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Fault Managed Power

Fault Managed Power

There’s something really cool, profound, and groundbreaking happening in the network cabling/low voltage world—it looks to be a game changer, and it’s known as Fault Managed Power!

I’ve said for years, “You have to know the network to be great in the cabling business,” and it’s true—probably truer than ever. If you’ve been following what’s happening in the networking world over the last several years, it’s all about the Edge, Power over Ethernet (PoE), the Internet of Things (IoT), Wi-Fi 7, Single Pair Ethernet, DAS, PoE Lighting, 10G or greater Ethernet Copper & Fiber Links, data centers needing more power, getting hotter, denser, and looking for better cooling, AI…and the list goes on!

As everything gets pushed further out to the edge of the network, more devices are connecting via more effective Wi-Fi WAPs, which demand greater bandwidth and power. With more technology, devices, and tools needing access to the internet or a cloud connection, it makes sense that we need another reliable means to power it all. Enter Fault Managed Power (FMP).

Fault Managed Power (FMP) is Class 4 Power. Based on the UL 1400-1 Standard, Class 4 is a new circuit term defined in the 2023 edition of the NFPA 70, also known as the NEC. Fault Managed Power Systems (FMPS) are not power-limited and can deliver hundreds or even thousands of watts of power, with voltage limited to 450V AC or DC.

This power is safe—so safe that they say you can touch it! Reportedly, it feels like touching a 9V battery with your tongue (every kid has done that, right?). It can short without starting a fire. It’s packet-based, and each packet is checked for safe transfer from transmitter to receiver. Each packet contains only a small amount of energy, making it safe for people, animals, systems, and buildings. Oh yeah—it’s also inherently better for the environment!

In the networking world, think of DC power up to 600W distributed up to 2 kilometers (2,000 meters, or 6,561 feet). That’s pretty cool, profound, and groundbreaking! To save a footnote: while 600W output at the headend provides about 240W at 2 kilometers on a single pair of 16-gauge cable, the cable is considered low-voltage. This means it can be installed in traditional communication and networking pathways—or in hybrid copper/fiber cables—for far less than a traditional power solution. And the best part? It can be installed by a low-voltage installer like Wired—no traditional electricians needed! And P.S.: You also have to know the cabling business to be great in the cabling business!

Fault Managed Power is safe, deployable by a typical network cabling technician, uses fewer materials, costs less, deploys faster, and can be centrally monitored and distributed with a common backup system. It produces less heat, increases the power capacity per RU, and delivers six times the power and 30 times the distance with fewer wires than Class 2 systems.

Fault Managed Power Systems (FMPS) don’t replace Power over Ethernet (PoE); they complement it. While PoE supports 100W devices out to 100 meters in a one-off scenario, FMPS can power an entire building’s requirements, including PoE systems that support localized device needs in specific areas.

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Written by: Kyle Kitchen