Power connectors meet future PROFINET standard

At its technical strategy meeting this September, PROFINET International (PI) decided that the L-coded variant, which is internationally standardised through the standard 61076-2-111, will be the future single standard for 24V PROFINET devices with round connectors. The key factors behind this decision were compact design and its high current-carrying capacity (16A) at a conductor cross section of 1.5mm².

In addition, L-coded M12 Power Connectors for PROFINET devices in a TN-S system can be connected via the fifth contact for the functional ground to a Common Bonding Network (CBN), a meshed grounding concept in accordance with DIN EN 50310.

In the current PROFINET guideline 'PROFINET Cabling and Interconnection Technology', two round connectors with screw connections are specified for the 24V power supply in addition to a push-pull rectangular connector. This is an A-coded M12 connector for power class 1-4A; the version with a 7/8” connection is for power class 2-16A.

“In the future PROFINET guideline, which is expected to be published in April 2017, these two variants will be replaced by the L-coded M12-Power Connectors,” explains Uwe Widmann, responsible for standardisation and technology at Belden, Germany.

“This connection technology is more powerful and is almost 50% smaller than other comparable power connectors. This miniaturisation has also been applied to PROFINET devices, so future PROFINET networks can be built more flexibly and efficiently.”

The L-coded M12 Power Connectors of the Lumberg Automation brand are approved in accordance with UL and VDE, and are offered in both straight and angled versions, as well as moulded, for customer assembly or as an installation variant. They have an extended operating temperature range of -40 to +125°C and are available with protection classes IP65, IP67 or IP69K. The five-pin versions with functional ground are clearly recognisable by a gray cable jacket and gray contact carriers for pins and sockets.