Maximum distance allowed between ctrlX SAFETY controllers for SMMC (Safe-Master-2-Master-Comm.)?

[AllAutomation]

I received the following inquiry from one of our US colleagues:

Hello ...,

I received the following question, can you help me with it?

The second question is related to ctrlX Safety and SMMC. What is the maximum distance allowed between safety controllers?

Thank you!

Best regards, ...

[AllAutomation · Accepted solution]

Hello ... ,

SMMC for ctrlX SAFETY is based on Standard-Ethernet. Typically 100Mbit/s Fast-Ethernet is used.

• Consequently the standard is 100m max. distance between devices, if you use a single cable.
• If you put a switch right in the middle that can be extended to maximum twice the distance and respectively more with more switches.
• But … you can extend the distance up to 4500m in one step using media converters like the Phoenix Contact FL MC 2000E LC device that we provide as HAWA (ask our technical sales and support people for HAWA accessories!). The media converter has been selected for Sercos but works of course for the lower requirements of Standard Fast-Ethernet.

Best regards and a successful New Year

Your ctrlX SAFETY Team