What are wire connectors and how do they work?
How does a connector work? An electrical connector is an electromechanical device used to join electrical terminations and create an electrical circuit. Most electrical connectors have a gender – i.e. the male component, called a plug, connects to the female component, or socket. An adapter can be used to join dissimilar connectors.
What is the purpose of connectors in circuits?
Connectors are used to join subsections of circuits together. Usually, a connector is used where it may be desirable to disconnect the subsections at some future time: power inputs, peripheral connections, or boards which may need to be replaced. Covered in This Tutorial. In this tutorial we will go over: Basic connector terminology
What are the parts of an electrical connector called?
Working with Connector 1. Proposal Customer Experts Once the Customer agrees to all SOM and the offer, you will receive an order and a PO... 2. Execution Customer Experts After delivery, the Customer will be asked to assess and rate the quality of the work. It... 3. Delivery
How do the wires pass through the back of the connector?
Connectors use a metal terminal that is crimped or soldered to a corresponding conductor, and all of this is placed inside the plastic shell. Connectors are tasked with making mechanical joints between male and female terminals, not only holding the whole unit firmly in place but also protecting it from the outside environment.
How does a wire connector work?
0:094:33Multiple Wire Connectors – In-Line & Close-End Connectors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it fills the space between the wires for complete corrosion protection if the idea of theseMoreSo it fills the space between the wires for complete corrosion protection if the idea of these multiple wire connectors is new to you you probably already have a way to combine multiple wires.
What is the purpose of a connector?
Connectors are used to join subsections of circuits together. Usually, a connector is used where it may be desirable to disconnect the subsections at some future time: power inputs, peripheral connections, or boards which may need to be replaced.
What are the 3 types of connectors?
Electrical connectors are classified into three types based on their termination ends: board-to-board connectors, cable/wire-to-cable/wire connectors, and cable/wire-to-board connectors.Mar 2, 2021
How do you hook up a connector?
4:575:57How to Install Weatherproof Electrical Connectors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace the terminal in the crimper. Apply light tension to keep it in place insert the wire. And thenMorePlace the terminal in the crimper. Apply light tension to keep it in place insert the wire. And then crimp the connection. Do the same for the connection insert the terminals in the plastic.
What is the advantage of a connector?
The basic definition of the connector and its advantages and characteristics. Its function is very simple: establish a communication bridge between the blocked or isolated circuits in the circuit, so that the current flows and achieve the predetermined function. Connectors are an essential part of electronic equipment.Mar 18, 2021
What will happen when connector is loosely tighten?
Dangers of a Loose Connection Wires that are tight to the terminal make good electrical contact that the electricity can pass through with minimal resistance. But if the terminal is not tight, and the wire is not compressed against the terminal's metal contact, there is greater resistance. And resistance creates heat.Sep 28, 2021
How do you wire a connector plug?
0:312:30How To Wire a Grounded Cord Plug End - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe'll start with the ground by loosening the green screw in the green conductors copper strandedMoreWe'll start with the ground by loosening the green screw in the green conductors copper stranded wire into a clockwise hub shape slide the copper wire between the screw.
How do you wire a pin connector?
1:313:06Crimping Pin onto a Wire - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd thumb you take the pliers over to the other side and then the other end of the flange. Down andMoreAnd thumb you take the pliers over to the other side and then the other end of the flange. Down and squish it tight at this point the pin should be securely connected to the wire.
How do you put pins in a connector?
1:493:01How to Pin a JAE Plug Connector with Pre-Pinned Wires✔️ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith the flat side of the connector. And insert it in the cavity. Going to push. In. Don't you hearMoreWith the flat side of the connector. And insert it in the cavity. Going to push. In. Don't you hear click you'll also see if you're all the way to the end of the plug.
How do I know what wire connector to use?
0:212:29How to Choose Wire Nuts for Your Projects | Ask This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA certain amount of conductors. Together and a certain amount of size. And how do I know that so theMoreA certain amount of conductors. Together and a certain amount of size. And how do I know that so the package they come in gives you a great chart it tells you which wire's go with what combinations.
What do you use to connect wires?
2:254:25Never Solder Again - How to Connect Wires the EASY Way - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you want to keep applying heat to the middle. And you'll see that ring of solder start to melt.MoreBut you want to keep applying heat to the middle. And you'll see that ring of solder start to melt. And it will actually flow in and around the wires.
How do you connect small wires?
1:569:46How to connect wires in 6 different ways - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOr you could buy a proper soldering. Stand. If you have to connect wires in place then I'd recommendMoreOr you could buy a proper soldering. Stand. If you have to connect wires in place then I'd recommend printing this end holder this way you won't have to cut the wires the way if you want to solder
What is a wiring harness?
Ok, now we know all about insulated wires, terminals, connectors and overmoldings. If we put many such wires and connectors together into a dedicated bundle, that bundle becomes a wiring harness. This is familiar to anyone who’s ever looked under the hood of a car, where the engine, battery, air compressor and stereo are all tied together in one confusing spaghetti of mysterious wires – that’s the harness, and they’re custom engineered for every unique application.
Who is Chris Williams?
Chris Williams is the Content Editor at Star Rapid. He is passionate about writing and about developments in science, manufacturing and related technologies. He is also a certified English grammar snob.
Can connectors be separated?
Usually the connector can be separated later for maintenance or replacement, making it an invaluable interface between the human user and the electrical device. And there are thousands of types of connectors in every conceivable size and shape, for every kind of device and purpose.
Can wires and cables do nothing?
By themselves, wires and cables can do nothing. They must be connected to something to perform their function, and that’s where connectors come in. But what exactly is a connector? Well, a connector actually needs to perform a couple of functions that can be highly specialized.
What is a rectangular connector?
The term “rectangular connector” refers to the shape of the actual connector. It means that this connector housing will be rectangular in shape. These are often found on PCB boards because they are easy to use for manufacturing. A board will typically have either a through hole or surface-mounted male header that a female socket can fit onto, this is a good way to connect wires to a board. The female connector would have sockets with wires crimped onto them which would be connected to something else. An example of this would be the B2B-XH-A (LF) (SN), which is the male header, and the XHP-2, which is the female housing that would mate with the header. These products are from JST Sales America Inc. and will not work as-is. The XHP-2 is only a plastic housing, there are no sockets inside of this connector, so there are also no wires coming out of this connector. The sockets are proprietary accessories that are specific to the housing. While several contacts are very similar, it is always recommended to use the proper contacts that are made for the particular connector housing to ensure the connector will work. On the Digi-Key page for XHP-2 there is a section towards the bottom of the page that shows the sockets as an “Associated Product” (Figure 1).
What is the pitch of a connector?
When dealing with rectangular connectors, there is another point that needs to be brought up, the pitch of the pins. Pitch refers to the distance between the pins. The most common sizes are 1.27 mm, 2.00 mm, and 2.54 mm. These are by no means a standard; however, they are the most common.
What is the diameter of a barrel connector?
Most barrel connectors have either a 2.1 mm inner diameter or a 2.5 mm inner diameter and typically they will have a 5.5 mm outer diameter. There are many different sizes for these connectors, so assuming a 2.1 mm or 2.5 mm diameter can cause problems.
What is an interface module?
Interface modules can be thought of as an adapter. They will have a control side connection and a process side connection. An example would be the DSUB-9-MF from American Electrical, Inc. This connector allows for either a male or female 9 position D-Sub connector to be easily broken out into discrete wires as seen in Figure 28.
What is the purpose of pins and sockets?
The pins and sockets are responsible for conducting electricity from one half of the connector to the other. These are made very precisely so that the pins and sockets fit together with just enough force to ensure a good connection, but not enough force to make connecting and disconnecting too difficult.
What is pin retainer?
The pin/socket retainer is a piece of plastic that slides into the connector from the front. It wedges against all of the plastic locking barbs so they can't release. This piece makes it nearly impossible for the pins and sockets to work their way loose.
What is the difference between termination and mounting?
Mounting indicates how the overall project and the connector as a whole interface/fasten/attach. Termination indicates how the electrical connections are being made. Through-hole mounting and surface mounting in most cases indicate items that would mount and terminate in a particular way (see Termination Method below for more). As an example of a mounting, mating, and termination combination that could happen would be:
When to use shielding?
Shielding. Shielding is used when ambient magnetic noise is a concern or can periodically cause issues. For connectors where shielding is employed, one would need to make considerations on if only a specific part would have the shielding or if the (in the case of cables) whole path would need to have a unified shield.
Is the number of contacts required by a connector known?
In many cases, knowing the number of contacts required by the connector is known. However, sometimes, other needs for the overall application and the availability of the items can end up affecting the resulting selected item’s specifications.
What is an electrical connector?
An electrical connector is an electromechanical device used to join electrical conductors and create an electrical circuit. Most electrical connectors have a gender – i.e. the male component, called a plug, connects to the female component, or socket.
How are plug and socket connectors attached?
Many plug and socket connectors are attached to a wire or cable by soldering conductors to electrodes on the back of the connector. Soldered joints in connectors are robust and reliable if executed correctly, but are usually slower to make than crimped connections.
What is a phone jack?
The term jack occurs in several related terms: 1 The registered jack or modular jack in RJ11, RJ45 and other similar connectors used for telecommunication and computer networking 2 The telephone jack of manual telephone switchboards, which is the socket fitting the original 1⁄4 inch (6.35 mm) telephone plug 3 The 1⁄4 inch (6.35 mm) phone jack common to many electronic applications in various configurations, sometimes referred to as a headphone jack 4 The RCA jack, also known as a phono jack, common to consumer audiovisual electronics 5 The EIAJ jack for consumer appliances requiring a power supply of less than 18.0 volts
Why are key connectors important?
Many connectors are keyed with some mechanical component (sometimes called a keyway ), which prevents mating in an incorrect orientation. This can be used to prevent mechanical damage to connectors, from being jammed in at the wrong angle or into the wrong connector, or to prevent incompatible or dangerous electrical connections, such as plugging an audio cable into a power outlet. Keying also prevents otherwise symmetrical connectors from being connected in the wrong orientation or polarity. Keying is particularly important for situations where there are many similar connectors, such as in signal electronics. For instance, XLR connectors have a notch to ensure proper orientation, while Mini-DIN plugs have a plastic projection that fits into a corresponding hole in the socket (they also have a notched metal skirt to provide secondary keying).
Why are connectors designed with locking mechanisms?
Some connector housings are designed with locking mechanisms to prevent inadvertent disconnection or poor environmental sealing. Locking mechanism designs include locking levers of various sorts, jackscrews, screw-in shells, push-pull connector, and toggle or bayonet systems. Some connectors, particularly those with large numbers of contacts, require high forces to connect and disconnect. Locking levers and jackscrews and screw-in shells for such connectors frequently serve both to retain the connector when connected and to provide the force needed for connection and disconnection. Depending on application requirements, housings with locking mechanisms may be tested under various environmental simulations that include physical shock and vibration, water spray, dust, etc. to ensure the integrity of the electrical connection and housing seals.
What are the properties of electrical connectors?
Properties important to conductor materials are contact resistance, conductivity, mechanical strength, formability, and resilience.
What is an M12 connector?
The M12 connector, specified in IEC 61076-2-101, is a circular electrical plug/receptacle pair with 12mm OD mating threads , used in NMEA 2000, DeviceNet, IO-Link, some kinds of Industrial Ethernet, etc.