Measurement of powerline performance in residential context

In recent years, Power Line Communication (PLC) has had a wide use in various contexts. PLC systems are non-invasive, low cost and combine electrical installation with network connectivity. By reducing installation time and costs, the PLC is a valid alternative to wireless technology. The electrical system is designed to meet the requirements in terms of installed power, connected loads, line length and cable section. Therefore, in a real context, the PLC performance can be influenced by the impedance of the communication channel, but also by the injection of harmonics into the electrical system, which reduce the signal-to-noise ratio. The purpose of this paper is to measure the performance of a PLC system in terms of the main parameters, such as bit rate, transmission time, retransmission packet, and others. The performance tests were carried out in a system that reproduces a domestic plant by means of concentrated impedances, to guarantee the repeatability of the tests and to allow easy modification of the power supply system. The loads are integrated in this system, to reproduce the real problems.