A new generation of managed Ethernet switches has been released by GarrettCom Europe to meet the increasing demands for bandwidth, precision and hardening in Smart Grid substation networks and other IP-intensive installations. The switches feature sub 10 nanosecond timing precision, up to 36 ports (freely configurable), an advanced thermal cooling design that eliminates the need for fans, and what the company claims is the first dual hot-swappable power supplies in a 1U rack-mount switch.
The 10KT range offers time synchronisation based on the IEEE 1588v2 protocol to provide the time accuracy required in modern substation applications. With accuracy of more than 10 nanoseconds, the devices exceed the requirements of the ‘next generation’ IEC 61850-3 specifications for complex Smart Grid substation networks. IEC 61850 is widely accepted as best practice across Europe and the rest of the world. Similarly, Smart Grid concepts are being adopted Europe-wide, to add monitoring, analysis, control and communication capabilities to national electricity delivery systems.
