Bulgin – an Elektron Technology connectivity brand The Big Picture: “Bulgin is one of the industry’s longest running success stories, designing and manufacturing internationally recognized environmentally sealed connectors, fuseholders, and switches.” About the Company Bulgin – an Elektron Technology connectivity brand, is one of the electronics industry’s most established companies, with a proud heritage of productRead More

September 6, 2012 – FCI has developed a power distribution connector for medical equipment, such as automated medication dispensers.

August 2012—FCI’s new PwrBlade+ Series connectors combine high linear current density and low power loss with ruggedness and durability to deliver an ideal connector solution for truck and trailer-based communications equipment. 

Power Distribution II Signal Contacts in Parallel This is the final article in our series about the distribution of current in power applications. In the previous article in this series, the topic was distribution of current using dedicated high current, several tens of amperes, contacts.  This article will address the use of multiple signal—low current,Read More

Power Contacts and Connectors Part 1: Power Distribution Today, there are three different approaches to power distribution in connectors, particularly, on current distribution. They include individual high-current contacts, multiple low-current contacts in parallel, and hybrids, which use both approaches in the same housing. Each approach has its advantages and limitations. Let’s begin with high-current contacts,Read More

Power Contacts/Connectors Part III: Current Rating 2 This week, let’s examine the current rating test program, which includes the measurements to be made and the conditioning and exposures to be applied in connector testing. Figure 1 includes an example program. A program of this general nature is under consideration in ECA CE-2.0 National Connector andRead More

Power Contacts/Connectors Part III: Current Rating 1 A number of issues need resolution in order to perform a current rating test program. Both practical and philosophical issues should be taken into consideration as you embark on this process. We first discuss the practical issues. The relevant document for this discussion is EIA 364 D: TP-70B,Read More

Power Contacts/Connectors Part II: Current Concerns Before we begin discussing current rating, let’s define the types of current a contact or connector may carry. There are four different current types: Transient, overload, steady state, and intermittent, also called duty cycle, currents. Figure 1 illustrates the first three current types in an induction motor application. RegionRead More

Power Contacts and Connectors Part I: What is Power? Understanding power is critical to the design of power contacts and connectors. By presenting a six-part series exploring these specialty contacts, I hope to empower you to make the best design decisions the next time you embark on a project. We’ll begin by defining what isRead More