[RFI] Noise from Generac Solar controllers?

[Kim Elmore]

I mean, their honest if disingenuous. It meets all *existing* FCC refs. They fail to state there aren’t any. I’ve come to the conclusion that home solar and amateur radio are mutually exclusive. 

Kim Elmore N5OP

"People that make music together cannot be enemies, at least as long as the music lasts." -- Paul Hindemith

> On Dec 16, 2021, at 12:46 PM, David Eckhardt <davearea51a at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> If someone on this lest knows of the FCC regulation(s) addressing the solar
> industry, please let us all know.  To my knowledge, so far, there is
> nothing addressing the solar industry.  ARRL, is there anything addressing
> this RFI source?
> 
> Dave - WØLEV
> 
>> On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 6:44 PM David Eckhardt <davearea51a at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> QUOTE:  " For what it's worth, I contacted Generac on N1UK's behalf and
>> the gist
>> of the conversation was that their equipment meets all FCC requirements
>> which is the standard answer you'll get from most if not all solar
>> equipment manufacturers. I'm sure you'll get the same answer if you ask
>> your Generac salesmen about RFI."
>> 
>> This is BS as the FCC has no specific regulations for the whole solar
>> industry.
>> 
>> Dave - WØLEV
>> 
>>> On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 6:31 AM Tony <73guddx at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Ken:
>>> 
>>> I know of several hams who are experiencing RFI caused by Generac home
>>> solar. In each case, the interference turned out to be emanating from a
>>> neighbors installation. In one particular case, Mark N1UK, experienced
>>> RFI from a neighbors system located 400 feet from his home. His neighbor
>>> had the system installed mid-summer I believe and I don't know if the
>>> issue was resolved. You can find Mark's contact info on QRZ.
>>> 
>>> Most home solar systems share like-components so they all have the
>>> potential to cause RFI regardless of the brand. At least one company
>>> specifically warns against installing solar panel systems near ham radio
>>> installations and that's SolarEdge. The quote below was taken from a
>>> SolarEdge document titled:  "Installing a SolarEdge System near an
>>> Amateur Radio System".
>>> 
>>> It says in part:
>>> 
>>> "/due to the afore-mentioned factors and to the higher sensitivity and
>>> physical layout of HAM radio equipment, we have seen in the past
>>> installations where the noise level measured by HAM radio operators was
>>> above the urban ambient noise especially, in the 6M band and lower
>>> frequencies, while having a much lower noise level on the 2M band.
>>> *Therefore we do not recommend the installation of SolarEdge systems at
>>> sites where HAM radio equipment is installed. *
>>> /
>>> /
>>> /
>>> For what it's worth, I contacted Generac on N1UK's behalf and the gist
>>> of the conversation was that their equipment meets all FCC requirements
>>> which is the standard answer you'll get from most if not all solar
>>> equipment manufacturers. I'm sure you'll get the same answer if you ask
>>> your Generac salesmen about RFI.
>>> 
>>> Best of luck,
>>> 
>>> Tony -K2MO/
>>> /
>>> /
>>> /
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 12/16/2021 12:06 AM, Ken Bandy, KJ9B wrote:
>>>> Hi all.  I am contemplating having a “PowerHome Solar” power system
>>>> installed at my house, and am a little concerned about possible RF noise
>>>> generation from the system.  This system uses a Generac controller.
>>> Does
>>>> anyone have any experience with a system using a Generac controller?  I
>>> know
>>>> early inverters were often RF noisy, but I’m hoping that the later
>>> models
>>>> have addressed noise generation.
>>>> 
>>>> Any input is appreciated.
>>>> 
>>>> 73,
>>>> Ken, KJ9B
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> *Dave - WØLEV*
>> *Just Let Darwin Work*
>> 
>> 
> 
> -- 
> *Dave - WØLEV*
> *Just Let Darwin Work*
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