What is IEC 62488‑3 about?
IEC 62488‑3 is one of the parts a series of documents IEC 62488 applies to power line carrier terminals and networks used to transmit information overpower networks including extra high, high, and medium voltage (EHV/HV/MV) power lines using both digital and optionally analogue modulation systems in a frequency range between 16 kHz and 1 MHz.
In many countries, power line carrier (PLC) channels represent a significant part of the utility-owned telecommunication system. A circuit normally routed via a PLC channel can also be routed via a channel using a different transmission medium such as point to point radio, optical fibre, or open wire circuit. The issues requiring consideration of DPLC and/or APLC devices as parts of a telecommunication network can be found in IEC 62488-1.
IEC 62488-3 contains the following clauses:
- Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
- Generic structure of DPLC ADPLC terminals
- Access side interfaces
- HF Line interface
- Quality and performance
- Testing
- Configuration and management
- Cyber security
- DPLC Safety
- Storage and transportation, operating conditions, power supply
- EMC
Who is IEC 62488‑3 for?
IEC 62488‑3 on power line communication systems is applicable to:
- Home automation systems
- CCTV cameras
- Pollution sensors
- Noise detectors
- Traffic density sensors
- Advertising backlit panels
- Solar applications
- Energy measurements
- Street lighting control 
Why should you use IEC 62488‑3?
It is very important that the input and output interfaces that are used between terminals in the communication system are standardised.
IEC 62488-3 helps to standardize this according to best digital PLC communications industry practices. The guidelines in IEC 62488-3 help you to acquire a high efficiency of data transmission in Power line communication systems used for power utility applications. Therefore, this leads to lower level of operational costs of automation equipment especially for long high-voltage power transmission lines.
