{"id":26980,"date":"2017-07-10T11:14:04","date_gmt":"2017-07-10T15:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=26980"},"modified":"2017-07-10T11:15:30","modified_gmt":"2017-07-10T15:15:30","slug":"off-gridrv-enthusiasts-need-a-radio-quiet-solar-charge-controller-reader-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/off-gridrv-enthusiasts-need-a-radio-quiet-solar-charge-controller-reader-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Off-grid\/RV enthusiasts need a radio-quiet solar charge controller: reader advice?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

The Solar Boost 3000i solar MPPT charge controller<\/p><\/div>\n

I’m currently in the process of adding 200-300 watts of 12-volt solar panels to my truck camper.<\/p>\n

Solar panels will keep my camper’s 12V deep-cycle battery topped off, thus allowing longer stretches of time for boon-docking or primitive camping, during which an occupied camper is off-grid from shore power.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>My truck camper actually came with a simple built-in charge controller which charges the battery via shore power. Thing is…this shore power charger is incredibly<\/em> noisy when I’m on the radio. \u00a0The QRM it generates is broadband, and almost entirely wipes out HF and MW radio listening.<\/p>\n

Because of this, I’m forced to unplug my power whenever I’m in the camper and want to hop on the air. And since the whole idea of camper living is to enjoy a bit of rest-and-relaxation, in other words, to pursue one’s hobbies in modest comfort, having to unplug the power\u2013\u2013or else not play radio\u2013\u2013limits my total enjoyment of RV camping.<\/p>\n

But.\u00a0<\/em>Before I invest in a new solar charge controller, which would essentially charge the battery any time the sun is out, I need to be absolutely certain<\/em>\u00a0it doesn’t create RFI, too. Yet I’m finding it difficult to confirm whether a charge controller is RF-quiet prior to purchasing…<\/p>\n

What’s more, I\u00a0suspect I’m not the only radio listener or ham radio operator with an RV who has encountered the noise dilemma.<\/p>\n

What’s a radio geek with an RV to do\u2013\u2013?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A ham radio buddy who is an avid RVer recommended the\u00a0Solar Boost 3000i<\/a>\u00a0(see top photo above). While it might be overkill for my application, I’m willing to invest, knowing it may charge without creating RFI.<\/p>\n

But before I do, I’m curious if any SWLing Post<\/em> readers have any experience with solar charge controllers, and\/or can confirm models that create little to no RFI? I’d even appreciate knowing which models do<\/em> pollute the spectrum\u2013\u2013models to avoid, in other words, if radio listening or ham radio operations are your goal.<\/p>\n

My hope is that SWLing Post<\/em> reader recommendations may not only help me with this problem, but might help other RVer\/off-grid radio enthusiasts, as well.<\/p>\n

Please comment!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’m currently in the process of adding 200-300 watts of 12-volt solar panels to my truck camper. Solar panels will keep my camper’s 12V deep-cycle battery topped off, thus allowing longer stretches of time for boon-docking or primitive camping, during which an occupied camper is off-grid from shore power. My truck camper actually came with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,545,3,43],"tags":[2175,6318,6322,6321,6319,5246,6320,2171],"class_list":["post-26980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-off-grid-radio","tag-off-grid-rv","tag-quiet-charge-controllers","tag-rfi-charge-controllers","tag-solar-ham-radio","tag-solar-power","tag-solar-rv","tag-solar-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-71a","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18519,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/off-grid-radio-portable-power-recommendations\/","url_meta":{"origin":26980,"position":0},"title":"Off-Grid Radio: Portable power recommendations?","author":"Thomas","date":"April 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This year, I have a lot of portable radio play in mind as I travel across the continent. At some point, I even plan to spend several days\u00a0in an off-grid cabin on the coast. In the past, I've powered my 12 VDC ham radio transceivers with a system comprised of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Elecraft-KX3","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7359,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/09\/living-off-grid-the-ideal-shortwave-radio-system-for-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":26980,"position":1},"title":"Living off-grid? The ideal shortwave radio system for you","author":"Thomas","date":"September 23, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"What's the best system for off-grid living?\u00a0From time to time, I'm asked this question in the \"comments\" section of the website or via email.\u00a0 Recently it came up again, and I thought it might make sense to answer it here, and also open it for discussion. Specifically, SWLing Post reader,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Emergency Preparedness"","block_context":{"text":"Emergency Preparedness","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/emergency-preparedness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"While the Tecsun GR-168 is my current pick amongst self-powered shortwave radios, their performance is only mediocre compared to a proper, hobby-grade receiver with SSB.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Tecsun-GR-168-300x248.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11031,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/transceivers-portables-and-foldable-solar-panels-our-virtual-radio-challenge-ii-responses\/","url_meta":{"origin":26980,"position":2},"title":"Transceivers, portables and foldable solar panels: our Virtual Radio Challenge II responses","author":"Thomas","date":"October 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Three weeks ago, I posted a virtual challenge for\u00a0SWLing Post readers: \u00a0your opportunity to piece together the best, innovative $1200 (US) radio kit you might\u00a0pack for two years in the remote off-grid village of Laya, Bhutan. You were tasked to track down\u00a0a radio kit\u00a0that would keep you in touch with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Laya-Bhutan-Location-Wikipedia","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Laya-Bhutan-Location-Wikipedia.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":34231,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/cryptocurrency-transactions-over-solar-powered-shortwave-radios\/","url_meta":{"origin":26980,"position":3},"title":"Cryptocurrency transactions over solar-powered shortwave radios","author":"Thomas","date":"September 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: The Next Web via Kim Elliott) Devs used solar-powered radios to complete first \u2018off-grid\u2019 cryptocurrency transaction Could blockchain help after disaster strikes? A group of developers claim to have performed a solar-powered cryptocurrency transaction, using shortwave radios and blockchain tech. While it might not be the world\u2019s first radio-transmitted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/blockchain-shortwave-crypto-currency-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/blockchain-shortwave-crypto-currency-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/blockchain-shortwave-crypto-currency-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32819,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/steve-searches-for-a-usb-powered-battery-charger-for-solar-recharging\/","url_meta":{"origin":26980,"position":4},"title":"Steve searches for a USB-powered battery charger for solar recharging","author":"Thomas","date":"June 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steven Crawford, who writes with the following inquiry: [I'm searching for] good quality USB powered battery chargers for AA and D size rechargeable batteries. Wall outlet chargers are common but quality USB powered battery chargers appear much less common...less common than the packable solar\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/batteries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/batteries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/batteries.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/batteries.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32886,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/give-your-radios-a-vacation\/","url_meta":{"origin":26980,"position":5},"title":"Give Your Radios a Vacation!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In 2013, I wrote the following feature for the Monitoring Times Magazine. Looking back, I realize that I never posted this article on the SWLing Post. Since we're in the midst of the summer travel season here in the northern hemisphere, I thought I'd post this feature from five years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26980\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}