太陽能逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器可以(yi)(yi)(yi)分(fen)為(wei)(wei)以(yi)(yi)(yi)下幾類(lei)：獨(du)立逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器（Stand-aloneinverters）：用在(zai)獨(du)立系統(tong)，光伏陣列為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)池充(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)，逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器以(yi)(yi)(yi)電(dian)(dian)池的(de)直(zhi)流(liu)電(dian)(dian)壓為(wei)(wei)能量(liang)來源。許多獨(du)立逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器也(ye)整合了電(dian)(dian)池充(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)器，光伏系統(tong)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器，可以(yi)(yi)(yi)用交流(liu)電(dian)(dian)源為(wei)(wei)電(dian)(dian)池充(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)。一般這種(zhong)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器不會接觸到電(dian)(dian)網(wang)，因此也(ye)不需要孤(gu)島效(xiao)應保(bao)護機(ji)能。并(bing)(bing)網(wang)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器（Grid-tieinverters）：逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器的(de)輸出電(dian)(dian)壓可以(yi)(yi)(yi)回送到商用交流(liu)電(dian)(dian)源，因此輸出弦波需要和電(dian)(dian)源的(de)相(xiang)位、頻(pin)率及電(dian)(dian)壓相(xiang)同(tong)。并(bing)(bing)網(wang)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器會有安全設計，若(ruo)未連接到電(dian)(dian)源，會自動關閉輸出。若(ruo)電(dian)(dian)網(wang)電(dian)(dian)源跳電(dian)(dian)，并(bing)(bing)網(wang)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器沒有備(bei)存供電(dian)(dian)的(de)機(ji)能。

并網(wang)逆(ni)(ni)變器(qi)以往對于無(wu)變壓(ya)器(qi)，又(you)要(yao)(yao)供電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)到電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)網(wang)的(de)(de)系統會有一(yi)些疑慮(lv)，主要(yao)(yao)是(shi)因為(wei)在直(zhi)流(liu)(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路和交流(liu)(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路之間(jian)沒有電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)隔離(li)（galvanicisolation），若直(zhi)流(liu)(liu)(liu)端故障，會有大電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)(liu)(liu)流(liu)(liu)(liu)到交流(liu)(liu)(liu)端。不(bu)過(guo)自2005年起，光(guang)伏(fu)儲(chu)能逆(ni)(ni)變器(qi)，美(mei)國消防協(xie)會（NFPA）的(de)(de)國家電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)氣規范允許無(wu)變壓(ya)器(qi)的(de)(de)逆(ni)(ni)變器(qi)。VDE0126-1-1及IEC6210也(ye)已(yi)允許及定義(yi)這類系統需(xu)要(yao)(yao)的(de)(de)安全機(ji)制。首先，青島逆(ni)(ni)變器(qi)，需(xu)要(yao)(yao)有殘留電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)(liu)(liu)或是(shi)接地電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路以檢(jian)測異常(chang)短路的(de)(de)情形，并且也(ye)要(yao)(yao)進行絕緣(yuan)測試以確認直(zhi)流(liu)(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路與交流(liu)(liu)(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)路之間(jian)的(de)(de)分離(li)。

許多獨立逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)也整合了電(dian)池充電(dian)器(qi)，可以用交流(liu)電(dian)源(yuan)為(wei)電(dian)池充電(dian)。一般這種逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)不(bu)會接觸到(dao)電(dian)網(wang)，因此也不(bu)需要孤(gu)島(dao)效應保護機(ji)能。并網(wang)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)會有(you)(you)安全設(she)計(ji)，若未連(lian)接到(dao)電(dian)源(yuan)，逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)廠家，會自動關閉輸出。若電(dian)網(wang)電(dian)源(yuan)跳電(dian)，并網(wang)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)沒(mei)有(you)(you)備存供電(dian)的(de)機(ji)能。物理上把(ba)將直(zhi)流(liu)電(dian)能變(bian)(bian)換成交流(liu)電(dian)能的(de)過程稱為(wei)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)，把(ba)實(shi)現逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)過程的(de)裝置稱為(wei)逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)設(she)備或逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)，逆(ni)(ni)(ni)(ni)變(bian)(bian)器(qi)的(de)名(ming)稱由(you)此而來。