[RFI] Solar Edge RFI Filter Installation Report

[Hare, Ed, W1RFI]

Actually, Tony, the system installed in your neighbor's house is the prototype, so this is not encouraging news.  It is interesting that many of the systems replaced, including one at a local VHF weak-signal station, has significantly reduced the noise.  We have talked about installing a test system, which Solar Edge is willing to do, but one that we were going to get installed at a local volunteer's house fell through when the volunteer felt is was not really viable for him. The COVID shutdowns and restrictions precluded installing one at HQ.  These need to be working systems, and, of course, the logistics of insalling them on roofs for staff to work on are a bit daunting.  The work environment needs to be reasonably safe, so it is not as simple as it may appear to be.

Now that HQ is much more open, and warmer weather upon us, I am going to see what can be done with a system, either here or at my home QTH, where I have a roof that is reasonably safe to be on, being a low-pitched roof.  This may let us make more progress.

Did you report your findings to Solar Edge yet, or shall I forward all this to them?

Ed, W1RFI


________________________________
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com> on behalf of Tony <73guddx at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2022 12:43 AM
To: Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: [RFI] Solar Edge RFI Filter Installation Report

All:

My neighbor informed me that Solar Edge installed a newly designed RFI
filter on his solar panel installation this week. We were hoping for the
best, but the filter had no noticeable effect on the noise at my station
which is still S-9 plus.

My neighbor gave me permission to sweep the solar panel cabling as well
as the exposed A/C lines in his home and I found that the noise is
essentially the same as it was prior to the filter installation.

I also probed the power line attached to his home and found that the RFI
is making it's way onto the line out to the pole. This seems logical
since the RFI is being conducted onto the A/C lines in the home whenever
the system is active.

It's frustrating to think that this issue could have been resolved years
ago if Solar Edge would have sent one of their systems to the ARRL lab
for testing. I've asked many time over the years, but that never happened.

I'm glad to see Ed Hare mention that Solar Edge is about to test a new
prototype system so their maybe light at the end of the tunnel.

Wish I had better news.

Tony -K2MO

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