RJ45 or M12 Connector? The Differences Between Commercial and Industrial Ethernet Cables

What are the differences between commercial and industrial Ethernet? This video explains the differences from an environmental and capabilities standpoint.
Video Transcript:
"This video will explore the differences between commercial and industrial Ethernet, and how the cables and connectors are constructed to meet the demands of these environments.
The environment on the typical factory floor is tough. Cables can be exposed to oils, moisture, temperature changes, abrasion, and even corrosive chemicals. On top of that, motion or flexing can also put stress on the cable. A commercial Ethernet cable is not built to withstand these conditions.
For any Ethernet connector, the number of twists must remain at an acceptable level throughout the connector. An overmolded M12 is used for industrial Ethernet because it is considerably more robust and rugged than the RJ45. And, the spacing between pins maintains signal integrity. This is what makes it ideal for the factory floor.
The assembly of an M12 for industrial Ethernet requires a considerable amount of manufacturing skill and expertise to maintain the appropriate amount of twists on the individual pairs. This becomes even more vital as you move to higher to higher level category cables. For instance, Cat 6a or Cat 7. The pairs in these cables are further protected from one another by the amount of twists per pair, physical separators inside the cable, or even foil shielded pairs.
For these higher category cables, a modified M12 is required, which results in an X configuration in the connector. Each pair is located within a segment of the X configuration, providing additional separation of the pairs. At this time, the X-code M12 is used with higher category Ethernet cable, and is really only intended for camera, video, or high speed data acquisition. Most industrial Ethernet systems work great with standard M12s and Cat 5e cable.
Industrial Ethernet is an emerging technology in the industrial marketplace. Many established commercial vendors are trying to position themselves for a piece of the pie. While commercial Ethernet products may be less expensive than their industrial counterparts, the reality is that they won’t hold up in the environment and often won’t have the correct shielding or mechanical protection.
There is a lot of misinformation and half-truths surrounding industrial Ethernet, so it’s important to be cautious where you get your information. Know your application, and always keep in mind the environmental differences."

[@uploadJ]

Informative; Did not know til now there was a difference ...

[@TheLulaby123]

The title should be changed to "Industrial Ethernet Cables", since I expected something quite different when I clicked the video.

[@turcktv]

Thanks for the hint. We hope it is better now.

[@DotaMaster321]

If you wish to add Croatian subtitles - just ask. Btw great video!

[@bitebonumbere1426]

Can you please add subtitles to your KZbin videos

[@user-dl1ec8zl2s]

Отличные разъемы

[@phweakwilled]

or RJ45 vs M12 connectors

[@verslalchimie5824]

Having the speaker look away from the camera is just about the worst style you can do. I don't know why videographers do it. It looks like they are ignoring you.

[@turcktv]

We are sorry that you do not feel addressed by the so-called interview style. Nowadays, the speakers in our videos look directly at the viewer. Best regards from the Turck TV Team

[@verslalchimie5824]

@@turcktv Hey, thanks for the reply. Good to know that you are changing the style back to the "attentive" gaze. It's just a pet peeve of mine and its a trend that I will be happy to see fade away. I found your video informative though. Thanks!

[@turcktv]

@@verslalchimie5824 You are very welcome! Great to know, that you found the video helpful. Have a great day!