Automotive composite wire (ACW) is a dual-wall, single-core wire used in vehicle wire harnesses for engine compartments and other high-temperature zones. Its insulation combines a radiation cross-linked polyolefin inner layer with a radiation cross-linked fluoropolymer outer layer. The two layers are chemically bonded rather than co-extruded in a thin-wall package. It is a cost-effective alternativeRead More

By: Rob Iversrud, Senior Product and Category Manager, Waytek As vehicle electrification, automation, and connectivity advance, the demand for more rugged, high-performance connectors in harsh vehicle environments grows. Today’s connectors must handle higher power loads, extreme environmental conditions, and increased data transmission requirements while remaining cost-effective and easy to install. Key emerging trends are shapingRead More

Meet the Connector: Spade Connector A spade connector, also called an insulated spade terminal, is used to quickly and easily connect or disconnect a wire to a screw, lug, or battery. These simple devices provide tensile strength, thermal conductivity, and resistance to shock and corrosion. They are available with insulated housings, often color-coded, or asRead More

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. October 2025 Connector Industry News October 2025 Connector Industry News > Award News Mouser Electronics announced the 2025 recipients of the Mouser Best-in-Class Awards. Winners are selected using six main criteria: strategicallyRead More

Meet the Connector: Bullet Connectors Bullet connectors are widely used for simple, impermanent electrical connections in automotive and transportation applications as well as HVAC, entertainment systems, and lighting. Bullet connectors are a simple wire connector named for its compact, circular form factor. They are commonly specified for impermanent electrical connections in automotive and transportation applicationsRead More

Meet the Connector: Terminals A terminal is the conductive element that provides an electrical contact point that enables electricity to flow through an electrical circuit. At its most basic level, a terminal is simply a conductive bare wire that is secured through crimping or soldering, often to a terminal block. However, the word terminal isRead More

Meet the Connector: Gas Sensors Gas sensors are a category of electronic devices that detect and measure the presence of various gases. Also known as air or air quality sensors, these electronic devices are essential parts of safety systems, industrial operations, and pollution controls, and they identify substances that may pose a threat to humansRead More

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. May 2025 Connector Industry News May 2025 Connector Industry News > Event News ECIA’s 2025 Executive Conference Committee announced this year’s conference theme will be Amped Up – The Power of Tomorrow.Read More

Download your copy today! Learn about design strategies and interconnect products in this expert-informed collection of articles from connector suppliers here. Our first eBook of 2025, Braving the Elements-Connectors Take on Harsh Environments, dives into the many challenges of connectivity in rugged conditions. Today we depend on electronics in just about every environment for useRead More

Meet the Connector: Automotive Terminals Automotive terminals are used for connecting fuses, battery terminals, and vehicle sensors. They are found in cars, trucks, motorcycles, motorhomes, off-road and construction vehicles, and electric vehicles. Today’s automobiles contain about a mile of wire and thousands of electrical connections. These connections power and control the vehicle and its accessories,Read More

Meet the Connector: HSL/High-Speed Link Connectors HSL/High-speed link connectors are used to facilitate high-speed data communication between different components within electronic systems, such as computers, servers, telecommunications equipment, and other digital devices. The term HSL refers to a broad category of high-speed, high-performance interconnects that are capable of supporting data rates that can reach multipleRead More

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. May 2024 Connector Industry News May 2024 Connector Industry News > Event News DigiKey has teamed up with NXP Semiconductors to launch the MCX MCU Design Contest at embedded world. Using NXP’s new FRDM development boards,Read More