Cables for Single Pair Ethernet: Where Are We Headed?

Which SPE solutions are preferable against existing communication standards?

Single Pair Ethernet cable

With Single Pair Ethernet, just as with all other communication technologies, it is important to choose the right cable for each application.

Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) is seen as one of the most important trends shaping the future of industrial communication. Advantages of this new connection technology featuring only one conductor pair include high-speed data transmission, reduced space requirements and lower costs. But where will it be applied in the future, which cable types will be required, and how will SPE perform compared to existing communication standards? HELUKABEL addressed these questions in a webinar titled "Single Pair Ethernet Cabling", which took place as part of the "SPE Pioneer Summit" webinar series.

Currently, various communication systems can be found in the industrial environment, such as Profinet, CAT 5e and 6a, Industrial Ethernet or Ethercat. However, Single Pair Ethernet has the potential to replace these technologies in numerous applications - thanks to data transmission at gigabit speeds and a simultaneous power supply via only one wire pair. This smart, flexible, cost and space saving solution makes real-time communication possible down to the field level.

A basic prerequisite for the use of SPE is to have the right technical infrastructure in place - from terminals and plug connections to cabling. In order to make the changeover easier for manufacturers and users, the same cable classifications were defined for SPE as are already used for Profinet:

  • Type A: wires with solid wire for permanent installation
  • Type B: wires with stranded conductors for flexible applications or vibrations
  • Type C: wires with stranded conductors for high dynamic applications (such as drag chains)
  • Type R: torsion tested cables with stranded conductors for robotic applications

Drag chain and robot cables mainly differ by their respective screening designed for bending or torsional load capacity.

In addition, different sheath materials are used for each cable type to suit specific applications. Cables of type A and B are typically screened with PVC. There are also plenty of halogen-free, food safe and oil and chemical resistant alternatives to choose from. Type C cables are available in PUR, PVC and Santoprene, and type R robot cables are also available in PUR and Santoprene.

JacketHalogen-FreeFlame RetardancyLow SmokePriceOil ResistanceRepeated BendingAbrasion ResistanceUL Flame Test Possibilities
PVC ULnomedium-highnolow-mediumlow-highmediummediumVW1, FT1, FT4
FRNC/LS0H/
LSZH
yesmedium-highyesmediumlowlowlowVW1, FT1, FT4
PEyesnoyesmediumlowlowlowno
PUR ULyesmediummediumhighhighhighhighVW1, FT1, CFT
TPE (Santoprene)nomediummediumhighhighhighhighVW1, FT1, CFT
TPE (Santoprene)yesnomediumhighhighhighhighno

Table 1: Properties of different sheath materials of SPE cables

For data transmission, Single Pair Ethernet offers several options in terms of speed and range:

  • 10BASE-T1: data rate up to 10 Mbit/s, range up to 1.000 m
  • 100BASE-T1: data rate up to 100 Mbit/s, range up to 40 m
  • 1000BASE-T1: data rate up to 1 Gbit/s, range up to 40 m
  • MultiGigBASE-T1: data rate up to 2,5 / 5 / 10 Gbit/s, range up to 15 m

In the industrial environment, 10BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 are currently the most important. The MultiGig technology, which is still being developed, will open more possibilities in the future. HELUKABEL has already added three different SPE cables for 10BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 to its portfolio, and the product range is constantly being expanded.

When comparing different existing industrial communication technologies with Single Pair Ethernet, many advantages become apparent depending on the application. For example, 10BASE-T1 scores more highly than Profibus PA with its significantly higher frequency range, which enables a data transmission at up to 320 times the speed - fast enough for the transmission of videos, for example.

 Profibus PA / Foundation FieldbusSPE 10BASE-T1L
Cross SectionAWG 18 solid or stranded / AWG 16 stranded
Max. Distanceup to 1900 m non harzardous areas, up to 1000 m in hazardous areas (FISCO Power Supply to IEC 60079-11)up to 1000 m (TI phy DP83TD510E >
2000 m Peer-to-Peer)
Impedance100 +- 20 ohms @ 31,25 kHz100 +- 15 ohms @ 20 MHz
Frequency Rangeup to 39 kHzup to 20 MHz
Max. Data Rate31,25 kbit10 Mbit
Typical ConnectorM12 a-coded 4 PIN IP67
7/8 inch PI67
M8/M12 SPE IEC 63171-6

Table 2: Comparison of SPE 10BASE-T1 with Profibus PA

Compared to USB technology, both 1000BASE-T1 and MultiGigBASE-T1 offer a significantly higher data rate and range as well as a greater power supply. 1000BASE-T1 is also preferable due to its smaller cable diameter and lower weight, lower copper requirement and tighter bending radii than cabling with Profibus DP, CAN or Industrial Ethernet.

ComparisonProfibus DPSPE 1000BASE-T1SPE 1000BASE-T1SPE Advantage or Disadvantage
 Drag Chain DesignDrag Chain DesignDrag Chain Design 
Cross SectionAWG 23/19AWG 26/19AWG 22/19 
Data Rate12 Mbit1 Gbit83x more data rate
Cable Diameter8,0 mm4,9 mm6,3 mm21-38% reduced space
Max. Distance100 m*40 mdisadvantage in length
Powerno(hybrid)PoDL up to 50 Wpower included
Cable Weight~ 77 kg/km~ 29 kg/km~ 50 kg/km35-60% reduced weight
Copper Fig.25 kg/km16 kg/km24 kg/km4-36 % reduced copper
Bending Radius Chain
96 mm59 mm76 mm20-39% red. bending radius

*with high speed 12 Mbit

Table 3: Comparison of SPE 1000BASE-T1 with Profibus DP

You can find out more information in the "Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Cabling" webinar that HELUKABEL recently did as part of the SPE Industrial Partner Network's "SPE Pioneer Summit" series. HELUKABEL expert Horst Messerer delivers a detailed presentation about the advantages of SPE technology compared to existing communication standards and explains which cables and connectors are already available on the market. The webinar can be accessed free of charge at any time here.

Portrait of Horst Messerer
Horst Messerer is Product Manager for Data, Network and Bus Technology.
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