Noise Blanker effective with solar power RF interference?

Mike W1BFA in Maine

We are considering doing solar on the roof and the installer doesn't feel the new micro inverters they use will be as much of an issue. The system they are proposing is Silfab panels and the micro inverters are Enphase IQ8AC. I'm a bit skeptical. Has anyone had experience with the noise and what SmartSDR's NB and NR might offer as a cure? I really don't want to put in the system and then have to chase solutions. My first thought is toroids on every inverter's in and out as well as the main line coming into the panel but I sense that even is a risk. Thoughts and suggestions?

Geoff AB6BT

Mike… This is secondhand info, but I had a friend, now an SK, that had Enphase micro inverters and experienced no RFI.

John KB4DU

Bob Bruninga, the creator of the APRS, recommended using one central inverter, running low voltage DC power from the solar panels to the inverter. Any RFI is much easier to deal with when it’s all in one place.

Mike W1BFA in Maine

Thank you Geoff, that boosts my confidence a bit. I am sorry you lost your friend. There's too much of that going around.

John, thank you for that tip. I had a conversation with the designer about the conventional route and he explained that there is a big difference in efficiency with that design. I was more in favor of the one big inverter as it's something I have had quite a bit of experience with in my engineering job with telco's over the years. The bigger ones we put in were audible noise issues if you used them in a home. I understand the theory on transmitting the power as AC is more efficient at low light levels especially but I suppose theres also some advantage they get on being able to use smaller conductors with the micro inverters. I'm hoping I get some info from someone local with a similar setup so I can do some RF sniffing for myself. In my research on this a saw one guys quote that the best three days of having solar power is the day you turn it on and the two days it took to take it out. It's kind of like when I bought a wood chipper for the tractor and my neighbor said the same thing about those.. HI

thanks Mike

John KB4DU

same story for pilots that buy an airplane!!

Mike W1BFA in Maine

I did the Hot Air balloon route pilot thing and I still miss that… kinda aged out ( as was the balloon envelope)

Still looking for info from someone that's had experience with the NB or NR on solar inverter noise! By the way, 3.8.20 NB seems to work some better with my occasional weather triggered power line noise.

Mike-VA3MW

this article is worth the read

https://fair-rite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Can-Home-Solar-Power-and-HAM-Radio-Exist.pdf

Mike W1BFA in Maine

Thanks MIke. That is a good read. I still haven't gotten the info back from the company that came and designed the system. The engineer said they had done a system for a ham with the new microinverter's and he gave them good reports on the level of noise. I had asked for his contact info and also info on at least the location of some nearby installations they had done lately so I could do a drive by and listen for RF. My sister and her husband have a 8-9 year old installation and driving up their driveway with the AM radio on you can't believe the trash their system puts out. They have lots of panels with a central inverter as well as Tesla Wall and electric car charger and geothermal heat which even trashes up their landline phone when it's running.

Somewhere I hope to get some more info or the solar thing is off for me here. We have another piece of land we are considering building a "retirement" home on that is ham radio heaven. The nearest neighbor there will ever be is 1/3 of a mile away in one direction and a mile and a half the other way. Several hundred acres surround us that are a nature preserve and protected from development. Our 130 acres is also restricted but I have 3 acres I can build structures on. The remaining land is only for agricultural or sustainable forestry. House location is going to be in the middle of about 15 acres of field and on a hill. Problem is we will have to build a quarter mile of power to the house site unless we go off grid which would force me to deal with the solar RF interference.