What is Power Line Communication and Why is 'Noise' a Problem?

Your Enphase solar system uses a technology called Power Line Communication (PLC) to send data between the microinverters on your roof and the IQ Gateway inside your home. The IQ Gateway uses your existing electrical wiring to collect production data from each microinverter and report it to the Enphase App.

When something in your home creates electrical interference on those same wires, it can temporarily disrupt this communication. Your solar panels are still producing energy — the system just has trouble reporting that data until the interference clears.

What causes the interference?

Everyday household devices can create electrical "noise" that interferes with PLC signals. Common culprits include:

• Power strips and surge protectors
• Dimmer switches
• Appliances with heavy motors, such as refrigerators, washing machines, or water pumps
• Security systems
• Older or failing circuit breakers
• GFI (GFCI) outlets
• Personal computers, laptop chargers, and phone chargers
• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and battery backup units
• Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) with a failing ballast
• Ethernet/HomePlug network adapters plugged into wall outlets
• Microwaves and other large kitchen appliances

Noise issues often appear after a new appliance is added to the home, or when an older device starts to fail — even if your system has been working fine for months or years.

What will I notice if there's a noise problem?

The most common signs are:

• One or more microinverters showing as "not reporting" in the Enphase App
• Missing or gaps in your production data
• Inconsistent reporting that seems to come and go at certain times of day

What can I do?

If you notice any of the symptoms above, here are a few simple things you can try:

• Unplug power strips or surge protectors that are near your electrical panel or connected to the same circuit as your solar system, and see if reporting improves.
• Think about what's changed recently — did you add a new appliance, UPS, or charger around the time the issue started? Try unplugging it temporarily to see if communication restores.
• Check the Enphase App the next morning to see if the issue is intermittent (tied to a device that runs at certain times, like a washing machine or overnight charger).

If you've tried the above and the problem persists, please contact us — our team can remotely review your system's communication data and arrange a service visit if needed. Hardware solutions such as noise filters or ferrite rings can be installed to resolve persistent interference, but these require a technician.