More about Electronic Connectors

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Electronic connectors cover a wide range of devices used to link wires, boards, chips and other types of electronic equipment to one another and to power sources. Common types of commercial electronic connectors include board connectors, terminal blocks, phone jacks, wire-to-wire connectors and audio and video adapters. Generally, electronic connectors are either male or female, or a combination of the two. A female connector accepts plugs, pins and other inputs from another device, while a male connector is equipped with its own inputs.

Terminal blocks, which are insulated bases that connect various electronic components, are regularly used in a wide variety of applications. These devices can be designed to accept clips, wires, or other connectors; inputs are attached through numerous different methods, including soldering, screwing, and clamping. Basic terminal blocks feature a plastic base, conductive metal plates and screw fittings. Also used are card edge connectors, which are attached to printed circuit boards and accept a variety of input cards, including high-speed and high-current cards, and network cards.

Materials used in the manufacture of electronic connectors include a wide range of conductive metals and current-resistant insulators. Non-conductive metals are also used extensively, as they provide locking and linking solutions for various fixtures. Insulators, sometimes called dielectrics, are materials that do not allow the flow of electricity; their effectiveness depends on the amount of voltage of the related source. Numerous synthetics are used as insulators, including Teflon (PTFE), Nomex, Formex and braided fiberglass. Other materials used as insulators are glass, porcelain and ceramic composites.

Electronic connectors find use in a multitude of industries, including telecommunications, military, aerospace and automotive. Fiber optic cables and connectors are also used extensively in telecommunications applications, and provide a number of advantages over alternative methods of data transmission. Manufacturers and suppliers offer a comprehensive range of standard and custom connectors for every industry.