Design improvements of the resistive shunt online impedance analyzer

Power Line Carrier Communications (PLC) is often used for SmartGrid Communications. To design efficient PLC couplers, the impedance of the power line must be known. The Resistive Shunt Impedance Analyzer (RSOIA) allows such impedances to be measured. This paper describes the design and calibration improvements of an updated RSOIA, which can accurately measure conventional on-line impedances and transfer functions as well as sub-mains-cycle on-line impedance and transfer function variations in the 4 kHz to 20 MHz frequency range. Examples of these measurements are shown.