Posted to News on 2nd Jul 2014, 09:19
Entry-level industrial Ethernet switches for harsh environments
Belden Inc. is launching two new robust entry-level switches in its Hirschmann product range. The new SPIDER II 16TX EEC and SPIDER II 16TX/2DS-S EEC switches have a high port density, thus offering a cost-effective means for implementing industrial Ethernet technology. Both SPIDER switches can be used to implement flexible networking systems for a wide range of industries, including automation, discrete manufacturing and transportation.
The switches have stable metal housing, can withstand extreme heat and cold, and are approved for use in environments with a high explosion risk. A second power supply may also be connected to further increase operational reliability. The switches, which can be mounted on a DIN rail and activated quickly via plug-and-play functionality, are suitable for connecting to the backbone or for networking linear and tree topologies.
Product Manager Sebastian Preiss says: "These two SPIDER switches provide cost-effective solutions for data communication in harsh industrial environments. Thanks to the high port density, they also offer an excellent price/performance ratio."
The 16TX/2DS-S EEC variant offers two optical dual-speed uplinks, which can be equipped with Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers for different optical fibre types. These uplinks, which support Gigabit Ethernet, ensure that no bottlenecks develop - even for applications with high data volumes - thus, guaranteeing smooth communication at all times. The switches can be cascaded as often as required, permitting implementation of decentralised networks with short transmission paths and hence considerably reducing the cost of cabling.
Both switches feature 16 RJ45 ports, which support fast Ethernet (10/100 BASE-TX). The version with optical uplinks additionally has two dual-speed ports (100/1000 BASE-FX) for Fast or Gigabit Ethernet SFP transceivers, which are also available as bidirectional (BIDI) variants and allow data to be transmitted in both directions over a single fibre. Distances of up to 120km can be bridged with the uplinks via single or multimode fibres. Gigabit speed ensures that sufficient bandwidth is available even for applications with high volumes of data.
Other features of the two switches include an extended temperature range from -40degC to +70degC, high EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility), shock and vibration resistance, a redundant 24V power supply, and stable metal housing, which allows space-saving assembly, thanks to its compact dimensions (66 × 138 × 111mm). The switches also meet the requirements of industrial protection class IP30.
For complete technical specifications and certifications for the switches, see Product Bulletin SPIDER II 16TX EEC and SPIDER II 16TX/2DS-S EEC from Hirschmann, available at www.beldensolutions.com.
