Comments on: SolarEdge uses chip to boost solar panel output

Israeli start-up SolarEdge Technologies has developed an integrated circuit-based system for reducing the amount of wasted electricity from solar panels and inverters.

[ralfthedog]

I think this is a good short term solution. The better long term solution is to move away from AC in the home. AC is great for transmitting power over long distances. It is less great for running LED lights and home electronics.

New houses built 10 years from now will have 2 electrical systems. The AC system running mostly off of the grid and the DC system running mostly from home generated power.

[AmbientShadow]

You raise a good point, and a few bad ones. 120VAC (or 240VAC) is so ingrained into most homes, at this point it'd be almost impossible to phase out. One of the initial reasons that we go with AC (aside from the easy voltage transformation) is that most of the major appliances in your house (fridge, air conditioner, stove, microwave) use motors that are cheaper to run with AC power. With the advent of the expensive (but rediculously efficient) brushless motor, these things could be phased out, but the cost would be astronomical. What would be nice, if possible, is to make a localized raised ground level like Phantom power in PA circuits; put a safe, low-voltage 12 or 24VDC voltage laid over the 120VAC waveform. Put DC blocking caps for your old appliances, and some sort of (more effective) inductor to block AC for your DC equipment. That way, infrastructure remains intact, and we gain the benefits of both types of power without modifying our homes (too much)...

[AmbientShadow]

Sorry, didn't mean cheaper to run with AC power, I meant normal AC motors are cheaper to make and therefore buy.

[FrankRoberts713]

Anything that makes solar power more efficient is awesome. Sunshine and wind are free and will never run out. That is why we should maximze their usage. The real secret is to first make your home as energy efficient as possible and than go solar or wind. I did it on my home. I built and installed my own solar panels. I saved a ton of money up front, and over the last three months I have saved 50% on my electric bill. I had so much fun doing it that I posted a blog showing how I did it. I do not charge for the information, that way anyone else who wants to can do it too. Here is the link for anyone who is interested in learning how to <a href="http://howtobuildyourownsolarpanel.x10hosting.com">build your own solar panel</a>