My VE.Direct inverter when under load creates severe radio interference. This is not expected from a “pure sine wave” inverter. Is this a known issue? Does Victron or another manufacturer offer a filter that will remove this “dirty electricity” radio interference?
Hi
This type of problem is often caused by the proximity of equipment to each other, or by the wiring. Could you please post some pictures of your current setup?
Additionally, do you happen to know the frequency of the signal/harmonics ?
Below are some potential sources of interference. It’s possible (not often see now but can still happen) the inverter is picking up and amplifying one of these.
https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/5-types-of-equipment-which-generates-the-most-harmonics
Dave
Dave:
My Victron dealer has offered some suggestions, which I’ll try. These include ferrite beads on the inverter’s AC and DC power leads, and twisting the DC input leads. The interference is not radiated, but is instead riding in on the power leads, so their suggestions may help. I’m experiencing the noise on amateur (ham) shortwave equipment, particularly on the 3.5, 7 and 14 mHz bands. Interference lessens on the higher frequencies. The inverter loads are a desktop computer and monitors. Powering antique tube-type radio equipment with the inverter also causes interference. I don’t believe the interference is due to harmonics from switching power supplies, as those aren’t being used. Thanks for the link you sent.
Joe
Hi Joe.
These include ferrite beads on the inverter’s AC and DC power leads, and twisting the DC input leads.
That sounds like a good idea. But I would also try to find the source of the interference so it can be addressed at the root cause. I do understand that this is not always possible tho.
Please let me know how it goes. My brother was a HAM operator, so I appreciate the difficulty interference can cause.
Good luck.
Dave
I applaud your local dealer for knowing some of the steps to mitigate RFI! In my experience, few do.
I have an RF Explorer spectrum analyzer (with the 2GHz upgrade board) and I use near-field E & H probes to help pinpoint the source. You can buy inexpensive ones on Amazon. They aren’t calibrated or anything, but unless you’re flying a space mission don’t worry about it 
All the wires going in and out of the inverter should be checked. After all, those wires are antennas at RF frequencies, and maybe you’re just unlucky enough to be picking up 80m signals and harmonics (40m and 20m bands). Mix 31 2.5" torroids with the DC and VE.direct cabled wound multiple times might help if it’s common mode noise.
You could try a DC line isolator on the DC input, but in my experience they usually don’t do the job. If you happen to live in or near Ohio, I could let you borrow a DC isolators to try.
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Ed: The noise/hash source is clearly the inverter itself. With it running under no load there’s little to no hash in my receiver; but under load the noise is horrific.
I’ve operated my IC-7300 from a separate battery. With an antenna connected and the inverter running under load there’s no noise; but the noise is S9 with the antenna connected. I run my Drake 2-B with the inverter, and there’s no noise with the antenna disconnected; but S9 with antenna connected. With the antenna connected to the IC-7300 and no load on the inverter there’s no noise.
I’ve tried running the inverter from a battery only a foot away (for short DC leads), twisting the DC input wires, ferrites on the DC input and AC output cables, shielded AC cable at the output, inline common-mode coax filter at the receiver. None of those help. I haven’t tried an earth ground rod yet. I’ll put the AC output on a scope and see what it looks like.
Thanks for the DC line isolator idea, but I’m in Massachusetts.
de Joe, W1FYL
That’s a bummer. I had severe RFI on all the HF bands when I was running a 12V system in my RV. I had a Multi 12/3000, MPPT 150/100 (the culprit), and some misc other MPPTs and Orions. Only the MPPT 150/100 caused me issues.
I’ve since had 24V and 48V installations in my RV with 5kVA MultiPlus-II’s and much smaller MPPTs and had no problems.
That said, I have never bothered checking for RFI on the Phoenix VE.Direct inverters, or the MultiPlus 12/1200.
Which VE.Direct inverter are you using?
That’s kind of annoying and I’ll definitely need to check if I can reproduce this interference.
Haven’t noticed anything before but I’m hardly on HF these days 
73,
Bart - ON6BC
Hi Joe,
I would do this first then check all grounds, as this could be helpful.
I’m also interested to know the model of your VE.Direct inverter. We ask because the rapidly switching transistor process in some inverters can generate high-frequency harmonics that radiate as noise.
Dave.
Hi, Dave. Mine’s a 12|375. My setup consists of a solar panel, Victron charge controller and the inverter. There are no grounds involved, other than the earth ground rod I intend to install as a test. My goal is to run antique tube-type amateur radio equipment with the setup. The equipment is set up in a travel trailer in a remote corner of my lot.
Joe
Well, I’m happy to announce that I’ve connected the inverter to an earth ground rod and the RFI has completely disappeared. I’m using it to power my antique tube-type amateur radio equipment, and I’m hearing nothing but normal atmospheric noise. Thanks to everyone for your kind responses!
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Hi Joe,
Good news!
Could you mark this as “Solved” please so that others with similar problems can find the solution more easily?
Well done!
Dave