Single Pair Ethernet in Building Automation

This white paper investigates the feasibility of reusing existing cabling infrastructures for Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) in building automation. The study evaluates various cable types commonly used in building automation, such as the KNX protocol and switching wire, by comparing their electrical performance parameters against established standards including ISO/IEC 11801-3 and IEEE 802.3cg. The paper outlines the methodology for testing these cables, including the use of field measuring devices and vector network analyzers to assess signal transmission quality over different cable lengths. Results indicate that while some cables meet the required limits for return loss and insertion loss, others do not, impacting their usability for SPE connections. The findings suggest that existing infrastructures can be leveraged for SPE, promoting sustainability in building modernization. The paper also discusses the implications of cable impedance and signal integrity on data transmission performance, providing a comprehensive analysis of the potential for integrating SPE into current systems.