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Connectors and their secrets.

Summary

Nearly all electrical and electronic equipment contains connectors. Some of these are very small or have latches or clamps to keep them connected. You can save frustration and possibly causing damage by being prepared for whatever you might meet.

Safety

Equipment should be powered off before connectors are disengaged or re-engaged since all the connections in a multi-way connector may not be made or broken at precisely the same time. This could potentially cause damaging voltages or currents in the device.

Introduction

Connectors allow a device or appliance to be built out of various parts, modules or sub-assemblies which can be easily put together on an assembly line, but also allowing them to be taken apart for repair. A connector must provide a good electrical contact rated for the voltages and currents involved, must resist coming undone if subject to vibration or stress, and must fit within the physical size constraints of the device it serves. There are many different types of connectors which meet these demands in different ways.

Full size connectors

The connectors in household and kitchen appliances and power tools rarely cause problems except that they may be very stiff to undo. Occasionally they may have latches, which might not be immediately obvious, to prevent them accidentally coming adrift. (This is very common in vehicle electrics, which is likely to be subject to vibration.)

Crimp terminals

Photos needed: selection of spade, ring, fork, bullet connectors plus crimping tool

There are several types of crimp terminals which are colour coded according to the diameter of wire they are intended for

Spade terminals are very commonly found in domestic appliances, and simply consist of a flat piece of metal like a garden spade (though obviously much smaller). It may be attached to or part of a switch, an electric motor, or some other component, and a receptacle slides onto it to make a connection. After a number of years these can become very stiff to remove.

Fork and ring terminals are used for terminating a wire which is to be connected under a screw.

Male and female bullet terminals allow an in-line connection between two wires

Latched connectors

Photos needed: latched connectors: flat latch, lever type

Ribbon connectors

Photos needed: each type of ribbon connector

• Lift clamp
• Withdraw clamp
• Pressure clamp
• Snap-on (inc batt)

Miniature connectors

Photos needed: each type

• mini/micro JST etc
• Micro co-ax

Elastomeric connectors

Photo needed

External links

• External links (if any) as bullet points.
• If non, delete this section.