When you're building out a control panel or upgrading an existing line, the first fork in the road is often whether you need raw wiring or a communication module. The Amphenol spool and the AutomationDirect H2-ERM100 remote I/O module sit on opposite sides of that fork, yet shoppers in control cables, connectors, and I/O hardware often weigh both in the same cart. Here's how they compare and which one belongs in your project.
Quick verdict
If your project is stalled by a lack of wire, the Amphenol spool delivers a full spool of black industrial wire/cable. If your bottleneck is getting remote I/O onto an Ethernet network, the AutomationDirect H2-ERM100 adds Ethernet remote I/O capability. The right pick is whichever bottleneck you have.
Comparison table
| Product | Listed price | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 850 ft Full Spool black Amphenol Industrial Wire/Cable | USD 91.00 | Industrial wire/cable spool with 3-pin configuration and wire mounting type | Long wiring runs and control cable replacements |
| AUTOMATION DIRECT H2-ERM100 / H2ERM100 DirectLOGIC DL205 remote I/O module | USD 159.00 | Remote I/O module with one Ethernet 10/100Base-T port | Connecting DL205 and Do-more H2 CPUs to Ethernet remote I/O |
Where each product wins
Where the Amphenol spool wins: The Amphenol spool wins on reach. Its full-spool length gives you enough industrial wire/cable for long pulls, replacement runs, or spare wiring for several small panels. It is a straightforward material buy when you need to pull your own conductors.
Where the H2-ERM100 wins: The AutomationDirect module wins on communication capability. It is purpose-built for connecting remote I/O over Ethernet, turning remote I/O into an Ethernet-connected part of your control system rather than leaving you with a spool of cable and no network node.
Product notes
Amphenol Industrial Wire/Cable Spool
This spool is the lower-priced option in this comparison and gives you a long supply of black industrial wire/cable. The 3-pin configuration and wire mounting type make it best treated as bulk material for control wiring projects rather than a finished plug-and-play assembly. For a technician replacing hardwired runs or stocking up for multiple panels, the full-spool length is the clearest reason to choose it. The obvious limitation is that it does not add any communication capability: you still need something like an I/O module to get data onto a network. If your controls upgrade is really about Ethernet remote I/O, this cable will not solve that. It is a material purchase, not a network component.
AutomationDirect H2-ERM100 Remote I/O Module
This remote I/O module solves a different problem than the bulk spool. It provides one Ethernet 10/100Base-T port and is intended for use with DirectLOGIC DL205 CPUs such as D2-240, D2-250, D2-250-1, D2-260, and D2-262, as well as Do-more H2 series CPUs. For a control system that needs remote I/O on Ethernet, this is the concrete component to choose. The limitation is compatibility: the module is not compatible with the D2-230 CPU or H2-WPLCx-xx modules, so you need to confirm your CPU family before buying. It also does not include any wire, so you may still need the Amphenol spool or similar cable for field wiring.
Final choice by use case
Choose the Amphenol 850 ft spool at $91 if you are pulling wire, replacing runs, or building out control wiring and need a long, affordable supply of black industrial wire/cable. Choose the AutomationDirect H2-ERM100 at $159 if your next step is adding a remote I/O node to an Ethernet-based control system. If your project involves both wiring and remote I/O, the natural move is to buy the H2-ERM100 for the network side and the Amphenol spool for the physical wiring side.
