Shielded RJ45 Jack for Board-Edge Ethernet
The TE Connectivity 5557572-1 is a shielded RJ45 jack with 8p8c (8 position 8 contact) layout — the standard pinout for 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet. The housing is moulded from PCT (polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate), a high-temperature thermoplastic that withstands lead-free reflow profiles. A board guide on the connector body helps align the part during hand- or wave-solder assembly.
Shielding and Tab Direction
This drains common-mode noise picked up on the cable shield before it reaches the magnetics. The tab direction is down, meaning the locking latch on the plug faces the PCB side when mated. This connector does not contain an LED — the 8p8c body is a straight signal path with no integrated indicators. If link/activity status lights are needed on the panel, they must be added as separate components.
Cat4 Rating and PoE Suitability
The 5557572-1 carries a Cat4 rating per the manufacturer's classification. Cat4 is a performance category defined for 20 MHz operation, historically used in Token Ring and some ISDN applications. For modern 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T Ethernet, a Cat5e or higher rated jack is the standard choice — the Cat4 rating means this jack is not characterised for the higher frequency and crosstalk margins those standards require. For Power over Ethernet (PoE), the current path depends on the contact and PCB trace design; the Cat4 rating does not guarantee the DC current capacity needed for PoE power sourcing equipment.