A Xantrex inverter is an integral part of many solar electric systems.
We’re going to take a look at what exactly a solar power inverter does and whether Xantrex is a good choice for your system.
But first, I have some bad news…
The Xantrex brand name may not be with us much longer. Schneider Electric, the parent company of Xantrex, is in the midst of a brand reshuffle and some Xantrex products are going to become Schneider Electric products.
Why?
Well, Xantrex was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2008 and the migration to one company brand ‘will offer customers increased access to a wider range of integrated solutions’ according to the company’s website.
Sounds like a little corporate synergy going on, am I right?
(The Xantrex brand name is still on many products, however, like the GT Series of grid tie inverters.)
Let’s start with a basic little recap on what a solar inverter does:
A solar inverter takes the DC power from your solar panels and converts it into the AC power that your household appliances need.
Xantrex Technology Inc. has been in the solar inverter business for a long time. The company was established in 1983 and its headquarters are in British Columbia, Canada.
Xantrex manufactures a variety of industry leading products like the XW Hybrid Inverter/Charger. This hybrid inverter/charger is a great solution for people who want to be off grid or grid-tied with battery back up.
Xantrex also has the Trace Series of modified sine wave inverters. These are a low-cost option for off-grid cabins or emergency back up for essential loads during a power outage.
If you’re going to be installing a grid tie solar electric system without battery backup, you’ll want to check out the Xantrex GT Series Grid Tie Solar Inverters. These are one of the most popular options for converting photovoltaic electricity from solar panels into power your home can use.
The advantages offered by the Xantrex GT Series are:
- High Efficiency
- Clean Aesthetics
- High Reliability
- Low Installed Cost
Let’s take a look at each of these advantages and you can decide whether a Xantrex GT Series inverter is right for you.
High Efficiency
Inverter efficiency measures how efficiently an inverter converts DC voltage into AC. This efficiency level is usually over 90 percent.
The efficiency of an inverter is important since a small increase could mean a big difference to the power your solar electric system will produce over its lifetime.
There are two different efficiency measurements: ‘Maximum Efficiency’ and ‘Weighted Efficiency’. Maximum efficiency is what you would get in a ‘best case scenario’ while weighted efficiency approximates an inverters efficiency over a full day.
When we look at the spec sheet for Xantrex GT Series Inverters we see that the maximum inverter efficiency ranges from 94.6% to 96.0% and the weighted CEC efficiency ranges from 93.5% to 95.5%. Not too shabby!
Xantrex inverters get high marks in the efficiency department.
Clean Aesthetics
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder so you’ll have to decide for yourself if Xantrex inverters have the appearance you’re looking for.
I will say that the clean lines and neutral color of Xantrex solar power inverters should go well with any home’s exterior.
High Reliability
Xantrex claims ‘industry-leading uptime’ and they back it up with a standard ten year warranty
Low Installed Cost
The Xantrex claim on low installed cost is based on ‘ease of installation and integrated features’. Since there are many variables involved with each solar electric system, you will need to get an installer to let you know how just how much the Xantrex features could save you.
Overall the GT Series Xantrex inverter lives up to the company’s claims of efficiency, attractiveness, reliability, and affordability. Keep Xantrex (and Schneider Electric) on your short list when it’s time to think about an inverter for your solar power system.