MN-L90C-R Broadband Power Line Communication Module for Smart Energy IoT
The MN-L90C Power Line Communication (PLC) Module is a high-performance broadband PLC modem designed for reliable communication over existing power lines. It enables data transmission without installing additional communication cables, making it an ideal solution for smart metering, photovoltaic (PV) inverters, EV charging stations, industrial automation, energy management systems (EMS), and smart grid infrastructure.
Powered by advanced OFDM technology and supporting up to 6 Mbps physical layer throughput, the MN-L90C delivers stable communication even in electrically noisy environments. With full compatibility with China State Grid and China Southern Power Grid communication standards, the module is suitable for both utility-grade and industrial IoT applications.
Reference Standards
- China Southern Power Grid Co.,Ltd.”Interface Protocol for Local Communication Module of Metering Automation Terminal”
- DL/T645 -2007 “Communication Protocol for Multi-functional Electric Energy Meters”
- China Southern Power Grid Co.,Ltd.”Low-voltage Power Line Broadband Carrier Communication Protocol Part 1-6″Q/CSG1204111 -2022
- China Southern Power Grid Co.,Ltd.”Technical Manual for Advanced Applications of Low-Voltage Power Line Broadband Carrier”
- State Grid Corporation of China “Technical Specifications for Power User Electricity Consumption Information Collection Systems: Technical Specifications for Communication Units” Q/GDW1374.3-2013
- State Grid Corporation of China’s series of technical specifications for “Electricity User Power Consumption Information Collection Systems:Communication Unit Technical Specifications” – Q/GDW 374.3-2009
Product Advantage
Terminology
- CCO:Central Coordinator –the primary node in a power line carrier communication network.
- STA:Segment Termination Adapter –a word node in power line carrier communication networks.
- PCO:Proxy Coordinator –a relay node in power line carrier communication networks.
- OFDM:Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing,an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing technology.
- BPSK:Binary Phase Shift Keying,binary phase shift keying.
- QPSK:Quadrature Phase Shift Keying,an orthogonal phase-shift encoding scheme.
- QAM:Quadrature Amplitude Modulation,also known as orthogonal amplitude modulation.
- FEC:Forward Error Correction,forward error correction encoding.
- CRC:Cyclical Redundancy Check.
- Product Specifications
Temperature -25°C to +75°C Humidity (RH) ≤95% (non-condensing) Atmospheric Pressure 63.0KPa to 108.3KPa (Altitude below 5000m) Power Supply DC 12V±1V Power Consumption Standby <0.8W, Active <1.8W Voltage Range 0-220V Carrier Method HPLC Frequency Band 0.7MHz - 12MHz (configurable band segmentation) Modulation Method OFDM Serial Port Type TTL/UART Flow Control
Baud Rate 9600 bps (supports 2400-1039063bps) Data Bits 8 Stop Bits 1 check bit
No validation
Port Type TTL (HDR1X3) Baud Rate 115200bps Data Bits 8 Stop Bits 1 Check Bits Even parity check Whitelist Enabled by default Transmit Power Adjustment Configurable via AT commands Logical Topology Recognition The topology diagram primarily displays node information and hierarchical relationships in the current network,reflects overall communication quality, and identifies potential locations of communication failures.
Asset Management Support the concentrator to query asset information such as MAC address,software/hardware version,and asset number
Remote Update Supports remote software version updates for modules
Insulation Resistance Power circuit to ground: >20MΩ Dielectric Strength Power circuit to ground: 4KV/1 min ESD Immunity Contact discharge: 6KV; Air discharge: 15KV Surge Immunity Test Power circuit: ±6KV Power LED (Red) Power indicator light:Should remain normally lit after power-on;flickering or extinction indicates malfunction
Status LED (Blue) Module status indicator:Flashes when sending data
UP_TX lamp
(Blue)The light is on indicating that the local communication unit is receiving data upstream.
DN_TX lamp
(Blue)The light is on indicating that the local communication unit is transmitting data downstream.
DN_RX lamp
(Blue)The light is on indicating that the local communication unit is receiving data in downlink.
PCBA Size (L*W*H) 70mm × 35mm × 5mm
Why Choose the MN-L90C PLC Module?
- Uses existing AC power lines for communication
- Eliminates additional Ethernet or wireless infrastructure
- Broadband PLC with up to 6 Mbps PHY speed
- Excellent anti-interference performance using OFDM
- Three-phase communication support
- Wide operating voltage (320–1040V)
- Compatible with Smart Grid and Energy IoT standards
- Supports remote firmware upgrade
- Low power consumption
- Easy integration through RS485 interface
- Suitable for harsh industrial environments
- OEM & ODM customization available
Key Features
Broadband PLC Technology
High-speed communication through existing power lines without additional wiring.
High-Speed Data Transmission
Supports:
- Physical Layer: 6 Mbps
- Application Layer: 2 Mbps
Suitable for real-time monitoring and control.
Excellent Noise Immunity
Advanced OFDM modulation with:
- BPSK
- QPSK
- 8QAM
- 16QAM
ensures reliable communication in noisy electrical environments.
Smart Grid Ready
Supports major utility standards including:
- SGCC
- CSG
- DL/T645
- Q/GDW
- Q/CSG
Easy System Integration
Provides:
- RS485
- TTL Debug Port
- AT Command Configuration
- Remote Firmware Upgrade
Module Dimensions and Mounting Hole Diagram
Pin Specifications
|
MN-L90C-R Power Line Communication Module PIN Definitions |
||
|
Pin Number |
Signal Definition |
explain |
| 1 |
PLC-L |
220V~N;Communication port requires a filtering network designed to isolate it from other AC power sources;generally required. Protection capability:Differential mode/Common mode:+/-4 kV |
| 2 |
PLC-N |
220V~L;Communication port requires a filtering network designed to isolate it from other AC power sources;generally required. Protection capability:Differential mode/Common mode:+/-4 kV |
| 3 |
VCC12V0 |
System power input:DC,12 V voltage;input power not less than 4 W |
| 4 |
GND |
Systematically |
| 5 |
UART0_TXD |
The module uses this UART for upper-layer MCU communication by default. Reused Signal 0:UART0_TXD Mainboard Communication TX. Reused Signal 1 :GPIO_10 General I/O,supporting user-friendly IO operations Reused Signal 2:UART0_N_TXD UART TX Inverted Output |
| 6 |
UART0_RXD |
The module defaults to using this UART for upper-level MCU communication (with built-in 10K pull-up support). Reused Signal 0:UART0_RXD – Mainboard Communication UART Receiver Reused Signal 1 :GPIO_9 – Universal Input/Output,providing user-friendly IO functionality |
| 7 |
UART0_RTS |
Default module flow control pin output (the module provides a 10 kΩ pull-up inside) Reuse Signal 0:Output from the flow control pin of RTS0_N UART0 Reused Signal 1 :GPIO_24 – Universal Input/Output,supporting user-defined IO functions |
| 8 |
UART0_CTS |
Default module flow control pin output (the module provides a 10 kΩ pull-up inside) Reuse Signal 0:Output from the flow control pin of RTS0_N UART0 Reused Signal 1 :GPIO_24 – Universal Input/Output,supporting user-defined IO functions |
References for Hardware Design
Power Input Requirements
| MIN | TYP | MAX | UNIT | |
| VCC12V0 | 11 | 12 | 13 | V |
Proximity to the module's 12 V input terminal on the motherboard requires placement of at least one 22 μF +
0.1 μF ground energy storage and decoupling capacitor to reduce power ripple,with peak-to-peak ripple below 200 mVpp.
The 12V module shares a 600 Ω/100 MHz ferrite bead isolation circuit with other 12V components on the motherboard,capable of handling currents of 1 A or higher.
The module's input power supply must meet a minimum requirement of4 W.
PLC Signal Peripheral Design
For the overall product design,the safety protection features on L/N lines and the PLC signal coupling design require careful attention;we strongly recommend referring to the accompanying circuit diagram and materialselection guidelines.
Note:In the diagram,RT1 represents a fuse.The PLC signal input point should be connected after the varistor(RV1),with its junction capacitance recommended to be less than 600 pF.Two differential-mode inductors(L1/L2)must be connected in series after the PLC signal to isolate it from the main power supply;their inductance values are recommended to range from 50 to 100 µH.
FAQ
What is the MN-L90C Power Line Communication Module?
The MN-L90C is a broadband PLC communication module that transfers data over existing AC power lines without requiring Ethernet or wireless networks.
