Solar Lattice

Protocol

Power line communication

ID
proto:power-line-communication
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/proto/power-line-communication
Status
active
Also known as
PLC, powerline communication, PLCC, power line carrier, Power line
Category
Communication
Protocol kind
transport

Power line communication works at the transport layer. It puts a high-frequency signal on top of an existing power line, so the power conductors also carry the data. The Enphase IQ Gateway talks to IQ8 Series microinverters, collects system performance data and sends it over the internet to the Enphase Cloud. Utilities use power line carrier on transmission lines. Coupling capacitors inject the carrier signal, and line traps keep it out of the substation. The carrier can be coupled from one phase to ground, between two phases, or on all three phases. Transformers strongly weaken PLC signals, and rain or snow can raise noise levels enough to cause data errors.

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Referenced by

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