Page 5 - Connector and Cable Specifier Guide

How to Specify Connectors for Downhole
Molex’s HS Auto Link product line
Today’s cars include sophisticated networks that control safety, entertainment, and communication in addition to vehicle performance, and all these systems need to talk to each other.
Today’s vehicles increasingly employ sophisticated
networks to control a number of vehicle functions, ranging from engine control to infotainment to vehicle safety systems. These networks
are implemented with a maze of wiring, sensors, and connectors at crucial points. Designers should consider a number of factors in selecting the connectors used in these networks.
Location
For one, designers need to consider what part of the vehicle the connector will be located in as well as the function, whether it be a single wire-to-wire crimp connection or a multi-pin connector. The connector required may be a specific plug or receptacle end of a multi-pin connector system intended to mate with a connector on another component such as a GPS, on-board computers, or aftermarket battery management devices.
Performance Specifications
Physical and electrical specifications, such as the number of contacts and voltage and current ratings, all play into the decision. Keep in mind that connector choices are broader than ever, as connector makers have responded to market demands with products suited for today’s vehicle networks. Designers should give careful consideration to these products as they often solve multiple issues including size, weight, and performance.
For instance, HDMI connectors are increasingly used in automobiles for high-speed data transmission, particularly as smartphone connections increase in vehicles.