[RE-wrenches] RFI from MPPT Charge Controllers

Frank Lewon bzp at brick.net
Wed Sep 1 11:54:49 PDT 2010


  Check with DigiKey or Mouser for a suitable (toroid wound) inductor. 
Some times a "L" filter will work. To make a " L"  filter tightly wrap 
20' of insulated #12 Romex on a 1/2" X 12" length of re-bar. Insert in 
series with the PV+ line.

Depending on the radio. Some times the internal micro processor alone 
will cause interference. Or even break squelch. We off for free a filter 
kit if the installation warrant it's use. We listen to Mississippi river 
barge traffic during the day. Squelch never breaks.

Frank Lewon
BZ Products Inc.
7914 Gravois Road
St. Louis MO 63123 USA
314-644-2490 www.bzproducts.net


On 9/1/2010 1:42 PM, Larry Crutcher wrote:
> Hello Frank,
>
> Looks like your low pass design cutoff frequency is below 500 kHz. I 
> had not thought of this but I'll try it. Do you know where to find the 
> coil that large?
>
> I would think that just by the nature of their design that an MPPT 
> controller would have this filtering.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Larry Crutcher
> Starlight Solar Power Systems
>
> On Sep 1, 2010, at 7:19 AM, Frank Lewon wrote:
>
>> We recommend making a Pi filter consisting of a 50 uH 30 amp medium Q 
>> coil and .1uF 100+ volt disc capacitors. Insert the Pi filter in the 
>> PV+ line. Wire with short direct leads to the control. Helps a lot. 
>> Not perfect.
>>
>> Frank Lewon
>> BZ Products Inc.
>> 7914 Gravois Road
>> St. Louis MO 63123 USA
>> 314-644-2490 www.bzproducts.net
>>
>>
>> On 8/31/2010 7:00 PM, Larry Crutcher wrote:
>>> Does anyone know of a large MPPT controller that does not produce 
>>> RFI? Specifically, customers that are SWL, AM or amateur radio 
>>> operators need RF quiet time during the day while operating or 
>>> listening. All the controller I have installed make some noise. The 
>>> Outback MX60 in my RV decimates every 40 kHz or so with broadband 
>>> noise from 160 meters and up.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know how the Xantrex SW, Tristar MPPT or Apollo do with 
>>> RFI?
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>>
>>> Larry Crutcher
>>> Starlight Solar Power Systems
>
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