[RFI] Another Solar Panel RFI Victim

Hare, Ed, W1RFI w1rfi at arrl.org
Mon Dec 12 10:18:22 EST 2022


> Thankfully, the ARRL continues to work with SolarEdge to find a solution.

To quite a bit of good effect, Tony.  First, cases do get resolved and to date, Solar Edge has replaced complete systems in about 500 cases nationwide, many of which involve amateur radio.  There is no doubt that their early designs were not very quiet, although from all measurements we have made, the conducted emissions onto the AC mains appears to be below the FCC limits.  It was the radiation from the wiring from inverters to optimizers to panels that seem to be the noise source.  There were also major problems with installation techniques that made the problems even worse.  To its credit, Solar Edge redesigned the system, has replaced hundreds in the field and even so, it is still working on improved designs, and trying to resolve a handful of difficult cases.

This will be used to good effect in the standards arena. ARRL just completed its part in developing an IEEE draft standard on the procedures that power companies can use to resolve radio-noise interference complaints.  The IEEE balloting group is being formed and by around the first of the year, this ballot on this standard will be initiated.

I want to build on this model and form another Working Group to develop a similar standard for PV-system manufacturers and operators of PV systems to use to respond to interference complaints.  The work done by Solar Edge will very much be part of that work, so I have stayed with the model of working cooperatively to the extent possible so we can build a strong consensus that helps the industry do a better job.

There is still work to do, but building on cooperation has, in my decades of experience in resolving RFI issues, more effective than head-on confrontation.

Ed Hare, W1RFI
ARRL Lab
IEEE EMC Society Vice President for Standards



________________________________
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com> on behalf of Tony <73guddx at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2022 8:16 PM
To: rfi at contesting.com <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: [RFI] Another Solar Panel RFI Victim

All:

A few years ago, I posted a video on solar panel RFI and it's affect on
HF. Since then, I've heard from many hams who've experienced the same
issue. Most send emails but a few post comments on my Youtube channel
like the one below received yesterday from MI5UTC in Ireland:

"I see exactly the same here with my recently installed SolarEdge
system. My IC7300 is pretty much unusable during the day until it gets
dark."

One of the saddest comments was received last year from a 15 year old SW
listener Nick:

"I'm only 15, and super into MW and SW radio, my parents installed solar
panels only a few years ago, and I knew it would cause interference. At
least by nightfall they shut off for dxing."

The common denominator in nearly all of these solar panel RFI cases
(including my own) are systems manufactured by SolarEdge. My case with
this company is 6 years old and has yet to be resolved. See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9awWs4mwC4

Thankfully, the ARRL continues to work with SolarEdge to find a solution.

Tony -K2MO


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