Electrical connector
From Free net encyclopedia
An electrical connector is a device for joining electrical circuits together. Most electrical connectors provide an electrical connection that can be relatively easily established and separated, but connectors are also available to facilitate permanent connections. There are hundreds of types of electrical connectors. In computing, an electrical connector can also be known as a physical interface.
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Types of electrical connectors
A terminal is a simple type of electrical connector that connects two or more wires to a single connection point. Wire nuts are another type of single point connector. Image:Terminal Blocks 01CJC.png
Terminal blocks
Terminal blocks (also called terminal boards or strips) provide a convenient means of connecting individual electrical wires. They are usually used to connect wiring among various items of equipment within an enclosure or to make connections among individually enclosed items. Since terminal blocks are readily available for a wide range of wire sizes and terminal quantity, they are one of the most flexible types of electrical connector available. Some disadvantages are that connecting wires is more difficult than simply plugging in a cable and the terminals are generally not very well protected from contact with persons or foreign conducting materials.
One type of terminal block accepts wires that are prepared only by removing (stripping) a short length of insulation from the end. Another type accepts wires that have ring or spade terminal lugs crimped onto the wires. Printed circuit board (PCB) mounted terminal blocks allow individual wires to be connected to the circuit board. PCB mounted terminal blocks are soldered to the board, but they are available in a pull-apart version that allows the wire-connecting half of the block to be unplugged from the part that is soldered to the PCB.
Crimp-on terminals
Most types of crimp-on terminals (or lugs) are attached to wires to allow the wires to be easily connected to screw terminals and fast-on or quick-disconnect terminals. There are also crimp-on terminals for connecting two wires together either permanently or with disconnect capability. Crimp-on terminals are attached by inserting the stripped end of a stranded wire into the tubular portion of the terminal. The tubular portion of the terminal is then compressed tightly around the wire or crimped by squeezing it with a special crimping pliers.
Plug and socket connectors
Plug and socket connectors are usually made up of a male plug and a female socket, although hermaphroditic connectors exist, such as the original IBM Token Ring LAN connector. Plugs generally have one or more pins or prongs that are inserted into openings in the mating socket. The connection between the mating metal parts must be sufficiently tight to make a good electrical connection and complete the circuit. When working with multi-pin connectors, it is helpful to have a pinout diagram to identify the wire or circuit node connected to each pin.
- RF connector
- Audio and video connector
- Computer connector
- Power connector
- RJ-XX connector
- 4mm plug
- D-subminiature
Image:IBMtrconnector.jpg Image:IBMtrconnector detail.jpg
Image:Transistor Module 01CJC.png
Component and device connectors
Electrical and electronic components and devices sometimes have plug and socket connectors or terminal blocks, but individual screw terminals and fast-on or quick-disconnect terminals are more common. Small components have bare lead wires for soldering. They are manufactured using casting
See also
- plug
- Domestic AC power plugs and sockets
- DIN plug
- jack (connector)
- Gender of connectors and fasteners
- Spin-on
- Wire nutda:Elektrisk stik
de:Klemme (Elektrotechnik) es:Conector eléctrico fr:Connectique nl:Connector ja:コネクタ pt:Conector