[hfsig] HF: Solar Panel RFI Case In Kings Park, N.Y. : Update #3

[Rob Frohne]

Hi Tony,

I have a 25 kW array using SMA inverters right under my antenna and have 
not noticed any RFI at all.  Can you describe what you notice more?  I 
notice a bunch of RFI from Ethernet connected devices that may be 
masking anything from the solar install.  I assume you and the neighbor 
have turned off the system to see the RFI go away.

Tnx & 73,

Rob

KL7NA


On 06/28/2018 04:59 AM, Robert Bruninga wrote:
> From: Tony <dxdx at optonline.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2018 4:43 AM
> To: rfi at contesting.com
> Subject: Solar Panel RFI Case In Kings Park, N.Y. : Update #3
>
> All:
>
> Some of you may recall that I've been dealing with RFI generated by a
> neighbors solar panel installation since the day it was installed in August
> of 2016. I promptly notified Solar Edge, the manufacturer, about the noise
> and they acknowledged (eventually) that their components were the cause of
> the RFI.
>
> Solar Edge: https://www.solaredge.com/us/home
>
> Update:
>
> Last week, on June 21st, Solar Edge sent a contractor (Solar City) to
> install RFI suppression to eliminate the RFI. The engineers from Solar Edge
> told me that they guaranteed it would work and that they've installed this
> type of RFI suppression many times before.
>
> Unfortunately, it had little to no effect. They used small clamp-on ferrite
> cores at the optimizers (noise generators) with one turn of cable around
> each core. The reason they gave for not using a large ferrite with multiple
> turns was that multiple turns could damage the cables -- go figure.
>
> They apologized for not solving the problem and are now flying their
> engineers in from the west coast to New York to inspect the work done by the
> installer. Once again, they assured me that problem will be solved.
>
> In my case, my neighbors installation is 150 feet from my antennas yet the
> RFI is strong at that distance. It's heard on 30 through 10 meters so HF is
> essentially unusable during the day while the system is active.
>
> My advise to my fellow hams is this: take a good look around your
> neighborhood and notice the number of solar panel systems popping up
> everywhere. Imagine trying to figure out which system among them is causing
> RFI and the task of knocking on doors to find out who manufactured the
> system or who the responsible party is.
>
> Solar panel systems are not going away so the potential for RFI issues are
> likely to become widespread. In fact, California plans on making solar
> panels mandatory on new homes beginning in 2020.
>
> I think most would agree that it's time for the ARRL and other advocates to
> make a serious effort to let the FCC know how serious a problem this is.
> Signed petitions by the 160,000 members of the ARRL sent to local
> congressmen might be a good place to start.
>
> Or, we can sit on our asses and say goodbye to HF.
>
> Tony -K2MO
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-- 
Rob Frohne, Ph.D. P.E.
E. F. Cross School of Engineering
Walla Walla University
100 SW 4th Street
College Place, WA 99362
(509) 527-2075