Industrial Ethernet is the same protocol family as office Ethernet, running through connectors built for a factory instead of a server room. The three you’ll meet are PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and EtherCAT, and they all run on a small set of physical connectors.
Connector by speed
| Speed | Connector | Poles | Protocols |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Mbps | M12 D-coded | 4 | PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT |
| 1 Gbps | M12 X-coded (8-pole) | 8 | PROFINET, EtherNet/IP |
| 10 Gbps | M12 X-coded | 8 | Backbone, vision |
| 100 Mbps / 1 Gbps single pair | SPE M12 | 2 | SPE (IEC 63171) |
Single Pair Ethernet is the one to watch. It runs data and power over one pair, which means thinner cable and one connector where you used to need two. Adoption is still early, but for new IIoT sensor designs it’s the direction the industry is heading.
Shielding and grounding
Industrial networks fail most often at the connector, not the cable. The shield has to be terminated 360 degrees around the connector body, and the drain wire must land on the same ground as the panel. Skipping either one gives you the classic “works until the motor starts” fault.
What we stock
M12 D-coded and X-coded connectors in field-wireable, overmoulded and panel-mount forms, plus SPE M12 hybrid connectors. Every Ethernet connector is tested for continuity and shield integrity before shipping.
Tell us your protocol and speed and we’ll match the connector.