Data wiring advise for manufacturing facility

bryangalvez8637 · 2014-09-26T19:24:32.000Z

My organization is currently moving into a new facility. I’m the only IT personnel for the company of about 100 people. We’re on to the next phase of the move which is getting data wiring out to the warehouse. I’ve figured out where all the drops are going but I’m having a hard time deciding if I’m safe with Cat6 or if I will need fiber. I did get a quote from a vendor but it seem to high priced at 11k without considering fiber.

Here are two scenarios:

There’s a manager’s upstairs suite in the warehouse where I will need to drop data which is also the furthest point from my server room. It’s about 310 ft. From there I would have a switch which would connect about 5 to 10 PC’s/VoIP phones. CAT6 or fiber from server room to switch?

OR

Now In order to use CAT6, save money and avoid using fiber I was thinking of mounting the switches to a wooden shelf or enclosure which would then be bolted to a wire track close to the ceiling outside the suite and about 30 to 40 feet closer to my server room (270ft or so). Then I would run the 5 or 10 CAT6 runs from the switch to the managers suite.

Any advise provided would be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

Robert5205 · 2014-09-26T19:31:21.000Z

In a manufacturing facility, with the level of electrical noise, I wouldn’t attempt a near 100m run of CATx cable. And I wouldn’t recommend mounting a switch in that environment, either.

No one ever regretted using fibre. Run two lines for a backup in case of problems.

alex3031 · 2014-09-26T19:35:39.000Z

That won’t save a boatload, just have it done right the first time. And make sure you put things in easily accessible places, trust me it’s worth it.

bryangalvez8637 · 2014-09-26T19:35:58.000Z

Thanks Robert I will keep that in mind.

bryangalvez8637 · 2014-09-26T19:37:38.000Z

Makes total sense Alex, Thanks!

joshuacrutchfield · 2014-09-26T19:38:21.000Z

I would go for running the fiber as well. You could run into a lot of interference and problems if you do CATx. I do agree with both Alex and Robert. If it is done right the first time you won’t have to provide nearly as much support on it.

rockn · 2014-09-26T19:50:07.000Z

Don’t put your switches in the warehouse if you can help it. Run fiber and terminate in an inside location with the rest of your switch or switches near the managers. Have all of your CAT6 terminated in the same location. Get a professional to do all of this and listen to their recommendations.

Robert762 · 2014-09-26T20:09:14.000Z

I’ve had to work with switches mounted in the most innocuous places in warehouses. It might seem like a good idea when everything is new, clean and easy to get at, but give it a couple years (or months) and you’ll wish you went with fiber from the get-go!

rocknman · 2014-09-26T20:09:56.000Z

the thing you need to watch out for is equipment like arc welders… anything that generates an massive magnetic field. this will knock out comms if they are anywhere near…

jim4232 · 2014-09-26T20:37:56.000Z

I vote for fiber as well. If you can get them to spring for it have a wiring closet build at the far end of the warehouse. Get it shielded (think Faraday cage built in the walls) and this would allow for expansion while reducing the necessity to make so many long runs. If you can get it make sure it has filtered ventilation. Your longest run from either end becomes about 100-150ft rather than the 300+. Just needs to be a small room about 36"X36" or even a small cabinet mounted on the wall to fit a switch in.

If your going to do it, go for the gusto!

alex3031 · 2014-09-26T22:38:56.000Z

The Catalyst C series is a good fit if you put stuff in the warehouse, fanless operation. But I recommend you put a small cabinet, maybe a wall mount in if you are going to have switches and patch panels in the warehouse keeps the equipment secure and help keep it clean relatively speaking.

blairgroves · 2014-09-27T07:20:08.000Z

You will be over the 328ft limit of copper for the run from the server room to the manager’s suite, when you include patch cables. Purchase a pre-made or made-to-order 4 or six strand 62.5/125 multimode cable with a polyethylene jacket (for durability), with a pulling eye from Anixter. I’d recommend terminating with ST or SC connectors to a small patch panel, then run a short patch cable (probably with LC on the end going to each switch). Fiber is really not expensive anymore, however the SFP transceivers are a little pricey. Run the fiber through conduit with pull boxes every 50ft or less, and keep a slack loop in each pull box to prevent the cable from getting put under tension if pulled a little. The big reason for putting the switch in the manager’s suite is that it’s going to last a lot longer without being in the dusty / dirty plant, and a lot easier to work on instead of a locking cabinet that you would have to climb a ladder to access. Don’t bother spending the extra for CAT6, it’s absolutely no better than CAT5e at carrying Ethernet up to 1Gb/s, a lot less time to install, and about half the cost of CAT6 when you factor in patch cables, jacks, patch panels, extra cable cost and extra labor cost for CAT6. Run the CAT5e in grounded metal conduit for physical protection and to help shield it from EMI and RFI.

berrickhalfhand2355 · 2014-09-28T08:19:57.000Z

Manufacturing and warehouse conjure up very different environments in my mind and even manufacturing could mean non-mechanical machinery. All of which would have a different approach to putting in a network backbone.

It may also pay, as it could save money, time and effort in the future to have an idea of how the business sees itself growing. This information may affect your current planning.

Ethernet cabling is far more resilient to interference than most people expect, providing it is punched down correctly, terminated as per T568a or b, dependant on your needs and if it has to run parallel to power or telephone cables they are kept 10cm apart, etc, etc. For example, I know of an IP CCTV company installing un protected UTP cat5e in heavy industrial manufacturing plants without any short or long term issues (to date). That said they may just be lucky and I wouldn’t recommend this myself.

Unless local laws or regulations specify, running cat5 cabling in metal conduit whilst it provides protection can be as expensive as fibre due to additional costs of the materials and time to install. If you don’t need to use metal conduit and do want to protect against interference then I would use STP Cat5e cable with the relevant patch panels etc.

Wherever you mount your switches, I would recommend they are installed in cabinets with adequate ventilation and locks. Think intrusion prevent.

Fibre has several other, often over looked benefit’s which copper doesn’t have. It’s not affected by ground potential difference and isn’t affected nor do you need to take extra precautions against lightning as you would If cabling is run outside a building, especially if at height.

Regardless of whether you DIY or pay an installer to carry out the work I strongly recommend the cable runs or fibre are certified for the speed and distance you need them to works at.

bryangalvez8637 · 2014-10-03T17:52:58.000Z

You all provided great information and definitely brought some extra things to consider. Thanks for taking the time on giving your input.