Meet the Connector: DIN Rail Terminal Blocks DIN rail refers to a mounting system in the form of globally standardized long metal strips used to attach electrical and industrial control products in equipment cabinet racks. The DIN Rail itself is a mechanical component support with no connective or conductive capability. DIN stands for Deutsche InstitutRead More

Meet the Connector: Spring Probes (Contact Probes) Spring probes, also called contact probes or spring-loaded probes, are an essential component in the testing of electronic components. In Test & Measurement applications, they are used to make contact with test points, connecting the DUT (device under test) with the test equipment. Spring probes are also usedRead More

Meet the Connector: Backplane Connectors Backplane connectors, or simply backplanes, are a type of board-to-board connector. The name backplane comes from their early use in mainframe computers because they were located against the back of the computer case. Today backplane connectors are generally used in top-of-rack switch applications or hybrid hard drive (HHD) clusters. ExpansionRead More

Meet the Connector: Hyperboloid Contact Technology The hyperboloid contact was invented in 1956 by Francois Robert Bonhomme for railway applications. Connections for lighting and ventilation in train cars were not secure due to the high amount of shock and vibration, which caused frequent interruptions. In the 1960s, as the technology advanced and was patented, companiesRead More

Meet the Connector: ECU Connectors ECU Connectors, also called PCM connectors, are used to connect different types of controllers, particularly in vehicle applications. An electronic control unit (ECU) or electronic control module (ECM) is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a car or other vehicle. OneRead More

Meet the Connector: Bulkhead Mount Connectors The term bulkhead mount refers to the mounting style of the connector. In this case, it is the method used to attach a connector to a product casing, enclosure, or panel from the front or rear side. Normally, it involves a threaded body or a push-pull device. The connectorRead More

Meet the Connector: Micro-D Connectors The tiny but mighty micro-D connector is half the size of a standard D-sub yet delivers rugged and reliable performance in commercial and military applications. Micro-D (and nano-D) connectors were derived from D-sub (D-subminiature) connectors in the 1970s. Their compact design led to their early popularity for use in computers.Read More

Meet the Connector: SCSI Connectors The Small Computer Systems Interface, or SCSI connector, (pronounced “scuzzy”) is a veteran of the small computing world. In the 1980s, this fast I/O connector served as a bus to link computers with components or peripherals such as disk drives. SCSI connectors typically feature two rows of pins in aRead More

Meet the Connector: Bayonet Connector Versatile and secure bayonet connectors are useful for a wide range of markets and applications. Bayonet connectors are a circular connector that delivers a secure and easy to operate connection by turning the locking ring until it latches into the mechanism. This standardized locking type allows for faster and moreRead More

Meet the Connector: MIL-C-5015/SAE-AS50151 Connectors With nearly a century of service in harsh environment equipment, this connector family has proven performance in military, automotive, transportation, and other rugged applications. MIL-C-5015 connectors, now formally known as SAE-AS50151, are heavy-duty, medium-density circular electrical connectors with soldered or crimped contacts. This military standard product family is used forRead More

Meet the Connector: Pin Header A pin header, or header, is a male connector with one or two rows of metal pins attached to a plastic base. Pin headers with more than two rows are available from some manufacturers. The pins are spaced in uniform intervals (commonly 2.54 mm or 0.1 inch apart) but manyRead More

Meet the Connector: PCIe Connectors Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle), also called PCI Express, is a high-performance and high-bandwidth serial communication I/O interconnect bus standard. Interconnects that meet the PCIe standard include mezzanine and board-to-board connectors, over-the-board solutions, high-speed edge card sockets that support 1, 4, 8, and 16 PCIe links, and PCIe optical cableRead More