What this AS-i M12 branch does that a plain tee cannot
The 3RK1901-1NR12 is an AS-Interface M12 branch feeder that transitions the AS-i flat cable to a standard M12 connector, carrying both the AS-i signal and power on the same cable — no separate Uaux line needed. Rated for 4 A continuous contact load, it powers a sensor or actuator node directly from the AS-i bus without an additional power supply tap. The insulation-piercing method taps into the flat cable without stripping or cutting the feeder — the branch installs live if the line is already powered, but the note says the cable must not end in the feeder, meaning this is a pass-through tap, not a termination point.
Sealing and mounting for wet or washdown zones
IP67/68/69K rating means the M12 socket and the flat-cable entry both withstand high-pressure washdown and temporary submersion — food-and-bev or chemical processing lines where a standard IP67 tee would fail at the cable gland. Screw fixing secures the branch to a panel or machine frame, not just dangling on the cable — the mounting point takes the mechanical strain off the M12 connection. Ambient range -25 to +75 °C covers freezer-floor to hot-motor-zone installations; storage tolerance extends to +85 °C.
Pinout and voltage — what connects where
M12 socket assignment: pin 1 carries AS-i '+', pin 3 carries AS-i '-' — standard AS-i pinout for a 4-pin M12 sensor/actuator cable. Operating voltage follows the AS-Interface specification at 26.5 to 31.6 V — the branch does not regulate or filter, it just passes bus power through to the M12 node. The 2 m cable is factory-moulded with an angled M12 socket, so the branch arrives as a single assembly — no field wiring of the M12 connector required.