ISO/IEC 14908-3:2012

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 14908-3
First edition
2012-02-15
Information technology — Control
network protocol —
Part 3:
Power line channel specification
Technologies de l'information — Protocole de réseau de contrôle —
Partie 3: Spécification de canal de courants porteurs

Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2012
©  ISO/IEC 2012
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ii © ISO/IEC 2012 — All rights reserved

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Contents Page
Foreword.4
Introduction .5
1 Scope .7
2 Normative references.7
3 Terms and definitions .7
4 General description .8
4.1 Electrical safety .8
4.2 Functional partitioning of PL specification .8
5 Power Line Medium specifications .9
5.1 Power .9
5.2 Data channel .9
5.3 Physical and electrical specifications .9
5.4 Connectors and coupling.9
5.5 Signal coupling between phases.9
5.6 Surge protection and related devices .10
6 PL Node specifications .10
6.1 Compliance .10
6.2 Interface to MAC sub-layer.10
6.3 Word encoding .10
6.4 PL packet timing .10
6.5 Transmitter characteristics .11
6.5.1 Carrier modulation.11
6.5.2 Waveform amplitude.11
6.5.3 Device coupling.12
6.5.4 Single phase coupling.12
6.5.5 Multiple phase coupling .12
6.6 Receiver characteristics .13
6.6.1 Receive mode effective input impedance .13
6.6.2 Receiver performance.14
6.6.3 Receiving on a quiet line.15
6.6.4 Receiving with interference .16
6.6.5 Receiving through a distorted channel .17
6.6.6 Receiving with impulsive noise.17
Bibliography .19

Figures
Figure 1 — Relationship of CNP 3 specification to the CNP 1 specification model .6
Figure 2 — Power line packet format .10
Figure 3 — 11-bit word format .10
Figure 4 — Test circuit for determining transmit amplitude .12

14908-3 © ISO/IEC:2012 (E) - 3 -
Figure 5 — Test circuit for determining effective receiver impedance.14
Figure 6 — Test circuit for receiver performance .15
Figure 7 — Graph of tone interference specification .16

Tables
Table 1 — Transceiver timing specifications.11
Table 2 — Settings for receive performance with interfering tone test.17

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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission)
form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of ISO or IEC
participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established by the
respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees
collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have
established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
ISO/IEC 14908-3 was prepared by CEN/TC 247 and was adopted, under a special “fast-track procedure”, by
Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, in parallel with its approval by the national
bodies of ISO and IEC.
ISO/IEC 14908 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — Control network
protocol:
 Part 1: Protocol stack
 Part 2: Twisted pair communication
 Part 3: Power line channel specification
 Part 4: IP communication
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Introduction
This part of ISO/IEC 14908 specifies the Control Network Power Line (PL) Channel and
serves as a companion document to ISO/IEC 14908-1. Its purpose is to present the
information necessary for the development of a PL physical network and nodes to
communicate and share information over that network. This is one of a series of documents
covering the various media that comprise the CNP standard.
This part of ISO/IEC 14908 covers the complete physical layer (OSI layer 1) including the
interface to the Medium Access Control (MAC) Sub-Layer and the interface to the medium. It
includes parameters specific to the PL channel type, even though the parameters may be
controlled at an OSI layer other than layer 1. This part of ISO/IEC 14908 also provides a set
of guideline physical and electrical specifications for the power line environment as an aid in
developing products for that environment.
This part of ISO/IEC 14908 has been prepared to provide mechanisms through which various
vendors of local area control networks may exchange information in a standardised way. It
defines communication capabilities.
This part of ISO/IEC 14908 is used by all involved in design, manufacture, engineering,
installation and commissioning activities and has been made in response to the essential
requirements of the Constructive Products Directive.
The CNP specification model is based on the OSI 7-layer model Reference Model. There are
also important extensions to the OSI Reference Model. Figure 1 shows the scope of this
specification in reference to the entire CNP model. In this International Standard, only the
parts of the model relevant to power line communication are specified. Anything outside this
boundary is covered in other parts of the standard. Similar specifications exist for other CNP
media.
Figure 1 — Relationship of CNP 3 specification to the CNP 1 specification

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The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) draw attention to the fact that it is claimed that compliance with this
International Standard may involve the use of patents held by Echelon Corporation.
The ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity and scope of this patent
right. The holder of this putative patent right has assured the ISO and IEC that they are willing
to negotiate licences under reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions with
applicants throughout the world. In this respect, the statement of the holder of the putative patent
rights is registered with the ISO and IEC. Information may be obtained from:
Echelon Corporation, 4015 Meridian Avenue, San Jose, CA 94304, USA, phone +1-408-
938-5234, fax: +1-408-790-3800 http://www.echelon.com.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard
may be the subject of patent rights other than those identified above. ISO and IEC shall not
be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

14908-3 © ISO/IEC:2012 (E) - 7 -
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – CONTROL NETWORK PROTOCOL –

Part 3: Power line channel specification
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies all the information necessary to facilitate the exchange
of data and control information over the power line medium for networked control systems
used in conjunction with ISO/IEC 14908-1.
This International Standard establishes a minimal set of rules for compliance. It does not rule
out extended services to be provided, given that the rules are adhered to within the system. It
is the intention of the standard to permit extended services (defined by users) to coexist.
Certain aspects of this standard are defined in other documents. These documents are
referenced where relevant. In the case where a referenced standard conflicts with this
International Standard, this part of ISO/IEC 14908 will prevail.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
rotocol – Part 1: Protocol stack
ISO/IEC 14908-1, Information technology – Control network p
EN 50065-1, Signalling on low-voltage electrical installations in the frequency range 3 kHz to
148,5 kHz — Part 1: General requirements, frequency bands and electromagnetic
disturbances
EN 50065-2-1, Signalling on low-voltage electrical installations in the frequency range 3 kHz
to 148,5 kHz —Part 2-1: Immunity requirements for mains communications equipment and
systems operating in the range of frequencies 95 kHz to 148,5 kHz and intended for use in
residential, commercial and light industrial environments
EN 50065-2-2, Signalling on low-voltage electrical installations in the frequency range 3 kHz
to 148,5 kHz — Part 2-2: Immunity requirements for mains communications equipment and
systems operating in the range of frequencies 95 kHz to 148,5 kHz and intended for use in
industrial environments
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 14908-1 and
the following, specifically with the power line medium and physical layer shown in Figure 1,
apply.
3.1
PL node
user node attached to the power line medium at a tap that meets the requirements of this
specification
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3.2
line cord
cable not part of the power line network that allows a node located away from the power line
network to be connected to the network
3.3
power line network
communication network based on power distribution lines (“power lines”), from the final
distribution transformer to and including all homes served by that transformer, including all
wiring in those homes
3.4
non-network-powered node
compatible node that attaches to the power line network but does not draw any power from
the network
4 General description
4.1 Electrical safety
This clause gives several recommendations related to safety concerns with respect to this
International Standard.
This discussion is not complete, nor does it address all possible safety issues. The designer
is urged to consult, among other things, the relevant local and national electrical codes for the
country of intended use. Local codes may supplement national electrical codes and impose
additional safety related requirements.
Products conforming to this International Standard shall be designed, constructed, assembled,
tested and installed following recognised safety provisions appropriate to products covered
...