Electrical Connectors

Electrical Connectors allow for flexible design and modification options and enable circuit repairs. On communication, computer, industrial, and consumer electronics circuits, they are widely used.

Electrical Connector Components

Housing and terminals make up the majority of connectors' parts. Housing is the container or framework used to secure the connection, prevent short circuits, and safeguard the contacts from various environmental dangers. Housing is typically constructed of molded plastic, although it can also be built of any insulating material (e.g. ceramics). The electrical conduction that creates the connection is provided by terminal pins of a connector. Although they are almost often composed of some kind of metal, they can be built of any material that conducts electricity (e.g. carbon or silicon).

Types of Electrical Connectors

There are many distinct types of electrical connectors that can be distinguished from one another in terms of level, function, and termination.

Connector Level

Each connector type can be classified into one (or more) of the five levels, as they are known in the business world. These were determined by several businesses with the National Electrical Distributors Association's assistance (NEDA).

• Wire-to-board or subassembly-to-subassembly level
• Box-to-box or input/output level
• IC chip or chip-to-package level
• IC package or package-to-board level
• PC board-to-board level

Connector Types

Audio and Video Connectors

Cables are attached to other audio equipment using audio connectors, which also provide grounding protection and electronic signal transfer. Audio connectors may be used for general-purpose, telephone, or microphone applications. Although most audio connectors are used for commercial purposes, some might meet military requirements.

Automotive Electrical Connectors

Automotive electrical connectors are made specifically for use in motor vehicles.

Board Mount Connectors

Circuit board connections, also known as board mounted connectors, are connectors that can be utilized as parts that are integrated into a computer board.

Board to Board Connectors

Connectors that can be utilized as components integrated on a computer board are known as board mount connectors or circuit board connectors. The boards can be altered to suit the needs of the user.

Centronics Connectors

Centronics connectors are common parallel interface components used to connect computers to peripherals including CD-ROM players, tape backup drives, and portable disc drives. The Centronics connectors have two rows of flat contacts and are called after the printer that initially used them.

Circular Connectors

Multi-pin circular connectors are typically used for external connection. They can be used to power electrical equipment, transmit electrical signals, or transfer data. Circular connectors have occasionally been made to transport what is often referred to as a mixed signal and is sometimes referred to as a power and control connector. These multi-pin connectors are used to transmit both power and signals.

Coaxial Connectors

An insulated core conducting wire wrapped in another cylindrical conductor makes up coaxial connectors (the shield). A second insulating layer and an outer protective layer are often wrapped around the cable. Large amounts of information can be carried using coaxial cables and connections. They are frequently employed in CATV and high-speed data applications.

DIN Connectors

The German national body for standardization, Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), has established standards for high frequency, multi-pin electrical connectors. To guarantee that pins line up properly, DIN connections have round, notched, and metal-skirted ends.

D-Subminiature Connectors

Electrical connectors with a strong construction and a mating face resembling the letter D are known as D-subminiature or D-sub connectors. They give polarization because male and female connections can only fit together one way

Edge Connectors

Card edge connectors, sometimes referred to as edge card connectors, are embedded components that attach to the edges of single- or double-sided printed circuit boards (PCBs) to create an electrical connection to the outside world. Voltage levels, power pin locations, and power needs are all defined by industry standards. For instance, the power requirements for ISA and PCI (peripheral component interconnect) buses are specified in PICMG 1.0/1.2 standards.

Fiber Channel Connectors

High-speed connectors called Fiber Channel connectors are utilized in Fiber Channel systems.

FireWire Connectors

FireWire equipment such host controllers, adapters, hard drives, hubs, repeaters, and card readers are connected using IEEE 1394 connections. A communications technology called FireWire, which is a registered brand of Apple Computer, enables the transmission of data, video, and audio over a single connection at extremely high bit rates.

Changes in Gender

Devices known as gender changers convert a cable's end into a different kind, enabling mating between cable assemblies of the same or different genders.

Heavy Duty Rectangular Connectors

Large electrical loads and direct signals can be accommodated by heavy-duty rectangular connectors under a variety of operating situations. They are typically utilized in industrial settings where high power delivery is necessary. To ensure the safe supply of power, specific terminations such solder cups, wire wrap, and other heavy duty terminals are employed.