| Full title | Connectors for electronic equipment. Part 7: Detail specification for 8-way, unshielded, free and fixed connectors (and Parts 7-1 to 7-82) |
| Publisher | IEC, TC 48/SC 48B Electrical connectors |
| Current edition | IEC 60603-7:2020, edition 4.0, published 9 October 2020 |
| Status | All 12 parts listed as published by IEC. No revision shown as under development |
| Related standards | ISO/IEC 11801-1; EN 50173-1; IEC 61156 series; IEC 61935-1; IEC 60512-26-100; IEC 61076-1 |
What it covers
The IEC 60603-7 series defines the 8-way modular connector that the industry calls RJ45. The standards themselves do not use that name. A free connector is the plug on a cord. A fixed connector is the jack, such as an outlet or patch panel port.
The base standard, IEC 60603-7, covers the unshielded connector. It sets the common interface dimensions and the mechanical, electrical and environmental characteristics and tests for the whole family. IEC 60603-7-1 adds the requirements that relate to the shield.
The other parts add requirements to the base part. Most refer back to its dimensions and add electrical transmission requirements up to a stated frequency. IEC 60603-7-82 refers to IEC 60603-7-7 instead.
Parts, frequencies and categories
The typical category and class in this table are as stated in the IEC abstract for each part.
| Part | Screening | Frequency | Typical use | Current edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEC 60603-7 | Unshielded | Base part | Common interface for the family | Ed. 4.0, 2020 |
| IEC 60603-7-1 | Shielded | Base part | Shield requirements | Ed. 3.0, 2011 |
| IEC 60603-7-2 | Unshielded | 100 MHz | Category 5, Class D | Ed. 2.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-3 | Shielded | 100 MHz | Category 5, Class D | Ed. 2.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-4 | Unshielded | 250 MHz | Category 6, Class E | Ed. 2.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-5 | Shielded | 250 MHz | Category 6, Class E | Ed. 2.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-41 | Unshielded | 500 MHz | Includes power sum alien crosstalk | Ed. 1.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-51 | Shielded | 500 MHz | Includes power sum alien crosstalk | Ed. 1.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-7 | Shielded | 600 MHz | Category 7, Class F | Ed. 3.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-71 | Shielded | 1 000 MHz | Category 7A, Class FA | Ed. 1.0, 2010 |
| IEC 60603-7-81 | Shielded | 2 000 MHz | Category 8.1, Class I | Ed. 1.0, 2015 + Cor. 1:2017 |
| IEC 60603-7-82 | Shielded, 12 contacts | 2 000 MHz | Category 8.2, Class II | Ed. 1.0, 2016 |
The 500 MHz parts, 7-41 and 7-51, match the 500 MHz frequency of Class EA. Their IEC abstracts do not name a category.
Compatibility rules
- The base standard states its connectors are intermateable, meaning they physically mate, to IEC 61076-1 level 2. It also states they are interoperable with other IEC 60603-7 series connectors.
- The IEC abstracts for Parts 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-5, 7-41, 7-51, 7-71 and 7-82 state that their connectors are backward compatible with other connectors in the series.
- The IEC 60603-7-81 abstract also states backward compatibility, with exceptions. It is not backward compatible with IEC 60603-7-7 and IEC 60603-7-71 connectors.
- IEC 60603-7-82 has 12 contacts. Its dimensions and tests reference IEC 60603-7-7 rather than the base part.
Changes in the 2020 base standard
Edition 4.0 replaced the 2008 third edition with its 2011 and 2019 amendments. The main changes listed by IEC are:
- Revised definitions of intermateability and interoperability, with new definitions added.
- Lower and upper limiting temperature definitions added.
- Table 7 corrected so the climatic category upper temperature is 90 °C.
- Contact resistance wording in 8.2 clarified.
- Reference to ISO/IEC 11801 updated to ISO/IEC 11801-1.
- Dimension tables reordered as minimum, nominal, maximum, and a new Annex E added.
How it relates to other standards
| Standard | Relationship |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 11801-1 / EN 50173-1 | Set channel classes and component categories. The detail specifications state which category and class each connector is typically used for |
| IEC 61156 series | Cable specifications for the same categories, such as IEC 61156-5 and IEC 61156-6 |
| IEC 60512-26-100 | Test methods for the transmission measurements. IEC 60603-7-7 moved its test methods to this reference in 2010 |
| IEC 61935-1 | Field testing of installed cabling made with these connectors |
| ANSI/TIA-568.2 | North American component categories for balanced twisted-pair cabling |
Parts of the series are also published as European standards, for example EN 60603-7-81:2016.
What to check on a datasheet
- The exact part number. “IEC 60603-7” alone describes the interface, not the transmission performance.
- That the screening matches the cable. Shield requirements for the family are in IEC 60603-7-1.
- The frequency of the part against the category you need, such as 250 MHz for Category 6 or 500 MHz for Class EA.
- For 2 000 MHz work, whether the connector is to 7-81 or 7-82. They support different classes and use different contact layouts.
Related reading: What is an RJ45 connector? · What is a keystone jack?.