Microchip announces a flexible PLC modem compatible with various standard and proprietary protocols used in smart grid infrastructure worldwide. The PL360B enables manufacturers to address the need for utilities to improve the reliability and performance of smart meters, as well as to meet diverse markets, end-user regulations, and operational requirements. The PL360B, designed to support PLC protocols up to 500 kHz, such as ITU G.9903 (G3-PLC) and ITU G.9904 (PRIME), as well as CENELEC, FCC, and ARIB compliant applications, is the latest addition to Microchip's product portfolio, a leader in the smart energy market. The PL360B modem comes with reference designs for adding a PLC interface to any end-user application requiring connectivity, such as smart meters, lighting, home automation, building automation, and remote control.
A key advantage of the PL360B modem is its energy-efficient use, which improves consumption by up to 25 percent compared to previous generations, and a Class D amplification technique that further optimizes the modem's transmission efficiency.
The ATPL360 application kit includes two evaluation cards for establishing point-to-point communication. The kit includes PC tools designed to evaluate the PL360B's capabilities, such as a physical layer tester for point-to-point testing, a PLC explorer for capturing PLC traffic on an installed network, and a PLC manager for managing the resulting network.
It also provides G3-PLC and PRIME-PLC communication firmware free of charge. Several reference designs are also available for a complete PLC electrical contactor, a single PLC modem, and a master PLC device capable of fully managing a network of PLC nodes. All reference designs are supplied with design files, a bill of materials, and schematics.
The PL360B is now available. The ATPL360 evaluation kit is also available and is priced at $500.00.
