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Network Switches

Network switches are the hardware infrastructure that connects PLCs, HMIs, drives, remote I/O, and engineering workstations onto shared industrial Ethernet networks, controlling how data packets are directed between devices on the same network or across segmented network zones. PLC Direct stocks Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH network switches across managed and unmanaged product families, available as surplus sealed, refurbished, and used hardware.

Where Are Network Switches Used in Industrial Environments?

Network switches are deployed at every point in an industrial Ethernet architecture where two or more devices must share a common network segment, from the control cabinet switch that links a PLC, HMI, and I/O modules within a single panel to the backbone switches that connect multiple machine cells across a production floor. Managed switches are additionally required wherever PROFINET IO communication, ring redundancy, VLAN segmentation, or network diagnostics are part of the installation design.

Facilities and operations that depend on network switches include:

Discrete manufacturing plants building PROFINET IO device networks between SIMATIC and other brand controllers and distributed I/O stations, where managed FL SWITCH units provide ring redundancy and port-level diagnostics across machine cells.

EtherNet/IP-based automation systems using Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH 7000 series switches with native EtherNet/IP support for multi-vendor network topologies.

Facilities installing Power over Ethernet infrastructure to power IP cameras, IWLAN access points, or other PoE-compatible field devices through the same cable run that carries network data, using FL SWITCH PoE-capable managed switches.

Harsh-environment machine installations where M12 connector switches, such as the FL SWITCH 1605M12, are required to withstand washdown, vibration, and contamination at conveyor or packaging equipment without a protective enclosure.

A failed network switch isolates every device on the affected segment from the broader control network, making port count, managed or unmanaged designation, and fiber or PoE capability matching essential before ordering a replacement.

Which Brands of Network Switches Does PLC Direct Stock?

Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH network switches exist across four product families.

Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH SF/SFN Series: Unmanaged DIN-rail industrial Ethernet switches in SPEEDFLAT housing with copper TX and fiber FX port options, for straightforward network expansion in installations that do not require switch configuration or ring redundancy.

Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH 1000 Series: Managed Layer 2 industrial Ethernet switches including standard copper-port models, PoE-capable variants with SFP uplink slots, and M12-connector models for direct panel or machine-frame mounting in harsh environments.

Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH 2000/3000/7000 Series: Higher-port-count managed switches with SFP and fiber uplink configurations for backbone network segments, along with FL SWITCH 7000 models offering native EtherNet/IP support for multi-vendor network environments.

Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH MCS Series: Modular compact managed switches with configurable copper and fiber port combinations, designed for space-constrained control cabinet installations where a fixed-port switch would exceed available DIN-rail space.

Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH network switches are available as surplus sealed, refurbished, and used hardware, depending on available inventory.

What Should You Know Before Ordering Network Switches?

Hardware condition options: Surplus sealed units are unused and in original manufacturer packaging. Refurbished units have been inspected and restored to functional operating condition. Used units are tested and operational, with conditions stated on each product listing.

Compatibility and part identification: Network switches must be matched by managed or unmanaged designation, port count, port type (copper TX, fiber FX, or SFP), and power supply input voltage, as these are determined by the hardware and cannot be changed after installation. For managed switches deployed in PROFINET ring topologies or Ethernet/IP systems, the specific model must also support the required redundancy protocol and network management features, which vary across FL SWITCH product families and are not interchangeable even within the same series.

Warranty: All network switch hardware purchased from PLC Direct carries a standard 1-year warranty covering defects and functionality, applicable to surplus sealed, refurbished, and used products. PLC Direct supplies network switch hardware for replacement and maintenance purposes and does not provide system design, programming, or integration services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fiber port switches are used when the link distance between two switches or between a switch and a field device exceeds the maximum specified distance for copper twisted-pair Ethernet. Fiber is also specified when electrical isolation is required between two network segments at different ground potentials, or when the cable run passes through environments with strong electromagnetic interference that would degrade copper signal quality.

A PoE-capable FL SWITCH supplies DC power to connected devices over the same cable that carries network data, eliminating the need for a separate power supply at the connected device. This is typically used to power IP cameras, IWLAN access points, or VoIP handsets from a central cabinet location, and the switch model must be confirmed to support the correct PoE standard and per-port power budget for the connected devices.

Yes, managed FL SWITCH models that support Media Redundancy Protocol can be configured as MRP ring nodes, providing automatic network recovery in the event of a single cable or switch failure in a ring topology. The specific FL SWITCH model must be confirmed to support MRP before ordering, as unmanaged and some basic managed models do not include ring redundancy capability.

A surplus sealed managed switch contains no configuration; VLAN assignments, ring redundancy settings, IP address, SNMP parameters, and port configuration must all be set up before the switch can replicate the role of the original unit. Having the original switch configuration file or sufficient network documentation to recreate the settings is strongly advisable before installation.

An unmanaged switch, such as the FL SWITCH SF series, forwards Ethernet traffic automatically with no configuration or network management features. A managed switch supports VLAN segmentation, ring redundancy protocols such as MRP or RSTP, SNMP diagnostics, port mirroring, and, in some models, PROFINET IO device functionality, all of which require configuration before deployment and are necessary in network designs that depend on these features for reliability or diagnostics.