To choose an industrial connector, you need to do the following things: Choose plug and socket. determine the use environment, and the voltage and current, dimension limit, etc.
1. Consider the connector applications
Where do the connectors use, outdoor, indoor, high temperature, low-temperature, high humidity, salt spray environments? Different applications required different connectors.
Do you need the connection to be shielded? If so, select the connector with a metal shell, while the cable needs to have a shielding layer. you can also use the injection molding, the plug part covered with copper, and solder the cable shielding layer with copper.
2. Consider mechanical requirements
Some mechanical specifications, such as contact resistance, can affect electrical requirements. The connector will be mated and unmated during equipment working, the number of mating cycles and pull/push force should be specified.
3. Consider the electrical requirements
These include current and voltage, but additional requirements such as RFI, EMI, shielding, signal speed, separation of power and signals, and resistance. The number of contacts should also be considered, As the connector becomes smaller, the connector’s current capacity will be decreased. micro connectors can work at currents between 200mA and 500mA, which is half the current rating of board-to-board connectors. To solve the problems of low capacity, designers may increase the number of contacts.
4. Consider connector types in the early design process.
Engineers always focused on the design of the entire system and put industrial connectors at the end of the design. Then they may get stuck with their design finally and have to choose non-standard connectors, which not only increases the cost but also delay in delivery.
5. Consider the space limitation
There are space restrictions for connectors in products, especially for single board connectors, which cannot affect other components. Based on the space and the installation area, we should choose the appropriate mounting method (front or rear mount, screws, clips, rivets or quick locking of the connectors) and shape (straight, angled, T-type, circular, square)
6. Consider ease of replacement
Choose as common connector series as possible, which can reduce the types of materials, reduce costs, while reducing the risk of supply.