PROFIBUS PA SPLITCONNECT TERMINATOR 6GK1905-0AE00 6GK1 905-0AE00 6GK19O5-OAEOO

Siemens 6GK1905-0AE00 | PROFIBUS PA SpliTConnect Terminator (Non-Ex) — For Terminating PROFIBUS PA Segments, Safe Area Only, 5 Units Per Pack

Overview

The Siemens 6GK1905-0AE00 is the non-hazardous area PROFIBUS PA SpliTConnect Terminator — the passive component that correctly terminates a PROFIBUS PA cable segment at its physical endpoints.

In PROFIBUS PA fieldbus installations, proper electrical termination at both ends of the segment cable is not optional: it is a fundamental requirement for signal integrity.

Without correctly installed terminators, the impedance mismatch at the cable ends reflects the communication signal back along the cable, creating signal interference that can cause unreliable communication, intermittent faults, and complete loss of contact with field devices under certain conditions. 

The terminator absorbs the signal energy at the cable end rather than reflecting it, ensuring clean signal propagation throughout the segment length.

PROFIBUS PA is the fieldbus variant of the PROFIBUS standard designed specifically for process instrumentation — flow meters, pressure transmitters, level gauges, temperature sensors, and analytical instruments — in process industry environments.

It operates at 31.25 kbit/s over a two-wire cable that simultaneously carries the communication signal and supplies power to the connected field instruments.

This combined power-and-communication on two wires is what allows PROFIBUS PA to be used in hazardous areas (with appropriate Ex-certified components), replacing conventional 4-20mA analog loops with digital communication while retaining the two-wire installation simplicity that process plant engineers rely on.

The SpliTConnect system — of which this terminator is a component — is Siemens' structured fieldbus installation solution for PROFIBUS PA.

Instead of using conventional T-junction connectors wired in situ, SpliTConnect components (TAPs, terminators, couplers, and outlet inserts) click together to form a field-assemblable distribution system that is mechanically robust, consistently wired, and easy to reconfigure when instruments are added or replaced.

The terminator's role within this system is to close the physical ends of each trunk or spur cable segment with the correct 100Ω resistor and capacitor termination network that PROFIBUS PA requires.

Key Specifications

Why PROFIBUS PA Termination Is Critical

PROFIBUS PA uses a transmission technology based on the IEC 61158-2 physical layer standard — a Manchester-encoded current-modulation signal superimposed on a DC power supply voltage.

The cable has defined characteristic impedance (100Ω), and the termination network must match this impedance at both physical ends of the cable to prevent signal reflections.

When a PROFIBUS PA segment is not properly terminated, the communication waveform suffers distortion from the reflected signal components that return from the unterminated end.

At 31.25 kbit/s this is a relatively low frequency, and moderate reflection may not immediately cause total communication loss — the network may appear to function but with intermittent errors, some devices repeatedly cycling offline and online, or erratic process values that are not explained by the physical measurement.

These symptoms are among the most difficult PROFIBUS PA problems to diagnose because they can appear similar to cable damage, moisture ingress, or instrument firmware issues. Correct termination eliminates an entire class of possible causes from the diagnostic investigation.

The IEC 61158-2 standard specifies that exactly two terminators are active on any PROFIBUS PA segment — one at each physical cable end. Installing more than two terminators, or positioning terminators at locations other than the physical cable endpoints, disrupts the impedance balance and reintroduces reflections from the additional termination points. The SpliTConnect system's physical design helps enforce correct terminator placement by integrating them into the structured cable assembly rather than leaving termination as a free-form installation task.

Non-Ex vs Ex Terminator — Selecting the Right Variant

The 6GK1905-0AE00 is the non-hazardous area (non-Ex) version of the SpliTConnect terminator. Its counterpart, 6GK1905-0AD00, carries the approvals for use in hazardous area classified zones (Ex areas). The functional termination circuit — the 100Ω resistance and 1µF capacitance termination network required by PROFIBUS PA — is identical in both variants.

The difference lies in the approval status of the component's construction. Electrical components in hazardous areas must be certified to confirm they cannot ignite flammable atmospheres through sparks or excessive surface temperatures.

The Ex variant carries the relevant certifications (typically ATEX and/or IECEx); the non-Ex variant (this part) carries no such certification and must not be installed in classified hazardous areas regardless of how it is physically connected.

In a process plant, PROFIBUS PA trunk cables often pass through multiple hazardous area zones.

Even if the DP/PA coupler (at the segment trunk start) is located in a safe area, if the segment extends into a Zone 2 or Zone 1 area, all components on that segment's cable — including the terminator at the far end — must be Ex-rated for the applicable zone.

Use of the non-Ex terminator is acceptable only when the physical location of the terminator itself is confirmed to be in a non-classified (safe) area.

SpliTConnect System Integration

The SpliTConnect terminator is designed to integrate with the other components in Siemens' PROFIBUS PA SpliTConnect fieldbus assembly system:

The SpliTConnect TAP (6GK1905-0AA00) is the trunk connection node that allows individual field devices to be connected to the main PROFIBUS PA trunk cable via T-junction without cutting the trunk cable. Multiple TAPs can be cascaded along the trunk using the trunk cable's insulation displacement connection.

The SpliTConnect Coupler (6GK1905-0AB00) connects multiple TAP assembly sections to form star topology segment structures — a neutral point that branches the segment into multiple spur groups.

The SpliTConnect Terminator (this unit) closes both ends of the assembled cable structure, providing the required segment termination.

The physical connection mechanism throughout the SpliTConnect system uses insulation displacement technology (IDC) — the cable insulation is pierced by the connector's contacts without stripping the cable.

This allows fast, consistent, and tool-free connection to the PROFIBUS PA cable, reducing installation time and eliminating the risk of incorrect wire stripping, reversed polarity, or loose connections that are common sources of fault in conventional terminal-block or crimp wiring.

FAQ

Q1: Each pack contains 5 terminators. How many terminators are required for a PROFIBUS PA segment?

Exactly two — one at each physical end of the segment's trunk cable. Every PA segment requires precisely two active terminators regardless of the segment's length or the number of field devices connected.

With 5 units per pack, a single pack provisions two complete segments, with one unit as a spare.

For projects with multiple segments, plan the terminator quantity as two per segment plus desired spares.

Q2: Can the 6GK1905-0AE00 be used anywhere in the PROFIBUS PA trunk, or only at the physical cable ends?

The terminator must only be installed at the two physical ends of the cable segment — not at intermediate points.

Installing a terminator in the middle of a segment, or at a T-junction branch point, creates an additional impedance mismatch that degrades signal quality rather than improving it. The SpliTConnect TAP physically prevents incorrect intermediate placement by not providing a terminator connection point except at the designated segment ends.

Q3: The pack contains 5 units. Are partial packs available, or must the full pack be ordered?

The 6GK1905-0AE00 is ordered as a complete 5-unit pack — the minimum order quantity is one pack (5 terminators). Siemens does not supply individual units as a separate catalog item.

For small projects requiring only two or four terminators, the remaining units from the pack serve as spares.

Experienced project managers routinely hold spare terminators and other SpliTConnect components as site stock for rapid segment reconfiguration and fault recovery.

Q4: What are the visual differences between the non-Ex terminator (0AE00) and the Ex-rated terminator (0AD00)?

Both terminators are similar compact plastic components designed for the SpliTConnect system.

The Ex-rated version (0AD00) carries Ex marking on the housing identifying its certification standard (typically ATEX II 2G marking and the IECEx equivalent). 

The non-Ex version (0AE00) carries no such Ex marking.

The absence of Ex markings is the definitive identifier. When maintaining an existing installation, confirm Ex vs. non-Ex status from the component's own housing marking rather than relying solely on the part number printed on a work order, as transcription errors can occur.

Q5: Can the non-Ex SpliTConnect terminator be used on intrinsically safe PROFIBUS PA segments if the terminator itself is located in a safe area?

If the terminator is physically located in a confirmed safe (non-classified) area, and the segment's intrinsic safety is maintained by the DP/PA coupler's current limitation at the segment boundary, the location of the terminator relative to the safe/hazardous area boundary is what determines the appropriate Ex classification, not the segment's intrinsically safe status.

The intrinsic safety protection applies to the energy available in the hazardous area portion of the segment — it does not change the classification requirement for components installed in safe areas.

If the terminator is in the safe area, the non-Ex version is appropriate.