Thomas Peel of Contech Research shares one of his father’s favorite topics – normal force – and explains in Max Peel’s own words why meeting withdrawal force requirements is only a crude indicator of a connector’s normal force. As I sit here at my desk, some five months after the passing of my father, Max Peel, IRead More

In RF and microwave applications, blind-mate connections can be challenging because to maintain a constant and uniform signal between circuit boards or modules, you need specially designed blind-mate connectors. Pasternack’s Steve Ellis explains how to specify coaxial blind-mate connectors. A blind-mate connector is used when access to the connection point is not possible, typically caused byRead More

To honor his former colleague Max Peel, who passed away in April, Dr. Bob discusses gold flash contact finishes and the warning that is Peel’s Law. This article will eventually be about gold flash contact finishes, but it begins with a few words about my colleague Max Peel. Max passed away on April 16 ofRead More

In the latest installment of the “Connector Basics” series from APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants, Bill Garver takes a detailed look at the creative phase of new connector development. This article is part of the “Connector Basics” series from APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants. In a previous article, we suggested that to ensure a successful product development andRead More

In an excerpt from a recent white paper, the folks at Switchcraft offer helpful tips for choosing between overmolded and field-assembled cables for your next design. Cable assemblies are the core components for your most critical connections. In many instances, you’ll have the option of choosing between field-assembled cables or overmolded cables. For some designsRead More

To ensure a successful product launch, manufacturers need to optimize the talents of their employees to be sure critical needs are addressed. We continue the “Connector Basics” series with a look at the necessary skills for successful new connector development. This article was contributed by APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants. Successful new product development and releases toRead More

Connector designers understand that many variables impact contact area and how adequately the contacts do their job. This next article in the “Connector Basics” series explains why even minor increases in contact resistance matter. When a contact is mated, only a relatively small area is actually touching. All of the current must flow through this smallRead More

As data rates increase, the bandwidth of signals increases and its rise time decreases. ALL signal integrity problems get worse with higher signal bandwidth and shorter rise time. Here, Dr. Eric Bogatin examines the connector challenges for high-speed serial link applications. Thanks in part to Netflix and YouTube, which together comprise as much as 50% ofRead More

Cable manufacturer Northwire deploys anti-counterfeit technology to protect customers against the flourishing counterfeit wire industry. Here are its tips on challenges and solutions for designing failsafes into your products. The next generation of anti-counterfeit verification tools safeguards consumers against hazards that can range from injury to revenue loss. The sophisticated multi-billion-dollar global “gray market” demands cooperative efforts betweenRead More

The “Connector Basics” series from APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants continues with an introductory look at typical connector failure modes and mechanisms. When we discuss connector failure, we need to refine the concept into two distinct components – failure modes and failure mechanisms. How do we define “failure”? Webster’s New World Dictionary lists a variety of terms, but for ourRead More

LED connectors are not the “sexiest” of design components in a lighting fixture, but they can have a major impact on thermal path design, efficiency of production, and LED fixture certification time. Avnet’s Mark Mousseau shares design tips for better LED connector selection. Design decisions in the eco-system of an LED fixture are numerous and haveRead More

Connectors are frequently selected based on purchase price without fully considering the costs linked with using them. What do connectors really cost? This article is contributed by APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants. For more of its “Connector Basics” series, click here. Have you ever purchased the lowest-priced item, only to find out that the cost toRead More