What You Need to Know About PCB Connectors

The PCB connector is one of the most common pieces of hardware in any electronic project. It provides power, strain relief, and polarization for any electronic component. As such, it is important to know all you can about PCB connectors.

Strain relief

Strain relief is a feature of connector PCBs that is designed to protect the cable connections from breaking. Often, manufacturers apply strain relief to both sides of the flex layers. This type of design is especially common in consumer-grade cables.

The first design consideration is the height of the rigid area and the flex layers. The vertical edge of the flex layer must be at least three millimeters higher than the rigid area. If the flex layer does not have enough height, it may be difficult for the connector to bend properly.

Another design consideration is the type of material used for strain relief. RTV is the most commonly used material. Silicones are also widely used. These two materials are less expensive than epoxy resin adhesives, but they can add to the cost of the PCB.

Flexible epoxy strain reliefs are often an option for flex circuits. They are a good choice because they ensure mechanical bending reliability. A flexible epoxy strain relief can also protect the underlying flexible laminate from damage.

Overmolded strain reliefs are another design feature of some connectors. These designs look like a segmented sleeve that covers the cable. It helps to prevent the cable from breaking, and forces it to bend in a smooth arc.

The most important thing to remember when designing a strain relief is to avoid applying it too thick. This can cause assembly difficulties and interfere with the placement of solder paste stencils. Alternatively, the sleeve may only cover part of the flex area, leaving a small portion of the flex circuit unencapsulated.

There are many types of strain relief, but each one is designed to serve a specific purpose. Depending on the application, the design might include a solid design, ribbed design, or a compromising style. Ribbed designs provide better flex relief.

Power handling capacity

One of the more fun parts of building a PCB is picking the correct components. The power handling properties of each component can make or break your finished product, so make sure to pick your chips with care. This includes choosing your power source wisely. Also, keep in mind that power handling will vary based on the application. In short, what works for your home entertainment system will likely not work for your office PC. Fortunately, there are a few easy tips and tricks you can follow to ensure a seamless experience. For starters, always choose the best connectors for your needs. If you don’t, the odds are high that your computer hardware will break, causing you to spend more money than you have to.

Polarization

There are different techniques for polarization of connector PCB. One method is the use of a polarization key. Another method is color coding. The latter relies on an assembly operator following guidance. These methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

Keying is an effective means of ensuring correct alignment of connectors. It is especially useful for blind mating. However, it adds bulk to the connector and costs money. Some of the keying options are built into the connector and others require manual intervention.

Keying is a common feature in PCB headers. Its purpose is to enable the assembly operator to mate the connectors quickly and correctly. In addition to providing Connector PCB the keying functions, it also helps to provide a visual indicator of the proper connection.

Other indicators are sometimes used in connectors that do not have polarization. They can be inserted into the connectors, or rely on an assembly operator following a set of instructions.

A polarization key is one of the most popular types of polarization. It is designed to fit into the backplane connector. This key is a mechanical or chemical milled accessory that is held in the grip of the contacts. It is used to prevent the circuit board from being plugged into the wrong connector.

The polarization key of the present invention offers many advantages. First, it minimizes problems related to changing the position of the backplane connector. Second, it can be chemically milled, stamped, or etched to create a useful edge. Third, it can be fastened to the backplane connector by a leg or a couple of legs.

Ideally, the tab portion of the polarization key projects significantly outwards from the backplane connector. To be effective, the tab needs to be long enough to be able to extend into the holes in the other circuit board. Additionally, it must be durable.

PCB connector packaging

PCB Connectors are one of the core components of a digital system. As a result, designers must consider several important parameters when choosing a connector for their PCB. These include pitch, current rating, voltage rated, and arc prevention.

Connectors are available in different sizes and packages. During design and production, these are packaged to ensure maximum reliability during transportation and assembly. While selecting a connector for your PCB, you must also consider the type of application.

There are many different PCB connector styles to choose from. For example, some headers are hermetically sealed and others are designed to be EMI/chemical resistant. Some are built to be press fit.

Some headers are equipped with locking mechanisms. This prevents damage to the header post. Another useful feature is the kinked pin. A kinked pin is especially useful when mounting tall components on a PCB.

The pin header and socket are commonly used in conjunction to allow the mating and disconnection of PCBs. In this case, the spacing between the connector’s pins must be carefully considered. Also, if there is added impedance on the traces between the connector and the PCB, it is recommended to keep this in mind for signal integrity.

Generally, PCB connectors are rectangular in shape. However, there are some types of connectors that are square in shape. Selecting a correct connector style is important to the overall success of your PCB.

To help you find the right connector for your PCB, GCT offers custom T&R packaging to suit your needs. We can discuss your specific requirements with you. You can check out our product datasheets to determine the options available.

The COMBICON catalogue contains over 500 pages, providing you with a variety of PCB connection technologies. By browsing the various categories of connectors, you can find the right fit for your application.

PCB connectors are a prevalent part of almost any electronic project

Connectors are one of the most prevalent parts of almost any electronic project. As the demand for miniaturization increases, there is more demand for space saving solutions, such as connectors and terminal blocks.

PCB connectors are the components that connect your circuit to the rest of your device. When designing your circuit, you will need to consider a number of factors, including the maximum power, voltage, current and vibration that the connectors can handle. It’s also important to consider how your connector will be mounted.

Some common types of connectors include headers, screw terminals and surface mount Connector PCB devices. Headers are typically used for low voltage DC applications. They are available in male and female variants.

Screw terminals are great for DC and AC applications. They have flat head screws that tighten to secure the wire. However, they aren’t as flexible as servo connectors.

Through hole connectors are great for interconnecting through holes on the PCB. They usually have copper pads on the other side of the board.

Ring connectors are the most famous type of connectors. They come in different thicknesses, pin counts and types.

Power connectors are widely used in industrial settings. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be insulated to avoid mechanical strain.

Polarised connectors are a good way to prevent plugging in the wrong direction. There are also many other types of connectors to choose from, such as arcing and spade connectors.

JST connectors are a good choice if you need to connect two boards together. They have a locking mechanism that is great for data transmission. In addition, they are a bit more robust than a simple header.