From industrial automation to surveillance systems, many businesses depend on ring networks, particularly Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) protocols, to ensure high availability and quick recovery in the event of a link failure. But as we strive for more resilient networks, a unique challenge arises: How can we reduce the dependency on traditional power grids while ensuring a stable power supply in ERPS networks?
In remote locations such as industrial sites, energy grids, and transportation networks, where access to traditional power sources is limited or expensive to install and maintain. Power outages, brownouts, or even the difficulty in delivering power to isolated areas can threaten the integrity of your ERPS network. To solve this, you need an off-grid power source that is not only sustainable but also reliable, producing energy for decades with minimal upkeep, i.e. solar power.
Benefits of Using Solar Power in ERPS Networks
Integrating solar power into ERPS networks offers several advantages:
1.Reduced Dependency on the Grid
By powering your outdoor network nodes with solar energy, you eliminate the reliance on local power grids. This is particularly crucial for ERPS networks, which prioritize uptime and need continuous power to maintain their rapid failover capabilities in case of network failures.
2.Uninterrupted Network Operation
Properly designed solar power systems, with battery backups, ensure uninterrupted power even during extended power outages or in areas with unstable electricity supplies. This supports the high availability demands of ERPS networks, which require constant uptime, preventing data loss and service interruptions.
3.Scalability and Flexibility
In traditional setups, expanding the network may involve extending power lines or setting up new electrical infrastructure, which can be costly and time-consuming, especially in remote locations. With solar power, it’s much easier to deploy new devices or network switches in hard-to-reach areas. Simply add more solar panels or battery capacity as your power requirement grows.
What You Need to Get Started?
To build a solar-powered ERPS network, you will need the following components:
1.8-Port L2+ Managed Outdoor PoE Switch with 36-60V Solar Input
With a solar input range of 36-60V, this 8-port L2+ managed outdoor PoE switch integrates easily with solar panels to ensure continuous operation in remote areas. The built-in ERPS capability allows for rapid recovery (under 20 milliseconds) and fault tolerance. Moreover, it offers advanced Layer 2 features, such as QoS, VLAN, link aggregation and port mirroring, providing enhanced network control. Equipped with 2 Gigabit SFP ports, this switch enables fast data transfer between switches, which is crucial for ring networks.
2.Solar Power Systems
- Solar Panels: The key to harvesting solar energy, these panels convert sunlight into DC electricity.
- Solar Charge Controller: This regulates the voltage and current from the solar panels to prevent overcharging the batteries.
- Batteries: Choose Store excess energy generated during the day to power the network during the night or cloudy periods.
3.BiDi SFP Modules
Bi-directional (BiDi) SFP modules can transmit and receive data over a single fiber strand, reducing the number of fibers required. With data rates up to 1.25 Gbps and support for distances ranging from 10km to 20km, BiDi SFP modules are ideal for applications in data centers, enterprise networks, and telecommunications. Their compact, hot-swappable design ensures easy integration into various network devices, including switches and routers.
4.Fiber Optic Cables
Using light to transmit data, fiber optic cables can easily handle 10Gbps speeds or higher. The high-speed data paths created by fiber allow for seamless rerouting in network disruptions. Unlike copper cables, fiber optic cables maintain signal integrity over extended distances (up to 20km or more), ideal for large-scale installations.
Step-by-Step Guide
Now, follow the instructions below to set up a solar-powered ERPS network:
Step 1: Assess Your Power Needs
Calculate the total wattage required by your PoE switches and any additional devices that will be powered via PoE. This will help determine the appropriate size of your solar panel array and battery bank. For example, if your network consumes 200W continuously, a 1000W solar panel system with a battery storage capacity of 3-5kWh could be appropriate for providing consistent power.
Step 2: Design Your Solar Power System
Based on your power requirements, you should choose the number of solar panels that can generate sufficient energy. Then, select a solar charge controller that matches the total wattage of your solar panels and batteries. Determine the size of the battery bank based on your estimated usage during periods of low sunlight.
Step 3: Set Up the Solar Power System
Mount the solar panels in a location with maximum sun exposure, ideally at a tilt that optimizes solar gain. Next, connect the positive and negative leads from the solar panels to the input terminals on the controller. Then, Attach the battery to the charge controller’s output terminals (make sure the polarity is correct). This battery will store the energy generated by the panels and supply it to the switch during the night or cloudy periods.
Step 4: Connect the Outdoor PoE Switches
- Install the Outdoor PoE Switches: Mount the 8-port L2+ managed outdoor PoE switches at an appropriate height to prevent tempering. Then, run power from the battery or charge controller output to the switch’s power input. Ensure the voltage is within the switch’s input range of 36-60V.
- Insert SFP Modules: Each outdoor PoE switch has two Gigabit SFP ports. Insert the BiDi SFP modules into the designated ports on each switch. Make sure they click into place.
- Connect Fiber Optic Cables: To implement ERPS, the switches need to form a physical ring. Run the fiber cables from one switch to another, either using conduits or buried underground. Then, connect the ends of the fiber optic cables to the corresponding SFP ports in each switch and link the switches together in a full loop (switch A → switch B → switch C → switch D → switch A).
Step 5: Configure ERPS for Redundancy
ERPS is a protocol that provides redundancy and fast failover in ring topologies. Most industrial or outdoor switches have a dedicated ERPS toggle switch. Once enabled, you can form a logical ring across your network without any software configurations.
Alternatively, you can configure ERPS via web GUI or CLI. Go to the ERPS settings in the management interface and enable the protocol. Then, designate primary and secondary links. ERPS requires one link to be designated as “blocked” to prevent loops, while the other links remain active. The protocol will automatically switch the traffic to the backup link if the primary link fails. Next, the detection and failover time should be set to less than 50ms to ensure fast recovery times in case of a failure.
Step 6: Conduct a Failover Test
Once the configuration is complete, simulate a failure in one of the fiber links to see if ERPS properly reroutes the traffic. The network should remain operational with little to no downtime. Also, you need to continuously monitor the power levels to ensure that there’s enough energy being supplied to the switches.
Step 7: Connect the Powered Devices
Lastly, you can connect network devices, such as IP cameras, wireless access points or VoIP phones to each outdoor PoE switch using standard Ethernet cables. Once successfully installed, it can provide power and data simultaneously to the PDs, which eliminates the need for external power supplies and increases network reliability.
What If the Switches Don’t Support Solar Input Directly?
Most network switches, including outdoor PoE switches, are not directly compatible with solar power. They typically require a regulated power supply, usually 48V DC, which solar panels alone cannot provide. If you are using solar power that typically provides 12V or 24V, you can use a 48V voltage booster to convert the lower voltage from your solar system to the required 48V.
To install the 48V voltage booster, wire the output from your solar panel or battery (e.g. 12V or 24V) to its input terminals. Then connect the output terminals to the switch’s DC input. Please be aware the booster must provide sufficient current (amps) to meet the demands of your PoE switch. If the switch requires 48V at 1A, you need a booster that can supply at least that amount of current.
