Watt-peak (Wp) vs watt AC
By Priya Nair · Last reviewed Watt-peak is a panel's DC nameplate rating under ideal lab conditions; watt AC is the inverter's continuous output to the home. They are different numbers by design: many kits carry more panel Wp than inverter AC capacity (over-paneling) to fatten production in mornings, evenings and winter.
Why it matters
Legal caps (Germany's 800 W, Utah's 1,200 W) almost always refer to inverter AC output, not panel wattage — confusing the two is the most common way buyers misread both the law and their expected production. Compare kits on AC output, and read Wp as a fuel-tank size, not a speed.