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

7 points by onemoresoop 4mo ago

Kriptering 4mo ago
whoa
lenerdenator 4mo 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.
downrightmike 4mo 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 4mo 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.
  - downrightmike 4mo ago
    And what was found? was it enabled? was it in the spec sheet when they bought it? Was it an actual backdoor? Or an intended service config?
- pseudohadamard 4mo ago
  My house is currently powered from US-made inverters that have radios in them, and at least three different known remote-access mechanisms that the manufacturer can use to get in and control things. Probably some others that aren't known. I'd actually feel a lot safer if I was running Chinese-made gear.
4d4m 4mo 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
- pseudohadamard 4mo ago
  It has nothing to do with security: It's hard to push through a ban on evil radical-left solar in favour of nice clean coal, but much easier to ban the Chinese inverters that are required for the solar to work, in the name of good patriotic notional security.
  - 4d4m 3mo ago
    Great point

7 points by onemoresoop 4mo ago

whoa

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.

downrightmike 4mo 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 4mo 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.
- downrightmike 4mo ago
  And what was found? was it enabled? was it in the spec sheet when they bought it? Was it an actual backdoor? Or an intended service config?
pseudohadamard 4mo ago
My house is currently powered from US-made inverters that have radios in them, and at least three different known remote-access mechanisms that the manufacturer can use to get in and control things. Probably some others that aren't known. I'd actually feel a lot safer if I was running Chinese-made gear.

4d4m 4mo 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

pseudohadamard 4mo ago
It has nothing to do with security: It's hard to push through a ban on evil radical-left solar in favour of nice clean coal, but much easier to ban the Chinese inverters that are required for the solar to work, in the name of good patriotic notional security.
- 4d4m 3mo ago
  Great point