28 Advancements in Industrial Automation
S
ingle Pair Ethernet (SPE) is gaining more
attention in industrial settings due to its
reduction in wiring from four or eight wires
in traditional Ethernet to just two. This results
in smaller cables and connectors, simplifying
termination. SPE allows power transfer over the
same wires used for data transmission, known as
Power over Data Lines (PoDL).
Benefits of a Hybrid
Connectivity
Solution over
PoDL
Ruud van den Brink, Wijnand van Gils,
and Peter Jaeger, TE Connectivity
For many applications, PoDL may be sufficient.
However, for industrial applications, a hybrid
connectivity solution with separate data and power
contacts is recommended. This approach enables
higher power transfer, reduces PCB space, minimizes
power conversions, and handles higher noise levels.
Two hybrid connector variants are available: the
M8 form factor with one data pair and one power
pair, supporting 8A and 60VDC, and the M12 form
factor with one data pair and up to two power pairs,
supporting 16A and 600VDC.
