I think the phrase "Ethernet over the AC mains" is technically a self-contradiction, since 802.3 defines the transmission medium as well as the protocol, and I don't think 802.3 includes an AC mains option (at least not yet).
However, I suspect you are simply referring to sending unspecified data over the AC mains, using some sort of carrier mechanism that is designed for the AC mains environment (typically referred to as Power Line Carrier, or PLC). So, now you have an AC mains port that intentionally emits a data carrier signal.
As I recall, the definition of a "Telecommunications Port" varies slightly among international standards. For example, Clause 6 of the safety standard EN 60950 explicitly states that sending data over an AC mains port does not make it a "Telecommunications Port." I believe that EN 55022 uses similar logic, but does not state it quite so explicitly.
I have not worked much with the various technologies that attempt to send data over the AC mains, but I know there has been a lot of activity on this topic over the last 20 years. The schemes I have seen attempted to stay within the allowable emissions limits for conducted emissions on the AC mains, either by using spread-spectrum techniques or by avoiding the specified frequency range for emissions. As I recall, there have been continuing efforts at the standards level to make accommodations for PLC, but I'm not sure how successful that has been at the international level.
Some time spent with Google might locate more specifics related to the above. The question you raise is one that a lot of people in the PLC industry have had to contend with, so it should be well documented.
As a stating point, though, I would be inclined to treat the port as a simple AC mains port unless I could find evidence that other approaches have been widely accepted at the international level.
Joe Randolph
Telecom Design Consultant
Randolph Telecom, Inc.
781-721-2848 (USA)
[email protected]
http://www.randolph-telecom.com
Thanks Chet and Joe-
So if you have Ethernet over your power cables do you test the mains as a telecommunication port or a mains port?
I would think you would have to treat it as a mains port?
Regards
Andy
From: Summers, Chet [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 21 June 2014 01:43
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [PSES] EN-61000-6-4
Hello Andy
(Your question seems appropriate for a Friday, asked after the boss and most everyone else has left for the weekend and youre sitting at the workbench with eyes to the ceiling and palms up, waiting for the answer )
I think Joe has part of the answer, in that the impedance characteristics of telecom networks and twisted pair telecom cables are considerably different than for AC mains wiring and distribution.
In addition, telecom ports (at least in the case of Ethernet based networks) may have Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability. PoE circuits from network edge devices and from midspan supplies can add substantial noise onto the already noisy Ethernet line. The IEEE 802.3 and related Ethernet standards limit the range of filtering a designer may implement in order to maximize single integrity and BW. AC mains circuits on the other hand often demand (but can tolerate) a brute force approach to noise filtering, where physical size of the filtering components is probably much less a consideration than for Ethernet interfaces and the signal is 50/60Hz, not 100MHz, plus.
Just my two cents worth.
Enjoy the weekend,
Chet Summers
Compliance Engineering
Schneider Electric
[email protected]
From: McCallum, Andy [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2014 2:30 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [PSES] EN-61000-6-4
All
Why are telecommunications port emissions so much higher than AC power ports?
Regards
Andy
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