[RFI] Update 9/30/16 Solar Panel RFI @ K2MO

[thoyer]

I don't think you can place any blame on the installer if he is installing
equipment that generates noise based on how it was manufactured or designed.
In my opinion this is a manufacturer issue, not an installer issue. Unless
the manufacturer can prove that their product is quiet and the source of the
noise is a faulty installation - or the installer did not follow the
recommended instructions.

Case and point - we maufactured a data acquisition unit for use in general
aviation aircraft. Designed it to pass EMI requirements and supplied the
aircraft manufacturer with specific installation instructions. After they
installed several hundred they found out that on a specific radio channel
they could hear our processor clock. Company called us insisting we need to
replace the units immediately. After some back and forth it turns out they
did not install it using shielded wire which was specifically called out in
our installation instructions. Bottom line the onus was on them to rewire
their aircraft. Once they did, all was quiet.

Tom
W3TA
 

-----Original Message-----
From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tony
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 8:11 PM
To: rfi at contesting.com; Jim Spears
Subject: [RFI] Update 9/30/16 Solar Panel RFI @ K2MO

All:

Here's the latest update on the solar panel RFI emanating from my neighbors
home. The SolarEdge system was installed by Solar City on the 8th of August
this year.

On September 12th, Solar City informed me that the RFI case was in the hands
of SolarEdge, the company who makes the solar system.

On September 29th, I received an email from the installers System Monitoring
Tech which said the manufacturer, SolarEdge, has been dragging their feet;
the only response for the past 3 weeks has been "the case is being
reviewed".

He went on to say that he will present the case to his supervisor to see if
Solar City can solve the problem themselves. His plan is to apply the
suppression techniques provided by Tony Brock-Fisher's QST article (April,
2016).

Another option would be to install a system that does not use Optimizers
which seems to be the major cause of RFI. In closing, he said he wasn't sure
if the responsibility of eliminating RFI lies with his company or the
manufacturer, Solar Edge.

It seems logical to me that that the responsibility would lie with the
installer if the installation was found to be at fault, while the
manufacturer would be responsible if the device doesn't meet FCC standards.

Can anyone clarify the responsibility issue? Is there a case where the
manufacturer and / or installer were held responsible for causing RFI?

73, Tony -K2MO

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