You are here: / / / / July

10 Criteria to Consider for Your Industrial Edge Compute Devices

Blog Category: by

Witten by Jeremy Friedmar and Matt Wopata

Edge-computing

Industrial edge compute devices make edge computing possible. They offer a way to use and gain value from your data, supporting real-time decision making, enhanced security and faster analytical speeds.

In this new and growing market, there’s a plethora of choices. You’ll quickly find that you have several options to consider when searching for industrial edge compute devices.

To make the selection process faster and simpler, we compiled a list of 10 key criteria to consider when selecting an industrial edge compute device.

1. Compute Resources

Industrial edge compute devices have three main types of compute requirements to consider:

  1. Processor: power (number of cores, performance) and type (ARM vs. x86)
  2. Memory: quantity (GBs) and type (DDR3, DDR4 or DDR3L)
  3. Storage: quantity (GBs) and type (SSD vs. eMMC vs. SD card)

It’s vital to match these compute resources with the needs of the applications that will run on them. For instance, analysis equipment may require better processor performance than asset tracking equipment.

This example from industrial software provider Inductive Automation shows compute resource requirements for projects and applications based on their sizes.

2. Form Factor

When it comes to industrial edge compute devices, there are four types of form factors, offering you different choices in size, shape and other physical specifications:

  1. DIN rail (IP20, IP30 or IP40)
  2. Panel (on machine, IP67)
  3. Wall mount
  4. 19-inch rack

Again, your application will determine the right device size. For example, many small industrial edge compute devices are deployed in DIN rail or panel form factors.

 

3. Temperature Rating

There are two temperature ratings to consider for your industrial edge compute device:

  1. Operating temperature: the temperature range of the environment in which the device will operate (steel/glass manufacturers or baked goods production are heat-intensive environments while medical product manufacturing happens in a colder environment)
  2. Non-operating temperature: the temperature range the device can handle when it’s turned off

Due to the nature of industrial plant environments, industrial edge compute devices often require wider operating temperatures than non-industrial gateways or traditional IT servers. For example, an IT server in an office building doesn’t need to withstand the hot/cold conditions that may be found in a food and beverage processing facility.

You’ll often find common operating temperature ranges like these:

  1. 5 to 40 degrees C: IT rack servers
  2. -20 to 60 degrees C: IT gateways
  3. -40 to 70 degrees C: OT gateways
  4. -40 to 85 degrees C: extreme environments

 

4. Power Requirements

What type of power source do you need for your industrial edge compute device? The answer depends on your industry, region, application and what it requires in terms of device temperature, safety, power universality, device size, etc.

Popular input power voltages include:

  • 12V DC
  • 24V DC
  • 36V DC
  • 48V DC
  • 110/250V DC
  • 60/120/260V DC
  • 24V AC
  • 110/230V AC

You’re most likely to find industrial edge compute devices that support DC voltage ranges from 12V to 48V because industrial panels contain power supplies in that range.

5. Power Distribution

In addition to traditional power supply set-ups, new industrial edge hardware that supports power over Ethernet or power over data line can reduce installation complexity and wiring.

Two popular energy delivery mechanisms are:

  1. PoDL (power over data line)
  2. PoE (power over Ethernet)

Power over data line specifies power distribution over a single twisted-pair link segment. It operates in four types:

  • Type A: optimized for 10BASE-T1S
  • Type B: optimized for 1000BASE-T1
  • Type C: optimized for 10BASE-T1S, 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1
  • Type E: optimized for 10BASE-T1L

Power over Ethernet specifies power distribution on twisted-pair Ethernet cabling. It operates in four types as well:

  • Type 1: maximum power to port is 15.4W
  • Type 2: maximum power to port is 30W
  • Type 3: maximum power to port is 80W
  • Type 4: maximum power to port is 100W

6. Approvals

Industrial edge compute devices require adherence to safety standards, requirements and approvals that are different than those of non-industrial edge hardware components.

Common approvals for these industrial devices include:

  • cUL508/cUL61010-1/-2-201: safety standards for control industrial equipment
  • cUL1604/ISA 12.12.01/FM3611: electrical equipment in hazardous locations
  • ATEX 100a, Zone 2: hazard location classification
  • IEC 61850-3: communication protocols for devices at electrical substations
  • IEEE 1613: environmental and testing requirements for communications networking devices in electric power substations
  • EN 50155, EN 45545: standards for electronic equipment used on rolling stock for railway applications
  • EN 50121-4: standards for signaling and telecommunication apparatus installed in railway environments

Make sure the device you consider adheres to the requirements and standards of your application.

7. Native Networking Interfaces and Features

Industrial edge compute devices often require interfaces to support traditional IT and specific OT applications.

For example, to support IT applications, the devices may feature Ethernet, fiber, Wi-Fi and/or cellular networking interfaces.

To support OT applications, you may see networking interfaces like serial, IO-Link, Single-Pair Ethernet and/or 900 MHz.

Regardless of the networking interfaces integrated into the device, there are certain features you should look for to support data security and accessibility as well:

  • Firewalling (e.g., IP whitelisting) that permits or blocks data packets based on pre-set security parameters
  • Routing (e.g., LAN to WAN routing, WAN backup, IP masquerading, NAT, port forwarding, L2 bridging) to determine the flow of data transmission
  • Remote access/VPNs (e.g., OpenVPN, IPsec, etc.) so people offsite can retrieve the data they need
  • Redundancy (e.g., PRP, HSR, RSTP, MRP, DLR, etc.) to align availability and network recovery time with your application
  • Protocol support (e.g., EtherNet/IP, Modbus, SNMP, etc.) so the device can interact with different industrial networking protocols
  • Networking diagnostics (e.g., .PCAP exports) so you can find the cause of faults in the network
  • OT-specific features, including support for the emerging time-sensitive networking (TSN) standard

8. Native Edge Application Management

Modern industrial edge compute devices often come preconfigured with container managers and hypervisors that abstract edge applications from underlying hardware and enable users to seamlessly run virtual machines and containers from a variety of OT edge application vendors.

This feature allows you to manage and deploy workloads.

9. Security

Hardware-based security prevents unapproved code from running on the compute hardware and ensures that your sensitive data is securely stored on the device.

To ensure security, look for features like:

  • Secure Boot: a security feature that prevents malicious software from loading so only approved operating systems can boot up
  • TPM (trusted platform module): the ability to store security information on the device to improve tamper resistance

10. Non-Technical Considerations

To ensure that you get the most from your investment, there are a few non-technical points to consider for your industrial edge compute device.

First, examine the warranty and end of life (EOL) date. Industrial edge compute devices are expected to survive in the field for many years longer than traditional IT edge compute devices. Make sure the warranties and EOL dates reflect this. To compare typical lifespans:

  • OT devices: 5-10 years or longer
  • IT devices: 3-5 years max

Next, consider MTBF (mean time between failures), or the average time the device operates between breakdowns. Telcordia SR-332 test results can help predict expected downtime per year and system availability levels so you know what to anticipate.

Finally, take time to get to know the people behind the industrial edge compute device you’re considering. Do they understand your industry and your unique challenges? Can they answer your questions?

JAYCOR Awarded Tender to Design & Build SANSA’s Micro-Data Centre

Blog Category: by

JAYCOR is very proud to be an integral part of the construction and deployment of the South African National Space Agency’s (SANSA) new Space Weather Centre in the Western Cape, due to be completed and launched later this year.

SANSA was formed in 2010, however, South Africa’s involvement with space research and activities began much earlier, helping early international space efforts to observe Earth’s magnetic field at stations around the Southern parts of Africa.

The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on space science, engineering and technology that can promote development, build human capital, and provide important national services. Much of this work involves monitoring the Sun, the Earth, and our surrounding environment, and utilizes the collected data to ensure that navigation, communication technology and weather forecasting and warning services function as intended.

JAYCOR earlier this year was awarded the tender to design, supply, construct, and commission the Space Weather Centre’s micro-data center. A central and key component of the hybrid cloud/on-prem solution SANSA requires to deploy the center’s mission-critical services.

 

The scope of work for the 36m2 micro-data center included all racks and related infrastructure, external and rack UPS’s, PDU’s, access control, cooling, environmental monitoring, and the fire-suppression systems. With all components to be managed with a Data Center Infrastructure (DCIM) asset management software. JAYCOR’s expertise in connected infrastructure and the flexibility and agility to deliver a turnkey solution to SANSA with best-in-class OEM brands, and solutions to meet the scope of work, were key factors in being selected as a partner on the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we celebrate Space Exploration Day this week and edge closer to the completion of the project, we take this opportunity to commend and celebrate all the people, past and present, committed to the advancement of the space science. And look forward to the future as we help play a small role in the advancement of South Africa’s space agency and the sciences.

 

Greg Pokroy

CEO
JAYCOR International

Digital Electricity – What you need to know

Blog Category: by

Digital Electricity – What you need to know 

Digital Electricity is a new way to safely distribute high-voltage power over long distances by combining data and DC power into packets that are transmitted and received, similarly to how data packets travel over enterprise networks. It transfers high levels of power over non-power cable, and a complete system requires transmitters and receivers to function. These digital electricity cables are designed in conjunction with VoltServer, allowing them to support applications in various situations. Available in hybrid copper/fiber constructions to send power and data in a single cable run. Other additions to the digital electricity cable line include the hybrid cable versions for indoor and indoor/outdoor 2 mm breakout plenum cables. 

The transmitter takes in AC or DC power and sends it out on individual electrical circuits. From there, specialized digital electricity cables can be used to distribute the power. The receiver “receives” the electricity packets sent from a transmitter and converts the energy packets into the required form. 

PoE technology can carry up to 100W of power over a data cable for up to 100 m, digital electricity can carry up to 2,000W and travel up to 2km. Digital electricity is able to offer 20 times the power or 20 times the distance that’s currently available through PoE.  

Transmission distance comparison chart.

Transmission distance comparison chart. 

 

5 things you need to know about digital electricity: 

1. It ensures safety

By including “smart circuits” that can monitor when electricity is escaping, it’s able to immediately stop the electricity flow and continuously manage the flow within the circuit to ensure that electricity is flowing to the right places safely. In the event of an issue, the electricity process will stop within 3 milliseconds, which is fast and secure enough to prevent injuries or danger. With its class 4 systems, it makes the digital electricity cables just as safe, if not safer than class 2 and class 3 systems. 

2. It allows for ample power 

Digital electricity cables can be run through existing cable trays to double or triple the amount of power brought to the equipment. These cables can deliver power across long distances and are known to be 20x more powerful or can go 20x more distance than PoE with 2000W across a reach of up to 2km. 

3. It provides a back-up 

In the event of an emergency, the transmitter can run critical power to wherever it is needed, including wireless systems so operations can still be run when power is no longer available. 

4. It simplifies cable installation 

Due to how energy is handled within these systems, installation of digital electricity cables doesn’t need to be installed by an electrician which makes the installation faster and more cost effective. These cables are easy to relocate and reuse without leaving stranded outlets or conduit behind, as current Class 4 certified cables include the DEDN and DEWN product families. The cables have a stranded copper pairs design which maintains flexibility and performance during instillation, thus also improving electrical performance. 

5. It enables new applications 

Digital electricity allows power to be run much longer distances with less voltage drops and without dealing with large copper wires, allowing opportunities for other applications to be created and used. These cables are ideal for distributed antenna systems, passive optical networks (PONs), security cameras and wireless access points; can be used for indoor (plenum and riser), outdoor and overhead-burial applications. 

LEMO – M Series High Power Connectors

Blog Category: by

Lemo M Series High Power Connectors

LEMO’s new High Power connectors combine the robust, light & compact M series bodies with new state-of-the-art gold-plated high power contacts. Up to 430A max rated current. Ultra-compact, lightweight, watertight Unipole & Multipole configurations. Accommodating cables from 10 mm² (AWG 8) to 50 mm² (AWG 1), LEMO’s High Power connectors come in various unipole & multipole configurations for single and three-phase requirements.

These new configurations were developed to satisfy the most stringent connection requirements for High Power distribution of electronic devices and electric drive vehicles. They are suited to the most demanding environmental conditions and mission-critical solutions. Reliable, safe, lightweight, rugged and fully waterproof, the new M Series High Power connectors offer the most comprehensive interconnect solutions for especially the robotics, motorsport, defense, aerospace and drones industries. Handling up to 430A rated current, the M series High Power configurations offer the highest power through the smallest shell size connector on the market.

The new LEMO High-Power configurations for its field proven M-Series:
• are providing OEM having the most stringent connection requirements for high power distribution of electronic devices and electric drive vehicles
• with the most compact, light, rugged, safe and completely waterproof reliable interconnect solution available on the market
• Having demonstrated best-in-class derating curves and superior rated current/diameter ratios

Key Benefits:
• Cable from 10mm2 to 50mm2
• Up to 430A max rated current
• -55°C to 200°C operating temperature
• Ratchet ¾ turn locking
• High vibration resistance
• Ultra compact & lightweight vs. MIL-38999
• Sealed to IP68 when mated & unmated (option)
• Scoop & touch proof
• 3000+ mating cycles

PRODUCTS

CUSTOMER SERVICE

WHERE TO FIND US

JHB: +27 11 444 1039

Unit 3, 7 On Mastiff, Mastiff Road, Linbro Business Park, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

CPT: +27 21 447 4247

Block C, Podium Level, The Boulevard Office Park, Searle Street, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa

Copyright © 2023 Jaycor International
Engineered by: NJIN Agency