Switches suit heavy-duty industrial applications

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 10, 2005

New low cost six-port industrial Ethernet switches incorporate the latest networking technology and innovative product packaging features to serve "edge-of-the-network" factory floor applications.

GarrettCom Europe has released a versatile range of compact, low cost six-port industrial Ethernet switches that incorporate the latest networking technology and innovative product packaging features to serve "edge-of-the-network" factory floor and utility substation applications.

The ES42 range of industrial Ethernet switches are designed for use in heavy-duty industrial applications - increasingly where small groups of PLCs or other industrial devices need to be connected upstream over a fibre cable or where multiple devices need to be aggregated and connected over copper cable.

As device intelligence spreads to the very edge of the network, these Ethernet switches can provide seemless connectivity from the most remote device to the IT department.

"We are discovering that the combination of more Ethernet-ready intelligent sensors and controllers, coupled with innovative products such as GarrettCom's edge switches, eliminates the need for a Fieldbus/Ethernet conversion further up the network chain", said Maurizio Buzzi, Programs Manager, Fort Fibre Ottiche, Milan, Italy.

"All in all, having a single network protocol to support makes a lot of sense to us".

ES42 switches include Link-Loss-Learn (LLL), which enables them to be used in self-healing and redundant LAN structures.

The LLL feature allows ES42 switches to sense link loss or standard STP/RSTP reconfiguration signals on designated ports, and is designed to simplify and speed up recovery by changing the flow path of the LAN packets and passing the reconfiguration signal down the line to other products in the redundant network structure.

Edge switches, combined with managed switches running STP or RSTP or S-Ring, can often provide high availability redundant LANs at lower total cost than was previously possible.

The compact design provides six Ethernet ports, with base models having a choice of two 100Mbit/s fibre and four 10/100 copper ports, one fibre and five copper ports, or six copper ports.

The fibre-port choices cover all multimode and single-mode fibre connector types.

The ES42 switches are available in regular (office), hardened (factory floor), and premium-rated (outdoor) versions.

This selection of models and fibre port types offers the best price-to-value ratio for each installation.

The ES42H hardened units are for factory floor applications and are built with high-grade components and constructed using special thermal techniques (patent pending) and a metal case for heavy-duty industrial jobs.

In addition to a hardened AC power option and jack, terminals for internal DC power choices at 8 to 15, 24 or -48V DC are included.

There is also the option of a 24V DC external power source.

The ambient temperature rating is for industrial use.

No internal airflow is required for cooling, so it resists dust, dirt, moisture, smoke and insects.

Mounting choices include stand-alone panel mounting, DIN-rail or rack-mount tray.

The ES42P premium-rated units are for temperature uncontrolled applications, typically located outdoors.

Built using premium-grade extended temperature components, they can be used in temperatures ranging from -40 to +75C.

All ES42 edge switch models come with two sets of LED indicators.

One set is on the front for viewing convenience when the unit is DIN-rail or wall-mounted, and one LED set is mounted in the end adjacent to the ports for easy viewing when units are in a rack-mount tray.