Is Your Solar Gear Secretly Harming You? - Exploring the Potential Impact of EMF Radiation

Dec 19

Today, we’re going to explore EMF radiation—a topic that doesn’t make it into solar conversations very often. Is it harmless, or could it be a silent danger lurking in our everyday lives?

To find out, we’re diving into the potential risks of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation, testing how much radiation is emitted by our own solar gear, and exploring what this could mean for you.

So, grab your tinfoil hat and let’s get started!

What is EMF Radiation, and Should You Be Concerned?

Electromagnetic fields are invisible areas of energy that are usually associated with electric currents. The strength of these fields can be measured, and that measurement is often referred to as EMF radiation.

To be completely transparent, we don’t know much about EMF radiation, or its potential dangers, but we were curious and wanted to learn more. However, even after researching the topic, we were still left with more questions than answers. That’s mostly because the question of whether or not EMF radiation is harmful is still widely debated.

Even bodies within the World Health Organization (WHO) don’t agree on a single consensus. While some argue that EMF exposure is potentially harmful—linked to fatigue, headaches, and cognitive impairment—others claim it’s not a major health concern.

The reality? We probably won’t know the long-term effects until our generation grows old and becomes riddled with new diseases and health issues (Yay!).

But as with anything in life, moderation is probably the key. As we know, too much of anything, even water, can be harmful. So how does EMF radiation from solar gear measure up? Let’s get into the tests.

Testing EMF Radiation: Everyday Sources and Solar Gear

To get a better understanding of what kind of EMF radiation our solar gear and other electronics are putting out, we borrowed our editor Josh’s EMF tester. This handheld device was designed to measure EMF radiation in milligauss (mG), a unit for measuring magnetic flux density.

For context, anything under 4 mG is generally considered to be safe, while anything over 4 mG could be questionable.

Again, this all depends on who you ask, as plenty of people believe exposure to EMF radiation has no negative health consequences, while others are convinced it’s a serious concern.

All we wanted to do was provide some basic measurements, then leave it up to you as the reader to determine if it’s something you’re comfortable with, or if you would prefer to limit your exposure, which we’ll also explain how to do later.

Power Lines and Meters:

We started by testing the power lines hanging outside of The Solar Lab. Standing directly beneath an intersection of overhead power lines, the EMF tester picked up 3.6 mG—not quite in the "danger zone," but close.

Interestingly, as we walked past a buried power line and a green power meter box, the EMF levels spiked, even hitting "dangerous" levels when we got up close. However, the readings quickly dropped off as we got a few feet away from the meter, reinforcing the idea that distance is a key factor when measuring EMF radiation.

Household Devices:

Next, we wanted to check some common household devices that we figured other people might have questions about:

Our Wi-Fi Router:

When we tested our router, the EMF levels were surprisingly high, with the danger zone extending over 2 feet from the router itself. This was an eye-opener, especially for anyone with a router near their living space.

Luckily, the router we use here at The Lab is located a good distance from our office area. Still, if you’re someone who has your router positioned beside your work desk, or even at the side of your bed, it might be something you want to consider.

The Microwave:

Even our brand-new microwave emitted hundreds of mG, with a “danger zone” of around 4 feet. Josh also mentioned that his older microwave emits higher mG spikes and has a wider range.

Again, this might be a concern for those who tend to hover around their microwave while they’re reheating their leftovers.

Smartphones, Fitness watches, and Other Portable Devices:

When we tested them, it seemed like our phones emitted EMF primarily when in use or during random data transmissions. If the phone was receiving or sending a text, connecting to Bluetooth, or was being used to look something up on the internet, there was a noticeable spike. Otherwise, it seems they emit very low EMF levels.

Smartwatches, like the Apple Watch we tested, seem to peak at around 8 mG, which isn’t terrible, but it could be slightly concerning given they’re constantly pressed up against your skin.

Interestingly, the several pairs of AirPods we tested didn’t register significant EMF levels during our tests. This was actually a bit of a relief given they sandwich your brain when you have them in your ears…

Vehicles:

We also headed outside to test our vehicles. While it would have been nice to test an electric vehicle (EV), we only had access to your typical gasoline-burning vehicles.

Regular cars, such as Robbie’s Subaru sedan, showed notable EMF levels in areas like the footwell (around 8 mG), which we assume would be due to wiring harnesses and the gauge cluster.

Even though we didn’t get to test out an EV, we’d have to assume they’d emit far higher levels given the results of our other tests. Maybe we’ll get to test out a Tesla or something similar in the future, but we can’t really offer any solid information for the time being.

Testing Out Solar Equipment

Now, for the main event: testing our solar gear. We wanted to test a variety of solar products to see how they stacked up in terms of EMF radiation.

EG4 6000XP Off-Grid Inverter:

During this first test, the EG4 6000XP Inverter was powering a mini-split heat pump with about 1,000 watts of solar input. EMF readings near the inverter hit 400 to 500 mG in certain spots—which is way above the so-called “danger zone”.

The battery cables running into the inverter spiked over 1,000 mG, with a “danger zone” extending 2.5 feet.

While a lot of people run this type of equipment in their basement or a garage, so it wouldn’t be a huge concern, it might be something that those running these systems in close quarters would want to consider. This could include those who run a tightly packed solar setup inside of their RV or van.

EG4 PowerPro Battery:

The EG4 PowerPro Battery, which was actually being used to supply power to the inverter, emitted surprisingly low EMF levels from the front. However, the sides—where the battery connections are—registered higher readings, requiring at least a foot of distance to stay within that “safe zone”.

Power Stations:

We have a wide variety of power stations that we use regularly here at The Solar Lab, so we figured we would test out a few different models.

First up, we checked out a budget-friendly option from OUPES, which emitted over 500 mG while simply pulling a charge from a wall outlet.

From there, we put the Jackery 1000 to the test, which floored us with readers of over 1,200 mG while it was just running a fairly basic 700W load. This is way more than we recorded when we checked out the grid power lines running into a house!

Finally, we tested the big boy, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra. Even when it was just idling, it emitted nearly 200 mG from a single battery.

These numbers left us feeling a little shocked, especially considering how often we have power stations sitting in close proximity to us while we work. Robbie also brings his Jackery power station right into his tent when he’s camping, which made these high readings even more concerning.

Our General Findings

We noticed a consistent trend: the highest EMF levels were found near areas where energy flows, such as wires and breakers. The more current flowing, the higher the readings.

That said, the key takeaway seems to be the fact that distance is your friend. The further you stay away from an EMF-emitting device, the lower the reading.

So, What Does All of This Mean for You?

Look, we aren’t scientists (even if Tiny Baby wishes he was one). Still, our rudimentary backyard science suggests a few key takeaways:

Distance Matters…A Lot: No matter which device or appliance we tested, EMF radiation dropped off significantly as we moved away from the source. If you are concerned about EMF radiation, keeping a safe distance is crucial.
Placement is Key: Avoid placing high-EMF devices, like inverters, Wi-Fi routers, or even your portable power station in areas where you are going to be spending a lot of time. You could also consider taking a step back while you are running your microwave. Even if you don’t believe in this stuff, it really can’t hurt to position your major electronics in areas where you spend less time.
Consider Shielding: For solar setups in small spaces, like RVs or camper vans, you might want to explore EMF shielding solutions.

Our Final Thoughts

While it’s worth re-stressing the point that we’re not scientists, we have no reason to believe the numbers we found were false. Everything we tested with our little EMF reader just made sense—powerful electronics emitted higher readings than low-power devices.

Sure, the question of how dangerous this radiation could be for your health is certainly up for debate, but we tend to sit in the “better safe than sorry” camp, especially for something that is so easy to mitigate.

In short, just like most household electronic devices and appliances, solar gear can emit significant levels of EMF radiation. The good news is that awareness and proper planning can minimize your exposure.

So, whether you’re setting up an off-grid cabin, outfitting your RV, or you’re just microwaving a sloppy Hungry-Man Dinner, keep these insights in mind.

Still worried? Maybe it’s time to dig out that tinfoil hat—or at least move your Wi-Fi router a few feet away from your favorite armchair.

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