Everything to Know About Electrical Connectors

What are Electrical Connectors?

Electrical circuits are composed of a multitude of components, including wires

and cables. Electrical connectors are used to join these to form a continuous path
for electrical current to flow. Connectors have male-ends (plugs) and female-ends
(jacks) which connect to each other forming either a permanent connection or,
more often, a temporary connection that can be assembled and removed with
special tools.

Electrical connectors drastically reduce the time, effort and manpower needed
for manufacturing, assembling and installing electrical devices, their components
as well as wiring.

Common Uses for Electrical Connectors

Electrical connectors are an electro-mechanical device used to join electrical

circuits as an interface.
For this, engineers use a mechanical assembly. These connectors are comprised of
jacks, which have a female end and plugs with a male end.
What makes electrical connectors so important is that they can be used for both
temporary and permanent solutions, including using an adaptor to bring
dissimilar connectors together.
When it comes to electrical connectors, there are literally hundreds of different
types.
 Within the world of computing, electrical connectors, also referred to as physical
interfaces, are commonly used.
While cable connectors are connected to devices with wires, electrical connectors
connect electrically.

Composition

Most connectors have two main parts – the housing, and terminals for making
the connections:
Housing – The housing is the structure or case used to contain the terminals,
ensure stability of the connections and protect the electrical contacts from short-
circuiting and environmental hazards.
Connector housings are normally made of molded plastic, but other insulating
materials like ceramics are also used.
Terminals – Terminals are the pins in a connector which provide electrical
conduction to make the connections secure. They are almost always composed of
a metal, but some of them use other conductive materials (carbon, silicon, etc.).

Features/Properties

For some applications, electrical connectors that possess different features might
be required or preferred:

Keyed Connectors – These are designed to connect only when they are in the
proper orientation. This prevents accidental damage to the pins and prevents
users from inserting them in the wrong sockets.
Locked Connectors – A locking mechanism ensures the connectors are held in
place, preventing connections from breaking accidentally, or from shifting when
the connector is bumped or jolted.

Hermetically Sealed Connectors – Some applications require an electrical

connection which might be submerged in water. These connectors are purpose
built to be fully functioning under water and withstand pressure up to certain
depths.

Water Resistant Connectors – While they usually can’t withstand being

submerged, these connectors provide protection for the electrical connections
against water damage from splashes or occasional dampness.

Moisture/Oil Resistant Connectors – These are designed to protect the electrical

connections from damage caused by oil or moisture.

EMI or RFI Filtering – Additional features built into the housing top protect the
connectors from electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency
interference (RFI), which can affect circuits carrying electrical signals.

ESD Shielded Connectors – Electrostatic discharge can damage wiring and

components. ESD shielded connectors provide additional protection against this.

Content Source:
https://www.dfliq.net/electrical-materials-products/electrical-connectors/
https://www.starengineeringinc.com/properties-of-electrical-connectors/
https://www.zircovitind.com/product/electrical-connectors/