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Winterize Your Network: Ensuring Industrial Connectivity in Harsh Weather

October 28, 2024

Extreme weather poses serious challenges to industrial networks. From the freezing cold of winter to heavy rain and strong winds, each weather cycle brings its own set of risks. Industrial connectivity and operations in remote or tough environments—like mining, construction, and utilities—are especially vulnerable. Without the right network equipment, companies could face unexpected downtimes, costly repairs, or even total system failures.

At Northwest Towers, we understand the critical role that reliable industrial connectivity plays in maintaining smooth operations. Our industrial-grade network solutions are designed for harsh environments, ensuring your systems remain resilient and operational, no matter the conditions.

Guarding Your Network Against Temperature Extremes

When temperatures plummet or soar, your network can suffer. Cold conditions make materials brittle, while heat can weaken cables and cause signal interruptions. Choosing temperature-resistant equipment is the first line of defense.

Armored CAT5e Ethernet Cable: Built with UV sunlight and oil-resistant PVC, this cable ensures smooth network performance, even in extreme temperatures. With a 100% shielded design and rugged insulation, it’s cut to order (up to 1000ft), perfect for high-vibration environments like mobile industrial setups. The aluminum interlocked armor adds extra durability, making it ideal for the harshest industrial applications.
TPE Jacketed “UltraFlex” class coax: A TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) jacketed coaxial cable is well-suited for resilient operation in temperature extremes due to the unique properties of TPE material. TPE jackets can handle a broad range of temperatures, typically from -40°C to 125°C or higher, depending on the specific formulation. This makes TPE-coated coaxial cables resilient in both extreme cold and hot environments, where other materials might become brittle or melt. Unlike PVC, which can harden in cold temperatures, TPE remains flexible, reducing the risk of cracking and making it easier to handle in sub-zero environments. This property is particularly beneficial in outdoor or mobile applications where cables might experience sudden bends or movement in frigid conditions.
Industrial rated network equipment: Leveraging industrial rated network equipment is essential in hot or cold environments because it is specifically designed to maintain reliable performance and ensure uninterrupted connectivity despite extreme temperatures. Standard commercial equipment is typically rated for indoor, climate-controlled environments (usually 0°C to 40°C). Industrial-grade equipment, on the other hand, is designed to operate reliably across a much broader temperature range, often from -40°C to 85°C or even higher. This resilience is crucial for deployments in outdoor, unheated, or high-heat locations, where exposure to extreme cold or heat is unavoidable. In extreme heat, standard equipment can overheat, triggering thermal shutdowns to protect internal components, which interrupts operations. Conversely, in extreme cold, commercial-grade components may become brittle or lose function, leading to malfunctions or failure. Industrial equipment is built to withstand these extremes without shutting down, ensuring consistent performance in critical applications.

Equipment failures in extreme temperature environments can be costly and challenging to fix due to difficult access or the need for specialized tools or expertise. Industrial-grade equipment is engineered for durability, which reduces the likelihood of failures and minimizes downtime, making it a more cost-effective solution over time.

Stay Operational in Wet and Stormy Conditions

Water is one of the biggest threats to your network. Rain, snow, and ice can damage cables, cause moisture ingress, and disrupt industrial connectivity. In regions with heavy storms, having moisture-proof solutions is essential to avoid downtime.

Weatherproofing: Inspect your coax and data cabling weatherproofing and replace damaged or worn ends. Weatherproofing communications cables is essential for continuous operation because it protects the cables from environmental factors that can impair or disrupt signal quality and reliability. Rain, snow, and humidity can seep into unprotected cables, leading to short circuits, corrosion, and insulation breakdown. Moisture inside a cable can degrade signal quality, cause intermittent connections, or even permanently damage the cable.
NW Towers M12 POE Injector: Whether you’re dealing with the elements in remote locations or heavy industrial sites, this power-over-ethernet injector, housed in an IP67-sealed rugged enclosure, provides reliable power even under tough weather conditions. The injector’s wide input voltage range (11-80 VDC) makes it suitable for vehicles, off-grid systems, and more, stabilizing your network through varying power sources.
SL5G Rugged 5G Mobile Router: Perfect for extending your network beyond MESH coverage, this rugged router is designed to provide a secure, reliable connection in all weather conditions. Whether on mobile vehicles or static installations, its durable anodized enclosure and seamless handoff between LTE and private networks make it a crucial tool for maintaining data communication.

Our Commitment to Quality: Tested for the Toughest Conditions

At Northwest Towers, we don’t just design products for industrial networks—we test them against the toughest standards to ensure they perform when it matters most. Our solutions undergo rigorous environmental testing, from moisture ingress assessments to temperature cycling, ensuring your network remains operational regardless of the elements.

Whether you’re battling freezing temperatures, heavy rain, or high winds, Northwest Towers has the industrial-grade solutions to keep your network running smoothly. From rugged cables and antennas to reliable routers and POE injectors, our products are built to withstand extreme environments.

For more information on our products or how we can help winterize your network, visit nwtowers.com or reach out to our team today.