The inverter is the brain of your system. It turns the DC power from your panels and battery into the AC power your home runs on, and decides moment by moment where your energy comes from. The first question most of our customers ask is whether to choose a hybrid or an off-grid inverter. The answer depends on your loads, your budget and how you use grid and generator power.
What exactly does an inverter do?
- Conversion: turns direct current (DC) into pure sine-wave alternating current (AC) that suits air conditioners and sensitive electronics.
- MPPT charge control: pulls the maximum possible power from your panels as sunlight and temperature change through the day.
- Battery management: charges and discharges the battery in step with its BMS.
- Source switching: moves between panels, battery, grid or generator according to the priorities you set.
Hybrid inverters: blend every source intelligently
A hybrid inverter works with panels, battery and grid or generator at the same time. It puts solar first, tops up from the grid when it's available and saves the battery for the night. A good example is the Deye SG05LP1 hybrid inverter, available from 5 to 10 kW single-phase, with two MPPT trackers, a colour touch screen, Wi-Fi, parallel operation of up to 16 units and an IP65 enclosure.
- Ideal for family homes and heavy loads such as ACs and water pumps.
- Uses grid power when it's on, which takes pressure off the battery.
- Lets you monitor production and consumption from your phone.
- Expandable with additional batteries or parallel inverters.
Off-grid inverters: simple, dependable and affordable
An off-grid inverter is designed mainly for standalone operation with panels and batteries, and it can also take grid or generator power to charge the battery and feed your loads when needed. A good example is the Deye OG03, available from 3 to 6.6 kW, with a pure sine wave, a 4 ms transfer time, a 35 A grid/generator input, up to 97.6% efficiency and a light 8.6 kg body.
- Lower cost, and an excellent choice for apartments, small homes and shops.
- Simple installation with a small wall footprint.
- A good fit when loads are moderate and the goal is to cover outage hours.
Side by side
- Price: off-grid is usually cheaper; hybrid costs more but is more flexible.
- Load size: a single hybrid unit goes up to 10 kW; the off-grid range goes up to 6.6 kW.
- Grid and generator: both accept a grid or generator input, but a hybrid blends the sources more flexibly.
- Expansion: both support parallel operation; hybrids offer richer monitoring and energy management.
How to read an inverter datasheet
- Rated power: the power the inverter delivers continuously, such as 5, 6, 8 or 10 kW in the SG05LP1 series.
- Peak power: short-term capacity for start-up surges; both inverters handle twice their rated power for 10 seconds.
- Maximum PV power: decides how many panels you can connect; the 6 kW SG05LP1 accepts up to 9.6 kW of panels, so the battery fills faster.
- MPPT voltage range: 150–425 V on both models, with a 500 V maximum PV voltage, which sets how many panels can be wired in series.
- Battery voltage and charge current: both work with 48 V low-voltage batteries, and the 6 kW models charge and discharge at up to 135 A.
- Transfer time: 4 ms on the OG03, too fast for computers and household appliances to notice.
- Efficiency and protection: up to 97.6% efficiency and an IP65 enclosure, with automatic power derating above 45 °C.
Which one is right for you?
- Apartment or small home on a budget: a 3.6–5 kW off-grid inverter with 5–10 kWh of battery.
- Family home with one or two ACs: a 6–8 kW hybrid inverter with about 16 kWh of battery.
- Large home or shop: a 10 kW hybrid, or several units in parallel depending on the load.
Practical tips for Iraq
- Selling surplus power to the grid isn't available to households yet, so set the inverter to zero export.
- When connecting to a generator line, limit the AC charging current so it stays within your subscribed amps.
- Install the inverter in a shaded, well-ventilated spot; most inverters automatically reduce output above 45 °C.
- Don't cut corners on properly rated DC and AC breakers or on correct earthing.
Browse our inverters to compare specifications, or use the solar calculator to find the right capacity for your home's loads.
