An influence on transmission characteristics of power line

communication when using Surge Protective Devices

Hiroshi Iwao *,Hitoshi Kijima**, Kenji Takato ***

Nishiyama Corporation *Polytechnic University ** Fujitsu Access limited ***

1. Introduction

Power line communication (PLC) has been
available since October 2006 according to the
official gazette in Japan. PLC is restricted to
use only indoors and in the frequency range
of 2 to 30MHz. Normally Surge Protective
Devices (SPD) are installed on a main power
distribution board or inside an electric
apparatus. Because no investigations have
been done on transmission characteristics of
PLC when using SPD, we examined several
examples of PLC transmission configurations
using PLC transmission channel simulator.
From our experiments, we found that the
transmission rate degraded when using a
varistor-type SPD. When installing an SPD
for a PLC, it is necessary to only use a GDT
(Gas Discharge Tube) or connect a GDT with
a varistor in series.
duplicate the power line characteristics.
The simulator consists of two analog units
and one digital unit which can simulate PLC
transmission channel characteristics. Figure 1
shows the block diagram of it. The clock
speed for 14 bit A/D and 16 bit D/A converter
is 125 MHz and FIR digital filter is 1024 tap.
The propagation delay is less than 1
microsecond. It can duplicate the power line
transmission characteristics whenever you
like. it is also possible to add more
attenuation, white noise with Gaussian
distribution and synchronized noise
generated by electric-equipment.

2. Overview of PLC transmission

channel simulator PLCS3000

The PLC transmission channel simulator

produced by Nishiyama Corporation is a
power line simulator for PLC in the
frequency range of 2 MHz to 35 MHz. It is Figure 1. Block Diagram of PLCS3000
well known that power line has complex
impedance characteristics when connecting
various electric-equipment to it. Many PLC 3. Experimental Results
modem designers try to measure PLC line
Capacitance and impedance values of metal
characteristics for their design using a
network analyzer or the other measurement oxide varistors, which are typical SPDs for
equipment. However the impedance will lightning surge protection at main power
change frequently because of operation and lines, are listed in table 1.
connection of electric-equipment to AC outlet. Impedance values of varistors at the
It is difficult to measure the best or the worst maximum frequency of 30MHz of PLC are
impedance condition for PLC modem and

978-1-4244-1976-0/08/$25.00 ⓒ2008 IEEE. 218

Table1: Measured capacitance and
impedance values of varistors
C Z[Ohm]
Varistor
[nF] (30MHz)
A 14.84 0.36
B 14.30 0.37
C 15.72 0.34

about 0.35 Ohm, and they are very low as

compared with those of commercial power
frequencies. This low impedance alomost
created short-circuit conditions for PLC
trasmision signals. At first we measured the Figure2 Simulated Powerline profile ( Line Pattern 1)
impulse response of real power line using one by PLCS3000 ( without Varistor)
of the outlet instaled at Nishiyama’s building.
Then 30dB attenuation is added using the
simulator considering the worst case simulation. 30dB Loss

We called this condition as Line Pattern 1. The

duplicated line characteristics with and without
a varistor are shown in Figure 2 and 3. In this
experiment, we obserbed a more than 30dB loss
in the frequency range of 1MHz to 10 MHz
when installing a varistor in the PLC line. We
used HD-PLC modem produced by Figure3 Simulated Powerline profile ( Line Pattern 1)
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. for by PLCS3000 ( with Varistor)
this test. The PLC modem rate with and
without varistor is listed in Table 2. Table 2: PLC modem rate (with and without
We also simulated 40dB flat ( Figure 4 and Varistor)
5) and 50dB flat line attenuation condition. Line Condition PLC Modem rate [Mbps]
Line conditions such as “40dB flat” and Without Varistor With Varistor
“50dB flat” mean that the attenuation of the 40dB Flat 75.9 64.7
power line characteristics is a constant 40 or 50dB Flat 56.6 41.4
50 db and do not depend on the frequency. Line Pattern1 52.2 45.1
Line Pattern 2 which is another measured Line Pattern2 42.7 34.1
impulse response plus 5 dB attenuation
( Figure 6 and 7 ) using the simulator. There

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was 11-15 Mbps degradation when installing
the varistor under flat line conditions. And
there was about 7-8 Mbps degradation when
installing the varistor under real power line
conditions.
The measured PLC modem rates with
multiple varistors under the condition of 60
dB flat attenuation are listed in Table 3.

Figure 6 Simulated Powerline profile ( Line Pettern 2)

by PLCS3000 ( without Varistor)

Figure 4 Simulated Powerline profile ( 40dB flat)

by PLCS3000 ( without Varistor)

Figure 7 Simulated Powerline profile ( Line Pettern 2)

by PLCS3000 ( with Varistor)

Table 3 PLC modem rates (with multiple varistors)

Number of PLC modem rate

Varistors [Mbps]
0 25.5
1 (A) 20.3
Figure 5 Simulated Powerline profile ( 40dB flat)
2 (A+B) 13.9
by PLCS3000 ( with Varistor)
3 (A+B+C) 11.0

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From this experiment, we have greater series, the degradation of PLC modem rate is
infulence for PLC modem performance when
less than 1Mbps, which does not affect
transmission characteristics of PLC.
installing multiple varistors.
(3)When installing an SPD on a PLC circuit
Low impedance values of varistors
it is necessary to use a GDT only or
caused a PLC modem rate degradations. In
connecting a GDT with a varistor in series.
order to reduce the effect of Metal oxide
varistors, we propose to use a GDT (Gas
Discharge Tube) as well as varistors.
Reference
When a GDT was inserted in a varistor in
(1) Ministry of Internal Affairs and
series, the degradation of PLC modem rate is
less than 1Mbps under any conditions Communications，“Authorities Report”
mentioned above. We can achieve almost Oct.2006 (in Japanese)
ideal environment for PLC by using a GDT.
This is because the capacitance of a GDT as
low as several 10pF, and the impedance at
30MHz is comparatively as high as several
100 Ohm, which does not affect a
transmission characteristic of PLC.
When installing an SPD for a PLC circuit it
is necessary to use only a GDT or connect a
GDT with a varistor in series.

4. Conclusions
In this paper we investigated power line
simulation method using PLCS3000 which
can duplicate the real power line
characteristics efficiently. It was confirmed
that the influence on transmission
characteristics of PLC when using SPD.
(1)Impedance values of varistors at the
maximum frequency of 30MHz for PLC are
about 0.35 Ohm, and they are very low as
compared with those of commercial
frequencyies. This low impedance nealy
created short circuit conditions for PLC
trasmision signals and caused PLC modem rate
degradations.
(2)When a GDT was inserted in a varistor in

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