Mastering field-installable connectors

29th March 2017

Barney Scott

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The advent of the Internet of Things, the automated home and Industry 4.0 is driving the need for more connectors. Although these technologies focus on wireless networks from your phone, the network will require additional connected equipment. On the upside, the new equipment will be compatible with existing infrastructure, which is a bonus as few companies can afford to replace their existing network to install new devices, so these networks will grow.

Article contributed by RS Components (click for original).

Reduce start-up costs

For every device installed however, there is a cost. Modern equipment with plug-n-play functionality is easy to set up, but still needs a physical connection, which is where costs can occur. Installing the device yourself can reduce start-up costs in a simple way.

How easy this is to achieve depends on the connector design and can mean investment in equipment and tools, or reliance on a specific skill set. Either of these might prevent the adoption of new systems.

This latest instalment of ‘What you can do in a day’ from RS Components takes you through the most common techniques and their relative ease of use. Solder connectors are ideal for small production runs; crimp termination provides consistent joints, perfect for terminating many connections; insulation displacement contacts remove the need to prepare individual wires. But these traditional termination methods are not particularly useful for a DIY approach. But don’t despair, here are two words that may just put an end to your connector anxieties – field installable!

We talk through relevant standards and performance requirements, providing a comparison of the relative merits of two M12 field-installable connectors from HARTING and TE Connectivity.

Easy termination

In general, there are many examples of common connectors that have been developed into versions that are easier to terminate in circumstances or environments that are not ideal. These are widely known as ‘field-installable’, however, this is a term covering all sorts of concepts and technologies from many different manufacturers. So, despite be easier to terminate in less than ideal circumstances, there is no standard definition of the term, making it easy for unwary users to trip up during the selection process.

Costs can vary massively, increasing dramatically when a connector is designed to be ‘tool-less’. Many of the tools you might need for field-installable connectors, however, are fairly standard and you are likely to already have them. So you don’t need to pay 5 times the price for a specially-designed tool-less connector!

In short, it boils down to preparation and being clear what you are trying to achieve at the outset. As Connector Geek himself says in the blog: “Be clear in your objectives, do your homework and plan ahead. Follow these steps and you will rapidly master the art of connectors.”

Get the whole story at: https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/field-installable-the-secret-to-mastering-connectors