Influence of cable selection on channel frequency response for low voltage indoor cables

Abstract: The Channel Frequency Response (CFR) is an important parameter in the specification of Power Line Communications (PLC) equipment. In this paper, low voltage indoor power cables are investigated and their suitability for PLC operation are determined. This is done in terms of their Channel Frequency Response (CFR). Cable parameters such as inductance, capacitance, resistance, length and termination are investigated up to 100MHz. This work shows cable length and load impedance are the primary factors affecting CFR behavior. Long cables (in the 100’s of meters) and low load impedances - lower that the cable characteristic impedance (few Ω) can dramatically limit the bandwidth of the CFR. Variances in geometry, dielectric and resistance are only secondary effects and do not affect CFR as drastically as length and load impedance