Hirschmann BOBCAT BRS Switch Installation and Power Supply Guide

Hirschmann BOBCAT BRS series industrial switch engineering installation and power supply configuration complete solution

Introduction: A high-density and highly flexible platform for future industrial networks

With the increasing demand for network bandwidth, power supply capability, and environmental adaptability in intelligent manufacturing and process automation, Hirschmann has launched the BOBCAT BRS series industrial Ethernet switches, covering a wide range of models such as BRS20/22/30/32/40/42/50/52, supporting multi rate ports from 100M to 2.5G, PoE/PoE+power supply, redundant power input, and comprehensive explosion-proof certification. This series adopts a modular design, providing plastic or metal shells, narrow/medium/wide widths, and introducing USB-C configuration interfaces and digital inputs, providing highly reliable network nodes for fields such as rail transit, petrochemicals, smart grids, and ships. This article is based on the official installation manual, systematically sorting out the model decoding, power selection (T/F/U/P characteristics), installation grounding, SFP module derating rules, LED diagnosis, and initial safety configuration of BRS equipment, to assist engineers in quickly completing on-site deployment.

Chapter 1 Product Family and Model Decoding

1.1 Model coding rules

The BRS series models are composed of feature values from multiple locations, and the key field meanings are as follows (refer to Table 1 in the manual):

Data rate (position 4): 2=100M, 3=100/1000M, 4=1000M, 5=1000/2500M.

Hardware type (position 5): 1=Standard+MACSec, 2=PoE, 3=Standard+MACSec+PoE.

Number of ports (positions 7-8): For example, 04=4 10/100M ports, 08=8, 16=16, 20=20, 24=24.

Upstream port configuration (positions 9-14): Define additional high-speed ports or fiber/SFP slots, such as 2T=2 RJ45 Gigabit ports, OO=2 100/1000M SFP slots, 2Q=2 2.5G SFP slots, QT=2 2.5G RJ45 ports, M2=multimode DSC fiber, etc.

Temperature range (position 16): S or C=0 ° C~+60 ° C (standard), T, E or G=-40 ° C~+70 ° C (extended), where E/G has a three proof coating.

Power supply characteristics (position 17): T (12-24V DC), F (24-48V DC+24V AC), U (24V DC specifically for PoE), P (48/54V DC for PoE+).

Shell (position 18): C=plastic IP30, D=metal IP30, E=metal IP40.

Certification (positions 19-20): Includes options such as cUL, ATEX/IECEx, DNV, etc.

1.2 Shell size and installation space

The device provides three types of shells: narrow (about 47mm wide), medium (about 74mm), and wide (about 122mm wide), and the weight of the metal shell and plastic shell is different (see Table 12 in the manual). Key heat dissipation requirements: vertically installed on DIN rails, with a minimum gap of 5cm between ventilation holes and adjacent objects; If the gap decreases, it is necessary to reduce the rating according to Table 6 (such as reducing the temperature rating by 15K when the gap is 0cm). When used at high altitudes (>2000m), the ambient temperature should also be reduced accordingly (see Table 23 in the manual).

Chapter 2: Selection of Power Characteristics and Wiring Specifications

The BRS series offers four power supply characteristics (T/F/U/P), which engineers must choose correctly based on project power conditions and PoE requirements.

2.1 Characteristics T (12-24V DC)

Rated range: 12~24V DC, maximum allowable 9.6~32V DC.

Connection: 6-pin screw terminal, wire diameter 0.75~2.5mm ² (AWG18~12), torque 0.5Nm.

Backup fuse: Each input requires an external 2-10A slow melting fuse, I²t <1A²s。

Applicable: Non PoE devices, conventional industrial DC power supply.

2.2 Characteristics F (24~48V DC+24V AC)

DC range: 24~48V DC (allows 18~60V DC), AC range: 24V AC (allows 18~30V AC, 50~60Hz).

Attention: When powered by AC, the power supply must be isolated from ground potential, and the fuse must be suitable for AC.

Applicable: Supports both DC and AC hybrid power supply scenarios, but does not support PoE.

2.3 Characteristics U (24V DC designed specifically for PoE)

Rated voltage: 24V DC (allowing 18-30V DC).

PoE power: Maximum 90W (ambient temperature<60 ° C), reduced to 60W at 60 ° C~70 ° C (see Table 17 in the manual).

Wire diameter requirement: minimum 1mm ² (AWG16) to carry larger currents.

Fuse: External 10A slow melting, I²t <36A²s。

2.4 Characteristics P (48/54V DC for PoE+)

PoE mode: 48V (PoE) or 54V (PoE+), allowing 46-57V (PoE) or 52-57V (PoE+).

Non PoE mode: It can also be used as a regular 24-48V DC power supply (allowing 19-60V DC), but PoE cannot be output at this time.

Maximum PoE total power: 240W (metal shell) or 120W (plastic shell), and with temperature derating: reduced to 180W when ≥ 50 ° C~55 ° C, and reduced to 120W when ≥ 55 ° C~60 ° C (see Table 18 in the manual).

Insulation requirement: Must meet 2250V DC ground insulation withstand voltage (60 seconds).

Fuse: External 10A slow melting, I²t <25A²s。

Engineering key points: All features support redundant power supply (two-way input), internal diode decoupling, and automatic selection of higher voltage. If only a single channel is used, the device will trigger a power alarm, which can be resolved by configuring shielding or simultaneously connecting two channels.