Power Line Carrier Communication

(PLCC)

Submitted By:
Er. Vishwesh Kumar Sharma
PLCC Technology
PLCC system uses the same High Voltage transmission line connecting
two sub-stations for telecommunication purpose too.

PLCC is used in all power utilities as a primary communication service to

transmit speech, telemetry and protection tripping commands. This is
economic and reliable for inter grid message transfer as well as low bit
rate RTU signals.

The voice/data are mixed with radio frequency carrier (40-500kHz),

amplified to a level of 10-80W RF power and injected in to high voltage
power line using a suitable coupling capacitor. The power line as a rigid
long conductor parallel to ground, guides the carrier waves to travel along
the transmission line. Point to point communication takes place between
two SSB transceivers at both ends.
 Power Line Carrier Communication System
L.T
Power Line
(50Hz)
C.C
RF carrier
(40-500kHz)

PAX

RTU

PLCC TERMINAL
Transmission line
(ABB-ETL41)
Coupling Scheme

Line Trap To remote

substation

Coupling The PLC

Capacitor
signal is
routed to
Line H.V Line
Transformer(s) Matching
BusBar Unit

The PLC
signal is
not
Coaxial
absorbed
by the
Local substation substation
PLC terminal
Components
PLCC Terminal = Translates Voice and data into High Frequency Carrier. Output
Power =10 to 80W

LMU = Line Matching Unit = For impedance matching between line and coaxial
cable, includes high voltage protection devices like drainage coil(20mH), lightening
arrestor(500V) and an earth switch.

Coupling Capacitor (C.C) = Couples high frequency carrier with Power Line (
4000 to10000pF)

Line Trap (L.T) = Do not allow the transmitted HF carrier to enter inside the sub-
station. (L = 0.5 to 2mH) With out Line trap HF carrier get by- passed to some
other line on the same bus bar and may leak to ground ( a earth switch inside the
yard provided for each bay is kept closed during maintenance)
 Line Trap function = PLC signal Blocking

Power energy

PLC Signal
Substation

Line Trap = High Impedance for PLC signal

Low Impedance for Power energy
Line Trap is a parallel LC circuit

Inductance
of
main Coil

Lightning Series
Arrester resistance

Tuning
Capacitor
 Line Traps Mounting Options

Vertical Pedestal Horizontal Pedestal Suspension

LMU function
LMU = impedance matching Transformer + high voltage Protection

To prevent dangerous potential on the PLCC connection

To match PLCC set & transmission Line

Matching + Protection

LMU
PLCC Panel ( type: ABB ETL 41/42)

Cabinet Module
ABB PLCC terminal ETL- 41
System data -- complies to IEC 495
Operating mode : Single side band Suppressed carrier

Frequency range: 40 to 500kHz (programmable in 4 kHz

Steps)

AF Bandwidth: 4 kHz (Speech band=300 3400 Hz)

Transmitter RF output power : 40W ( +46 dBm)

Receiver Selectivity : 70dB ( 300Hz from band limit)

Receiver Image rejection > 80 dB
PLCC Panel Tx Block
PLCC Panel Rx Block
Types of Coupling
(A) Phase to Ground coupling :-
Types of Coupling
(B) Phase to Phase coupling :-
Types of Coupling
(C) Inter Line coupling :-
 Typical PLCC Installation

LT
LT

cc cc
C
FAX

ETL ETL

FAX

M M

PR PC MS PAX FAX PR PC RTU FAX

PR= Protection relay

MS = Master station FAX = Facsimile equipment
PAX = Private automatic exchange M = Modem
PR = Protection relay RTU = Remote terminal unit
PC = Computer
M = Modem
Batteries

PLCC work on rectified AC or main supply, when supply

goes off, we make use of a device for proper functioning of
PLCC called battery charger.

This is the device that provide supply to the PLCC

equipment for uninterrupted working.

It provide DC to the panel by battery.

Advantages

No separate wires are needed for communication

purposes, as the power lines themselves carry power as
well as communication signals. Hence the cost is less.

Power lines have appreciably higher mechanical strength

compared with ordinary lines. They would normally remain
unaffected under the conditions, which might seriously
damage telephone lines.

Power lines usually provide the shortest route between

the power stations.
Advantages

Power lines have large cross-sectional area resulting in

very low resistance per unit length. Consequently carrier
signals suffer much less attenuation than when they travel
on telephone lines of equal lengths.

Power lines are well insulated to provide only negligible

leakage between conductors and ground even in adverse
weather conditions

Largest spacing between conductors reduces capacitance,

which results in smaller attenuation at high frequencies.
The large spacing also reduces the cross talk to a
considerable extent.
Disadvantages

Proper care has to be taken to guard carrier equipment

and persons using them against high voltages and
currents on the lines.

Noise introduced by power lines is far more than in case

of telephone lines. This is due to the noise generated by
discharge across insulators, switching processes.