Looking into what is Single Pair Ethernet or SPE data cabling. Where is it used and how should it be installed?

1. What is Single PairEthernet (SPE)
n May 1973 while workingatXerox PARC,BobMetcalf introducedthe conceptof ethernet.
Followingthis,IEEEturnedthe Ethernetconceptintoa global standardin1983 withthe release of
IEEE Std.802.3a, thissupported10Mb of data transmissionoveracoaxial cable.The advancementof
Ethernettookanotherprogressive stepin1990 by developingIEEStd.802. 3i, thiswasbuiltto
support10BASE-T application,providing10Mbof data transmissionovertwistedpaircabling.
Since then,the evolutionof ethernethasgrownrapidly.Quicklymovingonfromcoaxial totwisted-
pair coppercabling.Thischange sawan increase of transmissionspeedsandreducedcosts.Tobegin
withonlytwotwistedpairswere used,butthissoonevolvedtofourpairsto achieve higher data
rates.NowEthernetisone of the mostcommonlyusedprotocol fortransmittingdatabetween
electronicdevices.So,whatisa single pairethernet(SPE)?
What is SPE?
Traditional ethernetcablesfromthe LAN sectoror Industrial Ethernetcablesuse twoorfourpairs of
wiresdependingonthe transmissionrate.SinglepairEthernetcablesonlycontainone twistedpair
(single pair).Single twisted-paircablingwasfirstusedinthe 1870s, insteadof havingtwostraight
wiresnexttoeachother,the conductors were twistedtogethertoimprove the electrical
performance.The twistingof the conductorsresultedincancellationof unwantedelectrical noise
fromnearbypairsor othersources.Inthe 1870s, single twistedpaircablingwasusedto
interconnecttelephones.
Centurieslater,the single twistedpaircablingisstillinuse.The use of thiscable isnow commonly
foundinbuildingautomation,industrial,andautomotiveapplications.SPEoffersadditional
advantagesincomparisontothe traditional cable.
SPE Advantages
1. Thinnerbendingradii
2. Smallercables.Savesmaterialandcosts.Greatfor weightandspace-savingdesigns.
3. Transmissionratesof upto 1Gbit on a single pair
4. SPE cable designenablesmuchfaster/easierinstallation,reducingerrorsinassembly
5. Single PairEthernetusesPoDLtosupplyterminal deviceswithupto50W viathe data line.
6. Lowercaloricload,lesssmoke development
SPE Power delivery
To enhance itsusefulness,IEEEdevelopedthe abilitytotransmitpoweranddataoverthe same
twistedpair.Powertransmissionover4-pairEthernetcablingiscommonlycalledPowerover
Ethernet(PoE).PowertransmissionforSPEcablingisreferred toasPoweroverData Lines(PoDL).
Thisstandard specifiesmultiple classesof powereddevicesdeliveringbetween0.5and 52 wattsof
power.It’simportanttorealise,althoughPoDLtechnologyisnotcompatible withthe existing2and
4 pairPOE equipment.Ithasthe same advantagesasPoE as itprovidesforcentralizedpowercontrol
and backuppower.

2. SPE CablesExplained
Single PairEthernetcablesare builttosupporta maximumfrequencywhichcorrespondswithone or
more IEEE applications.Additionally,there are alsoseparate standardsforpatchcablesand
horizontal cables.Althoughitspossibletomanufacture patchcordsfrom horizontal cables,patch
cablesgenerallyemploystrandedconductorsinsteadof solid.Thus,offeringincreasedflexibilityat
the expense of diminishedelectrical performance overlonglengths.
SPE Cable Standards
Standard Description Status
IEC 61156-11 SPE horizontal cable,600MHz Published
IEC 61156-12 SPE patch cable,600MHz Published
IEC 61156-13 SPE horizontal cable, 20MHz In Development
IEC 61156-14 SPE patch cable,20MHz In Development
SPE Connectors Explained
The interfacesdiscussedinthe IEC63171 standardsforconnectortypes1-6 are opensourced,
allowinganymanufacturertomake connectorswiththe interfaces.Asaresult,thiswill increasethe
likelihoodof broadindustryadoption.Manufacturersmaintainthe commoninterface;however,
theyhave innovative freedom.Theycanimplementproprietaryfeaturesinotherarearsof the
connectordesign.
Standard Description Status
IEC 63171 SPE connector,general requirements In Development
IEC 63171-1 SPE connector– Type 1 (LC) Published
IEC 63171-2 SPE connector– Type 2 (IP20) In Development
IEC 63171-4 SPE connector– Type 4 In Development
IEC 63171-5 SPE connector– Type 5 (IP67) In Development
IEC 63171-6 SPE connector– Type 6 (IP67) Published
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