For a regular off-grid solar panel system you need a number of different components including batteries, an inverter, and a solar charge controller.
But you might be wondering if you can run an inverter directly from a solar panel without a battery.
And if so, how to do it correctly…
Well, technically speaking you can absolutely connect an inverter directly to a solar panel but there are drawbacks and issues you need to be aware of.
Of course, if you’re using a grid-tie inverter for your home then no batteries are needed as excess energy is sent to the mains grid. Plus when there’s a lack of sun you can draw electricity from the mains rather than relying on solar power.
For this article, we’ll concentrate on regular off-grid inverters that you can use in RVs, vans, trucks, boats, and cabins. You’ll find out all the information about connecting to a solar panel with a battery and how to do it safely.
Can You Connect a Solar Panel Directly to an Inverter?
Yes, you can connect to a solar panel without a battery but it is not recommended. This is because the power being supplied to your inverter will be inconsistent. Realistically, you’ll only be able to run appliances that will be ok with intermittent power. You could charge things like laptops and mobile phones but struggle with something like a TV or fan.
It is important to understand that using a battery with your solar panel enables your inverter to draw a steady flow of power. Plus, you can store energy for when there’s no sun.
With an inverter connected directly to a solar panel you’ll only really get any decent performance during peak sun hours, so a maximum of 4 hours a day. You won’t get any power at night, and power will be severely limited in the mornings and evenings when the sun’s rays deliver less energy.
That being said, charging devices with batteries could work well like phones and tablets. Some portable solar panels and charge controllers even have a USB port built-in so you don’t even need a deep cycle battery or inverter to draw 12V DC power.
So to sum up. Can I run an inverter from a solar panel? Yes, but it will deliver inconsistent power without a battery.
How to Connect a Solar Panel Directly to Inverter
If you do decide you want to connect a solar panel directly to your inverter then the process is much the same as connecting to a battery. All you need to do is hook up the positive and negative wires from your solar panel to the positive and negative inputs on your inverter. Here’s a way to do it:
- Ensure the solar panel voltage and inverter input voltage matches. For example, 12V panel to 12V inverter. If you use equipment with different voltages it won’t work correctly and will lead to overvoltage or undervoltage.
- Connect the red output on the solar panel to the red input on the inverter. That’s positive to positive.
- Connect the black output on the solar panel to the black input on the inverter. Negative to negative.
- Make sure the solar panel is in direct sunlight and switch on your inverter.
Final Words on Using an Inverter with Solar Panel Without a Battery
You should now understand the implications of connecting a regular inverter directly to a solar panel.
To be honest, they are not really designed to work in this manner so you will probably run into an issue at some point. You’ll certainly only be able to run appliances that can cope with intermittent power. Don’t expect to run a refrigerator or freezer! As soon as the sun moves out of peak hours your energy output will drop significantly and become zero at night.
In my opinion, you’d be far better off adding a battery to get a superior reliable performance.
If you do decide that you want to use an inverter and solar panel without a battery then hooking it up should be fairly easy. You can connect the positive and negative wires to the inverter’s input and attempt to draw power. But be very careful about matching voltages of your equipment as inverters are designed for very specific voltages such as 12V or 24V.
