In the industrial sector, connectors play a very vital role in transmitting signals from cables to various machinery. The industrial connectors are specially designed in a way that they can easily withstand any environmental condition. In every industrial application, various electrical components are used. These electrical components can be affected by harsh environmental conditions like temperature, moisture, pressure, etc., after some specific limit. So, to avoid such situations, heavy-duty connectors are used in the devices.
There will be a plethora of connector options available in the market. However, it is critical to select the best one for the application. If your industrial applications will be used in environments with high levels of vibration and shock, you should choose connectors with a rugged design and appropriate casting.
Requirement for an Industrial Connector
Some of the major requirements for an industrial connector are:
- They are capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions such as vibrations, pressure, extreme temperatures (hot and cold), vacuum, moisture, humidity, dust, etc.
- It must be waterproof so that it can be easily used in a device that works under the water.
- It must require less maintenance and be cost-effective and long-lasting.
- It must work efficiently in the vacuum condition as well.
Before choosing any industrial connector, always check for its ingress protection rating. This helps in deciding the best suitable connector for your device and how it will perform with the specific application.
Types of Connectors used for Industrial Automation
- Coaxial connectors (RF)
Coaxial connectors are used to provide radio frequency (RF) links in communications and are also used to connect or disconnect transmission lines and other components that work at microwave frequencies. The major role of these connectors is to provide access to the circuits along with testing, interconnecting, and packaging the machinery into the system. Before choosing the right coaxial cable for your device, consider its electrical resistivity, operational frequency, reflection performance, size, cost, and environmental sustainability. Always make sure its impedance must match the source and is capable of maximum power transfer.
- Fiber optic connectors
Fiber optic cables are used to transmit light instead of electrical signals. The major purpose of using fiber optic connectors is to make communication fast and easy. The communication is held through these very microscopic glass fibers, and therefore, the accuracy during the termination plays a very vital role. A fiber connector is made of three parts: the ferrule, the body of the connector, and the mechanism of coupling.
- D-sub connectors
D-sub stands for D-subminiature connectors that are widely used in various industrial computers and their components. They are also used in control and display units. They are mostly used with circuits that require low-current transmission, such as trim motors, micro-switches, data signals, etc. The major advantage of using these D-sub connectors is that they are all uniquely designed and have no risk of mismatching with other connectors. It is called D-sub connectors as it is designed in the shape of D with the reverse numbering of male and female connectors. Visit Allied Connectors.
