A solar inverter turns the direct current from your panels into the alternating current your home and the TNB grid use. Homes in Malaysia choose between a string inverter, micro inverters and a hybrid inverter. Its output in kWac also sets the SuRIA Home rebate.
What a Solar Inverter Does
Solar panels make direct current (DC). Your sockets, your appliances and the TNB grid use alternating current (AC). The inverter sits between the two and converts one into the other.
It also watches the system. A modern inverter reports how much the panels produce, and you read it in the monitoring app. Our guide on how solar panels work shows where it sits in the chain.
The inverter is the part that works hardest. Its warranty is 5 to 10 years, depending on the model, while the panels carry a performance warranty of up to 25 years. Plan for one replacement during the life of the system.
The Three Types
| Type | Battery | Shade on one panel | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| String (grid-tied) | No | Lowers the whole string | Lowest | Most homes with an open roof |
| Micro inverters | No, as a rule | Only that panel | Higher | Shaded or broken-up roofs |
| Hybrid | Yes | Lowers the whole string | Higher than grid-tied | Backup power and night use |
String inverter. One box, usually near the switchboard, serves a row of panels wired together. It is the cheapest and the simplest. Its weak point is shade: when a tree shadows one panel, the output of the whole string drops.
Micro inverters. A small inverter sits under each panel, or each pair. Every panel works on its own, so one shaded panel does not pull the others down. The price is higher, and there are more units on the roof to look after.
Hybrid inverter. It does what a string inverter does and also charges and discharges a battery. If you want power during a blackout or at night, this is the one. Our guide to on-grid, hybrid and off-grid systems compares the layouts.
How Big an Inverter Do You Need?
Panel size is measured in kWp, inverter output in kWac. The inverter is often a little smaller than the panels, because panels rarely reach their rated output in Malaysian heat.
Two rules fix the size. Under Solar ATAP, a home on single-phase supply can install up to 5 kW, and a home on three-phase supply up to 15 kW.
The SuRIA Home rebate pays RM600 for each kWac of inverter output, up to RM3,000. A 4 kWac inverter earns RM2,400; a 5 kWac inverter earns the full RM3,000. Our SuRIA Home guide has the rules.
The inverter must also match your supply. A single-phase home needs a single-phase inverter; a three-phase home needs a three-phase one. We check which supply you have at the site visit.
Which Brands Ship the Most
Wood Mackenzie counts inverter shipments each year. In its ranking for 2024, Huawei and Sungrow were first and second for the tenth year running. They shipped 176 GWac and 148 GWac, 55% of the world market between them. Ginlong Solis, Growatt and Sineng completed the top five.
Size is not a quality test, but a large maker is more likely to be around to honour a 10-year warranty. Judge the exact model by its datasheet.
Five Things to Compare
- Efficiency. How much of the panels' power reaches your home. Look at the maximum and the European efficiency figures.
- Warranty. Five years is common; ten is better. Ask who handles a claim in Malaysia.
- Monitoring. The app should show daily production and raise an alert on a fault.
- Battery readiness. A hybrid inverter lets you add a battery later without changing the inverter.
- Service. Ask whether the installer's own team services the inverter, and how fast.
Where It Goes and How to Look After It
The inverter should be shaded, ventilated and near the switchboard, with nothing stacked around it. Heat shortens its life. Look at the app once a week, and call a technician if an error does not clear. Our maintenance guide covers the routine.
Which Inverter Does SolarKita Install?
Ask us for the brand, the model and the datasheet of the inverter in your quotation. Our Premium Max package comes with a hybrid inverter that is battery ready; see the packages.
Get a Proposal for Your Home
WhatsApp SolarKita with your TNB bill and a photo of your roof. We will tell you which inverter type suits your roof and your supply, and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a solar inverter do?
It converts the panels' direct current into the alternating current your appliances and the TNB grid use, and it reports production to the monitoring app. It is the part most likely to need replacing during the life of the system.
What is the difference between a string inverter and micro inverters?
A string inverter serves the whole array from one box near the switchboard. Micro inverters sit under the panels, one for each panel or pair, so a shaded panel does not pull the others down. They cost more.
Is a hybrid solar inverter worth it?
It is if you want a battery now or later. A hybrid inverter charges and discharges a battery and keeps chosen circuits on during a blackout. Without a battery, a grid-tied inverter costs less.
How long does a solar inverter last?
Inverter warranties run 5 to 10 years depending on the model, against a panel performance warranty of up to 25 years. Plan for one replacement during the life of the system.
Which solar inverter brands are the biggest?
By Wood Mackenzie's count of 2024 shipments, Huawei and Sungrow were first and second for the tenth year running. Together they had 55% of the market; Ginlong Solis, Growatt and Sineng came next.
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