Capacitive couplers and methods for communicating data over an electrical
power delivery system are disclosed. A device for coupling a signal onto
a conductor of an electrical power delivery system includes a conductive
member having a length of at least six inches but less than 200 feet and
a data signal generator connected to the conductive member for supplying
a data signal to the conductive member. The conductive member is adapted
to capacitively couple the data signal onto the conductor. The conductive
member may comprise an outer layer of a coaxial cable wherein an inner
conductor of the coaxial cable is adapted to be connected to the
conductor of the electrical power delivery system. The conductor may
comprise a grounding wire of a surge arrester wherein the conductive
member comprises a conductive medium adapted to be wrapped around the
grounding wire. A method of installing a device for capacitively coupling
a signal onto a conductor of an electrical power delivery system is also
disclosed. The method includes selecting a conductive member having a
length of at least six inches but less than 200 feet and providing a data
signal generator to supply a data signal to the conductive member. The
conductive member is then positioned to capacitively couple the data
signal onto the conductor. Other couplers and methods are also disclosed.