This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Modular Cables category on DigiKey.com
Modular cable assemblies consist of a length of appropriate cordage terminated with a style of interconnect product known as a “modular connector”. Commonly used in telecommunications applications such as wired Ethernet and telephone networks, modular cables can be broadly divided into two classes based on their use of flat or round cable types. Flat modular cables provide ease of termination at cost of electrical performance and are used in low-speed applications such as baseband voice communications; whereas round cables (having their inner conductors twisted together in pairs) can be used for high-speed applications such as gigabit Ethernet.
SelectionCharacteristics
Cable Type: The construction type or cross-sectional shape of the cabling used in the assembly.
Connector Type: Indicates the style and configuration of the connectors on the cable.
Mounting Type: Indicates how the device is attached.
Number of Positions/Contacts: Indicates connector body size via the number of contact positions available, and the number of said positions that are populated with electrical contacts.
Length: The length of the cable assembly, this length may or may not include the connectors. Please consult the individual datasheets.
Shielding: Whether or not the device possesses an electrically insulating barrier that helps to reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interference.
Color: The dominant color of the cable.
Features: These are different capabilities or properties of the device such as flex rated, magnetic, or molded plugs.
Style: The “Cat-X” category the cable falls into, the type of environment it is intended for use, and special ratings or standards that it conforms to such as IP Ratings.
IP Ratings
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings such as (IP20, IP65, IP67, etc.) define how likely water and dirt will get into the system. The first number represents dirt and solid contaminants while the second represents water and liquids.
| Solids | Liquids | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protected against solids larger than 50mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited Ingress permitted. |
| 2 | Protected against solids larger than 12.5mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water with the enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 3 | Protected against solids larger than 2.5mm. | Protected against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted for 3 minutes. |
| 4 | Protected against solids larger than 1mm. | Protected against water splashed from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 | Protected against dust. Limited ingress of dust permitted. | Will not affect operation of equipment 2-8 hours. Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust 2-8 hours. | Protected against powerful jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | ______________________ | Protected against the effects of immersion in 15cm-1m for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | ______________________ | Continuous immersion in water up to 3m for long periods of time. |
| 9 | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (30 seconds) |
| 9K | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (2 minutes) |
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | DK-1511-001/BL |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | AE10476-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Assmann WSW Components |
| DESCRIPTION | Modular Cable Plug to Plug 8p8c (RJ45, Ethernet) 1.00’ (304.8mm) Unshielded |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | MP-5FRJ12STWS-002 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 3272-MP-5FRJ12STWS-002-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Amphenol Cables on Demand |
| DESCRIPTION | Modular Cable Plug to Plug 6p6c (RJ11, RJ12, RJ14, RJ25) 2.00’ (609.6mm) Unshielded |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | 510-26-4400-BL-0007F |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1175-2286-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | CNC Tech |
| DESCRIPTION | Modular Cable Plug to Plug 4p4c (RJ9, RJ10, RJ22) 7.00’ (2.13m) Unshielded |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | MRJ0030DD-A |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 380-1209-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Stewart Connector |
| DESCRIPTION | Modular Cable Plug to Plug 48p48c (MRJ21) 9.84’ (3.00m) Unshielded |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
MediaLinks
Articles
Selecting a Suitable Industrial Cable
High Quality Cables for Industrial Applications
Product Training Modules
Flexx-Sil Jacket Indust Ether Cat 5e Cable - Cicoil
Copper Ethernet Cabling - Panduit
TechForum
Modular Cable Pin-out Style: Reverse or Straight
Coiled modular cable - Stretched Length - retracted length