IEC TS 63444:2023

IEC TS 63444 ®
Edition 1.0 2023-11
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
Industrial networks – Ethernet-APL port profile specification
IEC TS 63444:2023-11(en)
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IEC TS 63444 ®
Edition 1.0 2023-11
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
Industrial networks – Ethernet-APL port profile specification
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.240 ISBN 978-2-8322-7821-5
– 2 – IEC TS 63444:2023 © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and acronyms . 8
3.1 Terms and definitions . 8
3.2 Abbreviated terms, symbols and acronyms . 10
4 APL overview . 11
4.1 General . 11
4.2 APL relationship to IEEE Std 802.3-2022 and 10BASE-T1L . 14
4.3 Conformance test requirements . 15
5 Port classification . 15
5.1 Overview. 15
5.2 Segment class . 16
5.3 Port class . 16
5.4 Power class . 17
5.5 Intrinsically safe protection class . 22
5.5.1 General . 22
5.5.2 Intrinsically safe concept . 23
6 General port requirements . 24
6.1 Terminals and connectors . 24
6.2 Cable shield termination . 24
6.3 Polarity sensitivity . 25
6.4 Electrical isolation . 25
6.5 Short circuit behavior . 26
7 Network configuration rules . 26
7.1 Segment components . 26
7.2 Topology . 26
7.3 Cables . 26
7.3.1 General . 26
7.3.2 Cable category system . 27
7.3.3 Cables for use in intrinsically safe installations . 28
7.4 Wiring rules . 28
7.5 APL segment definition . 28
8 Electromagnetic compatibility . 28
Annex A (normative) Connectors . 29
A.1 General . 29
A.2 M8 / M12 connectors. 30
A.2.1 General . 30
A.2.2 Requirements . 30
A.2.3 Pin assignment . 30
A.3 PCB and modular terminal blocks . 31
A.3.1 General . 31
A.3.2 Requirements . 31
A.3.3 Pin assignment . 32
A.4 Junction terminal blocks . 33

A.4.1 General . 33
A.4.2 Requirements . 33
A.4.3 Pin assignment . 33
Annex B (normative) Auxiliary devices . 34
B.1 General requirements . 34
B.2 Surge protection . 34
Bibliography . 36

Figure 1 – APL topology example . 11
Figure 2 – Example APL segment including auxiliary devices and inline terminals . 13
Figure 3 – Port classes and related options . 16
Figure 4 – Powered trunk segments with cascade ports . 17
Figure 5 – Example of port class matching between source and load . 18
Figure 6 – Illustrative current step characteristics during start-up of a load port . 22
Figure 7 – Example of intrinsically safe protection class matching to port class and
power class . 23
Figure 8 – Cable shield grounding options . 25
Figure A.1 – Port class to connector type matching . 30
Figure A.2 – Pin assignment of the plug and socket M8 A-coding connectors . 31
Figure A.3 – Pin assignment of the plug and socket M12 A-coding connectors . 31
Figure A.4 – Examples of modular pluggable terminal blocks . 33
Figure A.5 – Representative junction terminal block . 33
Figure B.1 – Basic circuit diagram of coordination between surge protector and
powered APL port . 34
Figure B.2 – Parallel connection of an SPD to an APL segment . 35

Table 1 – IEEE Std 802.3-2022 PHY, management and power options . 14
Table 2 – Segment class . 16
Table 3 – Port classes . 17
Table 4 – Power classes . 18
Table 5 – Electrical characteristics of power classes . 19
Table 6 – Electrical characteristics for trunk ports . 19
Table 7 – Electrical characteristics for spur ports . 21
Table 8 – Intrinsically safe protection class . 23
Table 9 – Minimum required shielding options of a port . 24
Table 10 – Polarity sensitivity . 25
Table 11 – Cable category system . 27
Table A.1 – Supported terminal block / connector types . 29
Table A.2 – Electrical requirements terminal block / connector . 29
Table A.3 – Pin assignments for plug and socket M8 / M12 A-coding connectors . 31
Table A.4 – Pin assignments for 3 position terminal blocks . 32
Table A.5 – Pin assignments for 4 position terminal blocks . 32
Table A.6 – Pin assignments for 6 position terminal blocks . 32

– 4 – IEC TS 63444:2023 © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
INDUSTRIAL NETWORKS –
Ethernet-APL port profile specification

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on
...