Development of a cost-effective half-duplex power line communication system for low bandwidth home automation applications

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel, cost-effective power line communication (PLC) system for low bandwidth home automation applications such as switching, dimming control, and periodic status reporting. The proposed system consists of a main controller node and several appliance nodes. Electrical appliances to be automated are connected through the appliance nodes to the power outlets (i.e., sockets). The main controller node, which is plugged into one of the power sockets, has an active internet connection. The home network with a star topology, where appliances are centred around the main controller node, communicates over the powerline. The proposed solution, which is a half-duplex communication system, controls appliances by sending commands from the main controller and retrieve sensor data from the appliances. The developed system provides a low-cost alternative to available solutions in the market. This paper highlights novel electronic engineering techniques used to maximize cost-effectiveness without compromising the overall quality of the proposed system.