1. 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

2. PL Device test
Chap 7 performance test

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Power Line Isolator – more filtering

6. 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)

7. (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

8. (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

9. (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

10. (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:

11. (4) Receive sensitivity result

12. 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

13. PL Noise test

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

15. 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)

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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:

20. Blocking filter (House filter) test

21. 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.

22. Filter requirements

23. Filter requirements
EN Decoupling filter specification

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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.

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