Types of Electrical Connectors
– Inline connectors
– Cable connectors
– Chassis panel connectors
– PCB mount connectors
– Splice butt connectors
– Circular connectors
– Hybrid connectors
Materials Used in Electrical Connectors
– Conductors (copper alloys)
– Insulators (high electrical resistance, withstand high temperatures)
– Coating materials (gold, nickel, tin)
Failure Modes of Electrical Connectors
– Intermittent connections or open contacts
– Probability of failure modes: open circuit (61%), poor contact (23%), short circuit (16%)
– Causes of failure: insecure mounting, inadequate current and voltage ratings, insufficient ingress protection, worn or damaged backshells, high temperatures
Keying and Locking Mechanisms
– Keying: XLR connector, Mini-DIN S-Video cable
– Locking mechanisms: levers, jackscrews, screw-in shells, push-pull connectors, toggle or bayonet systems
Connector Accessories and Connection Methods
– Backshells: protection from environmental and mechanical stress, electromagnetic interference
– Hyperboloid contacts: signal stability in extreme environments
– Pogo pins: durable, used in consumer and industrial products
– Crown spring connectors: higher current flows, multiple contact points
– Methods of connection: permanent and detachable connections, mating cycles
– Plug and socket connectors: male plug and female socket, hermaphroditic connectors
– Jacks and plugs: stationary and movable connectors
– Crimp-on connectors: mechanical friction, uniform deformation, resistance to vibration and thermal shock
– Soldered connectors: soldering conductors to electrodes, robust and reliable
– Insulation-displacement connectors: cut insulation as wire is inserted, used with small conductors for signal purposes and low voltage Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_connector
Components of an electrical circuit are electrically connected if an electric current can run between them through an electrical conductor. An electrical connector is an electromechanical device used to create an electrical connection between parts of an electrical circuit, or between different electrical circuits, thereby joining them into a larger circuit. Most electrical connectors have a gender – i.e. the male component, called a plug, connects to the female component, or socket. The connection may be removable (as for portable equipment), require a tool for assembly and removal, or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two points. An adapter can be used to join dissimilar connectors.
Thousands of configurations of connectors are manufactured for power, data, and audiovisual applications. Electrical connectors can be divided into four basic categories, differentiated by their function:
- inline or cable connectors permanently attached to a cable, so it can be plugged into another terminal (either a stationary instrument or another cable)
- Chassis or panel connectors permanently attached to a piece of equipment so users can connect a cable to a stationary device
- PCB mount connectors soldered to a printed circuit board, providing a point for cable or wire attachment. (e.g. pin headers, screw terminals, board-to-board connectors)
- Splice or butt connectors (primarily insulation displacement connectors) that permanently join two lengths of wire or cable
In computing, electrical connectors are considered a physical interface and constitute part of the physical layer in the OSI model of networking.