Connectors are indispensable components in the electronics industry, which can establish connections between isolated or disrupted electrical circuits. They play a crucial role in ensuring the flow of current and enabling circuits to perform their intended functions. Whether you’re examining the path of current flow in your device or machinery, you’ll undoubtedly find one or more connectors facilitating the vital connections.
However, exposing conventional connectors to extreme conditions can significantly impact their performance and reliability. This can lead to costly maintenance and component replacements for end-users. To address these challenges, a new class of connectors was developed, designed specifically to create robust Ethernet connections in harsh environments. These connectors are commonly known as “industrial connectors.”
In this blog post, we will explore how to choose the right industrial connector.
Connector Type
The first and foremost consideration when selecting an industrial connector is determining its type. Questions such as what needs to be connected and where the connector will be used will guide your decision. The connector’s intended location, whether it’s indoors, outdoors, or in a corrosive environment, will influence factors like the need for enhanced sealing or additional shielding. The connector type dictates the type of termination used and the number of conductive terminals required. Additionally, it involves considerations of terminal technology.
Electrical Requirements
When choosing an electrical industrial M12 X coded connector, you must consider the electrical requirements of your product. Assess the voltage and current demands of your application and ensure that the connector can effectively handle them. You’ll need to contemplate other electrical conditions such as resistance, allowable resistance variation, millivolt drop, maximum current and voltage ratings, inrush current, characteristic impedance, VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio), insertion loss, and EMI shielding efficiency.
Environmental Requirements
The temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions are determined by the connector’s installation location, and thus, it’s vital to consider both the location and expected environment. Take into account relevant storage conditions, shelf life, and information about the environment’s specifics. Environmental descriptions should also encompass requirements for shock and vibration, including those stemming from transportation, as well as production environment conditions like soldering temperatures and soldering duration. Connector manufacturers emphasize that the highest temperature generation occurs around the area where the connector conducts converging continuous current.
Mechanical Performance Requirements
For connectors, factors like the effective volume and footprint, allowable dimension tolerances, insertion and extraction forces for terminals, and connector durability (plug-and-play frequency) must be considered. For instance, for printed circuit boards, determining the board’s tolerances is crucial, especially for card-edge connectors, where the tolerances are critical, and achieving those critical tolerances is feasible. For low-power circuits, plating and base material must be specified in alignment with signal standards and environmental ratings.
Specifications
Connector manufacturers typically use approximately 25 testing organizations as sources for their connector’s full or partial testing specifications. It’s essential to take into account the appropriate testing specifications for specific application scenarios, including internationally recognized standards.
Conclusion
Selecting the right industrial connector is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the performance and reliability of your electronic systems in demanding environments. By considering the above factor, you can make an informed choice that ensures your connectors meet the demands of your specific application.
Industrial connectors have revolutionized the way we create and maintain robust connections in challenging conditions. When chosen thoughtfully, they provide the reliability and performance needed to keep operations running smoothly, even in the harshest of environments. So, before you make your next industrial connector purchase, you can consider Shine Industry Connector to ensure a successful and reliable electrical connection.
