Solar panels

[E_Majluf]

Hi everyone, does anyone know if anyone has done sound improvement comparisons between the public power grid and home solar panel systems? Thanks.

 

[gberchin]

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...ality-of-panels-batteries-and-the-grid-r1072/

 

[eddantes]

What? Why would that be a thing? Every device you own has a filtered power supply...

 

[Grotti]

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/the-audio-impact-of -solar-panels-and-battery-backup-comparing-sound-quality-of-panels-batteries-and-the-grid-r1072/

Quote from your source:

"He has "a special set of skills" that help him bring technical perspective to the audio hobby. No, they do not involve kicking criminal ass in exotic foreign locales! Starting with his Ph.D. research on computer networks, and extending over his professional career, his area of expertise is the performance and scalability of distributed computing systems. Tuning and optimization are in his blood. He is guided by the scientific method and robust experimental design. That said, he trusts his ears, and how a system or component sounds is always the final determinant in his findings. He does not need every audio effect to be measurable, as long as it is consistently audible."

So all his conclusions are purely anecdotal, not everything can be measured and he trust his ears... In other words: without a level matched blind comparison the results of his comparison are worthless.

 

[Esprit]

The Audio Impact of Solar Panels and Battery Backup: Comparing Sound Quality of Panels, Batteries, and the Grid

The Audio Impact of Solar Panels and Battery Backup: Comparing Sound Quality of Panels, Batteries, and the Grid Introduction I recently got solar panels and a battery backup system installed at my house. While this was a decision driven by many factors, as I described in my previous article, The ...

audiophilestyle.com

Nonsense

 

[DVDdoug]

does anyone know if anyone has done sound improvement

There has to be something wrong before there can be an improvement...

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...ality-of-panels-batteries-and-the-grid-r1072/

In a word, these two configurations were indistinguishable.

Not that surprising, but there is always a possibility that one or the other might have some "unusual" glitches or noise that gets through to the audio.

But had they heard a difference, the test is useless since it wasn't blind and there were no measurements. ...Or the defects would likely be noise, like a buzz or a whine and there would be no need for all of the "critical listening".

Power inverters use high frequency "switching" like a switching power supply or a class-D amplifier and it might not be as clean as the AC from an electro-mechanical generator.

Power from the utility is connected to thousands or homes & businesses along the way so it can be "imperfect" too.

 

[gberchin]

I think that the takeaway is that it didn't do any harm, at least not in the subjective sense.

 

[BR52]

The sound is warmer if the sun shines bright

 

[BR52]

Technically, if an inverter emits switching noise in the output lines the design is bad, or the inverter is defective. If the inverter, grid noise is in the allowed range, and you can hear it in your sound system, the system has a problem. All has nothing to do with solar or battery or grid systems in general. Is a design question of the components.

 

[gberchin]

I worked in the grid power industry for many years. You would be amazed at the amount of noise and distortion present in a powerline waveform -- it's not a perfect 60 Hz or 50 Hz sinewave. Solar or battery inverters should be able to provide a much cleaner waveform. Like a Class-D amplifier, the results can be extremely good.

Does it matter? Probably not, as long as the power supply filtering in your components is adequate. But how good does it have to be, to be "adequate"?

 

[Vacceo]

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...ality-of-panels-batteries-and-the-grid-r1072/

Does electricity coming from nuclear reactors add extra distortion to music? Chances are my Godflesh records will get better!

Does hydroelectric power get the sound flowing better? Try some Jean Michel Jarre!

This article is based on "I heard this". Sorry, that can be easily countered by "I don´t believe anything". There is literally 0 evidence.

 

[Speedskater]

Some US residential solar panel installations are a known source of interference.

 

[egellings]

Nonsense

Maybe have the panels & batteries be the actual rails of the amplifier. If their output gets converted to AC, then you're back to square one again.

 

[Fahzz]

I always assumed that electricity generated by nuclear power was quieter. That's why they use it in submarines.

 

[Timcognito]

When the power goes down and you have solar panels and whole house backup battery you can still blast your system day and night but it won't last as long if its Class A Tubes.

I have both and am one year away from recouping the equipment and install cost from 5-1/2 years ago. I used Energysage which is a free service that acts as go between for you and finding and using contractors for solar panels, battery storage, and heat pump HVAC. No contractors will call or bother you and they are a good source at helping with determining if and what type and size system you need. They are not selling equipment and the 30% tax credit will probably end this year, so now is the time to do research.

Compare and save on clean home energy solutions

EnergySage is the simplest way to shop for clean home energy solutions. Join over 50,000 homeowners who have electrified their homes with EnergySage.

www.energysage.com

 

[AudioJester]

Residdntial solar in Aus is awesome. Basically no more power bills or power interruptions. Government subsidised panels and battery. Recoup after about 5 yrs, and then constantly ahead. Now if you charge your electric car with solar - massive fuel cost savings as well.

Cant say i have ever noticed an audible sound system difference between grid or solar power

 

[gberchin]

My local municipality recently passed an ordinance prohibiting ground-mounted solar arrays. Since I don't have a south-facing roof, I'm out of luck.

 

[amper42]

I found solar panel payback to be a moving target as many electric companies have increased hook up fees for solar customers to the point it never pays back. And now they are increasing the $20 monthly hook up fee to $30 basically raising rates by 50% for EVERYBODY who followed their guidance and bought into new technology to try to reduce usage. It's a racket.

Only when all of us are on solar panels and batteries will the utility companies no longer be able to change the rules. As they will be out of business.

 

[egellings]

I always assumed that electricity generated by nuclear power was quieter. That's why they use it in submarines.

I don't know if electricity can be generated directly from nuclear energy without the use of rotating machinery (generators powered by steam turbines) utilizing nuclear heat energy. If that's possible, then it certainly would be quiet compared to steam turbines powering rotating generators.

 

[kyuu]

My local municipality recently passed an ordinance prohibiting ground-mounted solar arrays. Since I don't have a south-facing roof, I'm out of luck.

What the hell justification can there be for something like that? Except something stupid like "preserving neighborhood character" or the like.