Meet the Connector: Coaxial  Connectors (Note: This article focuses on cable-to-cable and cable-to-panel applications.)  A coaxial connector has an inner conductor that is enveloped by a concentric conducting sleeve, with the conductor and shield separated by an insulating material;  hence the term “coax” or “coaxial” connector. (Not all RF [radio frequency] connectors are coax, butRead More

Meet the Connector: RAST Connectors RAST connectors are an international standard originally developed for the home appliances market. The initial design featured a crimp-style contact, but today most iterations employ insulation displacement contact (IDC) technology, which simplifies the installation process, eliminates mis-mating errors, and improves connection quality by eliminating the need to cut, strip, andRead More

Meet the Connector: MIL-PRF-28876 connectors MIL-PRF-28876 connectors, also known as M28876s, are military standard fiber optic circular connectors used in rugged naval applications where reliability, sealing, durability, and a secure latch are essential to performance in harsh environment conditions. They are widely used by the U.S. Navy and Allied forces for shipboard technologies. The MIL-PRF-28876Read More

Meet the Connector. Inline Splice Connectors  Inline splice connectors are used to connect two physical cables or to split an existing cable into two separate entities while maintaining signal continuity between them. Inline splices are designed to provide a quick and efficient solution to customer wiring requirements.  Single and dual wire splices meet MIL-T-81714 requirementsRead More

Meet the Connector: Pogo Pins (Spring-loaded pins) Pogo pins, also called spring-loaded pins, are electrical connector mechanisms known for their durability and their ability to provide and maintain an electrical connection that is resilient to mechanical shock and vibration. They are widely used in a variety of electronic applications and in the test industry. The pogoRead More

Meet the Connector: 3-Pin Connectors While many connectors feature a configuration with three pins, the term 3-pin connector is often used to refer to a simple white nylon pin receptacle with three tin contacts that is typically used in small, low-power computing products, most notably computer fans. The connector and its contacts can be purchasedRead More

Meet the Connector: Configurable Connector Systems Configurable connector systems, also called build-your-own, semi-custom, or modular connectors (not to be confused with modular RJ45s), are available from many suppliers as an alternative to costly fully custom connector products. In cases in which an existing connector is close, but not quite right for a particular application, theseRead More

Meet the Connector: SMP Connectors Subminiature push-on (SMP) connectors are highly shielded, very small interconnects commonly used in miniaturized high frequency coaxial modules and high data rate applications such as antennas, broadband installations, Test & Measurement, and quantum computing. The product was developed by Gilbert (now Corning Gilbert) in the late 1980s and marketed asRead More

Meet the Connector: EV Charging Connectors As the name implies, EV charging connectors are used to charge electric vehicles. Several types of EV charging connectors currently exist, each with specific characteristics. EV charging connectors (or charging plugs) are available for AC or DC. AC Charging Plugs are either Type 1 or Type 2. Type 1Read More

Meet the Connector: Interposers Interposers, or interposer connectors, are compression-mounted interconnect devices that are positioned between boards or sockets to allow an electrical signal to pass through very quickly. They have a wider pitch than a traditional connector, thus enabling the easy rerouting of connections, and provide designers with a flexible, removeable interface. The wideRead More

Meet the Connector: IEC Connectors IEC connectors or plugs are a broad category of power connectors for various uses that follow the International Electrotechnical Commission standards. IEC connectors are not a specific type of connector. Instead, they are a broad category of different types of electronic and electrical power connectors that meet the International Electrotechnical CommissionRead More

Meet the Connector: MPO Fiber Optic Connectors MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On) connectors evolved from mechanical transfer (MT) technology developed by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph Corp. (NTT) in 1986. NTT developed the first MPO connector as a compact, physical contact (PC) solution that offered a simple push/pull operation for connecting and disconnecting a plug and adapter. PriorRead More