Engineering communications
DLC (power-line carrier) meter node design
In-house design of the analog front-end, coupling transformer, modulation, and firmware stack for a power-line-carrier communicating meter that runs without an external network.
What it is
We built the full PLC node integrated into the T96M-C6NKP meter: coupling transformer, analog front-end, modem PHY, isolation, and the meter-side firmware that drives the standard command set over the line. The same coupling design carries both the per-tariff register read-back and the per-phase remote disconnect / reconnect commands plus per-phase overcurrent threshold writes. The optical port stays live in parallel as a fallback when the DLC link is degraded.
What we built
- DLC analog front-end and coupling transformer footprint on the meter PCB
- Modem firmware in the meter MCU with the standard read/write command set
- Per-phase relay drive stage with safe-disconnect interlocks
- Programmable per-phase overcurrent threshold with auto-disconnect
- Reads phase voltages Ur/Us/Ut (±0.2 V), currents Ir/Is/It (±0.2 A), cos φ per phase
Technologies
- Custom DLC PHY (300-9600 bit/s)
- Mains-isolated coupling transformer
- Three phase-isolated disconnect relays with snubbers
- Per-phase overcurrent threshold engine
- Optical IEC 62053-21 fallback
- Calibration to NVRAM per unit
Deliverables
- Meter PCB design files (board + BOM + paste/place files)
- DLC modem MCU firmware
- Production-line test fixture and procedure
- Reference head-end configuration
Honest note
PLC PHY is proprietary. We offer a firmware-only port to G3-PLC or Wi-SUN as a paid engineering service if a customer needs the meter compliant with a standards-based AMI/AMR head-end.
