[RFI] Portable Generator Noise

[Bob Turner]

I disagree on that on that.  I’ve been retired about 13 years and had the inverter generator about 10 years prior to that.   If you can find historical data on the EU3000is and when it appeared, I’ll be happy to review it.

7 3  Bob
N2scj

From: David Eckhardt [mailto:davearea51a at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2022 3:08 PM
To: Bob Turner <n2scj-lists at outlook.com>
Cc: Dave (NK7Z) <dave at nk7z.net>; rfi at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] Portable Generator Noise

20 years ago, they didn't contain "inverters".  All one had to deal with was the spark.

Dave - WØLEV

On Sat, Jul 16, 2022 at 7:06 PM Bob Turner <n2scj-lists at outlook.com<mailto:n2scj-lists at outlook.com>> wrote:
I have an EU3000is.  Purchased about 20 years ago.  It's both RF and AF quiet.   I base this upon non-scientific observations.    It went to about 8 Field Days (HF) and 15  VHF Mountaintopping events (VHF - Microwave).  They were both multi-operator events and had more than one receiver running at a time.  No one noticed anything.

The SMPS (converter) in my Travel Trailer does make RFI.  Fortunately it falls off quickly with distance.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces+n2scj-lists<mailto:rfi-bounces%2Bn2scj-lists>=outlook.com at contesting.com<mailto:outlook.com at contesting.com>] On Behalf Of Dave (NK7Z)
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2022 2:30 PM
To: rfi at contesting.com<mailto:rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Portable Generator Noise

Hi,
Anyone here using a Honda eu3000is?  Is it RFI quiet?

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 7/16/22 10:56, Steve Dyer via RFI wrote:
> Most inexpensive inverter gens are cheap for a reason.
> The Honda 2000 series is (still?) one of the few quiet inverters I
> have been around during HF ops and the cost reflects it.
> 73,
> Steve
>
> On 7/16/2022 10:19, David Eckhardt wrote:
>> " WEN 56235i Super Quiet 2350-Watt Portable Inverter Generator with
>> Fuel Shut Off, CARB Compliant, Ultra Lightweight, Black"
>>
>> The problem is in this statement.  Your "generator" is not just a
>> generator.  It is a "Portable *Inverter* Generator".  Likely, the
>> generator by itself is relatively quiet.  But the inverter is a
>> switch mode power supply.  ALL SMPSs are RFI sources!  You will find
>> it extremely difficult to tame this unit wrt RFI.
>>
>> Don't stress over "grounding".  It will have minimal to no effect.
>>
>> Dave - WØLEV
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 16, 2022 at 5:30 AM Mike Fatchett W0MU <w0mu at w0mu.com<mailto:w0mu at w0mu.com>> wrote:
>>
>>> I purchased a small quiet off brand 1900 watt continuous generator
>>> with eco mode.  It generates a lot of rfi.  I used it at a POTA
>>> activation last weekend and it was tolerable by moving the antenna
>>> as far away from the generator as possible.   Putting it under
>>> heavier load did not seem to make any difference nor did decreasing the load.
>>>
>>> There is a ground lug on the unit but the forest service frowns on
>>> people pounding in ground rods.  Is there a more portable solution
>>> for a ground.  I have my doubts that it would change anything.  I
>>> should try hooking it up here at home and find out.
>>>
>>>
>>> WEN 56235i Super Quiet 2350-Watt Portable Inverter Generator with
>>> Fuel Shut Off, CARB Compliant, Ultra Lightweight, Black
>>>
>>>
>>> I did have some big clamp ons and I put them on the extension cord
>>> and that seemed to help some.  I could only get 2 to 3 turns through
>>> the clamp ons and I had two.  Maybe I need far more turns?  I did
>>> not the cabling handy to hookup directly to the car battery to see
>>> if the extension cord was the radiator or if it was all coming out
>>> of the generator.
>>>
>>> Has anyone had any luck quieting them down?
>>>
>>> W0MU
>>>
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>>
>
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--
Dave - WØLEV
Just Let Darwin Work