TE Connectivity (TE) has been a driving force behind the new international electrotechnical standard IEC 63171-7, helping to bring Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) interconnect technology into the mainstream. Under the new standard, SPE-M12 hybrid interfaces will provide the reliability, durability, and security needed in harsh industrial environments. TE spearheaded standardization as a founding member of the SPE Industrial Partner Network, a global network of over 50 organizations. Adopted in May 2023, the IEC 63171-7 standard has received widespread industry approval and has already been implemented by trade associations and companies worldwide. IEC 63171-7 specifies hybrid interfaces with SPE and power contacts in M12 form factor, with both screw-lock and push-pull quick-locking options. The standard applies to shielded, free, and fixed circular connectors for power and data transmission. SPE-M12 hybrid interfaces fit almost seamlessly into existing Ethernet infrastructures and facilitate plug-and-play connections. Separate pins for data and power transmission contribute to improved performance.
The new hybrid connection standard is an evolution of IEC 63171-6, which defines M8 hybrid connectors but does not include the well-known M12 industry standard used in IP65 and IP67 environments. The new standard now includes SPE-M12 hybrid connectors for various applications with power classes from 8 A to 16 A and from 50 V to 600 V. While previous Power over Data Line (PoDL) concepts were limited to 50 W, SPE-M12 hybrid connectors support powerful devices up to 11 kW and 16 A. Furthermore, the hybrid configuration of the IEC 63171-7 standard offers greater flexibility in network-based power distribution than a point-to-point connection like PoDL. This allows for the distribution of higher current levels to multiple cascaded power devices.
