Berk-Tek, a Nexans company, recently released the LANmark-IP cable, which is designed for high-PoE applications with low bandwidth requirements, such as IP lighting. “Specially constructed with 22-AWG conductors and all-FEP insulation, PoE-optimized LANmark-IP more effectively manages the heat generated by high-power PoE,” Berk-Tek said when introducing the cable.
The company explained, “Today there are more than 100 million devices effectively powered with PoE. IP lighting, or smart lighting, is an example of a high-power, low-bandwidth application running on PoE. The global IP lighting market is expected to grow approximately 27 percent annually to over $19 billion by 2022 [Source: MarketsAndMarkets, September 2016, Smart Lighting Market by Product Type]. IP-connected lights can be easily controlled via an Ethernet network, and they offer improved user experience by enabling customized lighting conditions. And because IP lighting can be powered by PoE, this technology presents a host of efficiency and cost-saving benefits, both at installation and with ongoing operation.”
But unlike high-bandwidth applications such as 802.11-based WiFi and HD video that require 10-Gbit/sec connections, “IP lighting operates very effectively over a 1-Gigabit network,” Berk-Tek said. “However, typical 1-Gigabit cabling can’t efficiently overcome the main challenge associated with PoE—high power (60W and 100W) and the heat rise that comes with it. Excessive heat rise can interfere with IP traffic, resulting in transmission errors and an underperforming network.”
LANmark-IP addresses this challenge, the company pointed out. “It more effectively manages the heat generated by high-power PoE because it is specially constructed with 22-AWG conductors and all-FEP insulation. In tests performed at the TEK Center at Berk-Tek, LANmark-IP generated 44 percent less heat rise than traditional Category 5e cabling, based on 192-cable bundles with all cables energized to 100W. Less heat rise means less cooling will be required, which can contribute to energy-cost savings. Additionally, LANmark-IP has a temperature rating of 90 degrees C, making it suitable for even the hottest plenum spaces.”
“PoE lighting networks are becoming more and more popular, due to the efficiency of LED luminaires and the control that comes with having lighting connected to the IP network,” said Brian Simmons, copper product manager for Berk-Tek. “LANmark-IP provides all the bandwidth you need to run your IP lighting network, but with a lot less heat generation than traditional cables.”
Berk-Tek added, “While Category 5e and Category 6 cables remain the standard for 1-Gigabit Ethernet transmissions, LANmark-IP is likely to become the reference for high-PoE, low-bandwidth applications. Compared to the efficiency of Category 5e and Category 6 cables that can go up to 68 percent depending on conductor size, LANmark-IP is 88-percent efficient. This means that 88 percent of the power transmitted by the power sourcing equipment will reach the powered device, which can ultimately translate in energy cost savings, especially when it comes to powering numerous applications such as IP lighting, digital signage or IP cameras.”