Echelon® recommends several cable types for their FTT-10A Free Topology Twisted Pair Transceiver used in the WattNode® Plus and WattNode Logger for LonWorks® models. Other twisted pair cables will also work, but the maximum range may be reduced or the resistance to interference may be poorer.
Bus Topology
A bus topology refers to a network where the cable is run as a single long bus with short 10 ft (3 m) stubs. To utilize the full length potential of the bus topology, two network terminators are required, one for each end of the bus.
| Cable Type | AWG | Maximum Bus Length |
|---|---|---|
| Category 5 Ethernet cable | #24 AWG | 2950 ft. (900 m) |
| Belden 85102 | #16 AWG | 8860 ft. (2700 m) |
| Belden 8471 | #16 AWG | 8860 ft. (2700 m) |
| Level IV, #22 AWG | #22 AWG | 4590 ft. (1400 m) |
- Note: some of the data from the preceding table is from the Echelon LonWorks FTT-10A Transceiver User’s Guide.
Free Topology
Free topology refers to a network where the cable is not run as a single long bus. This could include a star, loop, or mixed topologies, or even a bus without double termination.
Echelon suggests one terminator for free topology networks, although this generally isn’t necessary for very small networks.
| Cable Type | AWG | Maximum Node-to-Node Distance |
Maximum Total Wire Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 5 Ethernet cable | #24 AWG | 820 ft. (250 m) | 1476 ft. (450 m) |
| Belden 85102 | #16 AWG | 1640 ft. (500 m) | 1640 ft. (500 m) |
| Belden 8471 | #16 AWG | 1312 ft. (400 m) | 1640 ft. (500 m) |
| Level IV, #22 AWG | #22 AWG | 1312 ft. (400 m) | 1640 ft. (500 m) |
- Note: some of the data from the preceding table is from the Echelon LonWorks FTT-10A Transceiver User’s Guide.
See Also
- LonWorks Network Troubleshooting
- LonWorks FTT-10A Free Topology Transceiver User’s Guide
- FTT-10A Free Topology Twisted Pair Transceiver Model 50051
Keywords: FT10, FT-10, free topology