Seetronic SE8FDNH-13 CAT5e RJ45 Feedthrough – D-Shape Panel Connector
Build clean, professional Ethernet connection points into racks, stage boxes, patch panels and custom equipment with the Seetronic SE8FDNH-13 CAT5e RJ45 Feedthrough D-Shape Panel Connector.
Designed specifically for professional panel integration, the SE8FDNH-13 combines a familiar industry-standard D-shape metal flange with a female RJ45 feedthrough connection, allowing network cabling to pass through an equipment panel without soldering, punch-down termination or complex internal wiring.
Simply connect an appropriate RJ45 cable to the rear of the connector and the panel becomes a professional network connection point.
This makes the SE8FDNH-13 ideal for:
- Touring racks
- Stage boxes
- Network panels
- Lighting racks
- Audio racks
- Digital mixing systems
- AV racks
- Show-control infrastructure
- Theatre
- Broadcast
- Film and television
- Conference production
- Exhibition systems
- Schools and performing arts venues
- Equipment hire
- Custom rack and panel fabrication
With CAT5e transmission performance from 1–100MHz, a durable metal D-shape flange and a service life of more than 1,000 mating cycles, the SE8FDNH-13 is built for professional systems where Ethernet connections need to be organised, accessible and repeatedly serviced.
Professional RJ45 Feedthrough Connector
The SE8FDNH-13 is fundamentally a:
Female RJ45 feedthrough panel connector.
A feedthrough connector provides an RJ45 interface through a panel without requiring the installer to individually terminate the eight Ethernet conductors directly onto the panel connector.
Instead, the rear of the unit accepts an RJ45 connection.
This provides a simple and serviceable installation method for:
- Rack panels
- Stage boxes
- Equipment enclosures
- Patch systems
- Road cases
- Custom infrastructure
If an internal cable fails or a rack configuration changes, the cable can be disconnected and replaced rather than requiring the entire panel connector to be rewired.
CAT5e Network Performance
Seetronic specifies the SE8FDNH-13 for:
CAT5e transmission performance
across a frequency range of:
1–100MHz.
It is designed to comply with CAT5e requirements according to:
TIA/EIA-568B
and:
ISO/IEC 11801.
It is also suitable for transmission classes below CAT5e.
This makes it useful for professional Ethernet infrastructure throughout modern production environments.
Gigabit Ethernet Applications
CAT5e cabling is commonly used for Gigabit Ethernet when the complete network channel—including cables, connectors, patch points and equipment—is CAT5e compliant.
The SE8FDNH-13 can therefore form part of professional Ethernet networks used for systems including:
- Digital audio networking
- Lighting control
- Show control
- AV networking
- Equipment management
- Intercom infrastructure
- Control networks
Overall network capability is always determined by the complete channel rather than the panel connector alone.
Digital Audio Networking
Modern live-production systems increasingly rely on Ethernet infrastructure.
The SE8FDNH-13 can provide a professional panel interface for compatible Ethernet-based audio networks used around:
- Digital mixing consoles
- Stage racks
- Audio interfaces
- DSP systems
- Amplifier racks
- Monitor systems
- Recording systems
This can include CAT5e-compatible network infrastructure carrying protocols such as Dante or AES67 where the complete network equipment and cabling support the required specification.
The SE8FDNH-13 itself is a passive RJ45 feedthrough connector.
It does not convert, process or manage network data.
Dante Networks
Dante has become widely used throughout:
- Live sound
- Theatre
- Broadcast
- Corporate AV
- Installed audio
The SE8FDNH-13 can provide a useful physical RJ45 panel interface within a Dante network where CAT5e infrastructure is appropriate.
Applications may include:
- Rack network inputs
- Digital-console connection panels
- Stage-box infrastructure
- Amplifier racks
- Production patch panels
Network performance still depends on the entire system, including cable category, switches and endpoint equipment.
Lighting Networks
Entertainment lighting systems increasingly use Ethernet for protocols and control infrastructure.
Potential applications include networks carrying compatible:
- Art-Net
- sACN
- MA-Net
- Lighting-console networking
- Node communications
- Show-control traffic
The SE8FDNH-13 can provide a professional D-shape RJ45 connection point within lighting racks and distribution systems.
Art-Net and sACN
Art-Net and sACN transport lighting-control data over Ethernet networks.
Rather than leaving a conventional network cable hanging through an open rack panel, the SE8FDNH-13 allows the Ethernet connection to be presented neatly on a professional D-style panel.
This can be particularly useful in:
- Lighting racks
- Touring dimmer systems
- Network-node racks
- Control positions
- Stage boxes
- Production patch panels
Show-Control Networks
Professional shows frequently combine:
- Lighting
- Audio
- Video
- Automation
- Playback
- Control
- Timecode-related systems
across networked infrastructure.
A consistent panel connector system can make these networks easier to:
- Patch
- Identify
- Service
- Troubleshoot
The SE8FDNH-13 provides a simple passive CAT5e connection point for appropriate Ethernet control infrastructure.
Standard D-Shape Panel Format
The SE8FDNH-13 uses a familiar:
Standard D-shape panel format.
This is particularly useful for professional rack builders because D-style connector openings are widely used throughout entertainment and AV equipment.
A single panel can therefore contain a mixture of connectors including:
- RJ45
- XLR
- Power
- USB
- HDMI
- Speaker
- Data
where compatible D-style products are selected.
This makes custom panels easier to design and keeps the completed system visually consistent.
Professional Rack Panels
The SE8FDNH-13 is particularly useful for:
- 19-inch rack panels
- Touring racks
- Fly racks
- Equipment racks
- Amplifier racks
- Lighting-control racks
- Network racks
- AV racks
Rather than running network leads through open holes or leaving switches directly exposed at the back of a rack, the connector can create an accessible panel-mounted interface.
Stage Boxes
Custom stage boxes frequently combine multiple signal formats.
A stage box might contain:
- XLR audio
- DMX
- Network
- Power
- Intercom
- Video
depending on the production.
The D-shape architecture of the SE8FDNH-13 makes it useful when incorporating RJ45 networking alongside other professional panel connectors.
Patch Panels
The feedthrough configuration is particularly practical for custom:
- Network patch panels
- Production patch panels
- Touring connection panels
- Wall panels
- Technical breakout boxes
because the rear connection remains serviceable.
There is no need to solder Ethernet conductors directly to the panel connector.
No Solder Termination Required
One major advantage of the feedthrough architecture is installation simplicity.
The network connection is made using RJ45 connectors rather than soldered conductors.
This means rack builders do not need to:
- Strip individual Ethernet pairs
- Solder network conductors
- Punch conductors into IDC terminals
at the panel connector itself.
This can make equipment construction and future servicing significantly easier.
Easy Internal Cable Replacement
If the internal patch cable becomes damaged, the feedthrough arrangement allows it to be unplugged and replaced.
That is particularly useful in:
- Hire equipment
- Touring racks
- Production systems
- Frequently reconfigured infrastructure
where serviceability matters.
Protect Equipment Network Ports
A panel-mounted feedthrough can also provide a sacrificial connection point in front of expensive equipment.
Instead of users repeatedly plugging production cables directly into the RJ45 port of a:
- Network switch
- Digital console
- DSP
- Media server
- Computer
- Lighting processor
an internal patch cable can connect that equipment to the panel feedthrough.
External cables are then connected to the panel connector.
This can reduce repeated direct handling of the equipment's built-in RJ45 socket.
Touring Production
Touring equipment is regularly:
- Connected
- Disconnected
- Loaded
- Transported
- Reconfigured
- Serviced
A professional panel interface makes cabling easier to organise and can improve the serviceability of production racks.
The SE8FDNH-13 is specified for:
More than 1,000 mating cycles
making it suitable for repeatedly used professional infrastructure.
Theatre
Theatre systems increasingly depend on Ethernet for:
- Audio
- Lighting
- Show control
- Networking
- AV
- Equipment management
The SE8FDNH-13 can be incorporated into:
- Control-room panels
- Stage boxes
- Touring racks
- Amplifier racks
- Lighting racks
- Technical patch panels
- Custom infrastructure
Film and Television
Film and television production systems can use network connections throughout:
- Studio infrastructure
- Outside-broadcast equipment
- Production racks
- Playback systems
- Lighting systems
- Audio networks
- Control networks
The D-shape panel format makes it easy to incorporate network connectivity into custom technical panels.
Broadcast
Broadcast environments often use large quantities of structured network infrastructure.
Applications may include:
- Audio-over-IP
- Equipment management
- Control networks
- Production networking
- Studio infrastructure
The SE8FDNH-13 provides a field-serviceable panel interface for compatible CAT5e network systems.
Corporate AV
Corporate production increasingly relies on networked technology for:
- Audio
- Video
- Lighting
- Control
- Presentation systems
The SE8FDNH-13 can provide a professional network interface within:
- Conference racks
- Portable AV systems
- Presentation racks
- Control panels
- Equipment cases
Schools and Performing Arts Centres
Schools, universities and performing arts facilities may use the SE8FDNH-13 when building:
- Theatre network panels
- Lighting racks
- Audio systems
- AV racks
- Technical teaching equipment
The feedthrough architecture also makes future cable replacement relatively straightforward for technical departments.
Equipment-Hire Companies
Hire inventory needs to be:
- Durable
- Serviceable
- Flexible
- Easy to troubleshoot
A feedthrough panel connector allows internal rack cabling to be replaced independently of the panel itself.
This makes the SE8FDNH-13 particularly useful in custom rental racks and road cases.
Secure Latch Lock
Seetronic specifies the connector with a:
Latch-lock system.
The manufacturer describes fast locking and unlocking intended to maintain reliable signal transmission in environments where equipment may be moved.
This makes the connector particularly relevant to:
- Touring racks
- Mobile equipment
- Road cases
- Temporary event infrastructure
where cabling is handled more frequently than in a conventional office network.
More Than 1,000 Mating Cycles
Seetronic specifies:
Service Life: >1,000 mating cycles.
This makes the SE8FDNH-13 appropriate for professional equipment that may be repeatedly patched throughout its working life.
Actual service life will also depend on:
- Cable condition
- Connector cleanliness
- Mechanical handling
- Contamination
- Correct mating
Gold Contact Surface
Seetronic specifies:
Contact Material: Copper alloy
Contact Surface: Gold – Au
Gold-plated network contacts are commonly used to provide a stable electrical interface and resist contact-surface oxidation.
Seetronic does not publish a gold-plating thickness for this model, so no plating thickness should be assumed.
Low Contact Resistance
Seetronic specifies:
Contact Resistance: <10mΩ.
This is the electrical contact-resistance specification for the connector.
Rated Current
Seetronic specifies:
Rated Current: 1.5A.
This is the connector component rating.
It should not automatically be interpreted as approval for every Power-over-Ethernet application.
PoE capability depends on the complete connection system, applicable Ethernet standard and equipment design.
Unless specific PoE certification is available for the application, the SE8FDNH-13 should primarily be marketed according to its published CAT5e networking specification.
Rated Voltage
Seetronic specifies:
Rated Voltage: 50V.
This is a low-voltage network/data connector.
It is not intended for:
- Australian mains power
- General-purpose AC distribution
- Lighting mains
- Appliance power
Insulation Resistance
Seetronic specifies:
Insulation Resistance: ≥0.5GΩ.
Dielectric Strength
Seetronic specifies:
Dielectric Strength: 1kV DC.
This is an electrical test specification and should not be interpreted as a 1kV operating-voltage rating.
The published rated voltage remains:
50V.
Frequency Range
The specified operating frequency range is:
1–100MHz.
This corresponds with the connector's published CAT5e transmission category.
Insertion Force
Seetronic specifies:
Insertion Force: ≤20N.
Zinc-Alloy Metal Panel
The D-shape panel/flange is manufactured from:
Zinc alloy.
Seetronic specifies a:
Cr – chrome-plated
surface finish.
This provides the metallic silver appearance of the connector.
PBT Insert
The internal connector insert is manufactured from:
PBT
or polybutylene terephthalate.
This supports and electrically isolates the network contacts within the connector assembly.
UL94 V-0
Seetronic specifies:
Flame-Retardant Grade: UL94 V-0.
UL94 V-0 relates to the flammability performance of the connector's material.
It should not be confused with an IP rating or an environmental waterproofing specification.
Temperature Range
The SE8FDNH-13 is specified for:
-30°C to +80°C.
The overall equipment installation may have a narrower operating range depending on the:
- Ethernet cable
- Equipment
- Enclosure
- Network switch
- Other components
used in the system.
Non-Waterproof 01 Series
The SE8FDNH-13 is part of Seetronic's:
01 Series Non-waterproof
RJ45 connector range.
It should therefore not be described as:
- Waterproof
- Weatherproof
- IP65
- Outdoor sealed
unless the complete installation has been independently designed and rated for those conditions.
For applications requiring an IP-rated Seetronic RJ45 system, select an appropriate product from Seetronic's dedicated waterproof connector ranges.
Not an IP65 Connector
The SE8FDNH-13 should not be confused with Seetronic's IP65 RJ45 connector systems.
Seetronic manufactures separate outdoor/water-resistant RJ45 ranges designed specifically for applications requiring environmental protection.
The SE8FDNH-13 is intended primarily for:
- Racks
- Panels
- Equipment enclosures
- Indoor/protected production environments
Front-Mount Installation
Seetronic's current technical datasheet specifies the SE8FDNH-13 for:
Front mounting.
The supplied M3 mounting screws are tightened to:
0.5Nm.
The recommended panel thickness is:
1.5–4.0mm.
This provides useful installation guidance for custom:
- Rack panels
- Stage boxes
- Equipment enclosures
- Patch panels
Standard D-Style Cut-Out
Seetronic publishes the physical panel-cut-out dimensions for professional panel fabrication.
The current drawing specifies approximately:
24.0mm main circular cut-out
with:
19.0mm horizontal mounting-hole spacing
and:
24.0mm vertical mounting-hole spacing
using approximately:
3.3mm mounting holes.
Always use the current Seetronic mechanical drawing when producing CNC, laser-cut or fabricated panels rather than relying only on nominal D-series dimensions.
Overall Flange Dimensions
The current Seetronic drawing shows an approximately:
27.8mm wide x 33.3mm high
front flange.
Mechanical dimensions should be confirmed against the current technical drawing before manufacturing production panels.
Supplied Mounting Screws
Seetronic's current datasheet indicates:
Mounting screws are included.
Optional items shown separately include:
- Back fastener plate
- Waterproof gasket
The standard product should not be assumed to become IP-rated simply by adding an optional gasket.
0.5Nm Mounting Torque
The current assembly instructions specify tightening the mounting screws to approximately:
0.5Nm.
Avoid overtightening panel hardware, which may damage the flange, panel or fixing components.
CAT5e – Not CAT6
The SE8FDNH-13 is specifically rated:
CAT5e.
It should not be promoted as:
- CAT6
- CAT6A
- CAT7
- CAT8
unless Seetronic publishes certification for those transmission categories.
A CAT6 cable connected through a CAT5e-rated feedthrough does not make the overall link CAT6.
The channel is limited by its lowest-rated component.
Network Category Matters
When designing professional networks, consider the category rating of:
- External network cable
- Internal patch cable
- Panel connector
- Patch panels
- Wall infrastructure
- Network switches
For predictable performance, the complete system should be designed around a consistent transmission requirement.
Passive Feedthrough – No Signal Conversion
The SE8FDNH-13 is a passive connector.
It does not:
- Boost Ethernet signals
- Convert protocols
- Regenerate data
- Route network traffic
- Function as a network switch
- Convert copper Ethernet to fibre
Its job is simply to provide a physical network connection through a panel.
No Network Configuration Required
Because the SE8FDNH-13 is passive, it requires no:
- IP address
- Software
- Firmware
- Network configuration
- Power supply
It simply becomes part of the physical network channel.
Check the Complete Cable Path
Network performance depends on more than the panel connector.
For professional Ethernet systems, verify:
- Cable category
- Cable length
- Patch cable quality
- Connector condition
- Switch capability
- Endpoint requirements
- Network topology
where applicable.
Label Network Panels Clearly
Professional network panels should be clearly labelled.
Useful identification can include:
- Dante Primary
- Dante Secondary
- Lighting Network
- Art-Net
- sACN
- Control
- FOH
- Stage
- VLAN
- Network switch port
Clear labelling can greatly reduce troubleshooting time during production.
Keep Network and Power Clearly Separated
Although many professional connectors share D-style panel dimensions, network and mains-power connections perform fundamentally different jobs.
Panel design should make signal type obvious and follow appropriate electrical and mechanical requirements.
Product Specifications
Brand: Seetronic
Model: SE8FDNH-13
Series: 01 Series Non-waterproof
Product Type: RJ45 feedthrough panel socket
Connection Type: RJ45
Gender: Female
Panel Format: Standard D-shape / D-style
Network Category: CAT5e
Frequency Range: 1–100MHz
Rear Connection: RJ45 feedthrough
Contact Resistance: <10mΩ
Rated Current: 1.5A
Rated Voltage: 50V
Insulation Resistance: ≥0.5GΩ
Dielectric Strength: 1kV DC
Insertion Force: ≤20N
Service Life: >1,000 mating cycles
Locking: Latch lock
Contacts: Copper alloy
Contact Surface: Gold – Au
Insert: PBT
Panel / Flange: Zinc alloy
Panel Finish: Chrome plated
Flammability: UL94 V-0
Operating Temperature: -30°C to +80°C
Standards: TIA/EIA-568B / ISO/IEC 11801
Panel Thickness: 1.5–4.0mm according to current datasheet
Mounting Screws: Included
Recommended Screw Torque: 0.5Nm
Environmental Series: Non-waterproof / no published IP rating
Why Choose the Seetronic SE8FDNH-13?
Choose the SE8FDNH-13 where a professional CAT5e network installation requires:
- Professional D-shape panel mounting
- Female RJ45 feedthrough connectivity
- CAT5e transmission performance
- 1–100MHz frequency range
- No solder termination at the panel connector
- Easily replaceable internal patch cabling
- Metal zinc-alloy flange
- Gold-plated contact surface
- Latch-lock connection
- More than 1,000 mating cycles
- Standardised rack and stage-box integration
- Professional serviceability
- Compact installation
- Compatibility with protected indoor production infrastructure
It is particularly well suited to touring and production systems where ordinary office-style RJ45 connectivity needs to be integrated into professional rack and panel hardware.
Why Buy Seetronic SE8FDNH-13 from GigLife?
GigLife supplies professional connectors, cables, adaptors, network hardware, tapes, consumables and technical accessories specifically for the entertainment and production industries.
With more than 25 years of hands-on live entertainment industry experience, GigLife understands how heavily modern productions now depend on reliable network infrastructure.
Ethernet is no longer something sitting quietly in an office wall.
It now carries critical production systems including:
- Digital audio
- Lighting control
- Show control
- AV
- Equipment management
- Broadcast infrastructure
around stages, theatres, festivals, conference systems and touring racks every day.
Products are selected by people who work in production and understand the requirements of:
- Audio engineers
- Lighting technicians
- Network technicians
- System technicians
- Theatre technicians
- Touring crews
- Production companies
- Broadcast facilities
- Film and television departments
- AV technicians
- Festivals
- Schools and performing arts centres
- Conference production
- Exhibition contractors
- Equipment-hire businesses
- Rack builders
- System integrators
Whether you are building a Dante rack, a lighting network panel, a custom stage box, a touring road case or permanent technical infrastructure, GigLife supplies professional components selected by people who understand how they are actually used.
Orders are dispatched from Brisbane, with Australia-wide shipping available.
GigLife is proudly by the professionals… for the professionals.
