Pre-filled with a standard 1.2 DC-to-AC ratio for a 5kW array — adjust the ratio to see how it changes the recommended inverter size.
A DC-to-AC ratio between 1.1 and 1.3 is standard practice — panels rarely hit their full nameplate rating in real-world conditions, so a modestly smaller inverter captures nearly all production at lower cost.
A 5kW array rarely produces its full rated output simultaneously across all panels — real-world conditions (temperature, angle, atmosphere) mean actual output usually runs below the nameplate DC rating. Sizing the inverter modestly smaller than the array, a practice called intentional "clipping," saves cost with minimal production loss. See our inverter clipping guide for why this is standard practice, not a sizing mistake, and the full inverter size calculator for a more detailed sizing tool.
Panels rarely hit their full nameplate output simultaneously in real-world conditions, so a modestly smaller inverter (a DC-to-AC ratio of 1.1-1.3) captures nearly all production at a lower equipment cost — this is standard, intentional design practice.
A small amount, typically under 1-2% of annual production at a standard ratio — the clipped energy occurs only in brief peak-output moments and is usually outweighed by the cost savings from the smaller inverter.