Adding String Inverters

Some sites use string inverters rather than central inverters. These tend to be smaller and more numerous, often several string inverters per row. Rather than get the user to add this many string inverters by hand, they are created and added automatically.

To do this, choose the 'Assign strings within boundary to inverter' map tool (highlighted in red below):

This time change the drop-down on the far left of the yellow popup menu that appears to 'Place string inverters':

Various options are presented to help you define how exactly the string inverters will be specified and created.

String pattern The string pattern -- one of:
  • Straight strings -- strings are laid straight along the rack
  • Snaking strings -- strings snake up and down along the rack
  • C at top then straight -- strings form a C or U pattern along the top 2 rows of a rack, then straight for the remaining rows of the rack.
Name prefix The prefix to the name given to newly created string inverters.
Name convention The naming numbering convention to use. One of 2 options:


  • Numbers (1, 2, 3) -- simply uses a number, starting from 1, counting up
    E.g. will produce Inv_1, Inv_2, Inv_3, Inv_4, ...
  • Letters (A, B, C) -- uses letters, starting from A, counting up
    E.g. will produce Inv_A, Inv_B, Inv_C, ..., Inv_Y, Inv_Z, Inv_AA, Inv_AB, ...
Name suffix The suffix to the name given to newly created string inverters (optional)
DC coll effect The DC collection effect (%)
AC coll effect The AC collection effect (%)
Add to transformer The transformer instance to add these string inverters to.
Span up to # racks The strings can span across multiple racks. You can specify the maximum number of racks they can span here.
Set this to 1 if you don't want them to be able to span between racks.
Max span distance If strings can span across multiple racks, this is the maximum physical distance between racks that spanning is allowed.
If the distance is greater than this value then the spanning won't occur.

You can then choose string lay out behaviour that is the same for all rack templates (sizes) for the selected racks or specify slightly different settings (e.g. string length) depending on the specific rack specifications.

Inverter type The type of the newly added string inverter (from your library of inverter specifications).
Inverter input (Read-only) The different inverter inputs defined by your inverter specification.

When creating and adding string inverters and strings, it creates a string inverter, filling its inputs up in order by the number of strings and string lengths you define (below).
PV module type The module specification to use for the newly created strings for this inverter input.
String length The string length to use for the newly created strings for this inverter input.
# strings per input The number of strings to create for this inverter input.

To create string inverters and assign strings to them define a polygon in the map surrounding the racks that you wish to assign strings to. String inverters, strings and modules will be laid out on the racks using the parameters have you defined.

All the string inverters are added to the table in the Inverters tab in the lower panel and there is also a representation of them as coloured squares at the top-left of each row (which are selectable):