8P4C

8P4C refers to an eight-position, four-conductor connector. This designation is commonly associated with telephone jacks and connectors, particularly the RJ45 connector, though RJ45 technically implies eight conductors. In the context of older telephone wiring, 8P4C was used for connectors that physically resembled the RJ45 but only utilized four of the available eight positions. Specifically, it would have four pins or contacts within the connector housing. This configuration was often used for a single telephone line, which requires two conductors (tip and ring), and sometimes for additional functions like power or signaling. While the physical form factor might be an RJ45 modular connector, the "4C" part specifies that only four of the eight possible conductors are wired and active. This distinction is important for understanding legacy telecommunication systems and the types of cables and jacks used. When troubleshooting or installing older phone systems, identifying 8P4C connectors can help determine the number of lines or functions supported by a particular jack. It is a less common standard compared to fully wired RJ45 used for Ethernet networking.