Technical Support

Eskom (electricity provider in SA) has switched to only installing split pre-paid meters as of late. Meaning the actual meter is installed on the street kerb and you are provided a keypad. The unit I received (Voltex/Shenzen Star Instrument) communicates over the power lines using the OFDM G3-PLC (Power Line Communication) standard between the keypad and the meter. With the inverter (Sunsynk 5kW) powered on, the keypad cannot communicate with the meter.

My configuration solar+battery+mains and zero-export (10W minimum import).

So far I have tried:

- Switching off the inverter and/or disconnecting (MCB) the GRID port works and the keypad can communicate

- Connecting the keypad directly to the incoming grid mains (to be as close to the incoming wires as possible) with the inverter on. No communication on keypad.

- I set the inverter to charge the battery powered up several appliances (3kW) to ensure that there is power being pulled from the grid and that the inverter isn't pushing out power: still no communication.

It seems that as long as there is a connection between the grid and the inverter's GRID port, the G3-PLC communication is disrupted. Disconnecting the inverter's GRID solves the problem, but defeats the purpose.

I have read several posts about people complaining about hearing audible high frequency noise on their appliances when the inverter is powered. Could this be part of the issue? That the inverter is injecting enough high-frequency noise to disrupt the PLC communication? Is there a potential fix for this?