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Electronic Connector Terms

Action Pin Contact – A style of contact that has a split pin which provides gastight retention when used in conjunction with a printed circuit board.

Angular Misalignment – Loss at a connector resulting from the skewing of fiber end face angles.

Back Mounted – A type of configuration in which the connector is attached to the interior of a box or panel, along with its flanges for mounting.

Body – The largest or main section of a connector to which all other parts are attached.

Bulkhead – A connector that is inserted into a panel cutout from the component side of the panel.

Center Fastener – A fastening device located in the center of a pair of mating connectors. On one connector there is a threaded screw that attaches to the threaded bushing on its mating connector.

Connector Plug – A device that terminates an electrical or optical cable.

Connector Receptacle – The stationary half of a connection that mates with a plug. Connector receptacles are mounted on a panel or bulkhead.

Contact – An electrically conductive piece used in multi-circuit connectors.

Contact Durability – The number of withdrawal and insertion cycles a connector must be able to withstand, while remaining within performance levels of certain specifications.

Dust Cap – A device that is attached to connectors to provide protection from foreign debris and dust.

Extraction Tool – A tool that is used to remove a contact from a connector.

Flange – A projection that extends from a connector and contains holes for mounting a connector to a panel or mating connector.

Guide Pin – A device that provides alignment when connecting mating connectors. Guide pins also prevent contact damage due to the mismating of connectors.

Holding Strength – The capability of a connector to stay assembled to a wire or cable under tension.

Interface – The surfaces of a multi-contact connector that face each other while the connector is assembled.

Jack – A connecting mechanism into which a plug is inserted to make circuit connections.

Jumper – A short fiber optic cable that has connectors on either end.

Loss – The amount of signal power lost due to defects in connectors, splices or fibers. Loss is expressed in decibels (dB).

Panel Mount – A method used to attach a connector to a panel, board or frame.

PC (Physical Contact) – A term that refers to an optical connector whose fiber ends physically touch, which minimizes backreflection and insertion loss.

Sealing Plug – A plug that is used to seal unoccupied contact cavities. Sealing plugs are especially critical in environmental connectors.

Withstanding Voltage – The voltage that a connector is able to withstand for a minute without showing signs of electrical breakdown.