Phoenix FL SWITCH Series Industrial Ethernet Switches Selection Guide

Opening: Rugged Industrial-Grade Switches for Smart Factory & Industrial Network Infrastructure

The Phoenix FL SWITCH series is a comprehensive portfolio of industrial Ethernet switches engineered for harsh industrial environments, covering high-density core switches (4800E/4824E), POE-enabled access switches (4000T/4004T), and entry-level basic switches (3000 series). These switches support diverse port configurations (electrical T, fiber FX/SFP/SFX, gigabit GC/GT), POE power supply, and long-distance fiber transmission (single-mode SM/multi-mode), with features including IP30 cabinet protection, an operating temperature range of -40°C to +75°C, and anti-vibration design. Widely deployed in smart production lines, factory IoT networks, and remote field device communication, they ensure stable, high-bandwidth data transmission for industrial automation systems.

I. Core Advantages of the FL SWITCH Series

1. Multi-tier network coverage: Supports core (4800E series), distribution (4000T series), and access (3000 series) network layers, enabling end-to-end industrial network deployment from factory core to field edge.
2. Diverse port flexibility:
   • Electrical ports (T): 10/100/1000M copper ports for short-distance cabinet/device connections;
   • Fiber ports (FX/SFP/SFX): 100M/1G fiber ports supporting single-mode (SM)/multi-mode fiber, with transmission distances up to tens of kilometers, ideal for cross-workshop/plant long-distance communication;
   • Combo ports (GC/GT): Gigabit electrical/fiber combo ports, balancing flexible networking and cost control;
   • POE ports: Compliant with the 802.3af/at standard for POE power supply, enabling integrated power and data transmission for industrial cameras, wireless APs, and other devices.
3. Industrial-grade reliability: Features IP30 dust protection, wide-temperature operation, 4kV surge immunity, and anti-vibration performance (up to 5g), ensuring stable operation in factory floors, mines, and outdoor industrial sites.
4. Scalable bandwidth: Supports 100M/1G/10G bandwidth (via SFP+), meeting transmission needs ranging from basic control signals to high-speed vision data.
5. Simplified management: Most models support web-based configuration, port mirroring, and VLAN partitioning, facilitating industrial network maintenance and security isolation.

II. Product Classification & Detailed Parameter Table

The FL SWITCH series is categorized by network tier (core/distribution/access) and functional focus (high-density, POE, basic access).

1. 4800E/4824E Series (High-Density Core Industrial Switches)

Designed for large-scale industrial core networks, featuring ultra-high port density and gigabit fiber uplinks, suitable for factory-level core data aggregation.

2. 4000T/4012T Series (Distribution Layer Switches with POE/Hybrid Ports)

Tailored for workshop-level distribution networks, supporting POE power supply and hybrid electrical/fiber ports, balancing port flexibility and functional expansion.

3. 3000 Series (Entry-Level Access Switches)

Basic industrial switches for small-scale edge networks, with fixed port configurations, suitable for field device access and small workshop networks.

III. FL SWITCH Series Nomenclature Decoding

FL SWITCH-[Series]-[Port Configuration]-[Special Features]

• FL SWITCH: Product series identifier (industrial-grade Ethernet switch for factory automation).
• Series:
  • 4800E/4824E = High-density core switches (for large-scale network aggregation with high fiber port counts);
  • 4000T/4012T = Distribution layer switches (with hybrid electrical/fiber/POE ports for workshop-level distribution);
  • 3000 = Entry-level access switches (with fixed ports for small-scale edge device connections; E=enhanced industrial grade, T=gigabit electrical port).
• Port Configuration:
  • Port count (e.g., 24/16/12/8/6/5/4): Number of electrical ports;
  • T = Gigabit/100M copper electrical port (Twisted-pair);
  • FX/SFX = Fiber port (FX=standard fiber, SFX=short-reach fiber, SM=single-mode, ST=ST optical interface);
  • SFP = Pluggable fiber module slot (supports 1G/10G multi-mode/single-mode modules);
  • GC/GT = Gigabit Combo port (GC=electrical/fiber combo, GT=gigabit electrical uplink);
  • POE = Power over Ethernet (supports 802.3af/at for powering terminal devices).
• Special Features:
  • E = Enhanced industrial-grade (higher anti-interference capability and wider temperature range);
  • P5/P5B = POE-enabled (P5=standard POE, P5B=high-power POE).

IV. 3-Step Quick Selection Technique

Step 1: Select Switch Series Based on Network Tier

• Factory/core workshop core network: Choose the 4800E/4824E series (e.g., FL SWITCH 4824E-4GC (2891072) for a 24-port gigabit core, or FL SWITCH 4800E-24FX-4GC (2891102) for a 24-fiber high-density backbone).
• Workshop distribution network: Opt for the 4000T/4012T series; select POE models (1026922/1026923) for camera/AP power supply, or SFP models (2891062) for customizable fiber uplinks.
• Field edge/small-scale access: Pick the 3000 series; use 16/12-port models for workshop edge access, 4-5 port models for individual equipment access, and fiber-equipped models (3006T-2FX SM) for long-distance devices.

Step 2: Match Port Type to Transmission Requirements

• Short-distance cabinet/device connection: Select electrical ports (T/GT) (e.g., FL SWITCH 3016T (2891059) for 16-port gigabit electrical access).
• Long-distance cross-workshop/remote transmission: Choose fiber ports; use multi-mode (FX) for distances <2km, single-mode (FX SM) for distances >10km, and ST interfaces for vibration-prone scenarios (e.g., FL SWITCH 3012E-2FX SM (2891119)).
• POE terminal devices (cameras/APs): Select POE-enabled ports (e.g., FL SWITCH 4004T-8POE-4SFP (1026922) for 8-port POE).
• Customizable fiber modules: Pick SFP slot models (e.g., FL SWITCH 4008T-2SFP (2891062)) for flexible replacement of multi-mode/single-mode/10G modules.

Step 3: Add Special Features for Environmental/Functional Needs

• Harsh industrial environments: Choose E-enhanced models (e.g., FL SWITCH 3016E (2891066)) for wider temperature ranges and higher anti-interference capability.
• Vibration-prone scenarios (robots/machinery): Select ST optical interface models (e.g., FL SWITCH 3006T-2FX ST (2891037)) to prevent fiber connector loosening.
• High-bandwidth uplink requirements: Use GC/GT gigabit uplink models (e.g., FL SWITCH 4012T-2GT-2FX ST (2891161)) to avoid bottlenecks between access and distribution layers.

V. Recommended Industry-Scenario Combinations

VI. Selection Pitfall Avoidance Guide

1. Network tier mismatch: Using 4800E core switches for small workshops → Choose 4000T distribution or 3000 access models (e.g., FL SWITCH 4012T-2GT-2FX (2891063)) to avoid over-engineering and unnecessary costs.
2. POE requirement neglect: Using non-POE switches for industrial cameras → Select POE models (1026922/1026923) to eliminate separate power wiring and reduce installation complexity.
3. Long-distance transmission error: Using multi-mode fiber switches for 20km remote devices → Pick single-mode (SM) fiber models (e.g., FL SWITCH 3006T-2FX SM (2891060)) to ensure signal integrity over long distances.
4. High-bandwidth oversight: Using 100M switches for vision systems → Choose gigabit models (e.g., FL SWITCH 3016T (2891059)/FL SWITCH 3008T (2891035)) to avoid image lag and data transmission bottlenecks.
5. Environmental adaptation missing: Using non-enhanced models for outdoor/mining environments → Select E-enhanced series (e.g., FL SWITCH 3016E (2891066)) for wider temperature tolerance and higher surge immunity, preventing switch failure in harsh conditions.

Conclusion: Select the Right FL SWITCH for Industrial Network Stability

The Phoenix FL SWITCH series delivers targeted industrial Ethernet switch solutions for the core, distribution, and access layers of smart factory networks, covering high-density fiber backbones, POE power supply, and long-distance remote access.