Can Solar Panels Interfere With Wi-Fi, TV, Or Cell Phone Reception?
Whether you’ve experienced signals interference in your home or have heard one of your neighbors complain about it, one question is more likely to cross your mind:
Are the solar panels on the roof the cause of the problem?
Here’s your quick answer:
Solar panels don’t produce electromagnetic radiation, but if they’re physically obstructing the signals from an antenna, they can interfere with Wi-Fi, TV, or cell phone reception.
The solar panel inverter is usually the primary culprit of signals interference in your home. The process of converting DC to AC signals by an inverter can produce broadband noise that may interfere with wireless signals. Additionally, electronic noise from devices connected to the PV system may also cause interference.
So, how does the interference really occur? Is the solar system the only source of electromagnetic waves that intercept the crucial signals in your home? How can this be prevented? Is there a working long-term solution for this problem?
Let’s answer these questions in this ultimate guide.
How Does a Typical Solar Panels System Work?
To understand where this interference comes from, let’s first look at how the solar panel system works.
A working solar panel system will include an array of solar panels, an inverter, batteries, and the end equipment being powered, say a solar refrigerator. Here’s how the energy flows:
- The solar panels collect sun rays and convert them to Direct Current (DC), which is passed to the converter.
- For DC equipment or devices, the current is used as it is.
- In most cases, though, Alternating Current (AC) is required, and so the DC is passed through the converter for this conversion to occur.
- The AC is then used to power the end equipment, in our case, the solar refrigerator.
What is Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI)?
Electromagnetic interference is radiofrequency emission from PV systems that bar communication devices, navigational aids, and radio receivers.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, EMI from PV systems is considered low risk. This is because the operation of solar panels does not produce electromagnetic radiation.
But, other components such as the inverter can produce these interfering signals.
Other Sources of EM radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is not only produced by the PV system you’ve installed. So many electric equipments in your home can produce electromagnetic radiation since they have wires carrying electricity or need to be connected to wires that carry electricity.
Examples of these devices include computers, laptops, monitor cameras, and other smart devices you may have in your home.
Where does the Interference from PV Solar Systems come from?
The interference may occur due to the following:
Solar panel physical obstruction
Did you know that a digital signal is reduced by 20% anytime it passes through a physical object?
Well, that’s exactly what happens when your roof is almost entirely covered with solar panels. The signal from the aerial/antenna will always get some level of disruption.
High switching DC to AC.
When the current is converted from DC to AC by the inverter’s semiconductors, some electromagnetic radiation may be produced along with the switching frequency.
If this radiation is intensely produced (happens when the inverter is insufficiently shielded and poorly installed), then it causes interference of other wireless signals: TV, Wi-Fi, or phone signals.
AC power cable running in parallel with the coaxial cables
If a coaxial cable runs just a few inches from the power cable carrying alternating current from the inverter, EM interference is likely to occur.
AC power cables produce small magnetic fields that can be easily picked up by a poorly shielded coaxial cable in close proximity.
Note that no electromagnetic interference can occur if the cable is carrying DC.
Digital Signals-Solar Panel Interference
Do solar panels interfere with TV reception?
When broadband noise from an inverter is produced over a wide range of frequencies, it can interfere with TV reception. If the cable connecting the inverter and the solar panels is long enough, the interception may happen in a large area.
It is good to note that A TV, especially a digital one, leverages a robust data stream and hence even the least electromagnetic interference could cause great signal interference.
Do solar panels cause Wi-Fi interference?
Wi-Fi is quite a robust signal (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and only electromagnetic radiation produced at a high-frequency range will interfere with it.
Solar Panel WI-Fi interference occurs when power carrying cables of the PV system are on the way of these high-frequency signals.
Do solar panels interfere with cell phone reception?
If the solar panels block cell phone signals in your home, they can cause interference. 4G cell phones operate at a frequency of (700-800) MHz.
If the electromagnetic radiation is produced at a higher frequency range than this, you’re likely to experience some phone signal interference.
The frequency from cell phones can also interfere with other lower frequency signals, such as those of a cable TV.
How to Prevent Solar Panel Interferenceof digital signals?
To prevent interference of digital signals in your home, you need to do two crucial things:
Have the best solar panel system
Even if you have the best installers in your area, interference will still occur if the PV system components you’ve installed are poorly made. A good example here is the inverter.
For reduced interference, this component should be adequately shielded. Purchase your solar panel system components from a reliable store or liaise with your installer for the same.
Professional installation
Once you get properly crafted solar components, find an expert to install them strategically or in a way that they’ll not cause interference.
After installation, the qualified installer should run several tests and ensure the PV system causes no interference.
How Is Interference Testing Done?
Doing complete interference testing is complex and can only be conducted in a special laboratory with special equipment.
At the household level, though, the installer can use a portable communication radio and a resonant antenna to check how frequency bands of interest are transmitted.
If the interference is detected, the distance from the inverter can be varied to show its extent.
How to Improve TV, Wi-Fi, Cell Phone Reception after Interference?
A digital signal is likely to get great interference if it’s already weak. For this reason, you might need to work on these digital signals before mitigating the interference from the solar panel system.
Here’s what to do:
| Signal reception | How to boost the signal |
| TV | Place the aerial strategically on the roof, probably on the chimney stack. -Check for a loose set-top box connection and reattach everything properly. -Ensure that the coaxial TV cable running in parallel with the AC power cable from the solar inverter is properly shielded. |
| Wi-Fi | Configure to a higher frequency (example from 2.6 to 5 GHz) or a different Wi-Fi channel. -Use your wireless device far from power cables and other sources of interference. -Minimize the number of devices connected to your wireless network. |
| Cell phone | -Use the phone in an area where there’re no other electronic devices -Switch your mobile provider -Ensure that your cell phone is always charged when making a call |
An important point to note:
You may fall for the idea of buying a booster to amplify the wireless signals in your home. But, it’s good to know that this will not solve the actual problem. In fact, it’ll amplify the signal along with the interference.
The perfect solution is to check the entire solar system and ensure that it’s up to scratch along with the techniques highlighted above.
How to reduce/cancel EM Radiation Interference from Solar Panels System?
Once your signal systems are completely tuned, proceed to work on the interference caused by the PV system using the following strategies:
Shielding with a casing
This is installing a casing, preferably a metal one, around the inverter to cancel the noise that it produces. It’s a highly effective interference cancellation strategy that addresses the primary source of the problem.
A study published in the Journal of Clean Energy Technologies suggested that a brilliant way to reduce signal interferences by solar PV components, especially inverters, is certifying them for electromagnetic compatibility (proper shielding).
Filtering with capacitors
Capacitors can be used on the PV system just like we do in electronic devices. This technique is highly effective, but on the flip side, it’s expensive and relatively complex to set up.
Cancellation by wire twists
This is an easy, simple, and cheap strategy that you can use to reduce EM interference.
It basically involves twisting some wires to ‘choke’ the EM radiation. The strategy is not highly reliable, but it can serve as a fast temporary solution.
Suppression using ferrites
Ferrite is a combination of Iron Oxide, other metal oxides, and metals such as Copper and Zinc. A ferrite core collects the EM radiation and converts it to heat that’s later dissipated, releasing the interference.
Additional Tips
- Make the connection between the DC battery and the inverter as short as possible
- Ground the inverter shield casing as per the manufacturer’s recommendations
- Shielding around the electric wire
- Shielding around the coaxial wire
- Install a rigid metal conduit where the cables are run inside
Other causes of digital signal interference
So, you’ve tuned your digital signals systems and the entire PV system, but the interference is still there. There're a few things that your need to give a close eye on:
Physical obstacles
If a signal such as Wi-Fi has to pass through several walls to get to the end device, the reception may be interrupted. Other objects such as metal, stainless steel, and mirrors can have a similar effect.
Tip: Ensure that all your digital devices are in a place where they can access the signals directly.
Inter-networks interference
One wireless network can interfere with another. For example, a high-frequency Wi-Fi signal can interrupt a TV or radio signal of lower frequency.
So the more signals you’ve tapped in your home, the higher the probability of having reception interference.
Tip: Reduce the number of wireless devices you use in your home.
Electronic devices in your home
As mentioned above, electronic devices also produce electromagnetic signals that can interrupt TV, Wi-Fi, and cell phone reception.
Tip: Don’t crowd all the electronic devices in one area. Also, ensure that everything is adequately shielded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use solar panels without interfering with TV, Wi-Fi, and cell phone reception?
Yes, as long as you have a perfectly shielded inverter and a strategically installed solar system, all the wireless connections in your home will work normally.
Is the electromagnetic radiation from PV systems and electronic devices a health risk?
Luckily, electromagnetic radiation from PV systems is not ionizing, so it’s not a health hazard.
How will I benefit by hiring a professional to install my PV system?
There’re so many benefits, but here are the two main ones:
Conclusion
Solar panels can only cause interference if they’re placed in the pathway of your wireless signals. This is an issue that can be easily solved by strategic installation.
A solar system (excluding the solar panels) is a source of electromagnetic signals. The signals are capable of causing wireless signals interference.
But thanks to the highly advanced manufacturing technology used today, solar inverters and other crucial system components are significantly shielded, so interference is greatly alleviated.
Even so, you need to have the best solar panel system and one that’s installed properly. You also need to check all other electric connections and devices in your home and ensure that they’re not the source of electromagnetic interference.
With these strategies and the others discussed in this guide, Wi-Fi, TV, or Radio reception interference should not be a problem in your home.
