Ethernet is the undisputed overlord of the Internet world and has firmly occupied the territory of the commercial office environment in recent years. The control and automation are also moving towards this open, standards-based technology. Do you think the cables used in reception desks can also meet the demanding requirements of industrial process control and automation technology environments? In fact, COTS (Popular in the market) Class 5e unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet cables are very fragile by industrial standards. In addition to the possible obvious physical damage, there are more concealed and invisible electromagnetic/RF interference. What would happen if non-strengthening commercial grade 5e Class unshielded twisted pair cables were laid on the factory floor?
Installation problem: Excessive force stretching of commercial grade UTP will lengthen the cable. Commercial standards stipulate that the maximum stretching force is 25 lbs. Before stretching, the cable is 100 feet, and after stretching, it may become 100 feet 2 inches. Extending the cable can cause excessive signal loss (attenuation) and signal delay. These effects will limit the distance the cable may be laid. When carrying cables, twisted pairs may disperse, changing the spacing between wires and wire centers, causing imbalance. In this way, the line pairs have more coupling function (crosstalk) and signal echo transmission (return loss), and are more susceptible to surrounding electromagnetic/radiofrequency interference. Any of these factors can cause loss of data transmission in cables, causing industrial process disruptions or security issues. Belden CDT's patented adhesive pair technology prevents the spread of the pair and ensures the design performance of the cable. The insulated conductors of each pair are physically bonded together along the entire cable. No matter how you move, even when installing, the wire pairs will not be separated unintentionally. The adhesive wire pair also increases mechanical strength, and in addition to mechanical stability, it also improves the degree of tension resistance.
Temperature impact: The above problems are all caused by moving cables. What problems will be encountered when encountering extreme temperature environments in industrial applications? Extremely low temperatures will make the cable hard, brittle and difficult to use, especially when the cable is too brittle during installation, which is a serious problem. On the other hand, extremely high temperatures may degrade the performance of the plastic used in the cable, and the corresponding cable should be laid according to the expected temperature. Cable temperature rating is not the only consideration. At above 20°C, for every 1°C increase, the attenuation of COTS Class 5e cables will increase by 0.4%. At 60°C, the attenuation may increase by 16%. Currently, Belden CDT provides a DataTwist cable that enhances high temperature resistance to attenuation. On the other hand, the user can lay short cables or want the signal to be strong enough to be received without error when subject to electromagnetic/RF interference. However, the cable margin height and inherent immunity may have been compromised during installation, and the patented adhesive wire technology of Belden CDT can prevent changes caused by installation stretching, ensuring the promised performance even in consideration of more circumstances (such as ambient temperature rise).
UV radiation and sun exposure: Most commercial Class 5e cables are not for outdoor use, and when the cable is exposed to UV light in the sun, the cable's plastic sheath will decompose faster. The mechanical strength of the sheath (ie, separation) begins to decrease, shortening the service life of the cable. Belden CDT's DataTwist products offer sun-resistant (SUN RES) cable sheaths to ensure they last for practical applications.
Oil resistance: In actual daily production activities, many parts need to be well lubricated to ensure smooth operation. Lubricating oil extracted from petroleum can be immersed in COTS Class 5e cables, especially at high temperatures. Oil can cause the cable sheath to expand, lose mechanical strength, and expose the inner core. DataTwist cables provide a variety of oil-proof sheaths to meet your actual production needs.
Mechanical Force: Wear, Shear and Roll: If you drive on a cable, you may damage the entire cable. There is no possibility that ordinary commercial cables are even spared. DataTwist cables all have industrial-grade cable sheaths, some of which have unique surface sheaths that provide additional mechanical protection against wear and shear. The reinforced DataTwist products are interlocked reinforced armored, adhesive pairs and Belden CDT mounting performance ensure the toughness of Ethernet cables.
Electromagnetic/RF interference, noise and shielding: Avoiding potential interference sources is the best choice. The first step is to keep the cables away from interference sources, such as welding machines, switching relays or DC drivers. What should you do when you try to control a source of interference such as an welding personomer? One way is to use optical cables. Optical cables can absolutely avoid the impact of electromagnetic/RF interference. If you are concerned about costs, complexity, or the toughness of optical cables, you can consider using a shielded Class 5e copper cable solution. Even a simple layer of aluminum foil shielding provides significant anti-electromagnetic/RF interference when properly grounded.
Grounding: Correct grounding is the key to obtaining effective shielding. No grounding or incorrect grounding may reduce the shielding effect. Ideal shielded grounding should have only one contact. When the interference signal is coupled to the shielding layer, the current is directed to the ground, avoiding the impact of the wire pairs under the shielding layer. When both the proximal and distal ends of the shield are connected to the ground, a ground loop may be formed. The earth potential difference between the proximal and distal positions will form a huge potential difference and corresponding current on the conductive shielding layer. The earth current flowing on the shield makes the shield an interference source for the pair of lines carrying signals.
Balance: Highly balanced, stable UTP can provide great immunity. Each half twist of the wire pair can be regarded as a loop antenna. The other half of the continuous twist is opposite to the upper wire in the direction. In a balanced ideal cable, the alternating polarity of the loop antenna will offset the interference added to the line. Adhesive wires provide the closest to perfect balance to the cable, especially after rough installation and mechanical damage during daily use. In the presence of interference, the balance and stability of the cable are the key to its success or failure in the application of industrial Ethernet.
Industrial Standards: Open standardization is a major advantage of Ethernet. Any product can be designed to meet the minimum requirements specified by IEEE.