Q: How do I determine which cable jacket material I need?

PVC : Common and cost-effective; good for general-purpose indoor use, but less resistant to oils or high-flex applications. PUR : More resistant to abrasion and oils; better for robotic or dynamic applications. TPE : Highly flexible, typically good for harsh environments, chemical resistance, and higher-temperature ratings. Evaluate your application (chemical exposure, flex requirements, temperature, etc.) to choose the best fit.

Q: What is ifm's wire color scheme?

Wire color codes for M8 / M12 connectors: Pin number M8 / M12 wire color per EN60947-5-2 M12 wire color per DIN 47100 1 Brown (BN) White (WH) 2 White (WH) Brown (BN) 3 Blue (BL) Green (GN) 4 Black (BK) Yellow (YE) 5 Grey (GY) Grey (GY) 6 Pink (PK) Pink (PK) 7 Violet (VT) Blue (BU) 8 Orange (OG) Red (RD)

Question 1

Are ifm efector cables compatible with non-ifm sensors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ifm efector cables follow standardized connector designs (M8, M12, etc.), so they typically work with sensors and devices from other manufacturers that comply with those same international standards. Always check pinouts and voltage/current ratings to ensure safe and correct operation.

Question 2

What are some best practices for wiring in general?

Accepted Answer

The following notes are based on industry recommendations:

Separate low voltage cables and wires from high voltage cables.
Limit long cable runs. Long wires act as antennas. Low voltage wires become receive antennas and high voltage wires become transmit antennas. High voltage wires can induce a signal onto a low voltage wire, so minimize the distance that low and high voltage wires run parallel to each other.
Separate DC voltage from AC voltage.
Use shielded cables in areas where high electromagnetic interference can occur.
Label all terminated wires to match electrical schematics.

Question 3

Can I use a longer cable than the standard lengths available?

Accepted Answer

Extending sensor cables is possible, but longer lengths may risk signal degradation—particularly with analog or high-speed digital signals. Use quality extension cables and ensure total cable length stays within recommended limits. For critical applications, use shielded cables or signal amplifiers to minimize noise.

Question 4

Do ifm’s cables include built-in strain relief?

Accepted Answer

Many ifm efector cables and connectors have molded strain relief features to protect internal wires from excessive bending or pulling. If your application involves intense flexing or movement (e.g., robot arms), select a cable rated for high-flex cycles or consider additional mechanical strain relief supports.

Question 5

How do I determine which cable jacket material I need?

Accepted Answer

PVC: Common and cost-effective; good for general-purpose indoor use, but less resistant to oils or high-flex applications.
PUR: More resistant to abrasion and oils; better for robotic or dynamic applications.
TPE: Highly flexible, typically good for harsh environments, chemical resistance, and higher-temperature ratings.

Evaluate your application (chemical exposure, flex requirements, temperature, etc.) to choose the best fit.

Question 6

Is halogen-free or low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) cable available?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many of ifm's cables are halogen-free, designed for safety-critical applications. Check the product catalog or consult ifm directly for availability.

Question 7

How do you convert from AWG to cross-sectional area?

Accepted Answer

Use this chart to convert from AWG to cross-sectional area in mm2:

AWG	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
mm²	8.36	6.63	5.26	4.17	3.31	2.63	2.08	1.65	1.31	1.04	0.82	0.65	0.52	0.41	0.33	0.26	0.20	0.16	0.13

Question 8

What is the difference between shielded and non-shielded cables?

Accepted Answer

Shielded cables reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise by isolating the cable conductors.

Shielding connected to only one side of the cordset provides protection against low-frequency electric fields and shielding connected to both sides provide protection against high-frequency noise depending on cable length.

Connection point	Cable length	Frequency
One side	2 m	< 200 MHz
One side	20 m	< 20 MHz
Both sides*	2 m	> 200 MHz
Both sides*	20 m	> 20 MHz

*Differences in potential between various machine parts can cause ground loops.

In both cases, the shield at the flying leads of the cable must be connected to earth ground. Below are two examples of how to accomplish this.

ifm offers both types of shielded cordsets.

Question 9

Can I use Silicone Grease to improve sealing?

Accepted Answer

No. The ecolink sealing design ensures IP67 / IP68 / IP69K protection without the need for sealing compounds. Silicone grease causes a temperature increase at the contacts which leads to a build up of silcon dioxide. This insulating layer increases contact resistance, which results in a temperature increase also. The resulting chain reaction can lead to temperatures beyond the rating of the cable, leading to failure.

Question 10

What is ifm's wire color scheme?

Accepted Answer

Wire color codes for M8 / M12 connectors:

AWG	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
mm²	8.36	6.63	5.26	4.17	3.31	2.63	2.08	1.65	1.31	1.04	0.82	0.65	0.52	0.41	0.33	0.26	0.20	0.16	0.13

Question 11

What are ifm's cable chemical resistances?

Accepted Answer

Use this chart for general guidelines for cable resistance. This is for reference only and does not guarantee suitability.

Key: P = Poor, F = Fair, G = Good, E = Excellent, O = Outstanding

Connection point	Cable length	Frequency
One side	2 m	< 200 MHz
One side	20 m	< 20 MHz
Both sides*	2 m	> 200 MHz
Both sides*	20 m	> 20 MHz

Question 12

What are ifm's coding and pinout standards?

Accepted Answer

ifm offers many variations of cable connectors.

While the coupling nut and insert are typically common, the keys and keyways in the inserts vary depending on the usage of the cordset.

Connection point	Cable length	Frequency
One side	2 m	< 200 MHz
One side	20 m	< 20 MHz
Both sides*	2 m	> 200 MHz
Both sides*	20 m	> 20 MHz

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