Connectors

While building an electronic circuit there arises a need to connect the terminals and this is done with the help of electromechanical devices called connectors. The variety of connectors includes RCA connectors, XLR connectors, PCB mount connectors, RF connectors, etc.

Depending on the purpose a connector serves they can be classified as either male or female. The plug is often called a male connector while the socket is referred to as a female connector.

The connectors that have a circular cross section are circular connectors. Whereas the hybrid connectors consist of the mixing of various connectors.

RCA connectors -This is a coaxial connector. These connectors have an alais called phono connectors or cinch connectors. They are generally used for transmitting audio and video signals. Their outer  diameter is around 0.90 cm.

XLR connectors – These connectors are available in both the genders i.e male as well as female. The wide range of XLR connectors include XLR3 (three pin ), XLR4 (four pin), XLR5 (five pin), XLR6 (six pin), XLR7 (seven pin). They are mainly present in audio, video and lighting equipment. These are all circular connectors.

RF connectors – It is coaxial type of a connector. These connectors can be seen in television receivers, WiFi equipment, scientific measurement instruments, etc. These connectors operate at a frequency range that is in multi megahertz.

Power connectors – Some connectors are manufactured keeping in consideration the purpose of supplying power to equipments and hence are termed as power connectors. JST connectors,IEC connectors,Molex connectors,barrel connectors etc are all variants of power connectors.

Temporary connectors – These are handy when their is a need to support more than one connecting devices simultaneously. Screw terminals, spring terminals, alligator clip,IC clip etc are all temporary connectors that are widely used.

USB connectors – These connectors are designed such that they can be inserted in only one way. They have minimum four areas of contacts.They can serve as a  host connector as well as a peripheral connector.

USB mini connectors can be seen being used in case of small devices however USB micro connectors are also available for use and are mainly used with on the go applications.

Some other cable connectors that are used are HDMI cables, Firewire cables, speaker cables,test cables, RC cable, mains cable ribbon cable, etc.

Crimp connectors and splices available in commercial market include crimp tap splices,crimp blade splices, twist on wire connectors,butt crimp connectors, ring crimp connectors, pin terminal crimp connectors, hooked blade crimp connectors, blade terminal crimp connectors, heat shrink crimp connectors, uninsulated crimp connectors etc.