Cabling for Fault-Managed Power Systems (What is Class 4?)
by Ronald Tellas, Belden
Remote powering enables the ability to easily place end devices where they are needed instead of based on proximity to a power source. Class 2 remote power delivery (DC power supplies and Power over Ethernet) carries a 100 W power limitation and has a “practical” reach of only a few hundred meters. Network connectivity to end devices requiring more than 100 W or spanning several hundreds of meters can lead to costly solutions. A fault-managed power system (FMPS) is new technology, defined as Class 4, that can go beyond the limitations of Class 2 and maintain the benefits and flexibility of remote powering.