Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) is the future of industrial field-level connectivity. Unlike traditional 4-pair Ethernet, SPE transmits data and power over just one twisted pair of wires — dramatically reducing cable weight, cost, and installation complexity. VOOHU's SPE connectors comply with IEC 63171-6 and support 10Base-T1L communication up to 1000 meters, making them the ideal physical interface for smart sensors, actuators, and IIoT devices in Industry 4.0 architectures.
Why SPE? The Case for Single Pair
Traditional 4-Pair Ethernet
VOOHU Single Pair Ethernet (SPE)
4 pairs (8 wires) — bulky, heavy cable
1 pair (2 wires) — up to 70% lighter, smaller bend radius
Limited to ~100m without repeaters
Up to 1000m reach with 10Base-T1L
Standard RJ45 (8P8C) connector
Compact 2-pin IEC 63171-6 connector
Requires PoE injector/switch for power
Integrated PoDL (Power over Data Line) up to 50W
Designed for office/enterprise LAN
Purpose-built for industrial field level, replacing fieldbuses
VOOHU SPE Product Features
Feature
Details
Standard Compliance
IEC 63171-6, IEEE 802.3cg (10Base-T1L)
Pin Count
2-pin (1 pair)
Rated Voltage
60 VDC
Rated Current
4 A
Transmission Distance
Up to 1000m (10Base-T1L)
Data Rate
10 Mb/s (10Base-T1L) / 100 Mb/s (100Base-T1)
PoDL Support
Yes — power and data on a single pair
Connector Types
Board-mount (PCB), Field-wireable (crimp)
Mechanical Durability
High-strength housing with excellent vibration resistance
Operating Temperature
-40°C to +85°C
SPE vs Traditional Fieldbus: Why Make the Switch?
Aspect
Legacy Fieldbus (Profibus, CAN, IO-Link)
VOOHU SPE (10Base-T1L)
Topology
Proprietary, requires gateways
Standard Ethernet — seamless to cloud
Speed
Kbps to low Mbps
10 Mbps — 100x faster than most fieldbuses
Cabling
Special cables per protocol
Single twisted pair, standard industrial cable
Distance
Varies by protocol (typically 100-1200m)
1000m with 10Base-T1L
Integration
Complex protocol conversion at controller level
Native Ethernet — direct IP addressing, OPC UA, MQTT
Typical Applications
Industrial Sensors & Actuators — Pressure, temperature, flow, proximity sensors on the factory floor
Process Automation — Field instruments in chemical, oil & gas, water treatment plants
Building Automation — Occupancy sensors, HVAC damper actuators, lighting controllers
Robotics & AGVs — Lightweight cabling for mobile robot arms and autonomous vehicles
Renewable Energy — Solar panel string monitors, wind turbine pitch control sensors
VOOHU SPE + PHY Chip: Complete Solution
VOOHU offers a complete SPE solution ecosystem by pairing our SPE connectors with the JLSemi JL3111 / JL31X1 PHY chip series (via our agency partnership). This provides:
✅ RMII 100Mbps / GMII 1Gbps data rates
✅ IEEE 802.3bw / 802.3cg compliant
✅ Reference circuit designs with validated BOM
✅ Single-pair cabling from PHY to connector — tested end-to-end