RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global multi-channel provider of industrial and electronic products and solutions, has introduced a highly robust series of connectors for industrial applications. Manufactured by Hirose Electric, a global leader in high-quality connectors, the ix Industrial™ series meets all the requirements for space-constrained applications and can support I/O signal transmission speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second.
The ix Industrial™ series is suitable for a range of industrial applications including factory automation controllers, industrial robotics, servo amplifiers, PLCs and many others such as security systems. In addition to delivering the potential to reduce installation space by up to 75% compared to RJ45 based solutions, the new Hirose series supports CAT5e (1-Gbps) and CAT6A (10-Gbps) cabling and features an optimised rugged and reliable EMI and ESD shielding design.
Other features of the series include availability with two keying codes for Ethernet and non-Ethernet applications and compliance with the IEC PAS 61076-3-124 standard. Electrical characteristics include: a current rating of 1.5A for all 10 contacts, with 3A capability on pins 1, 2, 6 and 7; voltage rating of 50V; 5000 mating cycles; and an operating temperature of from –40 up to +85°C.
The connector receptacle can be mounted in parallel with a pitch distance of only 10mm, which enables close side-by-side positioning of multiple connectors on a single PCB. The receptacle shell is PCB mounted via through-hole solder legs to enhance PCB retention, and the wire-termination unit and cable clamp are integrated into a single plug shell. Additionally, the snap-in I/O plug connector offers a positive metal lock, which provides a clear tactile click to ensure secure mating.
The Hirose ix Industrial connector series is now shipping from RS in the EMEA region.
