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Fieldbus Foundation registers first H1 fieldbus cable

10/07/2008

Austin, Texas, Oct. 6, 2008 -- The Fieldbus Foundation today announced that it has registered the first Foundation fieldbus H1 cable. The new cable registration process provides greater assurance to automation end users that their wiring systems are suitable for fieldbus system operation.

Belden, Northwire, Phoenix Contact and Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corporation (RSCC) are the first cable suppliers to pass the Fieldbus Foundation registration process.

In November 2007, the Fieldbus Foundation released its H1 Cable Test Specification (Document FF-844) for use by manufacturers developing cables for Foundation fieldbus H1 (31.25 kbit/s) installations. The specification test cases, based upon the IEC 61158-2:2003 standard for Type A cable, include (but are not limited to) impedance, capacitive unbalance, connector pin-outs, and attenuation. Cable manufacturers submit their test reports to the foundation, which provides official cable registration.

Fieldbus Foundation manager-fieldbus products, Stephen Mitschke, said, "With the initiation of H1 cable registration, the Fieldbus Foundation is helping to ensure robust and reliable fieldbus physical layer performance. Registration signifies that a cable is suitable for any H1 fieldbus application, including high-temperature and corrosive environments.  End users can now have even greater confidence in Foundation fieldbus systems thanks to our rigorous suite of cable test cases."

Belden's product line manager, Frank Koditek, welcomed the new registration process. "Belden views cable registration as an important move by the Fieldbus Foundation to bring structure to physical layer requirements supporting Foundation fieldbus networks with verified products," said Koditek.  "Cable registration provides customers with the assurance that cables supplied by registered suppliers will deliver full network performance."

According to Kristy Yi, Phoenix Contact's product manager, Americas, device connection technology, H1 cable registration ensures open connectivity and reliable product performance among many suppliers in the industry. She said, "The latest H1 cable test specification provides additional functionality in accordance with IEC 61158-2:2003, which includes cable rating and additional test criteria as well as cable performance characteristics, such as impedance, attenuation and cable construction."

A complete list of registered FOUNDATION fieldbus H1 cable is available on the Fieldbus Foundation's website at http://www.fieldbus.org.