Solar Ham Radio Interference
Not Satellite related, but people often ask about any RFI from my solar arrays at home. Interest stems from an RFI issue in April QST and my letter in Sept 2016 QST.
Well, FINALLY, the jury is in. For the first time since installing solar, I finally got all my full-sized dipoles up in the air again. And listened with the arrays on and off.
Yes, I have inverter noise about 12 dB above the noise floor every 38 kHz on 80 meters,. But couldn't really find anything on 20 meters. I did not do a thorough search, but enough to finally say, "yes, there is some noise..."
I post this because my 16kw of arrays are conventional series string arrays and much quieter than the "optimizers" on every panel all over the roof noted in the April QST article. I always thought my string array was quiet, but now I have some data noted above. This could easily be fixed with some clamp-on ferrites down in the basement on the wires going into the inverters...
But for my rare HF operating, the solar AC disconnect switch is about 3 feet from the kitchen door. Easy enough to pull if I want HF silence. I could also install a 40 amp disconnect relay from a switch in the shack... But with my rare operating style, I'll probably do nothing. Of course it is perfectly quiet at night ;-)
It took me 6 years to get around to this test, so don't hold your breath waiting for me to add some clamp-on filters to the inverter wires and see what that does.
For those into solar, come join us on [email protected] Bob, WB4APR
Another one of the reasons I left my old QTH was all the homes around me had solar with many different styles and HF RFI during the day was awful but I had no switch to shut them up.
WA6FWF
On 10/23/2016 9:54 AM, Robert Bruninga wrote:
Not Satellite related, but people often ask about any RFI from my solar arrays at home. Interest stems from an RFI issue in April QST and my letter in Sept 2016 QST.
Well, FINALLY, the jury is in. For the first time since installing solar, I finally got all my full-sized dipoles up in the air again. And listened with the arrays on and off.
Yes, I have inverter noise about 12 dB above the noise floor every 38 kHz on 80 meters,. But couldn't really find anything on 20 meters. I did not do a thorough search, but enough to finally say, "yes, there is some noise..."
I post this because my 16kw of arrays are conventional series string arrays and much quieter than the "optimizers" on every panel all over the roof noted in the April QST article. I always thought my string array was quiet, but now I have some data noted above. This could easily be fixed with some clamp-on ferrites down in the basement on the wires going into the inverters...
But for my rare HF operating, the solar AC disconnect switch is about 3 feet from the kitchen door. Easy enough to pull if I want HF silence. I could also install a 40 amp disconnect relay from a switch in the shack... But with my rare operating style, I'll probably do nothing. Of course it is perfectly quiet at night ;-)
It took me 6 years to get around to this test, so don't hold your breath waiting for me to add some clamp-on filters to the inverter wires and see what that does.
For those into solar, come join us on [email protected] Bob, WB4APR _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
NEW ISSUE:
Previously QST and my emails discussed the rise in the noise floor from home solar and my suggestions to avoid purchasing a system with micro-invrters or elecronic "optimizers" on every panel on the roof, and stick with the wuieter or easier-to-fix all DC wiring and central inverters.
THAT’S NOT ALL! It was pointed out at the ARISS meeting this weekend that one must also watch out for their NEIGHBORS! That is, if you want to keep your clean noise floor for your own hamming and your own solar, you must also be vigilant of your surrounding neighbors.
The time to make friends so you can guide their future investment is NOW, well in advance before they make an irreversible decision.
Ill try to remember to go out and see how far the noise radiates from some of the other solar panels in my neighborhood. Although my DC system with central inverters is much quieter, I should go out and see how far beyond these houses, the various system's interference can be detected.
Bob, Wb4APR
-----Original Message----- From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2016 12:55 PM To: Amsat BB Cc: [email protected] Subject: Solar Ham Radio Interference
Not Satellite related, but people often ask about any RFI from my solar arrays at home. Interest stems from an RFI issue in April QST and my letter in Sept 2016 QST.
Well, FINALLY, the jury is in. For the first time since installing solar, I finally got all my full-sized dipoles up in the air again. And listened with the arrays on and off.
Yes, I have inverter noise about 12 dB above the noise floor every 38 kHz on 80 meters,. But couldn't really find anything on 20 meters. I did not do a thorough search, but enough to finally say, "yes, there is some noise..."
I post this because my 16kw of arrays are conventional series string arrays and much quieter than the "optimizers" on every panel all over the roof noted in the April QST article. I always thought my string array was quiet, but now I have some data noted above. This could easily be fixed with some clamp-on ferrites down in the basement on the wires going into the inverters...
But for my rare HF operating, the solar AC disconnect switch is about 3 feet from the kitchen door. Easy enough to pull if I want HF silence. I could also install a 40 amp disconnect relay from a switch in the shack... But with my rare operating style, I'll probably do nothing. Of course it is perfectly quiet at night ;-)
It took me 6 years to get around to this test, so don't hold your breath waiting for me to add some clamp-on filters to the inverter wires and see what that does.
For those into solar, come join us on [email protected] Bob, WB4APR
Blatant plug for the engineering team here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liBMNdWh6N4
Site overview here: https://youtu.be/sZp7xqP6F7k
Underneath the poles for RFI survey 1: https://youtu.be/n7zCSf280XI
50' away for RFI survey 2: https://youtu.be/DpwA4PoKUE4
Condx: Dipole resonant on 10m about 5' off the ground, Sweepstakes weekend so there was a lot of activity on 20m. The RFI surveys are trips through the upper portion of the 20m band.
Inverters producing 10kW during the test. Not sure the inverters or panels are producing any RFI of note. Based on what I saw, there is little to complain about. The noise floor is lower directly under the panels than it is 50' away. Nothing lower in frequency is useful during the day and so was ignored.
The next 20kW will be done the same way. Next year. Wife wanted a car.
Get 50kWhr per day, rain or shine. Best day is 82kWhr.
Today's yield: https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/30774099190/in/dateposted/
Last year when I did this survey the first time, the neighbor had grow lights running. Ugly RFI. Amazing what a few words will do.
His end is here: http://www.ocala.com/news/20161116/near-fort-myers-driver-kills-marion-man-a...
Norm n3ykf
On Fri, Nov 18, 2016 at 8:10 PM, Robert Bruninga [email protected] wrote:
NEW ISSUE:
Previously QST and my emails discussed the rise in the noise floor from home solar and my suggestions to avoid purchasing a system with micro-invrters or elecronic "optimizers" on every panel on the roof, and stick with the wuieter or easier-to-fix all DC wiring and central inverters.
THAT’S NOT ALL! It was pointed out at the ARISS meeting this weekend that one must also watch out for their NEIGHBORS! That is, if you want to keep your clean noise floor for your own hamming and your own solar, you must also be vigilant of your surrounding neighbors.
The time to make friends so you can guide their future investment is NOW, well in advance before they make an irreversible decision.
Ill try to remember to go out and see how far the noise radiates from some of the other solar panels in my neighborhood. Although my DC system with central inverters is much quieter, I should go out and see how far beyond these houses, the various system's interference can be detected.
Bob, Wb4APR
-----Original Message----- From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2016 12:55 PM To: Amsat BB Cc: [email protected] Subject: Solar Ham Radio Interference
Not Satellite related, but people often ask about any RFI from my solar arrays at home. Interest stems from an RFI issue in April QST and my letter in Sept 2016 QST.
Well, FINALLY, the jury is in. For the first time since installing solar, I finally got all my full-sized dipoles up in the air again. And listened with the arrays on and off.
Yes, I have inverter noise about 12 dB above the noise floor every 38 kHz on 80 meters,. But couldn't really find anything on 20 meters. I did not do a thorough search, but enough to finally say, "yes, there is some noise..."
I post this because my 16kw of arrays are conventional series string arrays and much quieter than the "optimizers" on every panel all over the roof noted in the April QST article. I always thought my string array was quiet, but now I have some data noted above. This could easily be fixed with some clamp-on ferrites down in the basement on the wires going into the inverters...
But for my rare HF operating, the solar AC disconnect switch is about 3 feet from the kitchen door. Easy enough to pull if I want HF silence. I could also install a 40 amp disconnect relay from a switch in the shack... But with my rare operating style, I'll probably do nothing. Of course it is perfectly quiet at night ;-)
It took me 6 years to get around to this test, so don't hold your breath waiting for me to add some clamp-on filters to the inverter wires and see what that does.
For those into solar, come join us on [email protected] Bob, WB4APR _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (3)
-
kevin schuchmann -
Norm n3ykf -
Robert Bruninga