Three Typical Electrical Connector Types

Because they enable and safeguard the flow of an electrical signal, electrical connections are crucial parts of various electronic equipment. They carry out a wide range of duties and assist a wide range of applications, from connecting wires in our automobiles to joining vital computer parts. Despite their apparent simplicity, connections are commonly used in complex electrical networks. Connectors must be reliable, sturdy, and easy to assemble and use. The broad range of connection requirements makes it easy to select the appropriate variant for a specific piece of equipment, even though not all electrical connectors are designed to operate under harsh circumstances.

Basics of Electrical Connectors

Different electronic devices may interact with one another via a hierarchical network of connections known as an electronic system. To ensure the correct functioning of electronic equipment, a number of interconnects are required for signal transmission and power distribution. Depending on how they terminate, electrical connections may be divided into three categories:

Connectors for Board to Board

Without using a wire, board-to-board connections are used to connect PCBs. Board-to-board connections are helpful for systems with limited space since they help reduce cable clutter. Connectors may be used to join the PCBs in a parallel or perpendicular configuration. A connection known as a mezzanine connector connects two PCBs in a stacking arrangement. Sometimes, vertical PCB designs are nonetheless mentioned in the term. These topologies are often employed in motherboard-daughterboard methods, where a similar layout is emphasized.

When selecting a mezzanine connection, it is essential to consider factors like separability, technical requirements like stack height and tolerances, limitations like standoffs, brackets, or chassis slots and frames, and mounting styles. The minimum and maximum insertion force, the number of mating cycles necessary during the connector's lifetime, and the degree of possible detachment all impact separability. It is essential to take the operating temperature and humidity into account. The EIA 700AAAB standard must be followed for mezzanine connections.

A backplane is a collection of electrical connections connected in parallel to one another to form a connector bus. Each connector is connected to the pin on every other connector that corresponds to it. Due to their versatility and durability, backplane systems are often used in computer and communications systems. A complete backplane system is created by connecting several plug-in cards via a single backbone using the backplane technique. Before reaching the receiver, the transmitter's signal passes via several connections. High-speed devices need a backplane system with reliable signal integrity. Essential factors in the architecture of a gigabit backplane channel include the backplane and the associated pin field.

Cable/Wire-to-Cable/Wire Connectors

Two wire-terminated connectors are connected utilizing a wire-to-wire connection. They are used as computer, electronic, and electrical connections. Some general specifications for a wire-to-wire connection include the number of circuits or locations, wire size, and mating type or gender. Male wire-to-wire connections are designed such that they may slide into female wire-to-wire connectors. There usually are 1 to 50 circuits or locations in a wire-to-wire connection. The American wire gauge is a common technique for measuring non-ferrous wire conductor diameters (AWG). Gauge is the term used to describe the wire's diameter. As the gauge number rises, so do the diameter, temperature range, and gauge number. A given length of thicker wire often carries more current because there is less electrical resistance. Y When selecting wire-to-wire connections, you should consider durability, pitch or center spacing, plating material, orientation, and temperature range.

The termination mechanism is a crucial consideration when selecting wire-to-wire connections. There are more possibilities in addition to screw, quick disconnect to quick disconnect, IDC to IDC, crimp to crimp, crimp to FC/FPC, FFC/FPC to crimp, and FFC/FPC to IDC. Crimp termination, a technique for connecting wires to wires, entails physically crimping a metal sleeve to a conductor. A conductor is forced into a slot t smaller than the insulated wire's diameter using insulation displacement connection (IDC) technology. Two flat surfaces make up flat flex cables (FFCs), which may be smooth or corrugated. For wire-to-wire connections, flat-printed circuitry (FPC) is also often available. The wire is tightened against the current bar using screw terminals, typically used with a pressure plate. Devices for rapid connection and quick detachment may be easily put together without needing tools.

Wire/Cable-to-Board Connectors

The crimping method is often used in wire-to-board connections to secure a wire to a printed circuit board (PCB). The contacts or terminals may be put into the corresponding housing once the connector has been crimped to the wire to complete the connection. Additional wire-to-board connections include IDC and SMT. In many applications, wire-to-board connections are used because of their adaptability and durability. The connectors from Greenconn may be used in low-profile designs to link systems that are immersed in water or have a small footprint and need a more compact solution. You may depend on Greenconn since they will always provide specific termination.

Electricity is inexpensively routed between PCBs using wire-to-board connections. The telecommunications, automotive, commercial, and industrial sectors may all benefit from these connections. Wire-to-board connections previously posed technical difficulties during design because of their size. However, new and improved wire-to-board connections are now available from wholesale connector manufacturers as tiny replacements that may now be used in any compact application. In addition to this new advancement, wire-to-board connections have improved surface mount assembly compatibility automation, enabling a speedier assembly procedure. These connections also provide their applications with dependable, long-term service. Overall, wire-to-board connections offer simple, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.