Binder pioneers industrial cabling with field-wireable M8 connectors
Connecting devices via a single pair of wires is a pioneering trend in industrial cabling, said binder as it introduced its compact SPE (single pair Ethernet) M8 circular connector. Developed in accordance with the specifications of the IEC standards 63171-5 and 63171-6 for SPE, the M8 connector is suitable for data and power transmission in the factory and process automation environments.
The miniature industrial connectors of the 808 series have screw locking. They support the transmission of data and electrical power in future-proof automation solutions according to the SPE standard, reported the company. Thanks to the established and compact M8 design, the connectors can be integrated into standard sensor technology housings.
As industrial automation technology transitions from hierarchical to decentralised architectures, the number of connected devices in the field creates a greater need for interfaces. Decentralised automation components, i.e. sensors, actuators, controllers, gateways, and embedded or edge computers, are subject to strict requirements in terms of miniaturisation and energy efficiency. In terms of electrical connection technology, this is being mirrored in design criteria such as compact construction, mechanical ruggedness, reliability and signal integrity.
As Industry 4.0 advances, industrial Ethernet ensures seamless data transmission from the field-level sensor through the control and operating levels to the cloud. This continuity enables users to access real-time device data in addition to process data and use it for production planning, process control and data analysis.
While digitisation, decentralisation and seamless data transmission drive the demand for connectors in the automation market, they also sharpen the focus on product functionality and properties. Single pair Ethernet allows high performance and cost-effective wiring of field components using only one twin wire. The wiring method, already established in automotive engineering, has the potential to meet the requirements of many applications in industrial automation. Depending on the distance, devices with Gbit transmission rates can be integrated into Ethernet networks via the single pair of wires. Power over data line (PoDL) can supply power to the instrumentation via the same pair of wires. In addition to sensors and actuators – in the power range of the previous Power over Ethernet (PoE) – camera-based systems for test and measurement can also be connected and supplied via PoDL, for example.
Dieter Sandula, product manager at binder, commented: “SPE will undoubtedly make its way into the existing data infrastructure. This type of data transmission can lead to more sustainable systems that improve cost-effectiveness in automation. In addition, reduced consumption of resources in manufacturing and processing ultimately brings an environmentally sustainable advantage.”
binder is currently developing products to meet IEC standards 63171-5 and 63171-6 for SPE. Current product development is based on power supply via PoDL, and a hybrid concept that provides separate data and power transmission. The new SPE products of the 808 series are two- and four-pin M8 connectors as well as the respective mating device connectors according to IEC 63171-5 and IEC 63171-6, respectively. The field-wireable connectors are intended for flexible termination directly in the field and will be available from 2023.
