From factory floors to railway systems, the sturdy connections on these switches connect cabled devices in tough environments. More rugged than the RJ45 ports on standard Ethernet switches, the M12 connectors are IP rated to seal out water and dust, and won't shake loose from vibration. Use them to send data between sensors, switches, servers, computers, and PLCs, or to connect devices to the Internet. Plug in your devices and they’ll be connected to your network, no further setup required. When not in use, protect connectors with an M12 electrical connector cap.

All switches are backward compatible, so they work in networks that meet the same or lower transmission speed. For example, a 100 Mbps transmission speed switch will work in a 10 Mbps network, but it will only run at 10 Mbps.

Switches with A-coded plugs only receive power—they can’t share power with another switch connected down the line. Switches with L-coded plugs have dedicated power in and power out ports. This means you can daisy-chain power from one Ethernet switch to another.

IP66 and IP67 rated switches withstand washdowns and temporary submersion. You’ll often find them mounted directly to machines or equipment in process control and outdoor communication applications. IP69K rated switches have the highest level of protection. They withstand high-pressure washdowns and steam cleaning. These switches are designed for harsh environments with regular exposure to water, so you’ll find them in manufacturing, food processing, and wastewater treatment facilities. You can also use them in areas exposed to rain or snow.