Choosing an inverter
The inverter is the part most likely to need replacing while you still own the system.
The short version
- • It must be on your DISCO’s approved list, or net metering stalls.
- • Budget for replacing it. Cheap ones last 5 to 8 years, better ones 12 to 15.
- • Local service matters more than the spec sheet.
Panels sit on the roof and quietly work for decades.
The inverter turns their output into the electricity your house uses. It works every daylight hour, and it is the part that usually needs replacing first.
Most quotes describe it in about four words, which is backwards.
Check this before anything else
Is the exact model on your DISCO's approved list?
This is not a formality. An unapproved model is found at the inspection, with your equipment already installed. It is one of the most common reasons net metering stalls.
A brand being approved does not mean every model is. Ask about the model.
What actually matters
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| On the approved list | Decides if net metering goes through |
| Warranty length | This is the part that fails first |
| Local service centre | Decides how long a fault keeps you off solar |
| Can it take a battery later? | Ask even if you are not buying one now |
Plan for the replacement now
Expect a cheap inverter to need replacing in about 5 to 8 years, and a good one in 12 to 15. Put that into your payback maths rather than being surprised by it.
Where it goes
- In shade, not on a wall that bakes all afternoon
- Somewhere with air around it
- Somewhere you can actually reach
- Not in a bedroom. It hums
Check capacity and price, then check the model against your DISCO’s list.
Compare listed inverters