Power Line Communication System: B.Tech ECE Project & Synopsis

This document details a B.Tech ECE project focused on developing a power line communication (PLC) system. The project aims to enable data transfer over existing power cables, targeting applications from home automation to internet access. The project objectives include developing an efficient PLC system, maintaining lower voltage distribution, focusing on higher frequency features, and enabling data transfer for online condition monitoring of electric motors. The author's role was as the project developer, responsible for studying past research, concentrating on home automation systems, and exposing the system to specific loads for studying changes in communication channel quality. The project involved theoretical studies of telecommunication and power line communication concepts, hardware implementation using various electronic components, and addressing technical difficulties such as interference and signal attenuation. The project successfully designed a power line communication system for various automation applications and implemented a communication strategy utilizing coding, frequency diversity, and sub-channels.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Power Line Communications
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Developer of project
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The technology of PLC or power line communication allows sending of data over the
previously existing power cables. It is possible to run an electronic device with the help f
power cables with the features of powering up and even controlling or retrieving the data
from it within half duplex manner. A wider range of power-line communicating technologies
are eventually required for various applications that range from the home-automation to the
Internet access. While completion of my Bachelor’s degree, I came up with the idea to
execute a project of power line communications. I made the project over low voltage grid that
try in achieving high bit rates and even more reliable communication over the power lines. I
have exposed the system with a load for understanding the change in communication channel
qualities. I have measured few channel features within the similar grid and noise level as well
as attenuation measurements undertaken was up to 16 MHz. Therefore, within this project, I
have successfully and efficiently used a communication strategy, which can be utilized for
transferring information on the power-line communications channel by combination of
coding, diversity of frequency and utilization of the sub channels.

CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
While executing this project of power line communications, I have developed a power
line communication for the betterment of the technological world. I concentrated on broad
band data transferring and broad band indoor communications as well as home automation
within lower voltage distribution network. Hence, for completing this project with high
efficiency and accuracy, I have developed few objectives:
 To efficiently develop a power line communication for providing better advantages to
the technological field.
 To maintain a lower voltage distribution between home and transformer station.
 To focus on the higher frequency features of industry-based lower voltage distribution
network.
 To ensure that the industry-based lower voltage distribution network could be used as
the major communication channel for data transferring needed by an online condition-
monitoring of numerous electric motors.
 To complete the work over low voltage grid that is effective for achieving high-bit
rates as well as more reliable communications over the various power lines.
 To expose the system with a load for studying the change in the communication
channel quality.
 To measure few channel characteristics within the same grid.
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
As, while completing these works in the project, I comprised of subsequent
experiences in the field works about telecommunication project, I was recruited as the
developer of the project. Previously, I have done works with various subsequent areas such as
signal to noise ratio, effect of non-white Gaussian noise as well as transmitter waveforms and
hence it was extremely easy for me for executing the specified project promptly and

Supervisor of the
Project
Team Member of
the project
Team Member of
the project
Project Developer
(Me)
efficiently. I also had significant leadership skills as well as problem solving skill, thus I was
chosen by my respective supervisor for completing this work eventually.
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
Being telecommunications engineer by profession in this project, I comprised of some
of the most important and significant responsibilities. My major responsibility within this
project was to develop a power line communication. For this purpose at first, I had to clear
my significant doubts regarding this communication. I studied about various past researches
and hence gained subsequent knowledge regarding the subject. I had to concentrate on the
home automation system, broad band indoor communication and even broad band data
transferring within a lower voltage distribution network between transformer station and
home. I checked this type of industrial lower voltage distribution network is only being used
as the communication channel for data transferring after online conditions monitoring or
checking of the electrical motors. I wanted to make this power line communication such

effective that it could be used in the existing infrastructure of a house. My other
responsibilities included exposing the system with the specific load that comprise of a
collection of industry based machines for the purpose of studying changes within the
communication channel quality. I even measured the noise level and attenuation and
observed the results.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
Regarding the theoretical studies, I have used basic telecommunication and power line
communication concepts. I have modelled for having a time-varying frequency dependency
SNR or signal-to-noise ratio on the communicational bandwidth.
Figure 2: Signal to Noise Ratio for the project
I have checked that the power line communications is majorly utilized for tele-
protection, tele-monitoring and telecommunication within electrical substations through the

power line at higher voltages, like 110 kV, 220 kV and 400 kV. The pilot frequency was the
signal within the range of audio, which is being transmitted constantly for the successful
detection of failure. Regarding the hardware requirements of this project, I have used PCB,
step down transformer 3V/500mA, voltage regulator LM7805, rectifier diodes 1N4001,
LEDs, capacitors, micro controllers of IC 8870, 91214, 74154, 4049 and 4013 operational
amplifier 741, RESET 100K, micro switch, PVC wires, capacitors 104PF, resistance 10K,
mike, speaker 5 ohm, crystal, IC 7805, Tr. BC 548 and DPDT S/W.
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
To execute this project work, I had successfully applied each and every core skill and
knowledge for telecommunications engineering. The specific knowledge regarding power
line communication is being applied here. Moreover, I have even used by skill of circuit
designing and attenuation to make this project successful. I have also used the knowledge
regarding active and passive devices for signal attenuation.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
I had successfully utilized each material for accomplishing the work of this project. I
had designed this power line communication for using it in the home, building, industrial, and
transportation automation applications. I was successful in doing so and my power line
transceivers have eventually earned their reputation for reliability in systems worldwide.

Figure 3: Applications of Power Line Communications
I had considered the transmission of the high-frequency carrier frequencies within the
significant range of 0 to +32db. Since, I got the measurement of attenuation and noise level
up to 16 MHz, I gave the communication strategy, which can be utilized for the purpose of
information transferring over power line communication channel. For this purpose, I had
combined coding, diversity in frequency as well as the utilization of sub channels that were
similar to OFDM.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
The former technical difficulty, which I have faced within the project was during
checking the interference from the systems. It caused major degradation in the signal since
the modern did not have the ability of determining specified frequency within several signals

of similar bandwidth. The next technical difficulty that I had confronted in this project was
during signal attenuation by passive devices. Since the DC to DC converters and transformers
attenuate the input frequency signal completely, it caused major delays in my project.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
I had the ability in finding out relevant solutions for each of these two issues within
the project. For this first technical difficulty of interference, I gave the solution to make that
no radio transmitters are being used here including system transmitter and wireless systems. I
finally resolved the issue and allowed to come closer than 3 to 4.5 m within the wireless
receiving antennas. It overloaded the receivers and hence increased the interference chances.
Regarding the second technical difficulty, I extended the dynamic range to measure
equipment only after adjustment of signal levels and hence providing impedance matching of
the amplifiers or oscillators for the core purpose of reducing improper input and output
termination effects.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I had to make a plan for my team and team members so that innovative work is being
executed in the project. This type of planning was quite helpful for us to complete the project.
Moreover, errors was also being identified in this process.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
This complete project was executed only after consideration of few important and the
subsequent characteristics of power line communication. I had successfully developed this
particular communication with proper features. Since I comprised of team leadership skills, I
have provided guidance to my respective team members. Moreover, I even articulated a

proper frame work over the basis of various types of works for achievement of the previously
determined goals.
CE 1.4.2 My Contribution to work
I was selected as the developer of the project within the project. I had completed my
task by developing a proper and effective power line communication that could bring out
better efficiency and results. Moreover, I even eradicated the faults in the project and
provided subsequent solutions to them.