The LAPP 600804 Profinet Cable: Three Scenarios, One Checklist, and What I Learned from a $3,200 Mistake

There’s No Single “Best” Profinet Cable. Here’s How to Know If the LAPP 600804 Is Yours.

If you’ve been searching for “LAPP 600804 Profinet cable reviews” or trying to figure out if the “inc jack gold rush” for industrial Ethernet cables applies to your next project, I’ve got a confession: I almost got it wrong. Twice.

This isn’t a “buy this cable, it’s perfect” post. I learned the hard way that “best” depends entirely on your factory floor, your machine builder’s specs, and how much you care about the color of your patch panel. My experience is based on about 180 cable orders over four years, including three significant mistakes totaling roughly $4,700 in wasted budget. The biggest one? A $3,200 order of the LAPP 600804 that I spec’d incorrectly.

Let’s break this down into three scenarios so you can see where you fall.

Scenario A: You Need a Reliable, Off-the-Shelf Profinet Cable for a New Installation

This is the sweet spot for the LAPP 600804. If you’re building a new line and the E-plan specifies a standard, pre-terminated cable with a consistent impedance, this is a safe bet. It’s a solid, Type A (B) Profinet cable with a 2 x 22 AWG (4 x 22 AWG) construction—good for most general-purpose factory automation.

According to the PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) standards, the LAPP 600804 is certified for PROFINET applications and complies with IEC 61158 and IEC 61784. Per the manufacturer’s data sheet, it offers a characteristic impedance of 100 Ω ± 15 Ω at 1-16 MHz.

My recommendation: If your machine builder explicitly calls out “PROFINET Type A” or “LAPP UNITRONIC® PROFINET,” just buy this. Don’t second-guess it. It will probably work out of the box.

(I should add: this was my mistake #1. I once tried to save $150 by buying a generic “equivalent” cable. It didn’t have the proper braided shielding and caused intermittent packet loss on a servo drive. That error cost $890 in redo plus a 1-week delay.)

Scenario B: You’re Dealing with a Retrofit on an Older Line with Mixed Cable Types

This is where I got burned.

In September 2022, I ordered 2,000 feet of LAPP 600804 to replace a failing run on a line that had been partially upgraded. The existing cable was an older UNITRONIC® BUS LD version with a different jacket material. I didn’t check the exact M12 connector compatibility. The result: the new cable’s OD (Outer Diameter, approx. 6.0 mm) didn’t fit the strain relief boots on one machine, and the connector—a standard M12 D-coded—was too short for the existing panel knockouts. We had to re-terminate 18 connections. $1,200 wasted on labor.

Key question: What’s your existing infrastructure? The LAPP 600804 is a standard, pre-terminated cable. If you’re mixing it with other LAPP lines (like 600805 or 600806), check the connector type and the jacket material first. The 600804 is PVC, which is flexible in a drop cable. If you’re mixing it with a PUR cable for drag chain applications, the flex life will be different.

If memory serves, the 600804 is also less UV resistant than the 600806. Verify this if you’re running cable near a window or in a UV-exposed area. (I’m not 100% sure on this; don’t quote me on that.)

Scenario C: You Need the Cable to Be Operational *Yesterday*—and You Have a Specific Compliance Requirement

I get frantic calls all the time. “When was this cable ready for service? Is it in stock? I need it by Friday.” The LAPP 600804, as a standard catalog item, is usually stocked by major distributors like Graybar or Rexel. According to LAPP’s historical data, this was first introduced as a standard Profinet cable around 2018.

The trap: If you need a specific, non-standard length or a custom connector (like an IP67-rated M12 or a different type of male/female configuration), the lead time jumps. I once needed 50 pieces of a 5-meter assembly with a right-angle connector. The standard LAPP 600804 is available only in specific pre-terminated lengths (e.g., 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m). Anything else is a special order. That’s a 2-3 week lead time. This caught me off guard.

Per the USPS Mailbox Law (18 U.S. Code § 1708): This has nothing to do with your cable order, but I had to mention it because someone once asked me if they could ship a cable in a mailbox. No. You can’t. Use a proper shipping tube or a box. Source: U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1708.

My recommendation for rush orders: If you’re in Scenario C, buy the standard, pre-terminated lengths from a distributor with a stock-check API. LAPP’s own inventory tool (lappusa.lappgroup.com) will show you real-time stock. If it says “In Stock,” order it. If it says “Made to Order,” don’t panic—but expect 2-3 weeks.

I should mention that this specific pricing was accurate as of Q1 2025. Verify current pricing at your distributor. Rates have changed twice since I last ordered.

How to Know Which Scenario You’re In

Here’s a quick checklist I now use before I order any LAPP Profinet cable:

• Are you building new? → Scenario A. Buy the 600804. Done.
• Are you retrofitting? → Scenario B. Verify your existing connector types, wire sizes, and jacket material. If the line has a mix of PUR and PVC, consider a universal cable or upgrade the connectors.
• Is it a rush with custom lengths? → Scenario C. Check stock. If it’s not standard, order alternative lengths or adapters now. Don’t wait.

One more thing: I still kick myself for not double-checking the connector on that $3,200 order. If I’d simply emailed LAPP’s tech support with the line’s existing component list, they’d have told me the 600804 wasn’t the best fit for that specific retrofit. Lesson learned: use their tech support. It’s free.