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Engineers strive for maximum
productivity with minimal downtime,
but this goal is only attainable with
the right network infrastructure. No
matter the industry, if a team doesn’t
have the right cabling system in place,
network reliability and performance
can be compromised, leading to very
costly production downtime.
This is why investing in high-quality,
rugged cabling is crucial – it can
reduce both the direct and indirect
costs of network failure and give
you peace-of-mind that the system
is working properly. There are
a variety of cabling options out
there, so how do teams know they
have the right one to support their
specific infrastructure and network
requirements? Deciphering whether
you need fiber or copper cabling is a
great place to start.
Copper cables: The classic
cabling mix
Copper cabling is the traditional option
in industrial installations and is best
suited for the majority of industrial
data transmission needs. Copper cables
come in a variety of forms, including
Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 6a twisted pair
cables using any number of conductor
types, insulations, shielding and jackets.
Armoring is also available for extremely
harsh environments.
Cat 5e cables are the most widely
used copper cables today, but new
installations favor the use of Cat 6
cables to meet required Gigabit speeds
and increased headroom. Cat 6a
cables are also an option for extreme
future-proofing, minimizing the lack of
bandwidth and headroom.
Teams must be careful when using
copper cabling as it can stimulate
potential failure points due to ingress
from electrical noise, as also known
as, electro-magnetic or radio frequency
interference. In light of this risk, these
cables can also limit bandwidth capacity
and signal transmission at extended
distances.
Fiber optic cables: The
ultimate for future-proofing
Fiber optic cabling is ideal for industrial
environments where high-speed, high-
bandwidth data solutions are needed.
Because fiber optic cables are typically
superior in bandwidth, low attenuation
and complete electrical noise immunity,
more information can be carried across
the network without interruption.
They are also smaller and lighter than
copper cables, extremely durable and
intrinsically safe, with no risk of spark
hazards.
Fiber optic Ethernet cables are available
for both indoor and outdoor use,
including situations where cables need
to be buried underground. For example,
Copper vs. Fiber: Which Cable Do You Need?
Brian Shuman, Belden, Inc.
Connectors & Cables
Special Edition
56 l New-Tech Magazine Europe