Few Major Types of Electrical Connectors You Need to Know

We observe or use various gadgets and electronic devices in our daily routine. No one can assume a day without using electronics, and this mechanic is sometimes interconnected with some electrical connectors. Electrical circuits need to connect to perform their duty. This electric connection is only possible if the electrical connectors are installed in the devices. However, sometimes the external connecting devices are used to create an electrical connection between two separate devices.

In short, all the small and significant pieces of electromechanical devices that connect the circuits and help the current to pass through are eminent parts of electronic devices. These connectors also have genders that help in their identification, such as

The male components like the plugs
The female components like the sockets

Both are connected and provide the path to the electric current. Therefore, these are also considering electric connectors. If you want to join two different connectors, you need the adapters, as these are created to facilitate the joining of two different connectors. However, these are few pieces of information in general about electronic connectors. For deep insights, you need to read more about the primary classification of the electronic connectors discussed in the provided detail.

Four elementary categories of the electrical connectors

Before heading toward the types of electronic connectors, it is evident for you to understand the elementary categories. All and one are well aware of the fact that numerous electrical connectors are produced for serving the purposes of the transmission of power, data, and other devices such as audio and visual applications. So, these connectors are divided into four main types.

PCB mounts connector

This is a form of laminated and sandwich structure of the insulated and conductive layers. A printable circuit board is designed to serve two core functions.

First function

One is the affixation of the electronic components at the outer layer of the board and their designated locations.

Second function

The second function of the PCB is to provide the electrical connection to the component terminals in a controlled manner.

These boards provide the points for the attachment of the wires and cable attachments. However, this is a sort of board-to-board connector, including the following.

Screw terminals
Header
Pins

It is also one of the primary connectors for electronic devices and circuits.

Butt connectors

Butt connectors also named the splice, are contact between two cables and wires. The insulation piercing contact is created by sharpening the blade and blades and then cold welding them. This connection would help the current travel within the wires or cables. This technology came into being after the research on wire wraps at that time; this method was only usable for low-voltage applications, including telecommunication, signal, and networking connections. Later, this technique of creating the electric connection is used in domestic and low voltage industrial applications.

Cable connectors

These are the inline connectors that were once permanently attached to the cables, which would be easily connected to other terminals. However, after attaching the inline connector to the cable, you can easily plug it in with other cables and stationery instruments. These connectors and families of connectors facilitate in creating the reliable and economical connection of electricity. These are also termed the wire-to-board connectors. These connectors are also available in many positions just like.

The right angle
Vertical
PMT

Most examples of these cable connectors are desktop computer extensions that connect the cables with the ports of the computers.

Panel connector

When the electric device allows a number of devices to connect via the panel that is permanently attached to the piece of the equipment, it is known as the panel and chassis connectors. The major examples of these panel connectors are the power button available on the desktop computer, the reset button, and other buttons of the LEDs. The electric connection starts when you turn on the button, and it is distracted when you turn it off. Therefore it is one of the forms of the electric connector.

Use of various connectors at various connector levels

NEDA is an authority under which various companies define the levels at which the electric connectors are going to fit in the electric devices. However, the connectors are from the above discussed four types but attached at different levels, which is why these are again classified into five levels.

Wire-to-board level

Wire to board level connecting devices is attached to the PCB that connects the wire with its board. It would help to maintain the electric connection between the circuits.

Box-to-box level

At this level, the cable or wire connectors are used to join the two boxes electrically. These wires provide the passage for electric current to flow from one box to another box.

Chip to package level

It is a complete wiring system that helps to connect the different components and the transistors on the cohesive circuit. This connecting wire system is also found on the computer chips.

Package to board level

When you need to connect the multiple wires of the motherboard of a computer with the chip, the package to board level connectors are used that are all inclusive of the ports and cables

Pc board to board level

At this level, the connectors are attached to the printed board circuit, allowing the wires and cables to connect.

Few final thoughts

Above are a few main electrical connectors used at various connection levels in the electrical devices and these would facilitate the safe and sound electronic connection to the circuits inside the devices. However, you would also get an idea about some external electronic connecting devices that help to build the electric connections of two and more devices.