Written by Gary Nelson, Product Manager- Device Connections

Please do not be put off by the title and run away as this is not a maths quiz! Actually if it were a maths quiz, I believe the simple answer would be no, 17 won’t go into (M) 12. But what’s the (M) for I hear you ask? If you didn’t, please pretend you did otherwise this simply won’t work.

As I said at the outset, this isn’t to do with maths, although when you discover what I am going to tell you it will make you question how this is possible. Imagine, if you will, the humble M12 connector which is widely recognisable in the industry as the connector of choice for multiple poles in a small circular housing.

M12s come in a number of standard configurations in 4, 5, 8 and in some cases (including ours!) 12 pole versions. We also have, within the Phoenix Contact Pluscon circular range, M12 AC and DC 4 pole 12A power connectors and a rather special 8 pole hybrid which incorporates 4 signal and 4 power contacts within the same housing.

All very interesting products, I’m sure you’ll agree, but I haven’t got to the point yet have I?

You see the humble M12 connector you know today, and as described above, has been radically modified and is now available in a whopping 17 pole variation. Yes your eyes did not deceive you, I did say 17 poles!

Not only is it available as a pcb mounted THR header, it is also available in a field assembly Piercecon version. Yes really. So you can assemble the product without having to strip the wires out in the field. Honestly, I wouldn’t lie to you! Now that, dear reader, is something any mathematician will tell you is quite simply magical, well maybe not, but design engineers certainly will.

So to answer the question I asked at the outset of this little blog, will 17 go into (M) 12? Yes it most certainly will and if you’re interested (and why wouldn’t you be?) we are more than happy to discuss the product in more detail with you rather than simply whetting your appetite with the lovely pictures you can see around here. I can even show you one, as this isn’t simply a concept it’s an actual product available now.

If you want innovative and inspiring products, you know who to call. No, not Ghostbusters (is it just me or is Ray Parker Jr playing in the background?), call us at Phoenix Contact and the Device Connections team as we have some simply mind bending products that no maths quiz, sorry design, should be without.

Or contact me by email: gnelson@phoenixcontact.com or telephone 07780483099