Standards for Choosing an Industrial Connector

Do you ever ponder why connectors are required when a twist screw or two tie wires can be joined instead? Why are there so many various styles and specs available for industrial connectors?

Connectors are used to eliminate potential risks, save time, and reduce power loss in addition to connecting wires. Connectors are help connect, but they're also crucial for disconnecting.

How do we choose the right industrial connector for the application and how do we know which connector we need? Learn more in this article about the criteria for selecting an industrial connector.

How Do We Make These Choices? 

Each connector has distinct qualities and features, and selecting the right one ensures efficient power or signal transmission.

There are a few factors to take into account while choosing an industrial connector.

1. The wire gauge

Each connector package is made to fit a certain wire gauge. To avoid increasing electrical resistance at the connection site, always use a connector that precisely matches your wire gauge.

Typically, the cable has the wire gauge written on it. AWG (American Wire Gauge) is more often used globally, but certain regions also use different standards.

Ensure that you use the correct gauge wire for your connector based on the current it will be carrying.

2. the outer diameter of the cable

Take notice of the cable's outer diameter, much like the wire gauge. It is crucial to select a housing (connector) with a large enough inner diameter so that the cable may fit in properly. Cable sizes vary depending on specification.

Selecting a connector with a smaller inner diameter can harm the cable, reduce its ability to carry current, and make fitting more challenging.

Similar to this, selecting a connector with a bigger inner diameter may result in loose connections and increase the risk of arcing or sparks.

3. the number of contacts

Ensure that the connection and cable both have the same number of contacts. The majority of standards bodies, including UL, NEC, and NFPA, forbid ganging numerous wires into a single termination or crimp connection.

In your power connection calculations, you might also need to take ground into account. If it is a signal, you must pay attention to the frequency and the location of the power contacts or cables.

4. the voltage and current rating

Each cable and connector is designed for a specific range of voltage and current. Select a connection for your cable that is rated for the same voltage and current range.

The carrying capacity for current and voltage can always be overestimated but never underestimated. The flow of current and a potential difference is affected by the material, size, and even contact area of connectors, so selecting the wrong connector might cause malfunctions.

5. Flexibility and rigidity

Some applications are very prone to bending and vibrations. To accommodate motions and prevent deterioration, it is crucial to select a flexible connector. To protect wires against bends, special connections with wire mesh or strain reliefs are utilized.

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The aforementioned characteristics are, by far, the most crucial ones to take into account when choosing industrial connectors, but, for increased effectiveness, it is also advised to take the project's scalability into account.

If at any point the equipment is upgraded, using a more common connector that is compatible with contemporary technology will be beneficial in the long run.

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