This topic

Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:04:18 GMT

The day after solar panels were installed on the roof above our study we started having WiFi problems. The BT hub is in our study.

We have since replaced the hub and added repeater disks, to no avail.

To me it seems too much of a coincidence, but I am not an electrician or WiFi expert. Could the solar panels be causing the problem? Are there documented cases of this happening?

Your answers will be welcome.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

Les-Gibson — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:58:12 GMT

A quick Google for "can solar panels interfere with wifi" suggests that it is possible if unlikely

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

licquorice — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:24:14 GMT

Certainly had no effect here when solar panels were fitted. Have you tried changing WiFi channels?

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

gg30340 — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:28:43 GMT

Are the cables and the inverter for the solar panels near to your BT hub. If they are they could in some way be causing interference that is affecting your wireless signal. If possible try moving the location of your hub to see if it helps.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

WSH — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:54:53 GMT

This seems to suggest the same thing:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/solar-panels-and-wifi-connection.39372/

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:56:23 GMT

I'm not sure how I would do that. Could you give me details, please, or a pointer to an explanation?

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

gg30340 — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 15:59:24 GMT

It depends on what type of broadband you have.

If you have full fibre broadband you could buy a long Ethernet cable. You would disconnect the Ethernet cable that connects the BT Hub to the Fibre modem (ONT) and replace the cable with your "new" Ethernet cable and this would allow you to move it the distance that your new Ethernet cable is long.

If your BT Hub is plugged into the phone socket, you would need to buy a telephone extension cable and again you would replace the cable that is presently plug into the BT hub and phone socket and move the BT hub.

In both instances this is just a way of being able to move the BT hub to see if it helps.

If it does help you would need to position the BT hub in the best place and fix the replacement cables in a more permanent way.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

licquorice — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 16:05:05 GMT

@msjhaffey wrote:

I'm not sure how I would do that. Could you give me details, please, or a pointer to an explanation?

It depends on what you are asking, without attribution or quoting it is difficult to know which post you are replying to.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:09:30 GMT

Certainly had no effect here when solar panels were fitted. Have you tried changing WiFi channels?

I'm not sure how I would do that. Could you give me a pointer as tow how, please?

I think you also suggested moving the BT hub. The cables are short but I managed to get it to the doorway of the study and it seemed to have fewer problems (though it is hard to judge).

Full fibre is being installed here "soon". I'm hoping when they do the bit from the edge of the property (which was done last week) to our house (which is the "soon" bit) that they will be prepared to put the socket in our entrance hall.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:12:02 GMT

A quick Google for "can solar panels interfere with wifi" suggests that it is possible if unlikely

Indeed. I'm hoping for someone who will be able to say "I had that problem and we fixed it this way." 🙂

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:14:31 GMT

This seems to suggest the same thing:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/solar-panels-and-wifi-connection.39372/

Thanks, WSH. I am trawling through that to see what I can use in discussion with the solar panel installer.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:18:26 GMT

on ‎27-02-2023 15h59
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Message 7 of 11
Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?
It depends on what type of broadband you have.
If you have full fibre broadband you could buy a long Ethernet cable. You would disconnect the Ethernet cable that connects the BT Hub to the Fibre modem (ONT) and replace the cable with your "new" Ethernet cable and this would allow you to move it the distance that your new Ethernet cable is long.
If your BT Hub is plugged into the phone socket, you would need to buy a telephone extension cable and again you would replace the cable that is presently plug into the BT hub and phone socket and move the BT hub.
In both instances this is just a way of being able to move the BT hub to see if it helps.
If it does help you would need to position the BT hub in the best place and fix the replacement cables in a more permanent way.

Thank you. As posted in a reply to another kind poster, we don't yet have full fibre, but will "soon". I hope that when that is done the installer will put the connection point in our hallway. (When my son got full fibre a few months ago, the installer were very helpful in this respect.)

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

Les-Gibson — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:40:46 GMT

@msjhaffeywrote:
A quick Google for "can solar panels interfere with wifi" suggests that it is possible if unlikely
Indeed. I'm hoping for someone who will be able to say "I had that problem and we fixed it this way." 🙂

The advice to resolve the problem is given in several of the articles that Google refers to.

From what I've read they talk about careless solar panel cable routing and faulty inverters, in either case if moving the router brings about an improvement then you are probably best off referring the problem to your solar panel installer

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

licquorice — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:42:57 GMT

@msjhaffey wrote:

Certainly had no effect here when solar panels were fitted. Have you tried changing WiFi channels?

I'm not sure how I would do that. Could you give me a pointer as tow how, please?

In the hub manager, go to Advanced settings > Wireless and set the wifi channels manually rather than 'Smart'.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

countrypaul — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:55:07 GMT

Does the problem show up at night as well as during the day? Since the panels produce next to nothing at night if the problem goes away then it does reinforce the idea that the PV installation is responsible in some way. If the problem remains however, that does not mean the PV is blameless. If you can turn off the inverter (there should be an AC isolator to do so) and retest that might also help to determine if part of the PV install is affecting the WiFi,

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:34:22 GMT

. If you can turn off the inverter (there should be an AC isolator to do so) and retest that might also help to determine if part of the PV install is affecting the WiFi,

Good idea. I'll give it a go. Thanks!

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

msjhaffey — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:35:34 GMT

In the hub manager, go to Advanced settings > Wireless and set the wifi channels manually rather than 'Smart'.

Thank you. I will try that tomorrow when I am more awake.

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

mrstephenpitt — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:19:03 GMT

I too have similar issues and can provide additional information.

I belive my WiFi became significantly less stable after my solar installation. I have a growatt inverter, batteries and about 6kw of panels . The inverter and battery is sited in my loft, and WiFi hub is in my study about 25 foot underneath that.

Since solar installation the WiFi signal, as monitored on 3 different devices sited within about 3 feet of the router and each using a different technology indicate an unreliable WiFi. WiFi seems to drop every few minutes and then recover minutes later. I have moved anything suspect from being by my hub.

I find reliability improves significant at night, I guess meaning after sundown.

It's driving me bonkers!

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

Genhire — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 07:50:29 GMT

I have a similar problem. But I think it's caused by the inverter.. I am currently looking into .. it could be the AC wave form from the inverter is not clean so this disruptes the router..

Re: Can solar panels affect WiFi?

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 08:52:47 GMT

From a technical perspective.

Sine Wave inverter that convert DC to mains consist of a two stage process.

The first stage converts the low voltage to a high voltage. This uses a high frequency invertor to keep the transformer very small, and the efficiency high. This is likely to cause harmonic components which can easily interfere with broadband and wi-fi signals if not properly screened.

The second stage uses solid state switches (MOSFETS) to switch and reverse the output voltage at mains frequency (Sine Wave) tied to the incoming grid frequency and phase. Its unlikely that is causing issues as there is extensive filtering on the output to prevent any noise being injected into the grid or household supply.

I expect the the amount of screening depends on the quality of manufacture.

Our neighbour has a GivEnergy system on the wall outside, and I have not noticed any interference. In fact it uses a 2.4GHz wireless connection to connect to the GivEnergy cloud.