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SFandH
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Solar systems and RF noise
Just got back from 4 months living on baja beaches in my RV. This is the first trip with my small solar system, which worked great except for one
thing. Both the panel and the inverter generate RF noise that makes listening to AM radio impossible, the only free radio available where I go.
Is there any way to eliminate the RF noise?
[Edited on 2-28-2015 by SFandH]
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larryC
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Maybe try grounding the inverter and panel to earth. Just a guess cause I have no personal experience with your problem. Does the AM radio have rf
noise when used up here north of the border?
Larry
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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willardguy
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yup, you need a ground loop isolater.
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monoloco
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MSW inverters will cause interference.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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SFandH
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Thanks for the suggestions about grounding the system, sounds like it might work. The panel is on top of the trailer with 2 wires going to the charge
controller, which is mounted inside the trailer. Two wires go from the charge controller to the battery. The battery is outside in a battery box
resting on the trailer frame in front. The 1000 watt inverter is connected to the battery with short fat cables and sits on top of the battery box in
its own, vented box.
So, how do I achieve a grounded system?
There is no RF noise at night with the inverter turned off.
[Edited on 2-28-2015 by SFandH]
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woody with a view
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Coming from somebody is not very electrically inclined I would guess that you need to drive a metal stake preferably clad in copper 4 feet into the
ground put a clamp on one end with the wire to the ground clamp of your battery
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TMW
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I don't think a ground rod will help since the RF interferrence is being induced from the inverter to the battery. With the noise being on the battery
cables it shouldn't make any difference if you have a ground rod or not. These ferrite beads should eleminate the noise on the battery DC cables.
Check this out. You can get ferrite beads on ebay also.
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipme...
[Edited on 2-28-2015 by TMW]
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SFandH
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Quote: Originally posted by TMW  | I don't think a ground rod will help since the RF interferrence is being induced from the inverter to the battery. With the noise being on the battery
cables it shouldn't make any difference if you have a ground rod or not. These ferrite beads should eleminate the noise on the battery DC cables.
Check this out. You can get ferrite beads on ebay also.
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipme...
[Edited on 2-28-2015 by TMW] |
BINGO! Thanks
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Hook
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Glad this topic came up. I have experienced AM interference in my truck camper ever since I installed a solar panel and a charge controller. The
controller does have a setting for increased RF suppression, but it slows down the charging process, or so it says. Mine is an older PWM controller.
I love AM DXing when I am on the road in August and Sept. Great country stations, MLB games. Of course, there are plenty of conservative talk shows,
too, but they are easily avoided. 
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Barry A.
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| Quote: Originally posted by Hook | Glad this topic came up. I have experienced AM interference in my truck camper ever since I installed a solar panel and a charge controller. The
controller does have a setting for increased RF suppression, but it slows down the charging process, or so it says. Mine is an older PWM controller.
I love AM DXing when I am on the road in August and Sept. Great country stations, MLB games. Of course, there are plenty of conservative talk shows,
too, but they are easily avoided. |
"conservative talk shows"-------weren't AM radios invented to listen to these essential shows? Why else would ANYBODY have one???
Barry
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woody with a view
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DXing?
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55steve
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I get RF interference on the base station VHF in our trailer if the Honda EU3000 is running - it was so bad that I now run the radio on a separate
battery that I charge occasionally.
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Barry A.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DXing
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SFandH
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It's and old radio term for picking up stations a long ways away. A hobby of sorts. When I'm in Baja (Sea of Cortez side) I listen to AM stations from
Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake, Albuquerque, and El Paso, depending on reception, which is usually poor or none. Always and only at night so the solar
system RFI is not a problem. I like listening to this program:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/
The problem is during the day listening to Mexican AM stations from Sonora and a re-broadcast of NPR on the AM band (1550) out of the Univ. of Arizona
in Tucson.
http://tunein.com/radio/KUAZ-1550-s35846/
[Edited on 3-1-2015 by SFandH]
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woody with a view
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ahhh, got it. i've actually picked up KTYD from UCSB at night along the cirrio coast many years ago. that was cool!
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SFandH
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This company makes good portable AM/FM radios if anyone is interested.
https://www.ccrane.com/
Factory car radios are usually good performers too.
I'm ready for a new AM/FM portable radio, anybody have any suggestions?
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monoloco
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| Quote: Originally posted by Barry A. | | Quote: Originally posted by Hook | Glad this topic came up. I have experienced AM interference in my truck camper ever since I installed a solar panel and a charge controller. The
controller does have a setting for increased RF suppression, but it slows down the charging process, or so it says. Mine is an older PWM controller.
I love AM DXing when I am on the road in August and Sept. Great country stations, MLB games. Of course, there are plenty of conservative talk shows,
too, but they are easily avoided. |
"conservative talk shows"-------weren't AM radios invented to listen to these essential shows? Why else would ANYBODY have one???
Barry |
Coast to Coast with George Nori?
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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apple
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What beaches did you stay on?
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SFandH
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Yup, Coast to Coast with George Nori.
Various beaches on Bahia Concepcion.
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woody with a view
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those guys have some unique guests! it'll be interesting to finally learn the truth about aliens. the guvmint has said that we'll have proof in the
next 20 years..... i can't wait for it!!!
https://www.google.com/search?q=alien+proof+within+the+next+...
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