PL testing PL device : Chap 7 performance test Equipments 4 tests Good citizenship : (1)noise, (2)input impedence (3) transmit level (4) receive sensitivity Noise source test Noise level, Noise peak Communication margin Impedence Blocking filter (house filter) test Attenuation

PL Device test Chap 7 performance test

Test Equipment (for C-band) From power Power line isolator All capacitors 0.47µF 250VAC (X2 type) All resistors 20W 1 Watt ±5%, unless otherwise indicated Line in Neutral in Earth Line out Neutral out mains To product under test R C 50W ±5% Attenuation circuit 30.1kW ±1%, 1/4W PC with PCLTA-20, PLM-22 or U20 1MW 0.47µF ±10%, 250VAC L N E open 4.7W±5%,1W (6.8W for L-E UUT) 5load (7 for L-E UUT) PLCA-22 Analyzers PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler Impedance 88.7W ±1%, 1/4W

PL Isolator – in user’s guide Input and Output must be separated at least 15cm This includes spacing of wires Power line isolator Line in Line out C C C From power C C To product under test mains R R 50W ±5% Neutral in Neutral out C C R Earth Earth All capacitors 0.47µF 250VAC (X2 type) All resistors 20W 1 Watt ±5%, unless otherwise indicated Specification Signal attenuation btw Line-in and Line-out : 60~80dB Line impedence at Line-out side : 50ohm (more accurate, the better)

Power Line Isolator – more filtering

Verifying isolator Transmit 3.5Vpp UnackPri from Line-in to Line-out PLCA-22 PLCA-22 Send Recv Power Mains ISOLATOR Line In Line Out Transmit 3.5Vpp UnackPri from Line-in to Line-out >= -60dB LED should not blinking or solid (both pri/sec) Without any packet transmission >= -72dB LED should not blinking or solid (both pri/sec)

(1) Unintentional Output Noise Verification Unit Under Test (UUT) Service pin PLCA-22 ISOLATOR Packet detect LED Recv Power Mains Monitor signal level without any packet transmission Primary and secondary -72dB LEDs should NOT be on solid Primary and secondary -66dB LEDs should NOT flash PKD LED should flash no more than once per minute

(2) Excessive Loading Verification PLCA-22 To check UUT’s receive mode impedence is greater than 100W Send 10Vpp packets through 88.7W resistor Receiver’s -3 dB primary LED should be ‘on’ or flashing If UUT fails, it will cause excessive signal attenuation for both UUT and its neighbor nodes Unit Under Test (UUT) Recv Service pin Packet detect LED Power Mains ISOLATOR PLCA-22 coax coax Impedance Circuit Send PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler TxVpp:10V

(3) Transmit Performance Verification Unit Under Test (UUT) Service pin PLCA-22 ISOLATOR Packet detect LED Recv Power Mains 5W Load (7W load for sgl Ø L-E UUT) Transmit into “5W Load” by pressing service pin on UUT Monitor primary signal strength LEDs on PLCA-22 0dB LED should flash 6 out of 10 times

(4) Receive Sensitivity Test PLCA-22 PC with PCLTA-20 and PLM-22 Unit Under Test Send attenuated packets (UUT) Recv Service pin Packet detect LED Power Mains Check UUT error rate with Nodeutil software ISOLATOR PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler PLCA-22 coax Packet error rate should be <3% with 78dB overall attenuation (72dB for secondary carrier) Attenuation Circuit coax Send PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler TxVpp:

(4) Receive sensitivity result

Is this enough? Chap 7 test is only designed to check rough performance at room temperature Test result can be insistent when poorly designed Echelon’s Design Review is critical Page 223 in User’s guide

PL Noise test

Testing items Noise source can be Electric ballasts (mostly) Other electric appliances Measurements Noise level, Noise peak Impedence Communication margin

Noise Level Noise level at primary and secondary frequency Measure noise on PLCA-22 LED’s Noise level at primary and secondary frequency Limit (LED reading) best : <= -78dB adequate : <= -66dB PLCA-22 Isolated ‘clean’ 240VAC Power line isolator Noise source (ex. Halogen light)

Noise peak - setup Noise source (ex. Halogen light) isolator PL-20 Power Line Coupler HP3585b or equivalent Spectrum Analyzer 50 ohms

Noise Peak - reading If a noise peak is <10% away from a carrier then assume it will sometimes interfere The noise peak is will move over temperature The noise peak will vary from unit to unit In this case the noise peak is too close This noise peak is too close 115 kHz carrier will be here

Impedence Same setup of (2) chap 7 test PLCA-22 Recv Noise source Same setup of (2) chap 7 test Send 10Vpp packets through 88.7W resistor Limit (LED reading) best : >=-6dB adequate : >=-12dB Power Mains ISOLATOR 두번째 시험 역시, good citizenship 검증의 연장입니다. 즉, 내가 만든 UUT 가 기존의 전력선 통신에 부담을 주어서는 안된다는 논리입니다. 즉, 채널에 과부하가 걸려도 충분한 입력 임피던스, 약 100ohm 이상의 임피던스를 제공하는지를 테스트하는 것입니다. 방법은 보시는 것처럼, 송신 PLCA-22 에 임피던스 회로를 연결하여 채널에 연결하고, 패킷을 송신합니다. 이때 수신 PLCA-22 에서 받는 시그널 레벨이 얼마나 건강하냐.. 즉, UUT 에 의해서 손실되는 레벨이 있는 것은 아닌지를 점검합니다. PLCA-22 coax coax Impedance Circuit Send PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler TxVpp:10V

Communication margin PLCA-22 Recv Noise source Same setup of (4) chap 7 test (without PC connection) Limit best : >= 70dB adequate : >= 60dB Send 7Vpp packets through 30.1kW resistor Reading (packet error rate <3%) best : <3% error when 6dB attenuation adequate : <3% error when 0dB attenuation Power Mains ISOLATOR PLCA-22 coax Attenuation Circuit coax Send PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler TxVpp:

Blocking filter (House filter) test

Blocking filter (House filter) House filter function installed in power distribution panel This is NOT an isolator to increase indoor communication margin 2 things to consider Enough impedence at load(indoor) side Enough attenuation btw Line and Load of filter Let me explain a little bit details about house filter. First, you should know when and why we should use house filter for home. Powerline is a shared media and apartment complex which neighbors are closed each other, neighbors noise source and powerline communication decrease the bandwidth of my apartment. In this case, house filter helps to increase communication margin inside home by attenuating signals btw neighbors. But we should understand this house filter is not isolator. It does not totally block signals between homes. So still requires peoper installation scenario when installs a system specially to empty apartments.

Filter requirements

Filter requirements EN 50065-4 Decoupling filter specification

Attenuation test Transmit 7Vpp from Line to Load / Load to Line PLCA-22 PLCA-22 Send/Recv Recv/Send Power Mains BLOCKING FILTER ISOLATOR LINE LOAD Transmit 7Vpp from Line to Load / Load to Line Signals should be > -36dB attenuated both sides

Impedence test Similar setup of (2) chap 7 test PLCA-22 Recv BLOCKING FILTER LINE LOAD Similar setup of (2) chap 7 test Impedence circuit value should be changed for 10 (single phase) and 30 (3 phase) load Send 10Vpp packets through impedence circuit Receiver’s -3 dB primary LED should be ‘on’ or flashing Device for loads can be connected “LINE” side of filter Power Mains ISOLATOR PLCA-22 coax coax Impedance Circuit Send PL-20 L-N 240V Coupler TxVpp:10V

Filter installation consideration Also, we found we should be careful to install filter in distribution panel. This is from filter installation manual from Samsung Electronics to construction company. This shows 2 different holes are required to distinguish wires outside and inside home. Do you know why? Normally there is only 1 hole in the panel and installer usually gather these wires together and let then go up to the ceiling in pararelle. Since wires are going in pararelle, signal coupling happens easily so no benefits of installing filter, then. Also they mention 6 inch distance here, to avoid signal coupling.

Filter installation consideration This is the guideline for 3 phase filter.Same idea.