Remote Powered Equipment via
Class 4 Wiring
The dreaded 100 meter limit.
No matter how long you’ve been building out network infrastructure, power over ethernet has always had a 100 meter ceiling – and a paltry 48 volt limit (DC).
That meant your builds required more telecommunications rooms and a higher cost to match.
Class 4 wiring is changing all of that.
What is Class 4 wiring – a refresher
Long story short: higher voltage and data across longer distances – over one cable.
Let’s break it down a bit before getting into some use cases though.
- Increased power – Up to 1000 watts of AC or DC power
- Increased distance – Send power as far as you send your fiber cables
- For example, want to send 1,000 watts up to 500 meters or 1640ft? No problem
- Increased safety – Class 4 wiring is fault-managed, meaning the systems self-monitors and cuts power when a fault is detected
- How does it work? 500hz digital pulses are sent every 2 milliseconds and if a fault is picked up, the power immediately discontinues, making Class 4 wiring safe to touch and all but eliminating the risk of fire
We think of it as something of a revolution in wiring, a genuine quantum leap over legacy options for power and data.
While it may be new to the National Electrical Code (NEC), this technology has actually been in use in cell towers for years now. Official entry in NEC has made it possible for all to implement.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to immediately do away with power over ethernet or the previous classes of wiring.
Consider Class 4 a new tool for your toolbox, available for affordably reaching areas you couldn’t before without getting pricey electricians and service panels involved.
Speaking of which, here’s a look at a couple of examples of Class 4 wiring in use.
Real-world use cases
Typically, you’ll find this type of wiring in both office and commercial settings.
Commercial enterprise
Buildings continue to get smarter and smarter; the wiring that brings it all to life can now keep up.
Between wireless access points, digital signage, smart lighting, POS systems and an endless array of other IoT devices, the wires that feed power and connectivity throughout your building are only going to be more taxed.
In the past, this would require a telecommunications room on every floor or more, but not anymore.
Class 4 wiring for next-gen buildings and retrofits is the way to make it work and no one is doing it better than CommScope® with their ConstellationTM infrastructure.
Future applications such as parking garages
Similar to commercial enterprise spaces, parking garages have become increasingly more sophisticated both for safety and convenience.
Safety means surveillance systems that keep an eye on the cars while they rest.
Convenience means sensors on every single spot linked to a display at the entrance that shows how many spots are open.
Picture that across 5 stories.
How many lengths of 100 meter cable is going to take to power those cameras and sensors? What about all the data those devices carry?
With Class 4 wiring and soon-to-come universal rack mounting, just a few hybrid cables can manage power and data across all floors.
A new era in wiring is upon us
Class 4 wiring redefines power and data limitations, allowing for higher power and data across significantly longer distances.
Its fault-managed design enhances safety, while its application in various settings, from smart buildings to parking garages and beyond, promises expanded connectivity with ease.
Digital ElectricityTM as it’s come to be known by the likes of VoltServerTM is reshaping what’s possible.
Call us to learn more about Class 4 wiring.
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