Single-Ended Cordsets

Single-Ended M12 Cordsets (Pigtails) for Wiring Devices to Terminals

Single-ended M12 cordsets have a molded M12 connector on one end and color-coded open wire leads on the other. The M12 end plugs into the sensor, valve, or device, and the leads land on terminal blocks, an input card, or a junction box inside the panel. Automation Distribution carries thousands of single-ended cordsets from Turck, Leuze, Baumer, WAGO, and other authorized brands, from 3-wire to 12-wire, in lengths up to 200 m, with straight and right-angle heads.

Filter by coding, pins, gender, orientation, length, and jacket. Before you land the leads, check the wire color table below the product list. If both ends need connectors, see double-ended M12 cordsets.

Common Single-Ended Types

Sensor and Actuator 3, 4, and 5-wire A-coded cordsets for proximity, photoelectric, and other DC sensors and valves.
Multi-Wire (8 and 12-Pin) For devices with several signals on one connector, such as encoders, valve terminals, and multi-output sensors.
High Flex and Robotics Turck Flexlife high flex cable and TPU jackets for moving axes, cable tracks, and robot dress packs.
Shielded, Stainless and Washdown Foil-shielded cordsets for noisy areas, stainless steel coupling nuts, and Turck WD- washdown cordsets for food and beverage.

Jump to: Wire colors  |  Reading a Turck part number  |  FAQ  |  All M12 cordsets

M12 Cordset Wire Colors

These are the wire colors Turck uses on its standard M12 eurofast cordsets, listed in pin order. Other brands commonly use the same colors for 4 and 5-wire cordsets, but always confirm against the datasheet for the exact part.

Turck wire code Wires Colors
4T3Brown, blue, black
4.4T4Pin 1 brown, pin 2 white, pin 3 blue, pin 4 black
4.5T5Pin 1 brown, pin 2 white, pin 3 blue, pin 4 black, pin 5 gray
8T8White, brown, green, yellow, gray, pink, blue, red
12T12White, brown, green, yellow, gray, pink, blue, red, orange, tan, black, violet

On a typical DC sensor, brown is supply positive, blue is supply negative, and the output is on black (pin 4), with white (pin 2) used for a second output or a diagnostic signal. Check the sensor datasheet, since some devices assign pin 2 differently.

On shielded cordsets, a drain wire may take the place of a conductor. Turck's /S653 version of the 5-pin cordset, for example, uses a foil shield and drain on the fifth position. Land the drain at one end only, usually the panel end, as your grounding practice requires.

Reading a Turck Single-Ended Part Number

Turck eurofast part numbers follow the pattern in Turck's cordset part number key. Using WKCV 4.4T-30/S90 as an example:

Part Meaning
WHead: R = straight, W = right-angle
KGender: K = female, S = male
CPlug body style, such as C, E (large), G (large, robust), or L (compact). S here means shielded to the coupling nut.
VCoupling nut: blank = nickel-plated brass, V = stainless steel
4.4TWire code (see the color table above)
30Cable length in meters
/S90Cable variety: blank = PVC, /S90 = TPU jacket, /S101 = Flexlife high flex, /S715 = yellow PVC, /S653 = foil shield and drain

Prefixes before the main code mark special families: WD- for washdown and P- for hazardous location cordsets. Newer Turck E-series cordsets use a different pattern, such as EKRT-A5.500-GC8K-15 (straight female, A-coded, 5 pin, 15 m).

Single-Ended M12 Cordset FAQ

What is an M12 pigtail cordset?

An M12 pigtail is a single-ended cordset: a factory-molded M12 connector on one end and open, color-coded wire leads on the other. The connector plugs into a sensor or device, and the leads are wired to terminals in a control panel or junction box. It replaces hand-wired connectors with a sealed, factory-tested termination at the device.

What do the wire colors mean on an M12 sensor cable?

On Turck 4 and 5-wire cordsets, pin 1 is brown, pin 2 is white, pin 3 is blue, pin 4 is black, and pin 5 is gray. On a typical DC sensor, brown is supply positive, blue is supply negative, and black carries the output. Always confirm the pin functions on the sensor datasheet.

Do I need a female or male single-ended cordset?

Choose the gender opposite to the device port. Most sensors and valves have a male M12 port, so the cordset is female; this is the K in Turck part numbers such as RK and WK. A male cordset (RS or WS) is used when the device or receptacle has a female port.

How long can a single-ended M12 cordset be?

This category includes lengths up to 200 m, but the practical limit depends on the device's supply voltage, load current, and conductor size. Long runs drop voltage, so check the cable's conductor gauge and the device's minimum supply voltage for runs beyond typical machine distances.

Which jacket should I choose for a robot or cable track?

Choose a cordset rated for continuous flexing, such as Turck's Flexlife high flex cable (/S101) or a TPU jacket (/S90), and check the bending cycles and minimum bend radius on the datasheet. Standard PVC cordsets are intended mainly for fixed installations.

Need help matching a cordset to your sensor?

Send us the sensor part number, the run length, and the environment, and the Automation Distribution team will find the right single-ended cordset. Contact Automation Distribution or call 1-888-600-3080.