Introduction
1.5 Cabling Recommendations
1.5
Cabling Recommendations
Siemens recommends using SIMATIC NET industrial Ethernet shielded cables for all
Ethernet ports.
1.5.1
Protection On Twisted-Pair Data Ports
All copper Ethernet ports on RUGGEDCOM products include transient suppression
circuitry to protect against damage from electrical transients and conform with
IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 Class 1 standards. This means that during a transient
electrical event, communications errors or interruptions may occur, but recovery is
automatic.
Siemens also does not recommend using copper Ethernet ports to interface with
devices in the field across distances that could produce high levels of ground
potential rise (i.e. greater than 2500 V), during line-to-ground fault conditions.
1.5.2
Gigabit Ethernet 1000Base-TX Cabling Recommendations
The IEEE 802.3ab Gigabit Ethernet standard defines 1000 Mbit/s Ethernet
communications over distances of up to 100 m (328 ft) using all 4 pairs in category
5 (or higher) balanced, unshielded twisted-pair cabling. For wiring guidelines,
system designers and integrators should refer to the Telecommunications Industry
Association (TIA) TIA/EIA-568-A wiring standard that characterizes minimum cabling
performance specifications required for proper Gigabit Ethernet operation. For
reliable, error-free data communication, new and pre-existing communication paths
should be verified for TIA/EIA-568-A compliance.
The following table summarizes the relevant cabling standards:
Cabling
Category
1000Base-
TX Compliant Required Action
< 5
No
New wiring infrastructure required.
5
Yes
Verify TIA/EIA-568-A compliance.
5e
Yes
No action required. New installations should be designed with
Category 5e or higher.
6
Yes
No action required.
> 6
Yes
Connector and wiring standards to be determined.
Follow these recommendations for copper data cabling in high electrical noise
environments:
• Data cable lengths should be as short as possible, preferably 3 m (10
ft) in length. Copper data cables should not be used for inter-building
communications.
• Power and data cables should not be run in parallel for long distances, and
should be installed in separate conduits. Power and data cables should intersect
at 90° angles when necessary to reduce inductive coupling.
4
RUGGEDCOM RX1511
Installation Manual, 04/2021, C79000-G8976-1056-20
