The Hirschmann BOBCAT BRS20-4TX-HL is the standard-temperature hazardous location variant of Hirschmann’s compact 4-port BOBCAT managed Fast Ethernet switch, certified to ISA12.12.01 for deployment in or adjacent to Ex-classified zones in oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical processing, and offshore facilities. Developed by Hirschmann, a Belden brand, it provides 4x 10/100BASE-TX RJ45 ports in a 57 mm wide fanless PC-ABS DIN rail housing with IP30 protection, operating from 0 to +60°C and consuming just 5 W — a practical profile for control panels and field enclosures in classified process areas. TSN 802.1Qbv support on interfaces 1/1 to 1/3 enables deterministic real-time Ethernet communication, and the full industrial protocol stack covering PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and IEC61850 ensures seamless integration with PLCs, DCS systems, and SCADA platforms across the process industry. Despite its compact size, the BRS20-4TX-HL provides a complete redundancy feature set: HIPER-Ring, MRP (IEC62439-2) as both client and manager, RSTP, LACP, Link Backup, and Redundant Network Coupling, enabling hazardous-zone field nodes to participate fully in ring and star high-availability network designs. Security features encompass Secure Boot, signed firmware, 802.1X port-based access control, RADIUS authentication, VLAN-based ACLs, and DoS prevention. PTPv2 boundary and transparent clock support enables accurate time synchronisation across the automation network, including from classified area positions. With an MTBF exceeding 5.8 million hours and a 60-month guarantee, the BRS20-4TX-HL delivers long-term reliability for process industry field installations where switch maintenance is operationally and safety-critical. Available from Recab, your Nordic partner for Hirschmann industrial switch solutions.
