Difference Between Inverter Vs Solar Inverter Vs Lithium Inverter

Difference Between Inverter Vs Solar Inverter Vs Lithium Inverter

we will discuss inverters, how they work, the differences between a Normal Inverter, Solar Inverter, and Lithium Inverter, and which one you should install in your home.

If you’re thinking about getting an inverter for your home, you might be wondering whether to choose a Normal Inverter, a Solar Inverter, or a Lithium Inverter.

We will provide answers to all these questions in this post and give you detailed information about how each type of inverter works and which one is the most cost-effective. So, let’s get started.

How Does Inverter Work at Home

Normal inverter works in a way that it charges the batteries in our home using the main supply. When the main supply goes off, the inverter provides AC power to our home appliances from these batteries.

On a normal inverter, we can only connect batteries. To charge these batteries, we can use our home’s main supply, or if you want to convert it to solar, you can install a solar charge controller on it and also attach solar panels.

when it becomes a solar inverter, we can use it only for battery backup, and we can charge those batteries. Its function remains the same. However, with our solar inverter, we have two ways to charge the batteries. Firstly, we can charge the batteries from the main supply.

Secondly, if we want to install a solar system in our home, the wires from the solar panels connect directly to it. The capacity of the solar panels depends on the inverter, meaning we can connect as many panels as the inverter supports.

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How Does Solar Panels Work with Inverter

You can charge your batteries from the solar panels as long as there is sunlight, and during this time, your home’s load runs on solar panels. When there is excess electricity, the batteries also start charging.

If there is a main power supply in the house and the solar panels are not providing enough light, the solar inverter will switch to running your home appliances from the main supply.

At the same time, it will turn off the main supply to your home, and all the load will be powered by the solar panels. This is how a solar inverter operates.

Lithium Battery Inverter

Now, there is a new technology – the lithium inverter. The lithium inverter is not a separate inverter; it’s the batteries inside it that are lithium-based. In contrast, our normal inverters used lead-acid batteries, which are heavier and have a larger size. They also require more maintenance.

To address these issues, companies have started making lithium batteries. These lithium batteries cannot be used with just any normal inverter. Therefore, inverters are designed based on the capacity of these batteries.

You can also install solar panels on some lithium solar inverters, as many lithium solar inverters come with the option to connect solar panels.

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Difference Between Inverter Vs Solar Inverter Vs Lithium Inverter

There are many inverters available, such as the one recently launched by the Luminous company. You cannot install solar panels on that lithium inverter. I have created a separate post about lithium batteries, explaining what lithium batteries are and how they work, as well as the differences in them.

1. Customization

We can customize a normal inverter according to our needs, meaning we can convert it into a solar inverter by adding a solar charge controller to it. Nexus company has released a lithium battery that you can connect to any inverter. So, by adding this battery, we can convert it into a lithium inverter. You can also convert a solar inverter into a lithium inverter.

2.Faulty Conditions

Suppose something goes wrong with the battery or the inverter in our normal inverter or solar inverter. In that case, we can connect another inverter or battery to run our home appliances, and we can continue functioning for a few days. For example, if we have an extra inverter in our home and our inverter malfunctions, we can connect the spare inverter to power our loads.

3.Weight and Size

If you need to install a 1 or 2-kilowatt solar system and have limited space, you can invest a little more and use a lithium inverter. It takes up less space and is lightweight, so you can install it almost anywhere or even mount it on a wall without the need for extensive maintenance. You just need to install it once and leave it.

In contrast, when you install our normal inverter or solar inverter, you will need more space because these inverters typically have lead-acid batteries underneath them, which are heavy and take up more space. If you are concerned about maintenance, you can invest more and opt for a lithium inverter.

4.. Battery Backup

Speaking of battery backup, our normal inverter and solar inverter typically use lead-acid batteries, which have relatively low backup capacity. For example, a 150Ah battery consumes about 2 units of electricity to charge, and due to its lower efficiency of around 50-60%, it can provide only approximately 1 unit of backup power.

In contrast, lithium batteries have an efficiency of about 95-97%. If a lithium battery requires 2000 watts to charge, it can provide backup power of around 1800 to 1900 watts. This advantage of lithium inverters allows us to rely on battery backup more effectively, reducing our electricity bills further.

5. Availability

You can take a lithium inverter anywhere. For instance, if you need to power up to 1 kilowatt of load, you can use a 1-kilowatt lithium inverter. It weighs around 15 to 20 kilograms and can be installed and used virtually anywhere.

However, when it comes to normal inverters or solar inverters, they typically weigh around 10 to 12 kilograms, and beneath them, you need to install a lead-acid battery, which weighs approximately 45 to 50 kilograms. This makes them less portable.

6. Price

The price depends on your preferences. If you have a higher budget and want maintenance-free solutions, you can opt for a lithium inverter. In case you have a slightly lower budget and want to run your entire load with a solar system to save on electricity bills, you can choose a solar inverter.

If you have a limited budget and want to run your home’s load for a short period, you can go for a normal inverter.

One more thing to note is that if you plan to add solar panels later, you can use a solar charge controller with a normal inverter to connect solar panels. A 1000VA normal inverter will cost you at least around 5000 rupees, while a solar inverter will be approximately 12,000 rupees.

On the other hand, a lithium inverter will cost you around 30,000 to 35,000 rupees.

Our normal and solar inverters require you to purchase batteries separately, whereas our lithium inverter comes with built-in batteries, eliminating the need for additional components.

Best Inverter For Home

If we talk about which inverter you should choose, it now depends on your needs and budget. If you have a good budget and want a maintenance-free inverter, then you can go for a lithium inverter. With this inverter, you need to invest once, and then you don’t have to worry about maintenance for at least 10-15 years. It also comes with a warranty of 10-15 years.

This way, you can significantly reduce your electricity bill. However, as of now, lithium inverters with capacities of around 5 kilowatts are available in the market.

Gradually, you may find lithium inverters with higher capacities in the future. If you plan to install a larger solar system in your home, you can use a solar inverter.

The price of a solar inverter is lower than that of a lithium inverter. If you need a smaller inverter for a 1 or 2-kilowatt system.

If you have plenty of space to store inverter batteries, you can use a normal inverter, and you can also convert it into a solar inverter by using a solar charge controller on this inverter.