GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SITAPURA, JAIPUR

SECTION (2010-2011)

(12th May to 10th June 2010)

A TRAINING REPORT ON

“ POWER LINE CARRIER COMMUNICATION”

FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THE B.TECH. COURSE IN

ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY

MR. JP AGRAWAL ANOOP SINGH

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT (ECE) B.TECH. 4th YEAR ECE

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This report is an efficacious outcome of the effort put in

by the writers supported by co-operation from others. we are
sincerely grateful to our H.O.D. Mr J.P.Agrawal and our
mentors Mr.R.K.Garg(AEN) and Mr. ASHOK KUMAR
GOLIMAR for their valuable guidance and motivation for the
development of report. We would also take the opportunity to
thank the authority of the library and computer center
,AIET,Jaipur ,who provided us ample resources for resources
for reference concerning the report. We also thank our
colleagues for their advice and co-operation to improve the
structure of the report.
 PREFACE

The objective of our practical training is to learn something about

industries, practically and to be familiar with the working style of a technical
worker to adjust simply according to industry environment.

As a part of academic syllabus of four years degree course in

Electronic and Communication Engineering, every student is required to
undergo a practical training for 30 days. We are student of third year
electronics and communication and this report is written on the basis of
practical knowledge acquired by our batch of 5 students during the period of
practical training taken at PLCC section of RVPNL, HIRAPURA, Jaipur.

This report deals with equipments their relation and their general
operating principle.

For an easy way to understand the PLCC working, a separate topic

named basic principle of PLCC is added in the report.
 We hope that this report will be useful for a person to get the basic
knowledge about the PLCC phenomenon.

INTRODUCTION OF R.S.E.B.

‘Rajasthan state electricity board’ started working from Ist July,

1957. This is the body of big organization and is to function under
provision electricity act, like public limited companies. The board does
not have article and memorandum of association.

In order to carry out its function, it has rules and regulations and
has made other necessary administrative arrangement. After the acting
of RSEB six dimension along with 64 offices & about 300 employees
were transferred to its control by the state government.

The aim of RSEB is to supply electricity to entire Rajasthan State in

the most economical way. There is no possibility of staking or electricity
so the target of board is to distribute the energy in new area as possible.
The board has to carry the business on profit without losses.
After an efficient starting, as from last many years RSEB is not
earning profits. So far for betterment, privatization of RSEB has been
done recently. It has been divided in five main parts, they are:
• Electricity production authority: RRVUNL
• Electricity transmission authority: RRVPNL
• Distribution authority for Jaipur: JVVNL
• Distribution authority for Jodhpur: JDVVNL
• Distribution authority for Ajmer: AVVNL

CONTENTS

TOPICS

• INTRODUCTION TO PLCC
• GENERAL DESCRIPTION TO
PLCC EQUIPMENTS (ETI)
• APPLICATIONS OF ETI EQUIPMENTS
• CONSTRUCTION
• MODE OF OPERATION
 • GENERAL MODULATION PRINCIPAL
• SPECIFICATIONS
• PRECAUTION AND MAINTENANCE
• BASIC PRINCIPLE OF PLCC
• BATTERY CHARGER
• ADVANTAGES& DISADVANTAGES

1. INTRODUCTION OF PLCC
(POWER LINE CARRIER COMMUNICATION)
As electronics play a vital role in the industrial growth,
communication is also backbone of any power system. Communication
between various generating and receiving stations is very essential for
proper operation of power system. This is more so in the case of a large
interconnected systems, where a control lode dispatch station has to
coordinate the working of various units to see that the system is
maintained in the optimum working condition, power line carrier
communication has been found to be the most economical and reliable
method of communication for medium and long-distance in a power
network. For short distance the ordinary telephone system is using. Open
wires or underground cables and in some cases VHF wireless
communication are found to be more economical as they do not involve
the use of costly high voltage coupling equipment.

In the early days of generation and utilization of electric power,

the generating station was in variably a thermal one located within or
very near a city having industries acting as the consumers of the
power .However with the introduction of hydroelectric generating
stations and extensions of electricity to suburban and rural areas, the
picture radically changed. The various generating stations located at
great distances among themselves could no longer remain isolated at self
distances among themselves could no longer remain isolated and self
sufficient entitles. On the other hand, they soon became interconnected
giving rise to what is known as the power grid. This necessitated an
economical and dependable means of intercommunications/w various
generating stations, sub stations and control; rooms. Among many
facilities that such means of communication are expected to provide, the
following are the important ones.
• Speech transmission
• Remote controlling and Telemetering
• Power line protection
• Direct breaker tripping
 Many different methods are possible for sending speech or
other signals from point to point in an interconnected power grid. Some
of them are as between:

• Public telephone network

• Direct lines
• Radio circuits
• Power line carrier communication(PLCC)

In PLCC the higher mechanical strength and insulation level

of high voltage power attenuation over long distance. The idea of using
power lines as transmission lines for communication purpose was the
first thought of at about the beginning of the century and the practical
applications were made in several countries from 1920 onwards. These
systems have now developed into extremely sophisticated and
complicated and complicated PLCC systems and widely used in all
modern power systems.

When the distances involved are large, it will not be

economical to provide separate wires for communication purpose. In
fact, for such large distances, the power lines themselves provide a very
good medium of transmission of information. So the THE POWER
LINES CARRIER COMMUNICATION (PLCC) is mostly used.
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PLCC EQUIPMENTS (ETI)

The multipurpose equipments type ETI-21 and ETI-22

transmit simultaneously speech and multiplexed tele-operation signals in
SSB technique over high voltage lines of cables.
The transmitted intelligence is suitable for:

Telephony Tele-operations: - Telemetry

• Remote control
• Remote analogue metering
• Tele-printer

Tele-protection signals for: - High voltage power equipment

• High voltage power lines

While the telephone and Tele operations facilities are

typically used for economic control and supervision of energy network.
The Tele-protection channels are kept continuously on hot standby and
are used only in rare cases of a power fault for the planning of new
network and the extension of existing equipment, the ETI series offers a
complete range of variation made possible by a combination of tiers and
plug-in PCB.

The equipment is built of 3 main parts-

• THE LOW FREQUENCY MULTIPLEX SECTION

With the speech and upto five Tele-operations channels, together with
an optional speech compander.

• THE CARRIER FREQUENCY SECTION

 Designed for single channels duplex or double channel duplex
working in a 4 KHz or 2.5 KHz raster. The carrier frequency range is from
24 KHz to 500 KHz and with transmitted power of 20 watts or a variant 100
watts.

• POWER SUPPLY UNIT

Which can be operated from 110/220v, 50/ 60Hz or a separate battery

or charger unit of 24v, 48v or 60v.

The techniques of simple side band modulation with double

conversion provides frequency equalization, automatic gain control and
frequency synchronization and ensures perfect reproduction of the
transmitted intelligence, proper distribution of the transmitting power in
normal operation and for the boosting of protection trip signals enables
optimum distance to be converted.

The front panel arrangement of operational and servicing elements

such as switches, potentiometer, lambs etc. allows the non specialist to carry
out maintenance of the equipment with the aid of a built-in test oscillator
and handy audio test instrument, a quick test and level adjustment can be
carried out so that with the local transmitter and receiver connected back- to-
back a complete stimulation of the PLC link is establish.
3. APPLICATIONS OF ETI EQUIPMENTS

The power line carrier (PLC) equipments and the associated

protection signaling units are required to be situated in the area of the high
voltage apparatus, thereby facilitating connections to the PLC’s line
coupling equipment. In contrast, the telephone exchange and Tele control
equipments are usually more conveniently situated in a control building
some distance from the high voltage equipment.

According to the type of installation various arrangements are possible.

These are briefly explained in the following.

• PLC EQUIPMENT AND AF MULTIPLEXER AS A COMBINED UNIT

The majority of electricity authorities adopt this arrangement since the

complete PLC is contained in a single cabinet or rack and is easily placed in
a suitable telecommunication room. From this room the individual
connections are taken directly to the associated HV protection circuits and
via an appropriate distribution frame, connections to the telephone and Tele
control equipments.

• REMOTE AT MULTIPLEXER CONNECTED BY A LONG CABLE

The case here is that the high voltage lines are terminated in the sub-
stations as the edge of the city while the associated control building or load-
dispatching office is situated some Km. away in the center of the city. A long
4-wire interconnection cable (Z0=600 chms) connects the parent PLC
equipment with the remote multiplexer.
Brief Characteristics-
• Cable Attenuation :- Permitted 32 dB maximum
:- Planning value 26 dB
• Frequency band :- 300 to 3700 Hz
:- 300 to 3400 Hz Optional
• Adjustable attenuation equalizes for loaded lines, located at both
ends.

The Facilities Available are –

• 4 wire duplex speech, from remote location.

• Duplex Tele-operational channels, from remote location.
• Duplex pilot/ signaling channel, from remote location.
• Possibilities for input and output connections of Tele-operation
signals from PLC equipments.
• Optional: Service telephone from parent PLC equipment to opposite
PLC station.
• REMOTE AT MULTIPLEXER CONNECTED BY A SHORT LINE
When the distance between the PLC and remote multiplexer is
relatively short, i.e. up to about 3 Kms. And in connected by a 4- wire pilot
cable (Zo=600 ohm). Due to the lower cable attenuation the line amplifier
with line equalizer is unnecessary and the cable will be terminated on the
tele-operation input/output circuit (03EA and 03EH/S respectively).

Brief Characteristics-
Remote AF Multiplexer – Cable Terminal Type KTI:

• Cable attenusation:

Permitted </=7 dB with a cable distortion loss of ,/=2 dB in the frequency

band 300-3700 Hz. This is equivalent to a distance of 3 Km. Maximum with
unloaded 600 ohms cable.

• Frequency band :- 300 to 3700 Hz

:- 300 to 3400 Hz optional

• PROTECTION SIGNALING OVER PLC EQUIPMENTS WHERE AF

MULTIPLEXER IS REMOTE
 In addition to the remote AF multiplexer, tele- protection signaling
equipment can be coupled directly to the PLC equipment. Such an
arrangement must of course be reliable and safe so that even with a possible
favour of the remote multiplexer or connecting cable the Tele protection
equipment continues to work perfectly.

This means the PLC equipment has to function fully independently of

the transmit signals from the remote multiplexer. This will be the case when a
pilot signal P-1 is used from AF multiplexer to PLC equipment. A further
pilot tone P-2 of the same frequency is transmitted from the PLC equipment to
the opposite PLC station. The signaling impulses carried by the pilot tones are
looped from P-1 to P-2 in DC form at the PLC equipment. The pilot tone P-3
from the opposite station is received directly at the remote multiplexer.

• REPEATERS
When several transmission sections re joined together to form a long
transmission path, the ETI equipment can serve as repeater at the intermediate
stations. In each transmission section the carrier signal will be individually
regulated, synchronized and equalized and the passed on the next section. The
method allows the insertion of tele- operation signals at the repeater station
provided, of course, free space in the 4 KHz band is available. The transit
filter E3ET prevents the pilot tone P-1 entering the neighboring section.

4. CONSTRUCTION
The PLC equipment, built in MODULE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
(MES) is especially compact. For all equipment variations, the single
 channel equipment ETI-21 can be accommodated in 3tiers, the double
channel equipment ETI-22 in4 tiers and the double channel, 40W equipment
ETI-22(s) in 6 tiers. Further more, mechanical coding system ensures all
plug in units can only be inserted in their correct position.

The ABB free standing cabinet type E-35 can for example,
accommodate two single channel PLC equipments with the associated
protection signaling units and an electronic trunk-dialing unit for eight (8)
telephone subscribers.

A nameplate on the front door of the carrier cabinet carriers relevant

information of the PLC link, such as equipment type, station names, carrier
frequency etc.

To enable printed circuit boards to be exchanged without any

readjustment being required, there is on the rear side a strapping field for the
initial programming of the system variant and also for the adjustment of the
PLC equalizer. Further of course, all terminal strips and connectors are
easily accessible on the rear side.

5. MODE OF OPERATION

The PLC equipment is suitable for connecting to a telephone

exchange and further more, a 4 wire remote/ emergency call station can be
created by operating it in parallel with the built in service telephone
equipment. The transmission facilities for Tele operation working
(telemetry, tele- control & protection signals) use separate input and separate
output circuits according to their classifications.
 When 4-kHz equipment carries simultaneously the speech and Tele
operation signals, they are transmitted in frequency multiplex and
accordingly the audio frequency band is divided into two parts. The lower
part of the band is used for speech and the upper part for Tele operation
signals.

• TELEPHONE FACILITIES

The associated automatic telephone exchange (PAX) is suitable for a

network with a limited number of subscribers. Between the PAX and PLC
channels, controls circuits give out- signals for the setting up, dialing and
later releasing a telephone connection and the switching criteria between
PAX and PLC equipment is performed by potential free contacts. The PAX
sending contact will, via the PLC signaling channel close an output contact
in the PLC receiver and the distant end of the link.

The dialing impulses are transmitted over the combined pilot and
signaling channel which has a maximum transmitted speech of 50 baud. It
should be noted that because of the various possibilities of telephone
switching, more functions are built into the speech circuits than are actually
needed by some PAX types.

• COMPERESSOR AND EXPANDER (COMPANDER)

The inclusion of a compander improves the carrier signal quality of

the speech and in normally reserved for use over lines with high noise. The
improvement in the signals to noise ratios is approximately 12 dB. When the
speech is carried over several PLC links in series, it is recommended that
 only on compander be use, the compressor being installed at the sending end
of the line and the expander in the farthest receiving station.

The ETI series is fully wired for a later inclusion of the compander
equipment when required.

• 4 WIRE HAND/ EMERGENCY CALL

The equipment, especially in the extension phases can, without

additional units in the HF equipment is equipped throughout with hand/
emergency call telephone. This telephone with DC bell can be connected
directly via a 6-wire extension cable. The calling of the opposite station is
accomplished lifting the handset and pressing the calling button in the
opposite station after a two second delay the bell rings as long as the push
button is pressed. By lifting the handset the called station, the bell is
automatically disconnected. After the call is completed both handsets must
be replaced. The calling tone is fixed at 1kHz in the speech band.

• SERVICE TELEPHONE

With the help of the built in speech facilities, service calls can be
carried out in 4 wire from the front panel associated equipment , including
the DC belt and the plug in 4 wire handset are supplied.
• TELE-OPERATION SIGNALS

Individual and adjustable Tele operation inputs are the essential

requirement of the PLC equipment for the interfacing with the various
manufacturers’ low frequency transmission channels and for PLC through
switching / transit working. The 5 input and 3 output possibilities, each
individually adjustable and fully de- coupled together with the separated
terminals. For protection signaling equipment, offer the necessary
flexibility. A strapping field is provided for choosing the various modes of
operation.

• SIGNAL BOOSTING

The equipment offers the possibility of signal boosting of one or two

especially important signals, for example protection signals for high voltage
lines or equipment. This is advantageous during unfavorable transmission
conditions caused by perhaps fault conditions on the power line. During
boosting, the less importing channels, for example the speech are
disconnected (known as disconnected channels) whereas other channels can
be allowed to work normally (non-disconnectable channels).

The period of disconnection by which more power is switched to the

boosting channel, occurs for an extremely short period of time and is
typically of the order of approximately 100 milli- seconds.
 The arrangement of speech and Tele operation channels falls into one
of three categories and is achieved by connecting to one of the following
input:

• The disconnectable burs (D)

• The non-disconnectable bus (ND)

• Signal boosting bus (B) with a predetermined amplification

6. GENERAL MODULATION PRINCIPLE

The carrier frequency technique with single side band transmission is,
due to the high-quality band filters and converters, free from disturbing by
products and spurious signals. Optimum selectivity is achieved only in the
intermediate frequency (IF) stages by the filtering are out of the required
side bad; Here, therefore lines the task of the carrier frequency section to
move the AF intelligence from its low frequency position of 300 to 300 HZ
(respectively 300 to 2200 and HZ) First to the IF stage and then into carrier
frequency (HF) band. The carrier frequencies are spaced on a 4KHZ
(respectively 2.5 KHZ) raster.

This arrangement requires the use of tow conversions in each of

transmit and receive directions so that the intermediate frequency is fixed at
16 KHZ and the carrier channel has a variable frequency which can be
programmed to provide a large number of HF carriers.
 In the single channel equipment and channel 1 of the twin channel
equipment, the lower side band is used throughout all frequency
conversions. The useful band is inverted in the IF stage and in the HF stage
placed in the erect position. Contrary to this, channel 2 of the twin channel
equipment is erect in the IF stage and inverted in HF stage.

7. SPECIFICATIONS OF PLCC

1) GENERAL
• Carrier frequency range :- 40 to 512 KHZ
• Gross Channel band width :- 4 KHZ
• Useful AF band :- 300 to 3,700 KHZ

2) PERMISSIBLE ROOM TEMPERATURE IN CLIMATES

• Data guaranteed within reliable :- 0 to 45 degree
Centigrade
• Operation Guarantee :- 20 to 45 degree
Centigrade
• Frequency stability of R.F. oscillator :- 5 HZ

3) TRANSMITTER
R.F. transmitting power:
• Peak envelope power :- 25W
• Side band power :- 15 W
• Auxiliary carrier frequency :- 16 KHZ

At frequency 250KHZ their power lower by 2dB.

 • I.F. Carrier frequency :- 16 KHZ
• Pilot tone :- 3,600 HZ
• Test Tone :- 1000 HZ
• Synthesizer reference frequency :- 8 KHZ
• Dummy load :- 20 OHMS

• TUNK DIALING
Shifting the pilot oscillator frequency of 3600 +/-30 transmits
dialing criterions of a speed of normally 1- pulses per second

• POWER SUPPLY
• DC supply :- 49 TO 60 (-10/+25%), 180W
Approximate maximum supply 2
percent
• Capacity : - 800 AH.
• A.C. supply :- 220+/- 15%, 50 HZ
• Power consumption :- <80W

8. PRECAUTIONS AND MAINTENCE

In normal rooms the ETI equipment generally erected on an open
rack or on a frame of freestanding cabinet.
The room for the erection of the equipment should have a dust
free floor, which is washable. The room should be well ventilated and
of normal temperature & humidity and where necessary provided with
a ventilator fan having a dust filters.
The cabinets should be checked for damage before mounting.
 Cabinets should prevent from tiling when opened.
Caution – before opening the hinged frame, make sure that the cabinet
cannot tip forward.

FAULT ANALYSIS, TEST EQUIPMENTS AND TEST PROCEDURE

TEST EQUIPMENTS

• TEST OSCILLATOR
Test oscillator enables the commissioning of the PLC link without aid
of external signals, pressing the CALL button initiate a test tone of 1 KHZ
which is fed to the voice amplifier and passes through all transmit stages of
the PLC equipment with the exception of the telephone adapter. It is
possible to check at any test point the dBr value printed in the front side of
the equipment is against the measure dB reading. It simplifies also

The following signals can be checked in the AF section of the

equipment:- Speech, Tele operation/data dialing.

• FAULT ANALYSIS
In fault analysis the faulty devices are checked in this serial or manner;

• Telephone or Tele operation signals

• Cabling-low frequency circuits or DC power supplies
• PLC equipments
• HF transmission path
 Comparisons with the transmission levels and working voltages
measured under healthy conditions are valuable aids to fault analysis. The
back- to- back testing of the equipment using the dummy load is also a very
useful aid.

The presence of AF signals in the various stages of the equipment can

be checked using the telephone handset and test load connected between the
associated measuring point and audio testing.

9. BASIC PRINCIPLE OF PLCC –

In PLCC the higher mechanical strength and insulation level of high
voltage power lines result in increased reliability of communication and lower
attenuation over long- distance. The idea of using power lines as transmission
lines for communication purpose was the first thought of at about the
beginning of the century and the practical applications were made in several
countries from 1920 onwards. These systems have now developed into
extremely sophisticated and complicated systems and widely used in all
modern power systems.

Since telephone communication system can not be directly connected

to the high voltage lines, suitably designed coupling devices have therefore to
be employed. These usually consists of high voltage capacitors or capacitor
with polaritical devices used in conjunction with suitable line matching units 9
LMU’s for matching the impedance of line to that of the co-axial cable
connecting the unit to the PLC transmit- receive equipment.
 Also the carrier currents uses for communication have to be prevented
from entering the power equipment used in GSS as this would result in high
attenuation of even complete loss of communication signals when earthed at
isolator. To prevent this loss, wave traps or line traps are employed. These
consist of suitably designed choke coils connected in series with the line,
which offer negligible impedance to RF carrier currents, Wave traps also usual
have one or more suitably designed capacitors connected in parallel with the
choke coils so as to resonate at carrier frequencies and thus offer even higher
impedance to the flow of RF currents.

The basic arrangement of connecting the WT and coupling capacitor

in PLCC communication is shown in the above figure –

As can be seen from the sketch, the power frequency and radio
frequency component are sorted out by this arrangement. The RF is prevented
from entering the stations bus and the power frequency is blocked of coupling
capacitor.
1) COUPLING DEVICES

Earliest coupling devices used were antenna as similar to these used in radio
work. This was because capacitors capable of withstanding the high voltages
used in transmission of electrical power were not available at that time. The
antennas used for coupling the PLC equipment to the transmission lines were
usually erected below the line and parallel it. They were usually more than 300
ft long and were tuned to the carrier frequency employed. These were rather
inefficient and the systems were affected but interference from nearby long
wave radio transmitters.

By about 1930, suitably paper and oil capacitors were developed

which could withstand the high voltage and serve as affect dive coupling units
to PLC equipments.

A modern coupling capacitor consists of a stack of flat would

elements of pure cellulous paper and aluminum coil held between insulating
roads under optium pressure to minimize capacitance the changes with time and
temperature. The interconnection are designed to obtain highest possible range
withstand capacity and highest cut-off frequency. The entire stack assembly as
placed in a suitable pro claim insulating shall fill with insulating coils and
hermetically sealed by metallic flanges and gaskets of synthetic rubber with a
dry nitrogen gas cushion. The mechanical strength of the shell and flanges are
carefully matched.

Coupling capacitors are designed for outdoors use and withstand

normal atmospheric phenomenon such as temperature and humidity rain, show
etc. the capacitors used in modern PLCC systems have a capacity between 2000
and 8000 ft. the usual value is between 3000 and 5000 ft. the units are designed
to have a very low (<0.5dB). They are usually mounted on pedestals below the
line conductors.

In many cases the capacitive voltage dividers are used for

communication system and voltage is used synchronizing purpose or voltage
measurement.

TYPE OF COUPLING

• PHASE TO GROUND COUPLING

AS can be seen from the figure, the wave traps and coupling
capacitors are all connected to one conductor of the power line. The
remaining two conductors, though not directly connected to the line carry a
portion of the carrier energy is 1 lost. Also radiation losses are goes high as
earth form a part of the circuit and the noise pickup is correspondingly
 higher. The method of connecting is inefficient and the connection at the
receiving and can not be made to match the line perfectly. This is because
the impedance of the line can not be calculated correctly as it depends partly
on the soil conductivity enrote the line which varies from place to place and
time to time and partly on station switching condition

• PHASE TO PHASE COUPLING

 This type of coupling was formally being used to improve the
reliability of communication case of breakage of one of the coupled
conductors. The system used double the number of wave traps and coupling
capacitors used in phase to ground and hence is costlier. This coupling
capacitor at each and have the line are connected in parallel to the LMUs as
shown in this sketch figure –

Though this type coupling increase the reliability of communication,

the attenuation, interference from radio transmission and monitoring
possibilities are all- higher than those of phase to ground coupling. Hence
this type of coupling has been discontinued and super sided by the phase-to-
phase coupling system.

• INTERLING OR INTER CIRCUIT COUPLING

 This is the same as phase to phase coupling but with the
difference that the two conductors used for communication belong to two-
difference power circuit’s carrier on common towers. This type of coupling
is not employed where the two circuits re carrier on two separate sets of
towers as it then behaves more like a double phase to ground coupling and is
found to be impracticable.

This type of coupling is even more reliable than phase-to-phase

coupling on the same circuit in that it permits operation with one of the two
circuits opened out and founded for maintenance purposes.
 Inter-phase or inter systems coupling are always employed on
220 KV and 400 KV lines where the interference levels are therefore also
used on very long 110 KV lines where attenuation becomes a problem. This
type of coupling permit higher reliability of operation under breaker
conductor conditions and are always employed where carrier line protection
systems are employed.

COMPARISION OF PHASE TO PHASE ANDPHASE TO CROUNG

COUPLING
The phase-to-ground coupling has the advantage of requiring only
half the number of wave traps and coupling capacitors in comparison to
phase-to-phase coupling. But it is inferior to many respects as would be
evident from the following points:

• The phase to ground coupling has higher attenuation and unlike

phase to phase coupling, the attenuation varies with station
switching conditions.

• The variation of attenuation function with changes in weather

condition is greater in phase to ground coupling.
• Reflections and echoes due to mismatch difficulties are much
greater in phase to ground coupling.
• Signal- to-noise ratio is poorer due to longitudinal noise voltages
induced in the line. In phase-to-phase coupling thee noise voltages
tend to cancel themselves as equal voltages are induced in the
coupled conductors, which oppose each other in the circuit.
 • Radiation from phase- to – ground case is about double than that in
the other case.
• A break or fault of some other kind will hamper the transmission in
phase-to-ground coupling much more seriously than in phase-to-
phase coupling.

Hence, phase-to-ground coupling is used due to its cheapness,

especially when frequency used and distances to be covered are suitable, and
radiation not particularly objectionable, as may be the situation in sparsely
populated areas.

2) WAVE TRAPS
Wave traps – (WT’s) are used between the transmission line and the
power stations to avoid carrier power dislocation in the power plant and
cross talk with other power line carrier circuits connected to the same power
station. WT’s also ensure proper operating conditions and signal levels at the
PLCC transmit received equipment irrespective of switching conditions of
the power circuits and equipment in the station.

A wave trap must satisfy the following requirements:

• It must block the carrier currents. By blocking, we mean that the track
should attenuate the H.F. signals by at least 8 to 10 dB.
• It must carry the power frequency current safely during normal operation
as well as during short circuit fault conditions.

Constructions of Wave Traps-

 All wave traps have a choke as a main part. This choke may be a
single layer or a multi-layer coils made of special aluminum alloy and is
designed to carry the full load current the power circuit continuously and
also to withstand normal short circuit current in the event of a fault on that
line for a short time until the current in the event of a fault on circuit
breakers clears the fault without suffering any mechanical or thermal
damages. The inductance of the choke varies from 100 Micro henry’s to 2
milli- henrys depending on the pass-band required. The 100 or 200 Micro
henry wave trap will in conjunction with a suitable tuning capacitor block a
band of a few tens of KHz, the blocked land width being dependent on the
carry frequency. The one milli henry and 2 milli-henry traps will clock
periodically the whole range of carrier frequency employed in PLCC a 2.o
mH traps can be used without a tuning capacitor across it. It will still
blocked almost all carrier frequencies in use effectively, but its inherent
capacitance of about 100pf, will cause to resonate at the high end of the
PLCC band (250 to 500KHZ).

The low inductance respant types of traps are usually wound as a

narrow cylindrical single layer, whereas the high inductance broadband traps
are invariably wound as large diameter discoshed coils.

The cost of the wave trap increased with the rated power current to be
carrier by it as well as with the inductance required. A trap with a nominal
rated current of 1600 n Amp. Designed to withstand a short circuit current of
look. A may cost 10 times as much as trap rated for a nominal current of 400
Amp and a short circuit current of 50 KA. Similarly a 2.0 mH trap may cost
several times as much as 100 micro-henry traps for the same nominal power
 current, Therefore, wherever the nominal load currents and expected short
circuit currents are high smaller inductances re used with tuning
arrangement to obtain broadband trap.

Suspension mounting of wave trap is preferred to rigid mounting on

coupling capacitors as this arrangement enables it to withstand the dynamic
stresses created by short circuits better and because it is more economical
but high current, high inductance traps, which are very heavy may have to
be mounted on pedestals insulators or coupling capacitors. Wave traps are
made in various is a standard sizes and rating and to various specifications.

Standard inductances for wave trap recommended by IEC are

0.2,0.25, 0.4,0.5,1.0 and 2.0 mH.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER
Lightning is one of the most serious causes of over voltage. If the
power equipment especially at out door’s is not protected, the over voltage
will cause burning of insulations.

The ground wires running over the towers provides and adequate
protection against lighting and also reduced the induced electrostatic or
electromagnetic voltage but such a shield is inadequate to protect any
traveling which reaches terminals of electrical equipment and such waves
can cause internal flash over between inter-turns of transformers and the
high peak voltage of surge may cause external flash over between terminals
of the electrical equipment which results in damage of insulators.
A good light arrester must pass the following properties:

It should not absorb any current during normal operation, but during
over voltage surge it must provide an easy way to the earth. After the first
discharge of current has taken place though then must be capable of carrying
the discharge current for same interval of time without any damage to them.
After the over voltage discharge, it must be capable of interrupting the
normal frequency of current from flowing to ground as soon as voltages
reaches below break down value.

In addition to tuning devices, which usually consist of a capacitor or

capacitors, a lightning arrester is invariably connected across the choke coils
of the wave traps.

The lightning arrester used may be vacuum type arrester whose are
over voltage lies below the rated voltage of the tuning capacitors, but about
the voltage produced across the coils during a short circuit current surge.
The lightning arrester therefore protects the tuning capacitors against
momentary over voltage caused by traveling waves. Sustained over voltage
resulting from short circuits currents are not high enough to cause the
lightning arrester to be over. Hence, a sustained are and consequent
destruction of the arrester are avoided.

THE TUNING CAPACITORS

Used are high voltage, high stability mica capacitors with low losses. For
lower voltage class of tuning units (with impulse test voltage rating upto
40KV) polystyrene capacitors are used by some manufacturers. For higher
voltage class of tuning units with impulse test voltage rating upto 150 KV) ,
capacitors with mineral oil impregnated paper die electric are used which are
similar in construction to coupling to capacitors. All types are moulded in
epoxy resin. Single frequency traps have a single and double frequency traps
have a double tuned parallel resonant circuit. All the elements belonging to
the tuning circuit are usually mounted in a common housing, which can be
revolved and substituted with another similar tuning device to reasonate trap
to a different frequency.
 • WAVE TRAP
• COUPLING CAPACITOR
• DRINAGE COIL
• VOLTAGE ARRESTER
• GROUNDING SWITCH
• MATCHING TRANSFORMERS
• TUNING CAPACITOR
• VACCUM ARRESTER

BATTERY CHARGER:
 PLCC (Power Line Carrier Communication) works on rectified AC or main,
when make supply goes off. We use of a device for proper functioning of PLCC,
called BATTERY CHARGER. This is the device that provided supply to the
PLCC equipment for uninterrupted working. It provides DC to the panel by battery
of 48 V. In this type 24 batteries are connected in series and individually per
battery has approximately 2V capacities.

• GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Battery charger mainly consists of 4 sections –

• Float charger

• Boost charger section

• Control section

• Alarm section

All the four sections are situated in mounted sheet steel. The sides and
tops of the frame are provided with removable panels suitable recess has
been provided in front panel to prevent the component from projecting out.
All meters indicating lamps, push buttons have been mounted on front panel.

• TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Normal input - 415 V AC 3 phase

• Input variation - +/- 20% of voltage

Float Charger –
DC output - 50V +/- 1%
 Output current - 20 to 40 ampere
Line regulation & load regulation - +/- 1% individual
Ripple - 0.6 Vpp (peak to peak)
Efficiency - > 70%

Boost Charger –

DC output - 43.2 to 67.2V

Output current - 25 – 70 Amps.
Over load - 10%
Efficiency - > 80%

• FLOAT CHARGER
The float charger is basically static type 3- phase charger with
stabilized output dc voltage. The charger output dc voltage I constantly
compared with standard dc reference voltage and error voltage is again
amplified. This amplified voltage control the triggering singles of all the 3
thyristors of 3 phase bridge control rectifier, as the output voltage tends to
decrease than it’s selected value, it makes the triggering signals of each
thyristor of all 3 phase, to advance for firing them, so that the output voltage
remains within the specified accuracy. If the output voltage tends to increase
more than the selected value, the triggering pulses of these thyristors of all 3
phase are delayed in firing operations in such a way so that the output dc
voltage is again brought back to its stabilized voltage.

Circuit Description –
 The 3-phase AC input is applied through the 3 poles 2 way switch
(RS-I) and fuse F-18 to F-20 to the float input contractor (CON -1).
Resistance R-3, capacitor C-2 and also resistance R-2, capacitor C-1 are
incorporated to remove the instabilities like hunting. Operational amplifier
IC-2 I liner amplifier the mv drop across shunt. The ratio of R-14/R-15
determine the gain of the amplifier and RV-2 on sub assembly sets the
charging current. When charging current increases the mv drop across pin
No. 2& 3 of IC-2 will increased. This voltage is applied to the base of TR-4
through R-11. Transistor TR-4 will be the base current of TR-3 and TR-3
will increase the voltage from D-2 will control the voltage correcting
operational amplifier IC-1. This will result in decrease in DC output voltage
to keep the battery current at set level, which can be adjusted by
potentiometer RV-2.

It is desired that output of the rectifier attain it steady state value slowly
rather than by step.
Fuse Fail Alarm:
Fuse fail alarm is also available in float charger. In the event of any
HRC fuse failure. Corresponding types fuse blows and trip the
corresponding.

2. BOOST CHARGER SETION

Description of Circuit –
 Boost charger is used to charge the batteries after power resumption.
The input supply is switched on mains of rotator switch RS-1, three numbers
HRC fuses. F-21 to F-23 has been provided for over current protection. AC
contractor CON-2 has also been provide.Transformer-6 step down the input
AC voltage to suitable level. Necessary taps are provided in the primary of
transformer to cater for varying input voltage that may prevail at sub-station.
The secondary voltage of transformer-6 is applied to a bridge rectifier,
which consists of 6 silicon diodes D-6 to D-11, for rectification of AC to
DC. These diodes are mounted on individual heat sinks for cooling so that
junction temperature of the device is within specified limit. Te diodes are
protected by capacitors and resistances against have storage effects and
transit over voltage in also by HRC fuses F-10 to F-15.

The battery can be charged by using the two rotator switches provided
on front panel for coarse and fine control and that charging current can be
read by ammeter A-3 provided on the front panel. The operator must ensure
that the rotator switches are in minimum position before switching on the
boost charger.

3. OPERATION OF CHARGER
 The float or boost charger can be switches ‘ON’ by mean of
selector switch RS-1. Thus at a time only one charger either float or
boost can be operated.

When the charger is operated in float mode the battery is on float

charger and all the VDD’s are bypassed through the contacts of DC
contractor. This enables complete voltage appearing on the load. In
case of mains fall also the entire battery voltages I available on load
through contacts of DC contactor. When the charger is operated on
boost mode, the contacts of DC contractor opens. Load voltage can be
adjusted by VDD switch RS-8 as per the requirement main switch RS-9
have been provided to isolate the charger from load and battery. When
the selector switch RS-9 is in charger mode then it will supplying load
as well as trickle charger. The batteries in float and boost charger, the
batteries mode when the switch RS-9 is in maint mode, then the load
will be supplied by the battery and the charger is totally isolated from
battery for charger maint purpose.
4. MAINTEANCE AND FAULT TRACING PROCEDURE
1. All connections should be thoroughly checked. The control circuit
boards should be inserted far firmly in their respective sockets
before energizing the battery charger.
2. All mounting bolts/ screws should be checked before energizing as
loose mounting will cause vibrations.
3. The charger should be switched off once in every month and the
connections and mounting should b e checked.
4. The battery terminals should be connected first and the AC input
after that.
11. ADVANTGES & DISADVANTAGES OF PLCC
1. ADVANTAGE
1. No separate wires are needed for communication purposes, as the power
lined themselves carry power as well as communication signals. Hence
the cost of constructing separate telephone lines is saved.
2. When compared with ordinary lines the power lines have appreciably
higher mechanical strength. They would normally remain unaffected
under the conditions, which might seriously damage telephone lines.
3. Power lines usually provide the shortest route between the power
stations.
4. Power line have large cross-sectional areas resulting in very low
resistance per unit length. Consequently the carries singles suffer much
less attenuation than when they travel on usual telephone lines of equal
lengths.
 5. Power lines are well insulated to provide only negligible leakage
between conductors and ground even in adverse weather conditions.
6. 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
• DISADVANTAGE
• Proper care has to be taken to guard carrier equipment and persons using
them against high voltages and currents on the lines.
• Reflections are produced on spur lines connected to high voltage lines. This
increases attenuation and creates other problems.
• High voltage lines have transformer connections, attenuate carrier currents.
Sub-station equipments adversely affect the carrier currents.
• Noise introduced by power lines is far more then in case of telephone lines.
This is due to the noise generated by discharge across insulators, corona
and switching processes.

It is obvious that an effective power lines carrier system must

overcome these and many other difficulties.
REFERENCES

• PRINCIPLE OF CARRIER COMMUNICATION –

• N.N. BISWAS

• MANUAL OF ETI EQUIPMENTS –

• ABB (ASEA BROWN BOVERI)

• MANNUAL OF BATTERY CHARGER

• R.S.E.B