Get Your Industrial Network Right

摘要

THE PARETO PRINCIPLE OR 80:20 RULE, WHICH in its simplest form states 80% of the problems come from 20% of the population (or less), applies to industrial networks. Experience has shown that 80% of the network problems relate to the physical layer - the wires, fiber, frequency, connectors, power supplies, etc., on which the signals are transmitted. The good news is that once you get the physical problems resolved, typically during commissioning and startup, the system should run with minimal disruption until something is changed. As with any installation, the potential for problems can begin with the design itself, so follow good engineering practices such as proper tray and cable spacing as described in IEC 61000-5-2:7997, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Part 5: Installation and Mitigation Guidelines. Section 2, Earthing (Grounding in North America) and Cabling, provides guidance by assigning classes to different types of cables based on the energy levels they contain, and recommending spacing to prevent noise in one system affecting others.