When users are purchasing network products such as Ethernet Switches, they are often confused about whether to choose industrial-grade or commercial-grade Ethernet Switches. They may wonder what the differences are and why there is such a significant price difference. Today, let's explore the differences between industrial-grade Ethernet Switches and commercial-grade Ethernet Switches.
Firstly, the applicable environments are different.. The most obvious difference is their operating temperature. Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches are designed to operate reliably in extremely cold or hot environments, ranging from -40°C to 85°C, while the commercial-grade Ethernet Switches typically have a working temperature range of around -10°C to 55°C.
Secondly, their reliability differs. Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches have undergone significant design upgrades in terms of reliability to withstand harsh environments. This is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
- ESD design: Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches can withstand up to 8kV or even 15kV (IEC61000-4-2) of electrostatic discharge.
- Lightning and surge protection: Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches can handle up to 2kV or even 4kV (IEC61000-4-5) of lightning or surge protection.
- Fanless design: Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches adopt fanless design, reducing power consumption while improving overall reliability and lifespan.
- Power supply design: Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches adopt dual power supply redundancy, enhancing power reliability and lifespan. They support a wide voltage input range from DC9V to DC54V, with DC24V being the typical input (non-POE). A high voltage input is especially important in low-temperature environments, which may the Ethernet Switches start and operate steadily. Additionally, they feature power reverse connection protection and non-polarity design to prevent damage caused by wrong connection of the power supply.
Commercial-grade Ethernet Switches, on the other hand, often sacrifice or completely omit these reliability designs due to cost considerations and hard to achieve such high levels of reliability.
Thirdly, their installation methods differ. Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches are typically designed for industrial scenarios and are installed using a DIN rail, which supports a standard 35cm rail. In contrast, commercial-grade Ethernet Switches are generally designed for desktop installation.
Fourthly, their cooling methods differ. Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches adopt a fanless design and dissipate heat through the whole chassis surface; while commercial-grade Ethernet Switches, especially those with a small number of ports, dissipate heat through ventilation holes, and for Ethernet Switches with a large number of ports or high-speed rates, fans are usually required for cooling.
Fifthly, their power supply methods differ. Industrial-grade Ethernet Switches, considering factors such as reliability and overall lifespan, generally adopt dual power supply redundancy. They support a wider voltage input range from DC9V-DC54V, with DC24V being the typical input (non-POE); while commercial-grade Ethernet Switches, considering cost factors, usually have a single power supply input, typically DC5V or DC12V.
Finally, he industrial-grade switch box is designed without cooling holes, reaching IP40 protection level; while commercial-grade Ethernet Switches usually have no requirements for protection level, and may have ventilation holes for heat dissipation.
All in all, industrial-grade Ethernet Switches are designed to meet the demands of harsh environments, making them suitable for extreme cold, extreme hot, dust, outdoor, and other challenging conditions; while commercial-grade Ethernet Switches are primarily designed for indoor use.
Now that we understand the differences between industrial-grade Ethernet Switches and commercial-grade Ethernet Switches, we know how to choose between them. We also understand why industrial-grade Ethernet Switches tend to be more expensive than commercial-grade Ethernet Switches.