Elgama G1B Series - PLC Modem

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Figure 6-3. Controllers under the transparent terminal cover
6.4 PLC modem
GAMA 100 meters may be equipped with a Power Line Communication (PLC) modem. PLC
modem is supplied in the following options:
• As an external modem, connected via electrical interface (CL or RS485). Modem can be
mounted in terminal cover of electricity meter manufactured by “Elgama-Elektronika” Ltd.
(see Figure A-0-2), as well as fixed to DIN rail separately.
• As an internal modem, installed under the main cover of meter (see section 4.9 and section
6.4.1).
Modem is manufactured by “ELGAMA-Elektronika” Ltd. and is used in metering systems for
automated remote data reading, parameterization, as well as firmware update of electricity meters
by means of DLMS COSEM protocol. Open specification (Specification for PowerLine Intelligent
Metering Evolution, version 1.3.6), defined by Power Line Intelligent Metering Evolution (PRIME),
is used for PLC communication. PLC modem employs OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division
Multiplexing) modulation technology for data transmission over low voltage power lines. Please
refer to official web site of the PRIME Alliance (http://www.prime-alliance.org/) for further
information.
Modem is based on chipset (processor C2000 and analog front end AFE031) reference design
and software (Prime PLC service node), provided by Texas Instruments. Texas Instruments Prime
PLC solution is certified for PRIME Compliance.
PLC modem operates in CENELEC A-band (3 – 95 kHz), which is exclusively devoted for energy
suppliers. PLC signal strength complies with standard EN 50065-1 emission requirements.
Raw data rate depends on available transmission conditions on the network, and it is automatically
selected in the range 2164 Kbps, as described in Prime specification.
Prime PLC solution supports tree topology structure of communication network. Data Concentrator
(Base Node) is at the root of the tree and acts as master node that provides connectivity to the
network. Any other node (electricity meter) of the network is a Service Node. Service Nodes are
either leafs of the tree or branch points of the tree. These nodes (electricity meters) carry out two
responsibilities: connecting themselves to the network and retransmitting the data of their
neighbours (more remote meters) in order to propagate connectivity.