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General discussion

Powerline Adapter

Jul 23, 2004 2:57AM PDT

I am considering buying a powerline adapter for my laptop. But I have a question. Does it only work in the single circuit area within the home or will work anywhere in the home?

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Powerline Adapter
Jul 23, 2004 5:27AM PDT

It will work on a single circuit. It "might" work on the other side.

Bob

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Re: Powerline Adapter
Jul 23, 2004 5:56AM PDT

I haven't used a Powerline Network Adapter, but I have, many years ago, used the BSR X10 Home Appliance Remote Controls, which also transmitted signals over the AC powerline. (The BSR X10 sent low frequency ~100kHz to 300kHz signals, not the RF that the Powerline Network Adapters use, but it is the same concept.)

I had difficulty with "half" of my house, since I had 2 phase power circuitry (you might call it "double" circuit, since you seem to want to call single phase as "single circuit").

To get past the problem, to get the signal to cross-over from one phase to the other, and thus get control to work through the entire house, I placed a 0.1 micro-farad (I'm pretty sure, but it was quite a number of years ago) capacitor across the two "hot" phases. I did have to make sure that the voltage rating of the capacitor is AT LEAST 600 volts, and you do NOT want to use an electrolytic capacitor, since those are polarity dependant.

Since the Powerline Network Adapters work on a much higher frequency, then the capacitance value could be much lower and still work. That value is low enough that the 60~AC will not transverse the device, but the RF will.

By the way, I am NOT telling you to do this, it is only what I did to make my setup work. If you do it, and you cause any damage to yourself or to any property, then I do not take any responsibility.

Good luck in anything you do.

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Re: Powerline Adapter
Jul 23, 2004 9:53PM PDT

Thanks much for the info. But I am not about to mess with anything, given that I do not consider my skills as good beyond replacing light bulb. I would on the other hand not mind tweaking around the settings on my PCs.

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Anywhere....
Jul 23, 2004 12:23PM PDT

providing your house is wired with only one breaker box.

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Re: Anywhere....
Jul 23, 2004 9:57PM PDT

Thanks Michael, but that is my question. Is everything on the inside of the circuit breaker box considered one circuit? Or, are each of the switches in the box that control parts of the house considered one circuit such that stove would be one dedicated circuit, outlets in the kitchen which are controlled by a separate switch in the box second circuit? When I read the specs, it was not clear (may be I am too dumb about this).
Thanks much.

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Re: Anywhere....
Jul 24, 2004 3:46AM PDT

Although the various circuits are controlled by different breakers, they all have a common ground. This should allow your powerline device to function at any point within a single circuit box.

Note that PowerLine devices are probably the least efficient networking devices available. Wireless and Ethernet rule the roost.

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Re: Anywhere....
Jul 24, 2004 11:10AM PDT

Thanks Michael, I have both Ethernet and Wireless, but in the kitchen tabel, the microwave comes in the way of wireless and so I was hoping to get Powerline. Also, I would think it would be safer than wireless, given that its scope is limited within a circuit.

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Try this device...
Jul 24, 2004 11:30PM PDT
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Re: common ground
Jul 26, 2004 4:19AM PDT

Having a common ground means next to nothing for the purpose of Power Line Adapters. The signal does not ride on the ground side. Nor does it ride on the return side (or you might call it the "low" side, opposite of the "hot" side).

The signal does ride on the "hot" side.
And you can have multiple phases ("two circuits") in one power distribution box for a house. In fact that is what is in all modern houses now. Quite often you will see two rows of circuit breakers in the power distribution box for a house. The usual configuration is that one phase will be bussed down one side, and the other phase will be bussed down the other side.

"Bussed"? If you were to remove one or more of the circuit breakers you would find underneath a fairly heavy bare flat copper bar that each of the circuit breakers plug into when you place the circuit breaker in position.

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Re: common ground
Jul 26, 2004 10:07PM PDT

I was looking at buying Belkin - Netgear has a recall -http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml04/04178.html.
But I am more tending to not do that, since I really have no way to know whether this will work. I have two columns of switches in the box, and I also know that roughly speaking, each room is controlled by a different switch. Thanks.

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Re: common ground
Aug 28, 2004 10:25PM PDT

I have used the Belkin powerline system in a couple of homes and it's worked fine (mine included). The recall is not that serious, I think. Something about the possibility of the unit coming apart, but I have handled about 8 of them and if you don't abuse them, they seem fine.

However, having said that, there are never guarantees with this stuff. If you are prepared for a normal amount of risk, give it a try.

To the poster who said "wireless and ethernet rule the roost", I would say "not if they are both impossible". I have a similar situation you describe with the microwave near the PC needing reception. Also, cordless phones.

Good luck.

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Re: common ground
Aug 29, 2004 12:47AM PDT

"To the poster who said "wireless and ethernet rule the roost", I would say "not if they are both impossible". I have a similar situation you describe with the microwave near the PC needing reception. Also, cordless phones."

Impossible is possible when you change to an 802.11a device or hard wire the connection.