Designers can use derating to capture the advantages of lighter-weight wires without sacrificing performance. By Michael Traskos, EWIS Designated Engineering Representative (DER) and President, Lectromec   By derating wire harnesses, designers can expand their options to choose materials that can perform in a greater range of applications and environments. The temperature rating of a wireRead More

IDC can achieve a true cold-welded, gas-tight connection, which makes it ideal for high-endurance, high-reliability apps like transportation. Tom Anderson, Connector Product Manager, AVX   Electronic applications for vehicles continue to push the envelope. Consumer road vehicles and harsh-environment, off-road machines alike are continually evolving to integrate new, tech-driven safety features, as well as theRead More

The petroleum industry relies on rugged, high-temperature connectors to control down-hole drills. By Bob Stanton, Omnetics Connector Corp.   Electronic sensor and detector systems in the gas and oil industry have become more versatile and capable than ever before. However, their use in down-hole applications has been limited because temperatures in many new producing regionsRead More

Five AC conditions affect high-frequency connector contact and performance. By Roland S. Timsit, PhD, PE, Timron Advanced Connector Technologies   Many performance attributes of electrical connectors, such as low contact resistance, maximum current, operating temperature, and others, are often described in relation to DC conditions. Under AC conditions, and particularly at frequencies exceeding hundreds ofRead More

Cord grip add-ons offer increased protection and reliability in harsh industrial conditions By Mark Sweeney, President/COO, Remke Industries   Add-ons for standard cord grips allow designers to quickly and easily improve the performance of industrial electrical connectors in a broad range of applications. Add-ons can address application demands including environmental protection from problems such asRead More

Connector platings made from environmentally friendly materials are protecting today’s applications. By Achim Raad, Senior Product Manager, ITT Cannon   Throughout many industries and environments, interconnect components play an integral role in ensuring the safe, reliable flow of data, signal, and power. While aluminum is currently the market standard material used to manufacture metal shellRead More

Expanding the application of your connector products for global markets doesn’t have to be complex. This roadmap of UL certification considerations will help you simplify the process. By Son Do, Staff Engineer, and Chuck Kurten, Primary Designated Engineer, UL   At first glance, navigating the vast connector market can be intimidating. With hundreds of differentRead More

Connector technologies are evolving with the reliability requirements for harsh environment applications. By Adrian Green, Director of Engineering, Amphenol ICC   Harsh environment applications present many challenges for electronics systems designers. Reliable operation in industrial and specialized commercial operations subject the connector and the overall system to a range of extreme temperatures, shock, vibration, andRead More

Medical devices benefit from the dependability and resiliency provided by glass-sealed connectors as protection against autoclaving conditions. by Jochen Herzberg, SCHOTT Electronic Packaging In today’s era of rapid technological advancement, medical devices have become more complex and capable than ever thanks to the integration of advanced electronic components. Steam sterilization in the autoclave is aRead More

Safety-related features in automobiles are well-suited for press-fit systems By Sandra Gast, Product Manager at ept GmbH   Press-fit technology is an especially reliable partner for automotive applications, where temperature fluctuations, shock, vibrations, moisture, dust, and dirt play a major role. It can be used to create a simultaneous electrical and mechanical connection in justRead More

Automotive applications can benefit from a combination of IDC and press-fit contacts thanks to their contact geometries and high-performance base materials By Tom Anderson, Connector Product Manager, AVX   For more than a decade, insulation displacement contact (IDC) and press-fit or compliant pin technology have proven to be two of the most reliable contact systemsRead More

Next-generation military and aerospace applications require increasingly rugged connectors to handle ever-higher data rates with utmost reliability in even the harshest environments. New levels of connector ruggedization can take two forms: an entirely new connector or an upgrade to an existing connector.   Expanding a Strong Foundation: Ruggedizing Connectors for Next-Generation Mil/Aero Applications A TERead More