Characterization and modeling breakers effect on power line communications

Many studies have been carried out on parameters impacting power line communication such as power cables and different noises generated by connected appliances. However, studies involving protection devices such as breakers still missing. This paper investigates the impact of domestic breakers on low voltage power line communications. The insertion losses (S21 parameter) of ten breakers of different manufacturers and nominal currents have been measured in narrow (9-100 kHz) and broad (1-100 MHz) bands using a network analyzer. On one hand, it is shown that breakers don´t impact narrowband communications. On the other hand, they cause significant losses in broadband PLC. Those insertion losses are very considerable for the main breaker compared to branch breakers and depend on the nominal current. The influence of the manufacturer is shown to be very little because breakers of different makers but having the same nominal current present close attenuations. An electric model of breakers is proposed and validated by comparing SPICE simulations to measurements. The model should be integrated in a simulation tool computing indoor PLC channel capacities.