Using a PLC to connect a smart meter with a concentrator is the most beneficial way for any DSO. And, as known, there are two main standards for transmitting information using PLC.
ADD Grup is a member of major alliances PRIME and G3-PLC, which allows creating meters regardless of the standard demanded by the customer.
The main specifics is that G3-PLC co-exists with PRIME and S-FSK IEC 61334-5-1 on a single platform, where the switch between these technologies is done only through firmware change without any need for replacement of meters or data concentrators.
PRIME: The technology is an international standard and is used by a huge number of manufacturers of metering systems and devices. It is well adapted to the parameters of the physical data transmission, provides a high data transfer rate (up to 141 Kbit / s) and the ability to monitor the PLC network in real time.
The technology uses a tree-like network topology, which has a base node (controller / router / USPD) and service nodes (counters). Data transmission between the service and base nodes allows up to 1024 retransmissions, which provides a sufficiently high transmission range. Service nodes can operate in terminal mode or switch mode. In switch mode, a node exchanges its own data and data from its branch counters. Switching between operating modes of the node is performed automatically.
G3-PLC: The technology is also an international open standard focused on global application. The topology of the mesh network is used. Compared to PRIME, the data transfer rate is significantly lower down to 35 Kbps (CENELEC) / 128 Kbps (ARIB).
The advantage of the standard is the ability to transfer IPv6 packets to the Internet, work with various types of equipment, not only with electricity meters.
Typical communication range when using PLC (without relaying) is about 100 m, maximum – 400 m. The communication range depends on the quality of the electrical network (presence of twists, multiple adhesions, etc.) and the presence of interference. The communication range is practically independent of the communication technology used. The shorter range is provided by old systems, the longer range is provided only by systems operating in a non-standard (forbidden) frequency range or with an excess of the permitted power.
