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How to Extend Tempurity Connections to Monitored Devices What do I need to extend a connection to a monitored device? All extensions between the Networked Robotics NTMS network hardware and the monitored device can be performed with standard off-the-shelf communications cabling commonly found in offices. You can use either standard 6-pin phone cable or standard network (CAT5 class) cable to extend the reach of Networked Robotics temperature probes by up to 400 feet. One end of either kind of extension cable plugs directly into the temperature port of the NTMS. A commonly available coupler is plugged into the other end. The Networked Robotics TPL3 temperature probe is plugged into the coupler as shown in the diagram below. Recent shipments of Networked Robotics hardware include two of the RJ45 form of these couplers which will extend either CAT5 cable or phone cable. Standard phone couplers can also be used for extensions based only on phone cable. The method above assumes that the extension phone or network cable is of the form of a "patch" cable with two male ends. Should I extend with network (CAT5) or phone wire? You will be able to use either standard network (CAT5) or standard phone cable to extend the reach of Networked Robotics digital temperature probes. The most common use of extension cables will be shorter runs of 30 feet or less within rooms. Networked Robotics prefers to use 6-pin flat phone wire as extensions for digital temperature probes. We find that the flat phone wire runs well at the bottom of walls and through ceilings. In Networked Robotics internal testing, phone wire has had a slightly longer range than CAT5 cable. Both types of cable will work through up to 400 feet of extension. Standard network cable has the advantage that it can also be used to extend your corporate network in the event that a connection to Tempurity is no longer relevant at that location. Connections to ultracolds can be extended only with network cable(CAT5 class). See the section below. Extending your network In some cases you may wish to extend the network to the monitored location. Your network group will be aware of the possibilities. These include the addition or expansion of wireless network hardware, the addition of network cable and wall plates to a facility, or simply activating an existing jack by patching to a switch in a network closet. Infrastructure expansions for Tempurity also expand your network and can be used for a host of business purposes even if monitored devices are later relocated to another site. If your organization has deployed a wireless network, you can place a wireless bridge like the LinkSys WET11 near the monitored site, connect an NTMS to your wireless bridge, and then connect each temperature port to the appropriate monitored devices. See the Tempurity User's Guide for further details. Extending ultracold connections The best way to extend an ultracold connection is simply to use a longer CAT5 patch cable between the NTMS and the ultracold adapter. You may also use a RJ-45 female-female coupler (the same part now shipped with NTMS hardware) to extend the reach of an existing patch cable by placing it in series with a second CAT5 cable. Some RJ-45 female-female couplers on the market cross the pins internally. The correct implementation passes the pins straight through without modification. Extending by Patching through Network Closets Because the distance between NTMS hardware and monitored devices may be very long you can place NTMS hardware in your network closet and patch the temperature collection all the way to the wall plate in the room or laboratory and collect directly from the monitored device through your buildings network infrastructure. See the support document “How to connect your NTMS4 in a network closet”.
Where to get cable Your network, telecom, or facilities group will probably have a supply of phone or CAT5 patch cable and adapters. If not, you will be able to purchase them either from Networked Robotics, or from common network or computer supply stores. For those customers with some electronic capability, you can avoid using the cable coupler if you are willing to create your own cable with one male and one female end. Both types of cable can be terminated easily. Home stores like Home Depot carry both the crimpers needed to terminate the wire and the RJ11 or RJ45 ends. Wiring accessories There are a wide variety of wiring accessories to help you run cable along baseboards. Many are adhesive backed. If you use adhesive backed cable mounts we suggest you use the high end products that are available at electrical supply houses. Cable ties are commonly available and can be used to bundle multiple cables into a manageable unit. |
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