RSGB 2023 Convention - RSGB EMC Committee investigations into sources of RF electrical interference

David Lauder, G0SNO
David gives a presentation on RSGB EMC Committee investigations into EMC problems and their solutions including electric vehicle charging - wireless and wired; electric bicycles and scooters; 12 volt battery chargers; Solar Photovoltaic systems; Air source heat pumps; LED lighting; Wind turbines; VDSL and g.fast.
David Lauder first obtained his Class B amateur radio licence about 40 years ago followed by Class A in 1992. He has been a member of RSGB EMC Committee for over 30 years and has written the EMC column in RadCom since October 1996. He is a member of the Investigations Group of the RSGB EMC Committee and he is also Chair of the Noise Measurement Campaign (NMC) Subgroup of the IARU Region 1 EMC Committee

[@ianxfs]

Thank you for the talk David (& RSGB). It was me struggling with the Orange battery charger (now two dealt with) and next on the list are solar panels!

[@dave-d]

Thank you David. I have inspected my lovely neighbours new solar PV system and see no attempt at earthing or RFI suppression. The DC feeder from the array to the inverter is steel wire armoured cable with no earth connection to the cable sheath. Optimizers are fitted to the panels. The fire escape metal work on the building is re-radiating all the noise induced from the array and cables. They have effectively installed a large antenna system on the roof to transmit broad band noise. The metal support frames for the panels are not grounded either. At least I can hear how PWM optimizers work now! I have yet to read the BS7671 wiring regs section on solar PV but after consultation with another installer it seems there is no grounding requirement for all this equipment. There are probably safety device considerations that preclude the same grounding as AC systems so a grey area still for me at least. I will be fitting ferrite chokes to the DC feeder lines at the inverter end so can compare some signal levels then. 80mtrs has gone off air for me since the install.
73's
M0LFD.

[@bill-2018]

I have S8 noise from broadband internet160m to 20m. Noise sometimes on 2m, medium wave noisy so probably 472 kHz out for me.
I almost gave up radio and left the RSGB but as the higher frequencies are good now I reconsidered and re-joined the RSGB.
Maybe when fibre comes in and replaces copper the QRM will stop.
G4GHB.