I wanted to try my hand at designing for modular. I started light, because I had a specific need. I had lots of extra 1U space in my two racks, but there weren't any good, dense "rack plumber" type modules out there in a 1U format. So I made one. When you design PCBs, it always makes sense to order a few extras for testing, so I did.

I got a decent deal on shielded RJ45 connectors, and Thonk TS jacks, and the finish came out fantastic. Front board is aluminum, back board is standard FR1 PCB. The fit is a little big snug, both the front and back boards, but it fits pretty nicely in my Synthrotek waterproof eurorack cases with the 1U PulpLogic row.

Basically one row of TS jacks route through one RJ45 connector, and the other row routes through the other. The signal runs through the 8 wires in the ethernet cable, and the common ground runs through the shield. It's been working great for me, and cuts down on the cables between the racks tremendously.

Some of the pros who make these also put ethernet connectors on the back board so that you can route inside large enclosures. I did not do that. This was my first design for modular.

Contains no lights/LEDs, uses no power. Price includes two units and two shielded RJ45 cables.