Hirschmann RSPE Rail Switch Power Enhanced Managed Switch

Overview

The Hirschmann RSPE (Rail Switch Power Enhanced) is a compact, modular managed industrial Ethernet switch for DIN-rail mounting from Hirschmann, a Belden brand. Its basic device combines eight twisted-pair ports with four combination ports that support Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet over copper or SFP fiber, and two media module slots extend it to as many as 28 ports. Belden describes the family as guaranteeing highly available data communication and precise time synchronisation in accordance with IEEE 1588 v2, with the HSR and PRP seamless redundancy protocols available as options. The Hirschmann RSPE family includes the RSPE30, RSPE32, RSPE35 and RSPE37 variants, with the RSPE32 adding PoE ports as shown in the product photo.

Seven Star LLC supplies Hirschmann RSPE switches, media modules and SFP transceivers to utilities, EPC contractors and plant operators in Oman and across the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat. We help customers choose the variant, power supply voltage, temperature range and software level that match each panel and network design.

Operating Principle

As a managed switch, the Hirschmann RSPE forwards Ethernet frames between ports according to learned MAC addresses and configured VLANs, prioritises traffic with quality-of-service and DSCP rules, and applies access control lists and port security to keep unknown devices out of the control network. With a Layer 3 software level, as on the RSPE30-8TX/4C-EEC-2HV-3S reference model, it also routes between VLANs at full wire speed using static routes, OSPFv2 and RIP, and can provide VRRP gateway redundancy and multicast routing with IGMP proxy.

High availability on the Hirschmann RSPE is achieved with ring and mesh redundancy protocols, including MRP to IEC 62439-2, RSTP and MSTP, HIPER-Ring, link aggregation with LACP, sub-ring manager and redundant network coupling. Time synchronisation uses PTPv2 in transparent clock and boundary clock modes, plus SNTP client and server, so protection relays, merging units and data loggers can share a common time base. For applications that cannot tolerate any switchover time, the HSR and PRP options of the RSPE family keep traffic flowing over two paths at once.

Engineering Design of the Hirschmann RSPE

The reference Hirschmann RSPE model RSPE30-8TX/4C-EEC-2HV-3S (part number 942084003) is housed in a DIN-rail enclosure measuring 217 × 164 × 120 mm, weighs 2.5 kg and is rated IP20. Its base unit provides four Fast/Gigabit Ethernet combo ports and eight Fast Ethernet TX ports, and two slots accept media modules with eight Fast Ethernet ports each. Additional interfaces include a V.24 RJ11 console port, an SD card slot for the ACA31 auto-configuration adapter and a USB port for the ACA22-USB adapter, plus plug-in terminal blocks for power and the signalling contact.

This variant is powered by two redundant inputs rated 60 to 250 VDC (48 to 320 VDC range) and 110 to 230 VAC (88 to 265 VAC), and consumes a maximum of 36 W depending on fiber port count. The EEC designation indicates the extended temperature version, rated from −40 to +70°C operating with a +85°C dry heat test for 16 hours, and storage from −40 to +85°C. Mechanical robustness is verified to IEC 60068-2-6 vibration and IEC 60068-2-27 shock of 15 g, and the stated MTBF is 705,427 hours at 25°C to Telcordia SR-332 Issue 3. Belden lists a 60-month guarantee for this model.

Key Features

The Hirschmann RSPE offers the following features for demanding automation networks:

• A base unit with 8 TX ports and 4 Fast/Gigabit combo ports expands to 28 ports with two media modules.
• HiOS software includes extensive security functions such as 802.1X, RADIUS, ACLs, DHCP snooping and dynamic ARP inspection.
• Redundancy protocols include MRP, RSTP, MSTP, HIPER-Ring, LACP and redundant network coupling.
• PTPv2 transparent and boundary clock functions provide precise time synchronisation to IEEE 1588 v2.
• Layer 3 routing with OSPFv2, RIP and VRRP is available on Layer 3 software variants.
• Industrial profiles include EtherNet/IP, IEC 61850 MMS server, Modbus TCP and PROFINET IO, plus an OPC UA server.
• Substation approvals to IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 and transport approvals to EN 50121-4 and NEMA TS2 are listed.
• The extended temperature version operates from −40 to +70°C with redundant high-voltage power inputs.

Industrial Applications

The Hirschmann RSPE is widely applied in power utility substations, where its IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 approvals, IEC 61850 MMS server and PTP time synchronisation allow it to connect protection relays, bay controllers and station computers on the station bus. Its high-voltage power inputs can be fed directly from the station DC battery, and the surge immunity listed under IEEE 1613 reaches 5 kV line to earth on the power line. In Oman this suits transmission and distribution substations, independent power plants and solar farms.

In oil and gas, petrochemical and water facilities, the Hirschmann RSPE sits in field and control cabinets, linking PLCs, remote I/O, analysers and CCTV over redundant fiber rings back to a core switch. Seven Star LLC supplies the Hirschmann RSPE with engineering support in Muscat, helping integrators in Muscat, Sohar, Salalah and Duqm design ring topologies, select SFPs and media modules, and prepare configuration files for commissioning.

Technical Specifications

The values below are taken from the Belden technical data sheet for the Hirschmann RSPE reference model RSPE30-8TX/4C-EEC-2HV-3S; other RSPE variants differ in ports, power and software.

How to Order

Send Seven Star LLC an RFQ with the Hirschmann RSPE part number or product code, or with your port, fiber, power and software requirements, and our network team will confirm regional warehouse availability and lead time. The Belden technical data sheet attached to this page serves as the Hirschmann RSPE datasheet reference for the RSPE30 model. For other network layers we also supply the Hirschmann RSP20 managed industrial switch, the Hirschmann RS20-1600T1T1 managed switch and the Meinberg LANTIME M320 NTP time server. Seven Star LLC is a trusted supplier with engineering support in Muscat for customers throughout Oman and the GCC.