High-voltage MPPT controller, that doesn't have a lot of HF RFI?? Anyone know?

[ka4wja]

Well, I did my first off-grid solar install in 1984 (with just a Ford voltage regulator)....and over the years have done some more with PWM and MPPT controllers....
And, been installing solar on boats (my own, my brother's, and others) since the 90's...


On my current boat, in 2006 I installed four 130watt Kyocera panels (Vmp ~ 17.6v / Voc ~ 22v), using two Blue Sky 2512ix controllers...
They've served me well, and except for a few low-level "birdies" on the 18mhz and 22mhz bands, never have had any HF RFI!!
The panels are mounted within inches of the backstay antenna, and the controllers are inches away from the M-802 HF radio...
No RFI issues!

But...

But, now I want to change my panels to Sun Power panels...
These are high-voltage panels....
Voc is 68vdc
Vmp is 57.3vdc
So...
So, I will need a new controller!

I will probably end up with two 360 watt Sun Power panels....(and might still keep two of my 130 watt Kyocera panels, with their own controller networked to the controller for the higher-voltage Sun Power panels??)
But, I will worry about the Kyocera panels/controllers later...
What I would like here, today, is to learn what higher-voltage charge controllers would produce no HF RFI (or as little as possible)...
{btw, I'm aware of RFI mitigation, with running of wiring, ferrites, etc....but on a 47' sloop, everything is darn close....and ferrites will be used if needed...but wish to learn what MPPT controllers capable of handling 68 volt (57Vmp) panels, with as little, to no, RFI..}


For two Sun Power panels, forming an approx. 720 - 750 watt array, Voc ~ 68vdc, Vmp ~ 57vdc....Nominal "12vdc" electrical system on-board, max charge current expected to be 50 - 60 amps...

Choices seem to be:

a) Morningstar Tri-Star TS-MPPT-60


b) OutBack Flexmax 60/80


c) Victron Blue Solar 100/150


I've read bad things about RFI from the Outback controller...
But, haven't read anything about the Morningstar TroSatr, nor the Victron's...

To be clear, I do not want to spend 1000's of dollars on new Sun Power panels and new MPPT controller, spend days installing everything and then find out I've ruined my HF radio reception! (I'd certainly try it all out on the deck before mounting the panels, but still I'd like to know this before I spend the $$$!)



Anyone that has any experience with these higher-voltage charge controllers and any HF Radio RFI they produce, please respond!


Thank you all in advance!

Fair winds.

John

[sailorchic34]

Hum...

Why not build a metal box to mount the solar controllers in. That and feric chokes on the in and out wires should attenuate the noise on HF.

Just a thought. I think most charge controllers will be noisy on hf. Even led lights can be noisy at some frequencies. With my 12V panel I just made a bypass switch DPST that bypassed the input around the my cheaper PWM controller to output if I wanted to use HF. It would work with 12V panels but not so good with the high voltage ones. Mind you that only worked in the morning before the battery's were at, or near 90-100%

[ka4wja]

Thanks for the input!

FYI, my current controllers are in metal boxes, and I do have ferrites....but even if the controllers are sitting out in the open and no ferrites on anything the Blue Sky controllers have little to no RFI!!
And, I just wish to find what other controllers will be the same! Using the higher voltage panels?

And, yep....
I could just switch off the panels/controllers when using the radio, but really don't want to do that.

fair winds...

John

[john61ct]

Probably worth posting this Q in specialist ham radio forums. Those ARES guys with portable post-disaster rigs are pretty clued in to finer points of RFI

[Ip485]

I use the Outback, 900W solar, and I have SSB, VHF, satcom, satTV, GPS and no issues what so ever. The outback is about 15 feet away from the main aerial and dome array which are on an arch with the panels each side.

The SSB aerial is one of the two backstays and I use a counterpoise for the ground and a ICOM aerial tuner.

[ka4wja]

John,
Actually one of "those guys" is me....
Kinda a pain when I'm supposed to be the expert, and I can't find real-world data to base decisions on...
I've been in HF radio a decade before even messing with solar...
And, I'm someone that does track down RF sources and RFI....being doing it for decades...
(I just don't want to spend $$$$ on some new solar and ruin my HF set-up on-board...


BTW, I did get some good info from Morningstar themselves...where they quoted their FCC Class B RFI/EMI specs....and the guys at Blue Sky said if I cam wait 'til later this year or early next year, they should have some higher voltage controllers (but in my experience, that could mean waiting a year or more)

And, I also did my research over on qrz and eham...and found some old info (bad news about Outback controllers, etc.)...
Did a search here abouts as well....found little about HF RFI and high voltage controllers...

Also, on land....it's all about distance....just get the panels and controllers away from the HF antennas...or get the antennas away from the panels/controllers...
And, of course shielding the wiring (metal conduit, etc.) is also much easier on land...


Fair winds..

John

[ka4wja]

IP485,
Thank you!
This is some good news...

Originally Posted by Ip485

I use the Outback, 900W solar, and I have SSB, VHF, satcom, satTV, GPS and no issues what so ever. The outback is about 15 feet away from the main aerial and dome array which are on an arch with the panels each side.

The SSB aerial is one of the two backstays and I use a counterpoise for the ground and a ICOM aerial tuner.

But, is contrary to other anecdotal reports (from ham radio forums) regarding the Outback Flexmax 60/80...

a) If you could be so kind as to verify that model of Outback controller you have??

b) And, can you also verify that on your M-802, your normal background noise level (HF noise floor) on 7mhz and 8mhz bands is only one segment of illumination (or none) on the M-802 S-meter and no segments at all illuminated on any higher bands??
(This is typical / natural band noise....anything higher usually indicates on-board RFI..)


Sorry....but I've been a radio nut for a long time....and don't want to ruin my HF reception...



Thanks for all the help!
Fair winds

John

[Ip485]

I have the Flexmax 80.

I will take a look at the weekend as I am not on board until then.

[ka4wja]

Ip485,
Thank You!
That would be great!

I'm not changing anything for a couple weeks...just doing the research first!

Thanks again!

John

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by ka4wja

I just don't want to spend $$$$ on some new solar and ruin my HF set-up on-board.

Well make sure to only buy from sellers with a good NQA returns policy, or eBay, just out of pocket on return shipping.

Just have everything else ready to go for testing when it arrives.

[Viking Sailor]

John,

Why not use your status as the CF radio expert to get the solar controller manufacturers to provide you with samples of their products for review. I know you have a way with words -- so it shouldn't be to hard for you to make a creditable case for you doing such a review.

Luck,

Paul

[senormechanico]

John,

I've got a BlueSky 2512 IX with an IPN Pro controller and it puts out a lot of RFI from .5 Mhz up to and including a unmodulated carrier exactly on VHF channel 16.

The 20 meter band gets about 6 to 7 S units of noise from the above mentioned equipment.

What am I doing wrong, or are you just lucky to have gotten one which is quiet?

Grrr...

[GRIT]

I am also setting up my system, and planned on purchasing two of the morningstar mppt-45's. We'll also be using the m-802; so I'm watching, with interest, for any news on this thread.

Cheers.
Paul.

[GRIT]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm now about to purchase the mppt controllers for the new boat, and would love to hear reports on the victron 100/50 mppt controllers, regards RFI.

Original first choice was the Morningstar, and will go to them if the victron doesn't have good reviews on this matter.

Cheers.
Paul.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by svquintana

I know this is an old thread, but I'm now about to purchase the mppt controllers for the new boat, and would love to hear reports on the victron 100/50 mppt controllers, regards RFI.

Original first choice was the Morningstar, and will go to them if the victron doesn't have good reviews on this matter.

Cheers.
Paul.

I have a 75/10 and can't hear any difference with it in or out on a ham radio for wfax or winlink. Wish I could say the same for the fridge...