitor status and cooling system of the inverter, and replacing aging or damaged parts in time are also important measures to extend the life of the inverter. Pay attention to the alarm information of the inverter, find the cause of the fault according to the alarm code, and use professional testing equipment to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the inverter to locate the fault point. For some simple problems, users can try to troubleshoot according to the user manual, but for complex faults, it is best to be handled by professional technicians.