SPE switches can transmit power and data up to 1km
7 August 2024 
Weidmüller has announced an unmanaged switch with SPE (single-pair Ethernet) connections that transmit data reliably over distances of up to 1km. The 10Base-T1L SPE unmanaged switch also offers Profinet Class A conformity, simplifying connections to Profinet networks.
Transmitting data over long distances is a major challenge in many industrial applications, with traditional RJ-45-based Ethernet connections being limited to a 100m range. And sometimes, energy needs to be transmitted from a switch to sensors, as well as data. Weidmüller says that the new switch is a “groundbreaking” solution for such applications.
The SPE switch’s 10Mbit/s bandwidth is much wider than RS-485 over a similar distance. This means that it offers a reliable, high-performance network connection for devices such as sensors. In addition, the mating face of the SPE connector is designed for industrial uses, avoiding micro-interruptions in transmission.
The switch supports Power over Data Line (PoDL) up to Class 15, delivering up to 50W of power to an end device. Functions such as SCCP and Forcemode make it easy to set up power supplies for new devices.
SPE offers particular advantages in environments where space is limited, because both data and power can flow through the same pair of wires, so only one cable needs to be laid. In addition, it allows cost-efficient connection of sensors using copper cables instead of expensive fibre optics. Compared to optical fibres, copper offers better bending radii and easier installation, because no splicing is needed.
The switch has a quality of service (QoS) function that allows resources to be distributed across a network, and critical traffic to be prioritised. This function complies with Profinet Class A, easing connections to Profinet-compatible networks.
