What is Industrial Switch

The industrial switch is a type of network equipment specifically designed for industrial environments, with higher reliability, stability, and anti-interference performance. Industrial Ethernet switches are mainly used for Ethernet data transmission in complex industrial environments such as transportation, mining, oil, railways, etc. In this article, we will introduce what industrial ethernet switches are, their advantages, and their applications.

Introduction of Industrial Ethernet Switch

Industrial switches are mainly used in complex environments and are designed with high reliability and stability in mind. They not only can operate normally in extreme environments but also meet the usage requirements of industrial fields. Industrial ethernet switches can withstand a wider range of temperatures, humidity, vibrations, electrical noise, and other forms of pollution.

Different between Commercial Ethernet Switch vs. Industrial Ethernet Switch

When talking about the differences between industrial switches and commercial switches, the main aspects involved are:

Design purpose and environmental adaptability

Industrial switches are usually designed to meet the needs of harsh environments, so they have higher environmental adaptability and reliability. Commercial switches are typically designed for mild office environments.

Enclosure material

Industrial switches typically use sturdy and durable metal materials to resist the effects of environmental factors such as vibration, high temperature, and electromagnetic interference. Commercial switches typically use plastic enclosures, which are sufficient for light usage.

Protection level

Industrial switches typically have higher protection levels and can work in more severe environments. Commercial switches typically do not have these protection features.

Temperature range

Industrial switches can operate over a wider temperature range and can withstand higher or lower temperatures. Commercial switches typically only work within a narrow temperature range.

Network management functions

Industrial switches typically have more powerful network management functions and can configure and manage the network more finely. Commercial switches typically provide fewer network management functions.

Supported protocols

Industrial switches typically support a wider range of protocols, including some protocols designed specifically for the industrial field. Commercial switches typically support more common protocols.

 

Overall, industrial network switches are primarily designed to ensure network reliability and stability in harsh environments, while commercial switches are mainly used for network connections in lightly used environments such as offices.

Advantages of Industrial Ethernet Switches

Hardware specifications

Industrial switches usually have metal casings with higher protection ratings. This is because industrial ethernet switches are designed to meet the demands of harsh environments, so they have higher reliability and stability and can withstand more physical damage and vibrations. 

Fast loop and redundancy

Industrial switches support fast loop protocols and redundant configurations, which can quickly restore network services within 50ms in the event of network failures, improving network reliability. 

Interference resistance

Because industrial switches are generally used in harsh environments with more interference, they have higher interference resistance, such as electromagnetic interference and electrical noise. 

Operating temperature

Industrial switches can operate normally in a wider temperature range. Since industrial ethernet switches are often deployed in places without additional cooling devices, they need to be able to withstand higher or lower temperatures. 

Service life

Industrial switches have a longer service life due to their deployment in environments that are difficult to access or replace, reducing equipment replacement and maintenance costs. 

Power supply and fans

Industrial switches generally adopt dual redundant power supply designs to avoid the inconvenience caused by power outages and ensure stable device operation. In order to enhance reliability, industrial ethernet switches usually use fanless designs to dissipate heat through metal casings and reduce the impact of external environmental factors on the device. 

Application of Industrial Ethernet Switches

Metro System

During the operation of the metro system, a large amount of data and information needs to be transmitted, such as station monitoring, signal control, communication, video surveillance, and so on. Due to the complex external environment of the metro, commercial switches cannot meet the needs of the metro system, while industrial switches can provide stable and reliable network connections to ensure the real-time and accurate transmission of information. By using industrial ethernet switches to connect with terminal devices, network notifications, and stable operation can be achieved, ensuring the safety and operational efficiency of the metro system.

Smart city surveillance

With the development of smart city construction, the coverage and quantity of roadside monitoring systems are expanding. As the devices are deployed on the streets, they are subjected to a large amount of interference and the influence of harsh environments such as high or low temperatures, so more reliable and anti-interference industrial switches such as industrial PoE switches are needed. Industrial PoE switches adopt redundant and various fault protection mechanisms, which can greatly reduce the system failure rate. Industrial PoE switches use metal casings, which have features such as shock resistance, anti-interference, dustproof, and waterproof, and they have strong anti-electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic noise, and other capabilities. While ensuring the stability and accuracy of data transmission, it can also provide power to the end devices, making the deployment of the devices easier.

Renewable energy application

With the development of clean energy such as solar and wind power, more and more solar power plants are being built, which require data collection, equipment control, and data transmission. Because these solar power plants are usually deployed in harsh or wilderness environments with large temperature fluctuations and significant external environmental interference, it is necessary to use industrial switches with strong anti-interference capabilities and a wide temperature range to ensure the efficient and stable operation of the system. Deploying network equipment can achieve automated control of solar power generation systems, improving system reliability and operating efficiency.

Conclusion

 

This article has helped us understand what an industrial switch is, how it differs from a regular switch, its advantages, and its specific applications. We believe that after reading this article, you have a preliminary understanding of industrial switches. If you have any questions about industrial ethernet switches, please feel free to contact QSFPTEK's CCIE/HCIE engineer via support@qsfptek.com.