[amsat-bb] Solar panel inverters--radio noise?

[skristof at etczone.com]

I concur. Unfortunately, my knowledge comes from personal experience. I
did not do my homework before getting my solar panels. Each of the 14
panels has its optimizer. I used to use dipoles in my attic. Imagine how
that sounded the first time I turned on my radios once the solar panels
were up and running.  

I quit the attic dipoles and put an end fed wire out the back of my 2nd
story window. That was better but not much. I bought a Timewave ANC-4
Noise Canceller. That actually does reduce the noise somewhat. 40 m is
now usable during the day. But the box only works on HF. 

The noise level is also a problem on VHF. I used to download satellite
telemetry during daytime passes, but I can't really do that anymore. I
can do some satellite work from the house at night. Otherwise, if I have
had a satellite QSO with any of you in the last year, it was with a
handheld and an Arrow from my backyard, preferably pointing the Arrow
away from the house. 

I did have toroids from Palomar Engineers installed on the wiring of the
panels after the fact, but they didn't help much. Maybe a little. 

I do not regret going solar, but I wish I'd done more research first.
Learn from my mistakes. 

Steve AI9IN

On 2019-02-10 19:52, Robert Bruninga wrote:

> The Solar Inverters that are terrible are the OPTIMIZERS.   Little RF
> generators on EVERY panel all over the roof.