Meet the Connector

What is a Power Cable?

Power cables are used in the transmission of electrical energy to, for example, run a motor, light a bulb, or charge a battery. In the power industry, power cables are categorized as high-tension (designed for higher voltages to carry bulk electrical power to substations), or low-tension cables (low voltage for final local distribution of electricityRead More

What Is a Photovoltaic (PV) Connector?

A photovoltaic (PV) connector is a single-pole, weatherproof, quick-connect DC electrical connector used to join solar modules into strings and link those strings to combiner boxes, inverters, and other balance-of-system equipment. PV connectors are built to survive decades of outdoor exposure at up to 1500 V DC with ruggedized, IP67/IP68 sealing. They are used onRead More

What is an FMLB Connector?

A first mate-last break (FMLB) connector is an electrical connector engineered so the ground contact connects before any other pins when mating and disconnects after all other pins when unmating. According to Mill-Max, this ensures that the ground path is established before any other power or signal connections are made, eliminating stray currents that canRead More

What is a Manual Service Disconnect (MSD) Connector?

A manual service disconnect (MSD) connector is a removable, touch-safe high-voltage connector used to manually break the electrical circuit of an electric or hybrid vehicle’s battery pack. It meets the performance requirements of SAE/USCAR-2 and its high-voltage supplement, USCAR-37. Technicians, first responders, and tow operators pull the MSD before servicing a 60–800V system so thatRead More

What is a Cable Tie?

A cable tie (also called zip tie, wire tie, or tie-wrap) is a simple engineered fastener commonly used in electronics. It consists of a strap with a row of teeth (a ratchet) on one face and a small housing at one end. When the tail is threaded through the housing, or head, and pulled snug,Read More

What is a MIL-DTL-28748 Connector?

MIL-DTL-28748 (formerly MIL-C-28748) is a U.S. military specification that defines rectangular, rack-and-panel electrical connectors with non-removable solder-type contacts or removable crimp-type contacts. It is commonly specified for airborne, ground-support, and shipboard equipment as a compact, high-contact-density, multi-source connector interface that is already proven for severe-environment military and aerospace use. Technical Standard MIL-DTL-28748 was first issuedRead More

What is a PBOF Interconnect?

Pressure-balanced oil-filled (PBOF) interconnects are specialized electrical and fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies designed to survive and operate reliably in extreme, high-pressure deep-sea or subsea environments. Flexible elastomeric tubing (the conduit for electric wires and fiber optic lines) filled with a compensating fluid, such as a non-conductive silicone oil (a dielectric and pressure compensator),Read More

What is an LGA Socket?

An LGA (land grid array) socket is a zero-insertion-force or low-insertion-force CPU interconnect in which the electrical contacts reside in the socket on the motherboard rather than on the processor package itself. LGA sockets are the dominant CPU interface in desktop, server, and workstation platforms. The socket format allows OEMs to design boards for multipleRead More

What is a Speed Sensor?

A speed sensor is an interconnect device that detects the rotational or linear velocity of a moving component and converts that motion into an electrical signal with a frequency or pulse rate that is proportional to speed. The two dominant speed sensor types are variable reluctance (VR) sensors, which generate a self-powered analog signal asRead More

What is a Ballast Connector?

A ballast connector is used to link a fluorescent or igh-intensity discharge (HID) lamp to its ballast — the device that regulates current and voltage to the bulb. In carrying the controlled electrical current from the ballast to the lamp, the ballast connector ensures stable power delivery. The increase in LED use is driving downRead More

What is an Adhesive Mount Antenna?

An adhesive mount antenna is a low-profile external antenna that is attached to a surface using a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, typically a foam tape. Available in single-band and multiband configurations covering cellular (2G through 5G), GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and combinations, adhesive mount antennas are commonly used for vehicle telematics, fleet tracking, IoT gateways, and assetRead More

What is a Connector Gasket?

In harsh environment conditions, connector gaskets provide protection against a variety of hazards that can put connections at risk. Connector gaskets are sealing components installed between connector mating or mounting surfaces to provide environmental protection, electromagnetic shielding, or both. They compensate for surface irregularities and maintain sealing integrity under mechanical stress, vibration, thermal cycling, andRead More

Analysis of the World’s Top 100 Electronic Connector Manufacturers
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