Keep your inverter and add more panels
Option one is probably the most straightforward option listed here. Depending on your specific situation, you can expand your solar panel system simply by having your original installer add more of the same PV panels that you already have to your existing system. In order to do this without adding an additional inverter, or one which has a higher energy capacity, you need to keep the Kilowatt total of your solar panels below a certain amount.
Replace your inverter with a larger one, then add more panels
Enhancing your current solar panel system doesn’t just mean adding more panels. Since there are new and better types of PV panels and inverters being introduced to the market practically every year, there’s a good chance you are due for an upgrade. By replacing your old inverter with a new one, you can do a lot to increase the overall efficiency of your solar energy system. For one thing, there are plenty of examples of inverters older than seven years that are likely on their last legs.
Newer, larger inverters can also help you overcome possible issues finding compatible PV panels for your current system. As mentioned before, there are always newer, more efficient technologies being introduced to the solar energy industry, which means it can be difficult to find the same panels you purchased years ago. Thanks to newer, larger inverters with two or more inputs, you can easily combine your new array of PV panels with your existing one while having them connected to a single inverter.
Install a new system separately from your existing solar system
If you are most interested in the straightforward approach to expanding your solar panel system, then it is probably best to simply install an additional system with its own set of panels, inverter(s), and battery backups. Doing so gives you the added bonus of having a separate warranty that isn’t conditional on any compatibility with your old solar system.
