7 Tips for Choosing a Connector
7 Tips for Choosing a Connector
With millions of connectors to choose from—circular, header and PCB receptacles, power connectors, RF and more—finding the right one can be difficult. Here are seven keys to help you zero in on the right connector for your application.
1) Electrical Requirements
A great place to start narrowing options is with the electrical requirements. How many signals do you have in total? What voltages, frequencies and currents are they carrying? This is a multi-dimensional list. Your signals could be digital, analog, power, or even a combination of all three. Also note that digital and analog signals may be either low frequency or high frequency.
The precise combination of signals will usually affect the pinout, connector type and wiring harness. Here are some examples:
• High frequency signals may couple into adjacent wires in a harness, or they may need coaxial connection
• Low-level analog signals could require shielding
• High voltage pins may have clearance and creepage distances to take into account, or they might mandate the use of high dielectric strength materials
• High current paths may call for larger wires or multiple pins
Be aware that some combinations of signals may not be suitable for inclusion in the same connector. Are you dealing with only electrical signals, or are there some fiber-optic connections to be added? Some applications such as surgical equipment also require liquid or gas lines. If this is the case and if your design requires everything to be on the same connector, you'll probably have to go with a custom solution.
2) Size or Space Constraints
As you know, the past few decades have shown a continuing trend towards size reductions in just about all categories of electronic equipment. Computers have gone from under-desk towers to laptops to tablets to single board computers and wearables. Many items that used to be permanently situated in a room – X-ray machines, for example – are now on wheels. This has led to a corresponding reduction in the size and weight of connectors and the space available for them, while their need to be able to withstand an increased frequency of mating and unmating has increased.
If this situation applies to your current project and you are looking for some connector options, we have over 1,000 subminiature connectors of all types to help match your design needs.
3) Will the connector be operating in an extreme environment?
Many connector systems are subject to extreme mechanical conditions such as shock or vibration. A connector designed for such conditions often incorporates special features such as a threaded coupling that cannot vibrate loose or a strain relief (like a backshell) to support the wiring harness. You will typically find ratings for shock and vibration resistance in the specifications as well as highlighted at the top of the datasheet if the product has been specially designed to withstand extreme conditions.
Another common environmental concern is extreme temperature. Will your connector be located outdoors or indoors but near a frequently opening external door? Is there a heat source near where you are mounting the connector? Special materials and insulators are used to protect the connector and contacts, ensuring it can be reliably and repeatedly mated and unmated. Pay attention to the recommended operating temperature range in the data sheet.
4) Is sealing needed to protect against water, oil or gas?
Certain environments demand protection against intrusion from liquids or dust of varying degrees. Environmental sealing options start with a simple protective boot and boot adapter, useful against occasional splashes. The next level of protection involves sealing the connectors themselves. If your application requires environmental sealing, the IP code system rates connectors by the degree of protection provided against dust and water intrusion. Once you know the level of protection required, you can check the IP rating number in the specifications to determine if you have a viable solution.
There are many industries that require more than just protection against occasional accidental liquid exposure. Medical and food applications must withstand common sterilization procedures that involve high temperature and high pressure water, while under-hood automotive applications must be proofed against steam cleaning or road hazards such as water, solvents or salt spray. The most stringent environments (space, underwater or aerospace) may call for hermetic sealing, which tests a connector based on leakage of gas through the system.
You should also find out whether your environment requires electronic components that are rated for a Class 1, Division 2 hazardous location that poses a risk of flammable or combustible gases, liquids, vapors or debris. Electrical equipment installed in such a location should be designed and tested to ensure it won’t initiate an explosion. Products certified for this type of hazardous location have a mention in their specifications for a Class 1, Division 2 intrinsically safe rating.
5) Industry Standards
Many industries impose their own standards that OEMs must meet. Even if these standards don’t cover connectors specifically, they apply to the equipment that the connector system is part of. The FDA sets standards for medical equipment, while automotive applications adhere to SAE standards, especially for high-voltage use in electric and hybrid vehicles. And let’s not forget the multiple sets of MIL standards pertaining to defense-related equipment. These standards often cover not only performance and reliability, but also stringent qualification and manufacturing standards. Check to confirm the necessary standards you must follow within your industry.
6) Reliability
Another critical item to consider is the projected standard use case. How often will the connector be mated and unmated? Scenarios range from one-time use to 10,000 or more cycles.
Sometimes both will coexist in the same system – a patient sensor wiring harness may come pre-assembled from the manufacturer with a connector intended for one-time use, whereas its mating receptacle on the diagnostic equipment may be rated for thousands of cycles. In an automotive application on the other hand, the connectors may stay mated together for the life of the vehicle.
Some connectors list a specification for MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) or MTTF (Mean Time To Failure) with calculated estimates for the life of the product under “standard” use. This can serve as a guide for whether the connector is right for your application. If the connector’s cable will be located on a door or perhaps on a robotic arm that requires daily bending of the cable, it is recommended that you check the maximum bend radius spec of the cable and whether or not it works with a “high flex” cable option.
Connector reliability is a complex subject – it depends on multiple factors, and precise figures are usually difficult to determine.
7) What kinds of terminations are required?
Terminations are used to join the connector pin or socket to its associated conductor – whether it’s a wire, PCB trace or something else. There are several different terminal types available, including crimped connections, soldered connections, press-fit (in a ribbon connector, for example) or even wire-wrap. Each one naturally comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, crimped connections are easier to repair in the field. Termination selection typically depends on your design and application as a whole.
Each connector application is unique, with its own set of design constraints, cost targets, and combination of signals. Use these seven tips to narrow down the options and find the best connector type for your application. If in doubt, please contact the experts at Ingke Technology. We’ll help you connect the dots.