In automated warehouse applications and vehicles, new battery technologies and frequent charging pose unique challenges in the design and specification of the electric powertrain. By Daniel Walldorf, Strategy and Business Development Manager at TE Connectivity As a labor-intensive field, warehouses are dependent upon a workforce to perform tasks ranging from picking line items to managingRead More

The pandemic, geopolitical turmoil, factory slowdowns, and other disruptive factors have impacted the cost of the materials used to make connectors. A conversation with Ron Bishop explains this complicated era. By Connector Supplier and Samtec Inc. Material costs have fluctuated wildly in the past three to four years as COVID-19’s disruptions, tariffs, wars, natural disasters,Read More

Meet the Connector: N-Type Connectors The N-Type connector, or simply N connector, is an RF connector used to join coaxial cables. It was invented by Paul Neill of Bell Labs in the 1940s and was subsequently named for him. This medium-size, threaded, waterproof connector was one of the first that could carry microwave-frequency signals.    TheRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights battery connectors from leading suppliers. Battery Connectors Globetech’s Butt Contact high-current probe energizes electronic devices simply by pressing the coil spring to have contact with the inspection module in the manufacturing of automobile parts, power semi-conductor modules, and other electronic devices. The canted coil spring electrical contact ensures stable energizationRead More

New connector technologies help make rail crossings safer, easier to maintain, and more resistant to weather and other environmental challenges. From Boston to Los Angeles and all around the world, drivers experience the frustration of waiting at a railroad crossing for a train to pass. While watching the passing rail cars, many of us lookRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors for commercial vehicles from leading suppliers. Connectors Designed for Commercial Vehicles Lumberg’s Series 72 press-fit connectors are a robust, highly configurable, and space-saving interconnect solution for trucks and commercial vehicles. These modes often move through rough surroundings and have diesel engines that create vibrations, even when idling, so aRead More

To reduce heat and improve speeds, twinax cable assemblies are replacing PCBs in next-generation datacom equipment. The links inside a switch that connect the quad small form factor pluggables (QSFPs) at the faceplate to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) at the heart of the box have become signal superhighways. The capacity and the number of  I/ORead More

The new Class 4 UL classification standard was published in August 2022 in Article 726 of the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), specifically for Class 4 cables intended for use with fault-managed power systems. These requirements cover 60-250 °C (140-482 °F), single- and multiple-conductor, jacketed cables for use as fixed wiring within buildings. Class 4 Power, alsoRead More

Meet the Connector: LC Connectors LC connectors are small form factor fiber optic connectors designed for making fast connections in high-density applications. They are a miniaturized version of the earlier SC fiber connector (50% smaller) and feature a square plastic housing with a 1.25 mm ceramic ferrule. Like the SC, LCs utilize a push-pull design,Read More

The unique connectivity requirements of the aerospace market continue to motivate ongoing innovation. Minimal size and weight, resistance to shock and vibration, high data rate speeds, and high reliability are critical attributes for even the smallest components in aircraft. The MIL-DTL-38999 series of connectors has been around since the 1960s. Its smaller contacts and higherRead More

Hermetic connectors protect critical electronic systems from harsh environments. Designing in these specialized components requires strategic planning to reduce costs, mitigate risks, increase performance, and maximize longevity. Look up. Millions of hermetic connectors are in the skies above us, creating essential links between cables and electronic circuits in aerospace and defense systems. Found in satellites,Read More

New ruggedized connector solutions reach for the stars with materials and designs that deliver high reliability, flexibility, cost-savings, and meet the strict qualifications for top performance in space. From high vibration and shock during launch, to extreme temperatures, radiation, and electrostatic discharge (ESD), equipment leaving Earth’s atmosphere must endure exceptional rigors, making ultra-high reliability theRead More