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M8 M12 Actuator Sensor Connectors
a rugged, sealed connector. In
addition to automotive production,
other industries that call for specific
cables to best meet reliability
demands include food and beverage
processing environments, machine
building, rubber and plastics, textile
and printing presses. They’re also
seen connected to spray valves on
farm implements or coolant valves in
HVAC systems. The wide variety of
cable types, connector orientations
and keying options allows the M8
and M12 connectors to address
a wide range of situations and
applications.
Since the introduction of the 3- and
4-pin versions of the M12, many
more variations and options have
become available. The connectors
are offered in both straight and
right angle configurations and can
now be found in 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 8-
and 12-pin versions. In addition to
IP67, M12 connectors are offered
with IP65, IP68 and IP69K ratings.
This allows the M12 to be used in
the most demanding applications,
even where high pressure wash-
down processes are required. IP69K
applications often require resistance
to corrosion, which can be achieved
by using stainless-steel coupling
nuts. The M12 is also available in
the following keying/coding options:
A-code - Primarily used with
sensors and actuators
B-code - PROFIBUS fieldbus
connections
C-code (dual keyway) – Primarily
used with AC sensors and
actuators
D-code - 100Mb EtherNet/IP 4-pin
X-code - Gigabit Ethernet 8-pin
This covers the options for the
connector itself, but the number of
options grows substantially when
you consider all of the different
cable types that are available.
A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) jacketed
cable is the most popular cable
used with M12 and M8 connectors.
A variety of colors are available
(e.g., yellow, black, gray, orange,
etc.) and PVC will stand up well in
a typical industrial environment. A
polyurethane (PUR) jacket is a good
choice if constant flexing or abrasion
are environmental concerns; PUR-
jacketed cables can be found in a
variety of colors and some versions
are halogen-free. The automotive
market in the U.S. has moved to
cables that require either a power-
limited tray cable (PLTC) or tray
cable-exposed run (TC-ER) rating.
Shielded cables are available and
are frequently used for fieldbus
cables (e.g., Ethernet, PROFINET,
PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, etc.), but are
also used for sensor and actuator
cables in high-noise environments.
Other cable options include high
temperature, industry certifications
and armoring. For the oil and
gas industry, making sure cables
can withstand high temperatures
is critical, while the mining and
shipping sectors are concerned with
industry certifications.
Why Use an M8 or M12
Interconnect System?
The vast number of choices
can make selecting a cord set a
daunting task. But before selecting
a cord set, it’s critical to evaluate the
environment and understand why a
cord set is required. Understanding
the need will help to narrow down
New-Tech Magazine Europe l 47