Description
Meet the Black Box Hardened Mini Industrial Switch, a rugged four-port Ethernet solution designed to thrive in the most demanding industrial settings. This compact device adds four 10/100 Mbps copper ports to your network, delivering full wire-speed forwarding so time-critical control and automation traffic moves without delay. Built with an industrial-strength plastic housing, it stands up to the dust, vibration, and EMI typical of factory floors and harsh outdoor environments, while remaining small enough to fit into tight installations. The switch adheres to IEC 61000-6-2 EMC standards for industrial environments, offering dependable performance in the presence of electrical noise commonly generated by motors, drives, and other heavy machinery. With auto MDI/MDI-X copper ports, you can connect devices with standard Ethernet cables without worrying about cable type or uplink configuration, simplifying deployment and reducing downtime. Whether you’re expanding an aging infrastructure, integrating edge devices, or linking PLCs and sensors, this compact, reliable switch delivers the stable connectivity essential for modern industrial networks.
- Four 10/100 Mbps copper RJ-45 ports deliver reliable, full wire-speed forwarding across the network, enabling seamless integration of legacy devices and modern edge sensors alike for responsive automation networks.
- Industrial-strength plastic housing provides a rugged, compact footprint that resists impact, dust, and moisture while maintaining a slim form factor for tight installations and constrained spaces.
- Auto MDI/MDI-X copper ports simplify cabling—no more guessing about uplink requirements; just connect devices and go, reducing setup time and cabling errors on the factory floor.
- EMC-compliant design meets IEC 61000-6-2 standards for industrial environments, helping to maintain stable operation in the presence of EMI, electrical noise, and grid disturbances typical in manufacturing facilities.
- Versatile deployment for factory automation, outdoor enclosures, and harsh environments where space, durability, and dependable performance matter most—perfect for edge computing, control networks, and small-scale industrial deployments.
Technical Details of Black Box Hardened Mini Industrial Switch
- Ports: 4 x 10/100 Mbps copper RJ-45 ports
- Interface: Copper Ethernet connections with auto-negotiation
- Auto MDI/MDI-X: Yes, for hassle-free uplinks
- Enclosure: Industrial-strength plastic housing designed for rugged environments
- EMC Compliance: IEC 61000-6-2 generic standards for electromagnetic compatibility in industrial environments
- Forwarding: Full wire-speed forwarding across the network to ensure low latency for time-critical applications
How to Install Black Box Hardened Mini Industrial Switch
Install the switch quickly and with confidence by following these straightforward steps. This guide emphasizes simple plug-and-play operation to minimize downtime while ensuring solid, industry-grade connectivity.
- Plan the placement of the switch in a location that minimizes exposure to dust and moisture while keeping cables organized and accessible for maintenance and future expansions.
- Position the switch in a suitable enclosure or on a surface with adequate ventilation to avoid overheating and to prolong component life in demanding environments.
- Connect devices to the four copper RJ-45 ports using standard Ethernet cables. Rely on auto MDI/MDI-X to automatically handle uplinks and crossovers, reducing confusion during setup.
- Establish your network topology by connecting an uplink to your main switch or router as required. Verify that each connected device shows a healthy link and activity LED indication on its port.
- Power on the switch and monitor the port activity indicators. Run basic connectivity tests between connected devices to confirm that data flows with minimal latency and that your automation traffic remains uninterrupted in real-world conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Black Box Hardened Mini Industrial Switch? It is a rugged, four-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switch specifically designed for industrial environments. It adds reliable, low-latency connectivity to PLCs, sensors, and edge devices while withstanding the dust, vibration, and EMI common on factory floors.
- What speeds do the ports support? All four copper ports operate at 10/100 Mbps with auto-negotiation, providing compatibility with older equipment and newer devices within the same network.
- Does it comply with EMC standards? Yes. It meets IEC 61000-6-2 generic standards for electromagnetic compatibility in industrial environments, which helps maintain stable operation amidst electrical noise from heavy machinery.
- Are the copper ports auto-sensing the uplink type? Yes. The switch supports Auto MDI/MDI-X on its copper ports, enabling plug-and-play connections without requiring crossover cables.
- Where is this switch best used? It is well-suited for factory floors, outdoor or harsh environments, and space-constrained installations where reliable, rugged network connectivity is essential for automation and control systems.
- Is this switch managed or unmanaged? The product details describe an unmanaged, plug-and-play switch designed for quick deployments and straightforward network expansion with minimal configuration.
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