[RFI] Noise from Generac Solar controllers?

[Hare, Ed, W1RFI]

You are not “well aware” if you were looking in the FCC certification database for reports on digital-devices unintentional emitters.  They are not required to file anything into the certification database.

I do not find the words “Class C” anywhere in Part 15.  There are Class A industrial devices and limits and Class B residential devices and limits.  You may be talking about the section in Part 15 Part C, intentional emitters. Those are certificated, but Part C devices are not industrial devices; that is the description of intentional emitters.





From: David Eckhardt <davearea51a at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 5:17 PM
To: Hare, Ed, W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org>
Cc: Ken Bandy, KJ9B <ken.kj9b at gmail.com>; Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Noise from Generac Solar controllers?

Yes, ED, I'm well aware of all that.  In my looking at all the reports filed with FCC, none addressed the complete system, only the intentional radiators (Zigibee, BlueTooth, or whatever).  Yes, as a Class B filing, no report is necessary.  They must have modified those wireless modules, likely the antenna or digital format, to require testing and approval.   No one in their right mind as a user of widely available wireless modules wants to own the FCC approval for those.  Let the suppliers own the regulatory requirements.  If they are modified in any way, antenna or digital protocol, then, yes, the user must certify the module.

And why do the filed reports - all of them - claim compliance to Class C, industrial?

Dave - WØLEV

On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 10:07 PM Hare, Ed, W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org<mailto:w1rfi at arrl.org>> wrote:
David,

Solar systems are digital devices that are classified as unintentional emitters. If they are marketed into residential environments, they must meet Part 15 B emissions limits. The only unintentional emitters that require certification that would create an entry in the database you looked at are scanning receivers, radar detectors and access BPL devices.  Although they CAN certify if there is no US resident willing to take responsibility under a Suppliers Declaration of Conformity, the vast majority of unintentional emitters are not certificated, so there will be no information on the FCC page containing test data.  An SDoC is essentially self-policed.  The rules do not require that test data on devices authorized under an SDoC be provided to the FCC.

If they are using a certificated WiFi or Zigbee device that is used intact, its certification would suffice, so there would not be a need for a separate entry in the database, no more than you would need to certificate your station if you bought and installed a certificated Bluetooth microphone in it.

Ed, W1RFI





-----Original Message-----
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com<mailto:arrl.org at contesting.com>> On Behalf Of David Eckhardt
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 4:55 PM
To: Ken Bandy, KJ9B <ken.kj9b at gmail.com<mailto:ken.kj9b at gmail.com>>
Cc: Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com<mailto:rfi at contesting.com>>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Noise from Generac Solar controllers?

IN further poking around on the FCC OET site under Generac, I can't find a single report filed on anything except wireless hardware.  I could not locate any complete systems which would include the panels, optimizers, other electronic switching devices, and simulated house wiring.  There is no evidence in the reports of any test results being filed with the FCC for the entire system.  All the "Max Freq '' frequencies listed on the response pages for a general search on Generac on the FCC OET pages reflect only above roughly 700 MHz.  This tells me they are only filing for the intentional radiator, that being ZigBee or BlueTooth or some other protocol.  No complete *system test* is filed with FCC.  So, how can they claim compliance to even Part 15, Subpart C (Intentional radiator), Class C (industrial).  BTW:  Class C systems *do* require filing a test report with FCC.  There is none.

Dave - WØLEV

On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 5:06 AM Ken Bandy, KJ9B <ken.kj9b at gmail.com<mailto:ken.kj9b at gmail.com>> 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> RFI mailing list
> RFI at contesting.com<mailto:RFI at contesting.com>
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>


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*Dave - WØLEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
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Dave - WØLEV
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