Electrical noise can seriously disrupt the proper operation of equipment. Insulation protects a cable mechanically from scrapes, abrasion, moisture, and spills, but offers no protection against EMI. Here, AlphaWire offers a primer on choosing the best shielded cable for the job at hand.   Industrial applications are typically electrically noisy environments. Electrical noise, either radiated orRead More

Ideal for small, rugged applications such as non-industrial robotics, here are some tips for how to specify nano-D connectors.   Nano-D connectors are often designed for use in small, rugged robotic applications beyond industrial environments. Within these applications, the emphasis on a smaller and lighter form factor intensifies. A key consideration is whether you can useRead More

The rapid growth of cloud computing requires data centers to scale up, but traditional copper presents limitations in distance, bandwidth, and efficiency.   The business of today’s data-driven world is being conducted in the Cloud. The rapid growth of cloud computing requires data centers to dramatically scale up in order to handle the oceans ofRead More

Restrictive connector terminal solutions can be an issue when specifying aluminum wires for automotive applications.   In light of time-to-market issues in the automotive industry, aluminum is the best option for reducing the weight of the electrical distribution system and harnesses. Aluminum has been used in battery and power applications in premium cars for some time.Read More

Choosing the right material combinations for a specific application can mean the difference between success and failure. Richard Orstad of Fralock presents a primer on how to specify electrical insulating material.   There are hundreds of decisions required when designing mission-critical electromechanical components. In each of these decisions, choosing the right material combinations for a specificRead More

The material used in a connector design significantly impacts its overall performance. Bob Stanton of Omnetics takes a look at how insulator materials affect connectors at work.   The choice of the material of which a connector is made can greatly affect reliability and performance, and often depends on the environment and application in which the connector isRead More

New silver alloys address the issues of durability and conductivity through a fundamental difference in crystalline structure. Dr. Bob takes a closer look at nanocrystalline silver contact platings.   Two papers* were published last year that introduced nanocrystalline silver alloy contact platings – one a silver-palladium alloy and the other silver-tungsten. Both papers cite theRead More

TE INSTALITE Molded Heat-Shrink Boots reduce weight by up to 30%. TE Connectivity (TE) announced new INSTALITE Molded Boots that are up to 30% lighter than TE standard -25 boots. These high-performance molded heat-shrink boots have been designed for applications in military ground systems, aerospace, and marine. Their optimized interior geometry reduces installation time asRead More

Keyssa introduces contactless Kiss Connectivity, a tiny, solid-state system that simplifies secure, instant data flow between devices. Keyssa introduced Kiss Connectivity, a new way to transmit huge amounts of data and video rapidly between devices in close proximity, with virtually no battery drain. Keyssa’s coffee-bean-sized connector combines breakthroughs in mechanical design, electromagnetics, materials science, andRead More

Lightweight aluminum wiring can replace heavier copper wires in the wiring harness, but aluminum is a demanding material. TE suggests considerations that could help make aluminum the wiring material of the future. Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity. In the car industry, this lightweight material is in the process of replacing copper in power cables. ThereRead More

The development of modular medical devices, such as pluggable or wearable drug dispensing and patient monitoring equipment, poses several engineering challenges. AVX’s Tom Anderson offers tips on how to specify medical connectors. The development of modular medical devices, such as pluggable or wearable drug dispensing and patient monitoring equipment, poses several engineering challenges. Although electronicRead More

The new Kerite high-voltage shielded power cable provides unparalleled reliability and performance with more than 40 years of failure-free service. Kerite, a manufacturer of high-quality insulated utility underground power cable, announced a full line of high-voltage (HV) power cable, available in voltages ranging from 46kV thru 138kV. Whether directly buried or in conduits, Kerite’s HVRead More