Ethernet-APL-Products
Conformance Testing
Ethernet-APL-Products
Conformance Testing
Overview
It is mandatory that all Ethernet-APL products conform to the Ethernet-APL Port Profile, Data, Power and EMC test specifications. The collaboration of four SDO’s (Standards Development Organizations) – Fieldcomm Group, ODVA, OPC and PI – facilitates one common form of physical layer testing so any upper layer protocol may be implemented on the conformant physical layer. This allows for a single hardware implementation of Ethernet-APL that could support different protocols.
Test Specifications
Ethernet-APL Data Test Specification
- Communication Signals, PMA, Transmit Packet Formation, Stressed Receiver Packet Error and Auto-Negotiation
- Derived from IEEE 802.3-2022
Ethernet-APL Power Test Specification
- Source and load port voltage and current characteristics, Inrush Current, Current Events, differential in-band noise.
- Derived from Port Profile Specification
Ethernet-APL System Test Specification
- Behavior of connected devices with all ports operational
Ethernet-APL EMC Test Specification
- Immunity and emissions
- Consistent setup between test centers
- Support test of IEC requirements
Product Testing
Building a network requires different types of products that all need to be tested. For example, the network may include Power Switches, Field Switches, and Field Devices (including actuators, motor controls, gateways, etc.). These products may include one or more port types which must all be functional. Example:
- Field device with single load port
- Field Switch with 4, 8, 16 or 24 ports
- N power ports must support N devices
- Pass-through power to other field switches via cascade
- Power Switch
- Supply to the full load of field switches with full load of field devices
- Supply sufficient power for the field switches connected (multiple inline)
Testing Challenges
- Meeting standards: IEEE 802.3-2022 (10BASE-T1L / SPoE) and Ethernet-APL (10BASE-T1L Trunk and Spur)
- Efficient setup to minimize time, money and lab space
- Minimal plugging and unplugging of equipment
- Technician training
- Repeatable results from lab to lab
- Test result reporting
Example Test Setup
An Ethernet-APL Conformance and Interoperability Data and Power test setup that is standards based, controlled by software, runs tests automatically, controls test equipment and produces reports is ideal.
