Mains signalling system (2):

Mains signalling is a method by which signals can be superimposed on mains wiring for the remote control of electrical equipment. It was first proposed by two Swiss inventors, Routin and Brown, who patented the method to control street lighting in 1896. The technique is weil established and accepted in the USA, but in this country and Europe interest in it as a medium for communication has begun only in the late 1980s. This article deals with a system for use in horne automation. The main advantages of the system are ease of installation, flexibility and relatively low cost (because it uses existing mains wiring.