Description
Product Introduction
The Red Lion N-Tron 508FX2-ST is a rugged, unmanaged industrial Ethernet switch built to provide reliable connectivity in extreme environments. Featuring a compact, heavy-duty metal enclosure, it combines six standard copper RJ45 ports with two 100BaseFX multimode fiber ports equipped with bayonet-style ST connectors.
Designed for plug-and-play operation, the 508FX2-ST utilizes N-Ring and N-View monitoring capabilities (on supported versions) to ensure high network uptime. The integrated fiber ports isolate network trunks from ground loops, high-voltage surges, and severe electromagnetic interference (EMI) typical in sub-stations, manufacturing floors, and outdoor municipal control systems.
Key Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Part Number | 508FX2-ST |
| Manufacturer | Red Lion Controls / N-Tron |
| Copper Ports | 6 × 10/100BaseTX (RJ-45 Auto-Negotiating) |
| Fiber Ports | 2 × 100BaseFX Multimode (ST Style Connectors) |
| Fiber Distance / Wavelength | Up to 2 km / 1300 nm |
| Input Voltage | Redundant 10 to 30 VDC |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to 158°F) |
| Enclosure / Mount | High-impact metal housing / 35mm DIN-Rail mountable |
| Throughput / Latency | Full wire speed / < 3.1 µs latency |
| Certifications | UL/cUL Class I, Div 2 (Hazardous Locations), CE, IEEE 802.3 |
Application Scenarios & The “Trench” Experience
In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, networking copper lines running between remote pump stations and the central PLC panel often pick up severe ground loop noise or lightning-induced surges, blowing out standard commercial switch ports.
Replacing copper runs with fiber tied into an N-Tron 508FX2-ST eliminates electrical conductivity between buildings entirely. The ST twist-lock connectors prevent cable vibration disconnections near heavy motor drives, maintaining a clean 100Mbps link to your SCADA network regardless of plant noise.
Typical Applications:
- Power & Utility Substations – Fiber isolation against high-voltage EMI and electrical transients.
- Oil & Gas / Chemical Processing – Hazardous area deployment (Class I, Div 2 certified) for field instrumentation.
- Factory Automation & Robotics – Noise-immune Ethernet links between moving machine cells and central control cabinets.
508FX2-ST
508FX2-ST
Transparency SOP: Quality Assurance & Testing
Every surplus or reconditioned Red Lion 508FX2-ST switch undergoes a strict 5-stage bench test protocol:
- Physical & Port Audit: Visual inspection of housing, DIN-rail spring clip, screw terminal block, and ST optical ports for dust or mechanical strain.
- Power Supply & Redundancy Test: Verification of Dual-Input VDC rails (V+1, V+2) under 10V to 30V DC input sweeps.
- Copper Data Throughput Sweep: Continuous 24-hour packet traffic load test across all six RJ45 ports to verify zero packet drops or auto-negotiation errors.
- Optical Power & Link Test: Measuring fiber port optical output wattage with a power meter to ensure transmit/receive power stays within standard specifications over 2km link profiles.
- ESD-Safe Decontamination & Packaging: Cleaned, optical dust caps installed on ST ports, packed in static-shielding bags, and foam-padded for transit.
The Veteran’s Tech Trap Guide (Crucial Value-Add)
⚠️ ST vs. SC Fiber Connectors: Double-check your fiber termination types! The 508FX2-ST uses twist-and-lock round ST connectors. If your field wiring uses snap-in rectangular SC connectors, you need the 508FX2-SC variant or ST-to-SC patch cables.
❗ Keep Dust Caps on Unused Fiber Ports: Never leave optical ports exposed to open air in industrial environments. Airborne dust or oil film landing on the internal transceiver lens will degrade optical signal power, causing high bit-error rates (BER) or total link failure.
⚠️ Verify Fiber Mode (Multimode vs. Singlemode): The standard 508FX2-ST is designed for Multimode (MM) fiber cables (62.5/125µm or 50/125µm). Connecting this switch to Singlemode (SM) fiber runs will result in severe attenuation and loss of link signal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is the Red Lion 508FX2-ST a managed or unmanaged switch?
A: The standard 508FX2-ST is an unmanaged plug-and-play switch. However, it supports N-Tron’s optional N-View OPC monitoring technology (if ordered with the -N option code) to send basic diagnostics to a SCADA host.
Q: What is the maximum distance the fiber ports can reach?
A: The standard multimode ST ports support cable distances up to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) at 1300nm wavelength.
Q: What power supply is required to run this switch?
A: It requires an external DC power supply delivering 10 to 30 VDC (typically a standard 24VDC industrial panel power supply). It features redundant power inputs for dual-supply backup setups.
Q: What warranty is provided with this surplus unit?
A: We back every surplus and reconditioned 508FX2-ST module with a full 12-month operational warranty. If any port drops signal or fails diagnostics within 365 days, we will replace the unit or issue a full refund.
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