[RFI] SolarEdge Finds New Source of Solar System RFI

[Tony]

> Ed Hare Wrote: I am going to see if they can send us a panel

Ed:

I believe SolarEdge removed the defective panels from a few 
installations so they should be able to accommodate you. The ones that 
were found to emit RFI were manufactured by Hanwha.

Hanwha also manufactures solar panels under different names and I'm told 
that the manufacturing process is essentially the same.

I'll send you the contact information for the engineer I spoke with - he 
has first-hand knowledge about this issue.

Tony -K2MO

> There are a number of possibilities here.
>
> Yes, the panels themselves could be generating noise by any of a few different mechanisms.  What is not really known is whether this is an extreme near-field phenomenon, heard only very close to the panel, or radiated more effectively. Any panel noise could also conduct onto electrical wiring connected to the panel.  A common-mode choke is only going to be effective if it includes hot, neutral and ground for ac wiring and +, - and ground for dc.
>
> If the ground lead is not choked off, common mode noise from any source could be conducted to the panels and radiated from both the conducting wiring and the panels.
>
> Other noises could be present, confounding any findings.
>
> And, of course, the panels could be creating and radiating noise.
>
> I am going to see if they can send us a panel and microinverter that we can set up here for testing purposes.
>
> Ed, W1RFI
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony <dxdx at optonline.net>
> Sent: Sunday, June 2, 2019 4:28 PM
> To: Tony Brock-Fisher <barockteer at aol.com>; Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com>; Hare, Ed W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org>; Cianciolo, Paul, W1VLF <pcianciolo at arrl.org>
> Subject: Re: SolarEdge Finds New Source of Solar System RFI
>
> Tony:
>
> I asked if they were sure about their findings and the answer I got was that they were still seeing RFI with the system turned off and the array disconnected and disassembled. I'm assuming disassembled means they removed the optimizers from the panels.
>
> They found that the noise dropped significantly after they applied ferrites to the panels, but I'm not sure if they tested a stand-alone panel with and without chokes or if they ran the test with the system completely reassembled and turned on. I'll asked that question the next time I speak with them.
>
> The engineer mentioned the diode theory as well. If there is ambient RF exciting the panel diodes, is it possible that it would come from the inverter?
>
> Tony -K2MO
>
>
>
> On 6/2/2019 8:51 AM, Tony Brock-Fisher wrote:
>> Tony et al-
>>
>> This sounds pretty hard to believe to me. The panels normally contain
>> no active circuitry, so it's hard to see how they could be generating
>> RFI.
>>
>> The panels may have a series diode. Additionally, the cells themselves
>> are really, really large diodes. The only thing I can think of is that
>> they could be getting excited by high ambient RF, and then rectifying
>> that RF to produce harmonics or possibly cross modulation products.
>>
>> I have an AM BC station that is less than a mile, line of sight, from
>> my QTH. During the day they transmit at 44kW. I have tons of RF all
>> over the place, and it does cause lots of products with other BC
>> stations and AC line modulated direct-diode supplies.
>>
>> Just my opinion here...
>>
>> -Tony, K1KP
>>
>> On 6/1/2019 5:59 PM, Tony wrote:
>>> All:
>>>
>>> I recently spoke with an engineer from SolarEdge who said that they
>>> discovered a previously unknown source of RFI which turned out to be
>>> the solar panels themselves. They found that the panels were
>>> producing noise while physically disconnected from the system at a
>>> few installations.
>>>
>>> They are now working with the panel manufacturers Hanwha and Trina to
>>> determine why a certain batch of their panels are producing RFI. The
>>> goal is to locate installations with the defective panels and replace
>>> them.
>>>
>>> Cumulative RFI from multiple panels is apparently enough to cause
>>> serious RFI and may be the reason why my neighbors installation still
>>> makes noise during?? the day while the system is turned off. It could
>>> also be the reason why the choking the Optimizers had little effect.
>>>
>>> Tony -K2MO
>>>
>>>
>>>