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Lifespan of the Inverter is Short
Because the inverter is 95 percent effective in taking real power and translating it to usable power, it tends to wear down the inverter itself. This reduces the lifespan of the inverter. As of 2011, there is no specific data as to how much shorter this lifespan is, but consider the circuitry in most electronic inverters, such as changing your car battery to a plug via your cigarette lighter. That inverter can last for a decade or more, but the solar inverter does not have the same lifespan.
Power Productions Inaccuracy
Choosing to run air conditioning off of solar power is a fairly smart way to go, because the sun typically shines when you need to run your air conditioning. This power conversion becomes equal. You run into trouble when it is hot outside but the cloud cover or other issues limit the available solar power. This does not give the fly-back inverter enough power to run the unit. Because there is very little storage capability, you might run out of power. This lack of storage is the same reason that the device runs at 95 percent conversion -- because for storage, you would lose the direct correlation between the power pulled and power released.
Prohibitive Cost
Due to the complicated nature of this technology, it is fairly expensive. Coupled with a shorter lifespan, the technology tends to be cost-prohibitive for many individuals. On a corporate level, companies often require so much power it would not be conducive to buy all the units necessary to convert the power. Some scientists have proposed a slow changeover approach, gradually replacing units with the inverters. But the core of the machine has to be replaced every few years, making the process continuously expensive.
Custom Transformers Required
One area that raises costs in a one-time manner is the transformer used to attach to the receiving device. The transformers must be custom-made to run from the inverter to the power-pulling device. Unlike standard power, the regulation needs to be set at the inverter, because you cannot always guarantee a specific wattage. Much like a surge protector for power fluxes, the transformer controls the power from the sun to the device. Once you have purchased the transformer, you do not have to replace it, but the initial investment is still required.