With the limited space available on a control panel, you need to make the most out of every millimeter. Fitting as many terminations as possible is a great way to save space. In addition, using the corner space is a great way to start. These five ideas will help you maximize the space and get […]
Basics
What are modular industrial connectors?
Not to be confused with low-speed communication connectors used in phone and data networks, modular industrial connectors are rugged assemblies that allow different connector modules to be inserted into the connector housing. Power, signal, fiber optic, data, and pneumatic signals can all interface with a machine in one compact connector versus hardwiring with numerous lines and […]
Insulation Displacement: A Breakthrough that Improved your Quality of Life
In the early days of connectors (1940s) wires were generally soldered. Then came crimp contacts that created gas-tight connections between wires and contacts by compressing the wire in a U shaped portion of the contact. Crimping required stripping wire and placing it into a crimp machine one by one. Crimping has proven to be an […]
The 6 biggest dangers of counterfeit connectors
Unlike buying counterfeit handbags or watches, purchasing counterfeit connectors can be extremely dangerous, to both the people using them and the machines they are connected to. If you don’t know what to look for, you may consider buying a fake connector. Here are the six biggest risks you are taking with your system when purchasing fake […]
Modular Jack: A Historical Perspective
The invention of the modular jack and plug by Edwin Charles Hardesty, Charles Krumreiich, et al of Western Electric is, I believe, one of the most important moments in connector history. To set the stage: before 1975 in America, the telephone company owned all of the phones and leased them to customers. The phones were […]
Four tips to avoid counterfeit connectors
Consumers purchase counterfeit products everyday, such as handbags and watches. And while it doesn’t hurt the consumer, the biggest issue with counterfeit goods comes in the loss of intellectual property and money to the real designers. Not so with counterfeit connectors. While it may save the buyer money in the short term, purchasing counterfeit connectors […]
Parallel vs. serial architecture: the battle continues
Parallel architectures have been around for a long time, both in backplane architectures and IO protocols. Slowly but surely they are being displaced by serial protocols. You probably remember the old printer cables that used many pins in parallel. Compare that to the USB connections used to connect many peripherals today using serial architecture. Parallel […]
Hot pluggable mezzanine cards
Wouldn’t it be nice if one could actually add mezzanine cards in the field to upgrade systems without powering down the system or removing the host card? This was the dream of the PICMG (PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group) when they invented the AMC “Advanced Mezzanine Card.” This committee was actively working on the ATCA […]
Mezzanine connectors as cost reducers
In previous postings, you have heard about using mezzanine connectors to enhance system level flexibility and provide a variety of options for IO configurations. This approach can cost effectively increase the size of the available market for your product as well as substantially increase the useful life of the base board. Mezzanine solutions can solve […]
Mezzanine connectors in 1U packaging are your friends
Mezzanine connectors have been an important enabling technology for 1U packaging. Several electronic functions can conveniently fit into a 1U box. If you recall from previous posts, the vertical dimension in industry standard racks is based on “Rack Units” or multiples of 1.75 in. Somewhere along the way, the Rack Unit (RU) got shortened to […]