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Thank you for your interest in our available connector components on ASAP Logistic Solutions. In the realm of electronics, electrical connectors are electromechanical devices that may be used to unite conductors in order to facilitate the transfer of current through a system to produce an electrical circuit. With a multitude of connector configurations and common part types available on the market, connectors can serve a variety of power, data, and audiovisual applications that span across multiple industries and market sectors.
While connectors may come in a large variety of types to accommodate different devices and electronics, most will be composed of two main parts: housing and terminals. The housing of an electrical connector serves to both protect sensitive internal components of the device and secure them in place for easier attachments. Generally, housing can be produced from molded plastics, though insulating materials are also useful for achieving further protection from shorting and environmental hazards. As the housing also ensures that terminals are held securely in place, the connection is stabilized.
For the terminal pins of a connector, such components allow for a connection to be established with electrical conductivity. To guarantee a stable flow of electricity that is not deterred by insulation, terminal pins are most commonly manufactured from metals. Despite this, carbon and silicon also both serve as popular materials for terminal construction.
Before getting into the various common types of electronic components available, it can first be useful to know the four basic categories that each type falls under. For inline or cable connectors, such components are permanently connected to a cable, and this allows the connector to be plugged into another cable or stationary instrument to create a circuit. Chassis and panel connectors are somewhat similar to inline and cable types, though they are permanently connected to an equipment piece to facilitate the attachment of a cable. For printed circuit boards that need cable and wire connections, a PCB mount connector type may be used. As the final major category, splice and butt connectors are often used to conjoin two cables or wires.
Within each major electronic connector category, a number of part types are available, each with their own methods of connection and capabilities. As different electronics and devices may rely on a specific connection type for their functionality and powering, having general knowledge on the most common component types can be very useful when procuring parts from electrical connector manufacturers and suppliers.
When dealing with electronic devices and circuits that require alternating current for their functionalities, such connectors will facilitate connections to a wall outlet. Generally, power plugs serve as the most common type of AC electronic connector parts, and they will typically feature one or more pins or prongs that are designed to mate with a correlating connector. For industrial AC power plugs, special electrical wire connectors may be used to accommodate more robust industrial applications. Generally, AC power connectors serve electronics such as resistance heaters, microwave ovens, consumer electronic devices, universal motors, and much more.
As devices relying on direct current are more uncommon than alternating current devices, DC connectors are often not standardized and require the user to ensure that the particular component is compatible with the device they intend to power. Additionally, DC connectors are also not interchangeable with one another. With a variety of standard sizes available from electronic connector industries, DC connectors may be used to power small portable electronic devices, come in the form of automotive electrical connectors for accessories, and are commonly used to charge batteries.
Wire connectors are those that are able to join two or more wires together through a common point of attachment. As a more general category of components, wire connectors include types such as crimps, lugs, screw terminals, and other variants. With a crimp connector, connection is solderless as pre-stripped wires are compressed together with a special tool to create a high degree of static friction. Lug connectors are somewhat similar to crimp types, though their connector termination is a conductive blade that allows other electrical power connectors to be soldered or crimped on. With screw terminals, semi-permanent wire connections can be established with the use of bolt clamping that presses on a stripped conductor. Screw terminals are often used to conjoin wires for printed circuit boards and similar electronic devices.
Blade connectors are plug and socket connection components that feature a single wire and a flat conductive blade that is inserted into a receptacle. With either female or male blade connector types, crimping and soldering may be used to attach wiring to establish an electrical circuit. For their common types, blade connectors may be insulated or uninsulated and often come in the form of Faston connectors and Lucar connectors.
With plug and socket connector types, a male and female connector may mate to secure an attachment for transporting current. Generally, the male component is the plug, and it will feature pin contacts. The female socket, on the other hand, will have receptacle contacts that allow for the insertion of the plug. Serving as some of the most common electrical power connectors with their standardized set of connector termination types, plug and sockets may be used for equipment such as phone connectors, car power outlets, XLR connectors, breadboards, and more.
For some devices and applications, there may be a need or desire to have wire connectors that are covered. In such cases, an insulation-piercing connector serves as the most optimal part type, allowing for the covered wire to be inserted into a receiving component. As the wire is pushed into the connector, a device will remove the covering to ensure that the conductive section of the wire comes into contact with the correlating receptor to establish an electrical circuit.
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