Power Line Communication is now a days used in many areas. Here, focus is given on its use in the field of home automation

1. Analysis, Measurement And Evaluation
Of Power Line Communication Network
Applied For Popular Houses

2. Power-Line Communication (PLC) is technology carrying data as
well as transmitting electric power on power lines.
Since power lines have been established widely, PLCC does not
require a separate communication line and can be easily installed.
And it also can be connected to various networks through a
backbone network.
Moreover, devices can access a system easily by plugging the
power cord into an electrical outlet.
Therefore, PLC has been considered as one of the most appropriate
technologies for smart meter-reading purposes in home.

3.  This project presents the results obtained by measurement and
evaluation performance of the PLC network operating at popular
houses.
 The objective of this project is to build a home automation system
using a PLC modem and applying PIC microcontroller to control
and automate variable home appliances .
 The major advantage offered by power line based home network is
the availability of an existing infrastructure of wires and wall
outlets.

4. Home networks typically use Ethernet or wireless devices.
Ethernet provides high speed networking, but requires dedicated
category 5 (CAT5) cabling which would need to be installed in the
home. Wireless devices are now becoming more popular and work
quite well, but provide speeds that are excessive for simple
applications. Performance of wireless networks is also affected by line
of sight obstructions such as walls. One major attraction of power line
communication is the high availability of power outlets. “as long as
there is a power socket, there is a connection to the network”.

5.  A simple home automation system using power line
communication (PLC) which is convenient for people with disabilities and
elderly to control lamps and gates using a computer at home is showed in
this paper.
The computer or Keypad operates as a host station, connecting to the
PLC modem serially using RS232. User will automate the home appliance
based on the Graphical User Interface (GUI) by selecting the button
appeared on their computer screen or keypad.

6. The buttons are designed using the Visual Basic. The PLC modem
operates by modulating in a carrier wave of between 20-200 kHz into
the household wiring at the transmitter. This modem is plugged into
regular power outlet. The carrier is modulated by digital signals.
 The receiver demodulates the carrier wave and sends the signal to the
micro controller. The receiver has an address and can be commanded
by the signals transmitted over the household wiring and decoded at the
receiver. The microcontroller controls the home appliances to function.

7. Micro
Controller
Micro
Controller
Power
Supply 5v
Power
Supply 5v
PCPC
KeypadKeypad
PLCCPLCC 230V Live
Power line
230V Live
Power line

8. Micro
Controller
Micro
Controller
DEVICE 2DEVICE 2
Power
Supply 5v
Power
Supply 5v
PLCCPLCC
DEVICE 1DEVICE 1
DEVICE 3DEVICE 3
DEVICE 4DEVICE 4
230V live
Power line
230V live
Power line

9.  Two PIC16F877A Microcontrollers Tx and Rx
 PLCC (Power line Carrier Communication)Modem
 Relays to control the Appliances
 Data input devices PC or Keypad
 Live power line ( Not Inverter or UPS supply)
 Regulated Power Supply

10.  MPLAB compiler for Embedded C programming
 PIC Kit2 Programmer
 Embedded C language

11.  The main advantage of power line communications is that the
infrastructure will already be in place.
 PLC is cost effective because there is no need to run additional wires
to powered devices.
 PLC can also work where radio frequency (RF) cannot.
 A power line network doesn't add any charges to your electrical bill.