US is working on ban targeting Chinese energy inverters, sources say

7 pointsposted 6 hours ago
by onemoresoop

5 Comments

4d4m

5 hours ago

Where are most US based inverters manufactured? If someone is off grid or hybrid, what is the concern, outside of power-feedback into the grid? This seems more like an admission that going off-grid or hybrid is becoming attractive enough to matter. It's already not up to code to connect a non-UL listed inverter to the grid.

Real, actual concerns: -Lack of security -Password defaults left on device during setup -Aluminum transformers in inverters don't last more than 4-5 years at rated wattage

downrightmike

6 hours ago

Largely because there are radios in the inverters. Typical connected-grid stuff is sending people with too little knowledge into a tizy

tim-tday

4 hours ago

Actually a security researcher found a back door in some Chinese inverters recently.

Normally I’d believe this administration is just knee-jerk banning because China and solar, but in this case there was an actual reason.

lenerdenator

6 hours ago

Would appreciate a non-paywalled source.

As for the subject... I generally don't have a problem with this. Handing over any part of your energy infrastructure to a country with a long and storied history of hacking your companies is generally not smart.

I've purchased two inverters: one is a 3000w "Energizer"-branded one, while the other is a 1200w Victron unit. The Victron's quieter on RF, from what I can tell, is designed in the Netherlands, and is made in India.