How solar works
From sunlight to the outlets in your home
Every solar system follows the same basic path. What changes is where extra energy goes and where your power comes from at night.
- STEP 1
Panels capture sunlight
Solar cells convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
- STEP 2
The inverter converts it
DC power becomes the 230V AC power your home and appliances use.
- STEP 3
Your loads use it first
Lights, aircon and appliances run on solar power before anything else.
- STEP 4
Extra goes to the grid or battery
Depending on your system, surplus is exported, stored, or both.
| On-GridGrid-tied | Off-GridStandalone | HybridGrid + battery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Solar and grid power your home together | Solar and batteries power everything; no grid connection | Solar, battery and grid work together |
| During brownouts | No power (shuts off for safety) | Power stays on | Power stays on for backed-up loads |
| At night | Uses grid power | Uses battery power | Uses battery first, then grid |
| Net metering | Yes | Not applicable | Yes |
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Highest (larger battery needed) | Medium to high |
| Best for | Lowering bills where the grid is stable | Areas without grid access | Savings plus brownout protection |
Next step
Find out what solar can do for your bill.
Get a quick estimate with our solar calculator, or talk to an iSOLAR engineer for a free consultation and site survey.