Solar Power Converters


Solar power converters—commonly referred to as DC-DC converters—are a critical component in modern photovoltaic systems. Unlike inverters, which transform direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), converters adjust DC voltage and current levels within the solar array itself. This ensures panels, batteries, and other subsystems operate at their optimal power point while maintaining system stability and efficiency.

Converter Type Description Typical Applications
Buck Converter Steps down DC voltage to a lower level with high efficiency. Panel-to-battery interfaces, load voltage regulation
Boost Converter Steps up DC voltage to a higher level to match system requirements. Low-voltage panels feeding higher-voltage DC bus or inverters
Buck-Boost Converter Can either step up or step down DC voltage depending on conditions. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), variable irradiance conditions
Isolated DC-DC Converter Provides galvanic isolation between input and output, often via transformer. Safety-critical systems, grid-tied solar + storage, microgrids
Bi-Directional Converter Enables power flow in both directions, supporting charging and discharging. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), vehicle-to-grid (V2G), hybrid systems
Resonant / Soft-Switching Converter Uses resonant circuits for high-frequency, low-loss operation. High-efficiency utility-scale systems, compact designs

As solar systems scale, converters play an increasingly important role in system optimization, power electronics integration, and enabling advanced architectures like DC-coupled storage and high-voltage DC (HVDC) transmission. Like inverters, converters are also beginning to adopt wide-bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), further improving efficiency, density, and reliability.


The following is a list of DC-DC solar power converter manufacturers in the U.S.:

Vendor Location
AIMS Power, Inc. Reno, NV
AM Power Systems, Inc Hot Springs, SD
American Superconductor Ayer, MA
Ampt, LLC Fort Collins, CO
eiQ Energy, Inc. Santa Clara, CA
Exeltech Fort Worth, TX
Imagine Instruments LLC Georgetown, TX
IOTA Engineering, LLC Tucson, AZ
Polarity, Inc. Rancho Cordova, CA
Power Integrations, Inc. San Jose, CA
QEED USA Jupiter, FL
RICH SOLAR Ontario, CA
Triad Magnetics Perris, CA
Unipower LLC Coral Springs, FL




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