What type of inverter reads the voltage of the grid or micro-grid?

An interactive inverter, also known as a grid-tied inverter, is specifically designed to read and respond to the voltage of the grid or micro-grid. This type of inverter operates in conjunction with the power grid, synchronizing the output of the solar energy system with the grid’s voltage and frequency. This functionality is essential for allowing excess solar energy to be fed back into the grid, enabling net metering and maximizing energy use.

Interactive inverters continuously monitor grid conditions such as voltage and frequency to ensure safe and efficient operation. They adjust their output based on this data, which prevents disconnection issues or potential grid instability. This capability differentiates them from other inverter types, which may not possess the same functionality to interact dynamically with the grid.

In contrast, central inverters typically serve large-scale solar installations and do not adjust dynamically to the grid's voltage in the same way as interactive inverters. Microinverters operate at the level of single solar panels and manage each panel's output independently rather than interacting with the grid voltage. String inverters are commonly used for residential setups but are limited in their ability to directly monitor grid conditions compared to interactive inverters.