What to consider
When you're assembling or upgrading an industrial control setup, the parts list often comes down to a fork in the road. Do you need a clean, dedicated signal path between a controller and another component, or do you need to bring field inputs back to a controller over the network? That's the difference between the Keyence OP-87529 Industrial Control Cable and the MOXA ioLogik E1242-T Ethernet Remote I/O Module. In the control cables, connectors, and I/O space, they're both legitimate building blocks, but they are not substitutes. A $57.32 price gap separates them, with the lower-priced option sitting 34% below the higher-priced one. The gap only matters, though, after you've decided which job you actually need to do.
Quick verdict
Pick the Keyence OP-87529 if you're working with Keyence automation and need a model-specific control cable. Pick the MOXA ioLogik E1242-T if you need a remote I/O module that accepts 12-36VDC.
Price and function at a glance
| Product | Type | Price | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyence OP-87529 | Industrial control cable | USD 167.32 | New |
| MOXA ioLogik E1242-T | Ethernet remote I/O module | USD 110.00 | New - Open box |
Where each product wins
- The Keyence OP-87529 wins when your build is centered on Keyence automation and you need a dedicated cable with a specific part number.
- The MOXA ioLogik E1242-T wins when you need distributed I/O and want the lower price.
- If your task is point-to-point control wiring, the cable is the more direct solution; if your task is gathering I/O from the field, the module is the more complete one.
Product notes
#### Keyence OP-87529 Industrial Control Cable
The Keyence OP-87529 is an industrial control cable with a model-specific part number, so it's a good fit for someone who prefers to source a named Keyence part rather than a generic substitute. It is the higher-priced option in this pair, but it is also the more targeted one: it does one job, which is giving you a ready control cable for a Keyence-based control scheme. The compatible controller platform is Automate, which helps if you're trying to keep the whole path consistent with a single vendor. The limitation is that it is still a cable, not an I/O device. If your need is to gather signals from multiple field devices and send them back to a controller, this cable alone won't close that gap.
#### MOXA ioLogik E1242-T Ethernet Remote I/O Module
The MOXA ioLogik E1242-T is a remote I/O module that accepts 12-36VDC, which makes it the more capable piece for distributed control networks. It is the lower-priced option and also the one that can serve as a central point for connecting field signals over a network. The unit is open box, meaning the original box was discarded; it ships in protective bubble wrap rather than a retail carton. The trade-off is straightforward: if your process requires sealed retail packaging, this open-box listing will not satisfy that requirement. But for a working panel that needs distributed I/O, the Moxa brings more function to the table for less money.
Final choice by use case
If you are filling a slot on a Keyence-based control setup and need a specific part number, the Keyence OP-87529 is the right call. If you are connecting field inputs over a network and want a 12-36VDC remote I/O module, the MOXA ioLogik E1242-T is the one to buy. If price alone is driving the decision, the Moxa is the less expensive option-but that only matters if your application actually calls for an I/O module.
