Do “anti-Smartmeter” filters really stop the PLC-G3 emissions from PLC Smart meter ?

« Linky » is the name of the French electrical Smart meter in France

Here are the results for measurements carried out in an apartment

Here-below some examples of PLC-G3 radiation measurements from Electrical Smart Meter when a rapid PLC signal is emitted:

Measurements were taken in an apartment in close proximity to a plugged-in lamp and also around live electric cables.

Attention, the tests herewith presented only apply to PLC-G3 signals (the frequency band used between 35,9 KHz and 90,6 KHz). No test has yet been carried out for PLC-G1 electrical Smart meter (63,3 KHz and 74 KHz).

When carrying out tests in this apartment, in order to monitor sufficient PLC signals we had to wait each time for midnight (signals are frequent between 00:10 & 00:40). During the day, PLC communications from Smart meters were not frequent.

Attention These tests have no official value but serve to highlight certain results

The results :

As the measures below show, in spite of the set of an electrical filter in the switch panel, there is intense PLC electromagnetic radiation in all the electrical domestic installation. I have tested various makes of filters on the market and the result is always the same, the radiation intensity is identical, with or without installing anti-Smartmeter filters in the electric panel.

Measurements of PLC Smart meter radiation where filters have been installed go from 1.1 V/m to 9 V/m with more often radiation around 2.5 V/m close to a live source (demonstrated here below).
These values are identical without the installation of filters

Reminder of the Bioinitiative 2012 recommendation and of the European Council’s Resolution 1815 : https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=17994 › When it comes to permanent exposure to radio frequency radiation (or high frequencies in the home), do not exceed values of 0.2 V/m (ideally 0.06 V/m). The oscillation frequencies of radiation from radio frequencies (or high frequencies) go officially from 9 KHz to 300 GHz.
› The radiation signals from PLC Smart meter therefore fall under the category of high frequency waves.

Exposure of people to PLC radiation from Electrical Smart meter I have found that it is possible to take measurements of PLC Smart meter radiation right up to a computer’s keyboard and mouse, around devices situated near the body and in the desk area…and even near Ethernet network cables linked to the Internet BOX. It is therefore important to have an approximate idea of the radiation’s intensity near to the source and not only at a distance of 20 cm as mentioned in the federal office of communication protocol (ANFR in France).

The measures :

ANFR measures noted at a distance of 20 cms from the source The values indicated here below were taken near a plugged-in lamp (less than 10 cms). At 20 cms from the source my measurements indicate values of 0.3 V/m and 1.8 V/m (peak) according to the PLC signal intensity running through the wires at the time. Outside of the PLC signals, the value is around 20 millivolts/m, which is totally different. Evidently, the closer you are to the source, the higher the signal intensity as shown in the example below. If I respect scrupulously the French federal office of telecommunication (ANFR) measurement protocol, I can equally well show the PLC Smart meter radiation with or without filter.

My measures The French federal office of telecommunication (ANFR) measures are always carried out during the day: PLC Smart meter radiation only corresponds to the well-known « ping » but in no way concerns meter readings. My measurements are exclusively carried out from midnight when the communications correspond to meter readings, it is possible that the intensity of PLC Smart meter signal is stronger at that time than during the day.

Here a value of 9.046 V/m (peak value of the electric field) measured between 35,9 KHz & 90,6 KHz at the moment of a rapid PLC Smart meter signal

509.3 mV/m (peak) corresponds to the permanent value of the electric fields
(between 35,9 KHz &
90,6 KHz) outside PLC
communication outside of Smart meter communications

Here 1.108 V/m (peak
value of the electric field) measured between
35,9 KHz & 90,6 KHz
at the moment of a rapid PLC Smart meter signal

187.5 mV/m (peak) corresponds to the permanent value of the electric fields (between 35,9 KHz & 90,6 KHz) outside

In red the electro-magnetic radiation from signals (between 35,9 KHz & 90,6 KHz) from the
PLC Smart meter type G3

PLC Smart meter communication
In black, electromagnetic radiation (between 35,9 KHz & 90,6 KHz)

Tests under laboratory conditions

The efficiency of electrical filters only seems reliable under laboratory conditions. Anti-Smartmeter filter tests carried out with only a little electric current consumption or none, showed sufficient attenuation for certain filters.

Several years ago, Emitech Laboratory tests as well as my tests enabled the validation of the performance of some filters under these laboratory conditions (at the time there was no other choice. However, nobody had really measured PLC Smart meter radiation in the home (the only true value)).

Recently I had to invest in a specific probe that was very expensive for the spectrum analyser Narda SRM 3006 in order to definitely lift any doubt on this subject (calibrated electric probe Narda 3531/04 measuring the electric field from 9 Khz to 300 Mhz).

The results of the first tests in an apartment concerning the performance of anti-Smartmeter filters is very deceiving, here are the explanations :

Firstly, the effectiveness of anti-Smartmeter filters quickly disappears as soon as a certain level of electricity is used.
Also, it should be known that all the anti-Smartmeter filters on the market only filter PLC signals present in the phase wire but have no effect whatsoever on the PLC signals to be found in the neutral wire (blue wire in France).

PLC radiation around a neutral wire with or without an anti-Smartmeter filter

This is a real discovery! It is important to note that in domestic electrical installations when tests have been carried out where no filter has been installed, the electromagnetic radiation from PLC is just as intense around the neutral wire as around the phase wire. When a filter is installed in the electric panel, the problem is identical. It will be necessary to verify if that is equally true in other electrical installations.

Luckily there exist other effective alternatives for protection against PLC Smart meter radiation that I have tested and approved in installations.

DEMONSTRATION OF PLC RADIATION AROUND A NEUTRAL WIRE

In this video, when there are PLC signals between 35,9 KHz and 90,6 KHz we can see an electric field of over 4 V/m (on the screen of the Narda spectrum analyser) and this, in spite of the presence of an anti-Smartmeter filter in the electric panel. At the emission of the PLC signal we can hear a sound on the EMI detector meter.

Attention: the EMI meter does not detect all PLC signals. All the anti-Smartmeter filters on the market only filter the phase wire. None of the available filters offer protection from PLC radiation as shown in this video. The neutral wire is in blue: the small yellow device called NFA1000 which is near the neutral wire (blue in France), measures the 50 Hz electric field, around 1.8 V/m. This is to prove that it concerns a measurement taken around a neutral wire. A 50 Hz electric field around a phase wire would be over 100 V/m.

Example of a measurement of PLC radiation around a neutral wire following the installation of an anti-Smartmeter filter

Here, 2,694 V/m (electric field peak value) measured between 35 Khz & 90 Khz at the moment of a rapid PLC signal

In red the radiation spectrum from PLC Smart meter (between 35,9 KHz & 90,6 KHz) at the moment of a rapid PLC signal

In red, radiation from the harmonics (between 121 Khz & 178 Khz) at the moment of a rapid PLC signal – type G3

192.8 mV/m (peak) corresponds to the electric field’s permanent value (between 35,9 Khz & 90,6 Khz) outside of PLC Smart meter communications.

What real solutions exist to protect against PLC Smart meter radiation? During an electromagnetic diagnostic or a training course (individual or professional), "Electromagnetic Expert" can show you a number of reliable and measurable solutions in order to greatly minimize PLC electromagnetic radiation.

Why does the neutral wire radiate as much as the phase wire ?

To explain that, it suffices to see the detail of the PLC G3 communication protocol (global standard). In this protocol it is question of phase modulation of communication signals in DDQPSK and DBPSK.

Simplified, what does that mean? « 0 » and « 1 » correspond to meter readings which are modulated in analog signals (sinusoïds) in order to be easily transmitted over long distances. This type of transmission is standardized i.e. signals via MODEM.

Here is what the communication signals transmitted between electric phase and neutral look like : Here below an example of differential voltage where there can be 7.2 volts on the phase wire and -7.2 volts on the neutral wire in order to obtain 14.4 volts, peak maximum authorized on PLC G3 between phase and neutral (potential difference). Do not forget that it is possible to pass KHz signals on an earth wire onto a neutral wire (the neutral being earthed at the level of the transformer).

Here below a lesson example on transmission via MODEM

Un commentaire pour “Do “anti-Smartmeter” filters really stop the PLC-G3 emissions from PLC Smart meter ?”

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6 novembre 2023 à 17 h 06 min

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