Detecting Solar Panel Interference On A Radio

The strength of the radio tv station signal itself can and will vary and is dependant on a variety of variables.

Detecting solar panel interference on a radio.

As solar photovoltaic pv system installations are becoming more popular solar pv radio frequency interference rfi is also becoming more evident and effective rfi suppression techniques are needed to ensure the performance of electronic devices connected to or in the presence of the pv system. The radio amateurs have known for a long time that pv installations solar panels could interfere. Reducing radio frequency interference is at best a snipe hunt. Interference may prevent reception altogether may cause only a temporary loss of a signal or may affect the quality of the sound or picture produced by your equipment.

For more than 10 years the veron has been warning about the effects of equipment that emits unwanted rf emissions. There is a standard that all approved electrical devices in australia are required to meet c tick but it does not guarantee zero emissions. That started with the power line communication devices. This can give the impression something you ve done had an effect on the interference level from the inverter where in fact you didn t change a thing.

An inverter converts the dc power produced by solar panels into ac power which is used by common household equipment. Solar power and ham radio. This makes it easy to make an ethernet connection via the mains without having to install a utp cable. If you are having problems with rfi from solar panels this document from qst provides useful advice qst april 2016.

Inverters typically use switching techniques to convert the power and this can cause rf noise if the inverter. A solar inverter is like any other electronic device in your home and it will produce some electromagnetic radiation and potentially radio frequency interference. Over on youtube user ali6359 has uploaded a video showing what severe interference from a neighbors poor quality solar power inverter looks like on his rtl sdr dongle. Have you or has a neighbour installed solar pv panels.

Has any one had interference to the radio caroline reception due to solar panels.