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What is an industrial-grade optical module?
Release Date: 2022-8-12 15:21:13
Optical modules can be divided into industrial-grade optical modules and commercial-grade optical modules according to different operating temperatures. At present, the commonly used optical modules on the market are mainly commercial-grade optical modules, so most people do not know much about industrial-grade optical modules. So what are the differences between industrial-grade optical modules and commercial-grade optical modules? In what context is it used? What should I pay attention to when purchasing? This article will answer a series of questions about industrial-grade optical modules one by one, which you can use as a reference when choosing industrial-grade optical modules.

What are industrial-grade optical modules and commercial-grade optical modules
Industrial-grade optical modules, as the name suggests, are optical modules used in industrial environments. They are generally used in harsh environments with large temperature differences and have the advantages of strong durability and applicability. Commercial-grade optical modules are usually used in environments with relatively stable indoor temperatures, and are also the most common and widely used optical modules on the market.

The difference between industrial-grade optical modules and commercial-grade optical modules
Industrial-grade optical modules and commercial-grade optical modules are not only different in operating temperature, but also in other aspects, as detailed below:

Operating temperature
The operating temperature range of industrial optical modules is between -40°C and 85°C, and the operating temperature range of commercial optical modules is between 0°C and 70°C.

Application Environment
Industrial-grade optical modules are generally used in industrial environments such as tunnels, factories, and power stations; while commercial-grade optical modules are generally used in network environments such as data centers, computer rooms, and enterprise networks.

test method
High and low temperature aging tests are required for industrial-grade optical modules to ensure that the optical modules can work normally and stably at temperatures ranging from -40°C to 85°C. The operating temperature of commercial-grade optical modules is between 0°C and 70°C, and they do not need to withstand extreme temperatures, but only need to perform normal temperature aging tests.

physical cooling
Since the industrial-grade optical module will work at a high temperature of 85 °C, it is necessary to use heat-dissipating silica gel to dissipate the heat generated by the laser to achieve the effect of physical cooling and avoid damage to the optical module caused by excessive temperature. Commercial-grade optical modules do not need to be used.

Temperature compensation
In order to ensure that the industrial-grade optical module can operate normally in the low temperature below zero, it needs to be temperature compensated so that the optical module can obtain a continuous current supply and its performance is not affected. The minimum temperature of commercial-grade optical modules is above zero, so no temperature compensation is required.

price
Due to the physical cooling and temperature compensation of the industrial-grade optical module, its raw material cost and manufacturing cost increase. Therefore, when the parameters such as transmission rate and wavelength are the same, the price of industrial-grade optical modules is often more expensive than that of commercial-grade optical modules.

How to choose industrial optical modules and commercial optical modules
It can be seen from the above that the operating temperature of industrial-grade optical modules is larger than that of commercial-grade optical modules, and the performance is more stable. Therefore, in outdoor environments with large temperature differences, such as tunnels, industrial-grade optical modules must be selected, because compared with commercial-grade optical modules, their safety and reliability are higher; and in indoor environments with relatively stable temperature differences, For example, in the computer room, industrial-grade optical modules and commercial-grade optical modules can meet the actual application requirements, but considering the wiring cost, commercial-grade optical modules can be selected.


Frequently Asked Questions about Industrial Optical Modules

Q: Can industrial-grade optical modules be used as commercial-grade optical modules?
A: The operating temperature of commercial-grade optical modules is 0°C~70°C, while the operating temperature of industrial-grade optical modules is -40°C~85°C, which is wider than the operating temperature range of commercial-grade optical modules, and can be used normally in outdoor environments. Therefore, industrial-grade optical modules can be used as commercial-grade optical modules, and the operation is more stable and reliable.

Q: How to use industrial-grade optical modules?
A: Industrial-grade optical modules are generally used in conjunction with industrial-grade network equipment, such as industrial-grade Ethernet switches, and the specific connection scheme is similar to commercial-grade optical modules.

Q: What are the precautions for using industrial-grade optical modules?
A: Before installing an industrial-grade optical module, you need to clean the optical module port to keep the port clean and free from pollution. Wear anti-static gloves or an anti-static wristband during installation, handle it gently, and install it horizontally.

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