ADAPTER:
An intermediate device to provide for attaching special accessories or to provide special mounting means.*
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE:
The temperature of the environment, usually air, surrounding a connector.*
ANTI-ROTATION, CONNECTOR:
A cylindrical connector design which provides keying or locking provisions to maintain positive orientation for accessory hardware.
AXIAL DISPLACEMENT:
The incremental difference between an initial position and a final position resulting from a force applied along the axis of a component.
BACK-MOUNTED:
A connector mounted from the inside of a panel or box with its mounting flange inside the equipment.*
BARREL, CONDUCTOR:
The section of the terminal, splice or contact that accommodates the stripped conductor.*
BARREL, INSULATION:
The section of the terminal, splice or contact that accommodates the conductor insulation.*
BARREL CHAMFER:
Bevel at the end of the conductor barrel for easier entry of the conductor.*
BARRIER:
A partition of electrically nonconductive material which increases the electrical path between adjacent electrical circuits or an electrical circuit from ground.
BASIS METAL:
Metal from which the connector components are made and on which one or more metals or coatings may be deposited.
BAYONET COUPLING, ROTARY:
A quick coupling device for mating connectors utilizing pins on a connector and ramps on the mating connector. Mating and unmating is accomplished by rotating the coupling ring.*
BELLED MOUTH (BELLMOUTH):
The flared or wide entrance of a terminal splice or contact barrel to permit easier insertion of the conductor.*
BODY, CONNECTOR:
The main portion of a connector to which contacts and other components are attached. This term is not used with connectors incorporating nonintegral shells in their construction.*
BOOT:
A form placed around the wire terminations of a multiple contact connector as a protective housing or as a container for potting compound.*
BRAID:
Flexible conductor made of a woven or braided assembly of fine wires.*
BUNDLE:
A group of wires fastened or held together by an auxiliary means such as straps, ties, clamps or flexible wrappings (jackets) or sheaths. Also called "cable".
BUSING:
The joining of two or more circuits.*
BUTTING DIES:
Crimping dies so designed that the nest and indentor touch at the end of the crimping cycle. (Also called bottoming dies.)*
CABLE ADAPTER:
(See ADAPTER.)*
CABLE CLAMP:
A mechanical clamp attached to the cable side of the connector to support the cable or wire bundle, provide strain relief, and absorb vibration and shock otherwise transmitted by the cable to the contact/wire connection.*
CABLE SEALING CLAMP:
A device consisting of a gland nut and sealing member designed to seal around a single jacket cable.*
CABLE SHIELDING CLAMP:
A device consisting of a sealing member and cable support designed to terminate the screen (shield) of an electrical cable.*
CIRCUMFERENTIAL CRIMP:
The type of crimp where the crimping dies completely surround a barrel resulting in symmetrical indentations in the barrel.*
CLOSED ENTRY:
A contact or contact cavity design in the insert or body of the connector which limits the size or position of the mating contact or printed circuit board to a predetermined dimension.*
COLOR CODING:
A system of identification of terminals and related devices.*
CONDUCTOR:
An electric current-carrying material; the conductive element in an electrical wire.
CONDUCTOR STOP:
A device on a terminal, splice, contact or tool used to prevent excessive extension of the conductor barrel.*
CONNECTOR, ELECTRICAL:
A device, either a plug or a receptacle, used to terminate or connect the conductors of individual wires or in cables and which provides a means to continue the conductors to a mating connector or printed circuit board.*
CONNECTOR SET, ELECTRICAL:
Two or more separate connectors, plug connector and receptacle connector, designed to be mated together. The set may include mixed connectors mated together, such as one connector plug and one dummy connector receptacle, connector receptacle and one dummy electrical plug.*
CONTACT:
The conductive element in a connector which makes actual contact for the purpose of transferring electrical energy.*
CONTACT AREA:
The area in contact between two conductors, two contacts, or a conductor and a contact permitting the flow of electricity.*
CONTACT ARRANGEMENT:
The number, spacing and arrangement of contacts in a connector.*
CONTACT ENGAGING AND SEPARATING FORCE:
Force needed to either engage or separate mating contacts.*
CONTACT, FEMALE:
(See SOCKET CONTACT)
CONTACT, FLOAT:
The overall side play and/or angular displacement of contacts within the insert cavity.*
CONTACT, HERMAPHRODITIC:
(See HERMAPHRODITIC CONTACT)
CONTACT, MALE:
(See PIN CONTACT)
CONTACT RESISTANCE:
Electrical resistance of a pair of engaged contacts. Resistance may be measured in ohms or millivolt drop at a specified current over the engaged contacts.*
CONTACT RETAINER:
A device either on the contact or in the insert to retain the contact in an insert or body.*
CONTACT RETENTION:
The axial load in either direction which a contact can withstand without being dislodged from its normal position within an insert or body.*
CONTACT SEPARATION FORCE:
The force required to separate a pair of fully mated contacts.
CONTACT SIZE:
An assigned number denoting the size of the contact engaging end.*
CONTACT WIPE:
The distance of travel (electrical engagement) made by one contact with another during its engagement or separation or during mating or unmating of the connector halves.*
COUPLING NUT:
(See COUPLING RING)*
COUPLING RING:
That portion of a plug which aids in the mating or unmating of a plug and receptacle and holds the plug to the receptacle.
COUPLING TORQUE:
The force required to rotate a coupling ring or jackscrew to fully engage a mating pair of connectors.
COVER, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR:
An item which is specifically designed to cover the mating end of a connector for mechanical and/or environmental protection.*
CREEP DISTANCE:
The shortest distance on the surface of an insulator separating two electrically conductive surfaces.*
CRIMP:
The physical compression (deformation) of a contact barrel around a conductor in order to make an electrical connection.*
CRIMPING:
A pressure method of mechanically securing a terminal, splice or contact to a conductor.*
CRIMPING DIES:
Portion of the crimping tool that shapes the crimp.*
CRIMPING TOOL:
Mechanism used for crimping.*
CUTOUT, CONNECTOR:
The hole, usually round or rectangular, cut in a metal panel for mounting a connector. May include holes for mounting screws or bolts.*
DEPTH OF CRIMP:
The distance the indentor penetrates into the barrel.*
DIELECTRIC:
A material having electrical insulating properties.*
DISCONNECT:
A reusable conductive device designed to be separated from its mated part.
DUMMY CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL:
Two or more electrical dummy connectors having a common mounting or mounted on each other, each one capable of being independently replaced. Excludes items which are furnished as mated pairs or sets.*
DUMMY CONNECTOR, PLUG:
A connector device designed to mate with a receptacle connector to perform protective, environmental and/or electrical shorting functions.
DUMMY CONNECTOR, RECEPTACLE:
A connector receptacle which does not have provisions for attaching conductors. It is generally used for storage of a cable assembly connector plug.*
DUST COVER:
(See COVER, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR).*
ENVIRONMENTALLY SEALED:
A device that is provided with gaskets, seals, grommets, potting or other means to keep out moisture, dirt, air or dust which might reduce its performance. Does not include nonphysical environments such as RF and radiation.*
EXTRACTION TOOL:
A device used for removing removable contacts from a connector. A device used for removing taper pins from taper pin receptacles.*
FERRULE:
A short tube. Used to make connections to shielded or coaxial cables. Also used in connectors to reduce transmission of torque to grommet.*
FLANGE, CONNECTOR:
A projection extending from or around the periphery of a connector with provisions to permit mounting the connector to a panel.*
FRONT MOUNTED:
A connector mounted on the outside of a panel or box with its mounting flange outside the equipment.*
FULL CYCLING CONTROL:
Controls placed on the crimping cycle of crimping tools forcing the tool to be closed to its fullest extent completing the crimping cycle before the tool can be opened.*
GANG DISCONNECT:
A connector that permits the rapid and simultaneous connection and disconnection of two or more electrical circuits.*
GROUNDING CONDUCTOR:
A conductor which provides a current return path from an electrical device to ground.
GRID SPACED:
When contacts in a multiple contact connector are spaced in a geometric pattern.*
GROMMET, CONNECTOR:
An elastomeric seal used on the cable side of a connector to seal the connector against moisture, dirt and air.*
HARNESS:
A group of wires or cables routed together with attached connectors and components and secured in a manner to provide a preshaped electrical wire or cable assembly.
HERMAPHRODITIC CONNECTOR:
A connector design which utilizes pin and socket contact in a balanced arrangement such that both mating connectors are identical. The contacts may also be hermaphroditic, and may be arranged as male and female contacts as for pins and sockets. Hermaphroditic contacts may also be used in a manner such that one half of each contact mating surface protrudes beyond the connector interface and both mating connectors are identical.*
HERMAPHRODITIC CONTACT:
A contact design which is neither pin or socket and which mates with other contact of the same design.*
HOUSING, CONNECTOR:
Connector less insert, but with insert-retaining and positioning hardware required by standard construction.*
INDENTOR:
That part of a crimping die, usually the moving part, which indents or compresses the contact barrel.*
INSERT, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR:
An insulating element with or without contact(s), designed to position and support contacts in a connector.*
INSERT RETENTION FORCE:
The maximum allowable force which, if applied to the mating face of a connector insert, does not displace the insert permanently from its normal position in the connector housing or jeopardize or damage the insert or connector housing retention provision.
INSERTION TOOL:
A device used to insert contacts into a connector. A device used to insert taper pins into taper pin receptacles.*
INSPECTION HOLE:
A hole placed at one end of a barrel to permit visual inspection to see that the conductor has been inserted to the proper depth in the barrel prior to crimping.*
INSULATION SUPPORT:
The portion of a barrel similar to an insulation grip except that it is not compressed around the conductor insulation.*
INTERFACE:
The two surfaces on the contact side of mating connectors or plug-in component (e.g., relay) and receptacle, which face each other when mated.*
INTERFACE SEAL:
A sealing of mated connectors over the whole area of the interface to provide sealing around each contact.*
JACKET:
The outermost layer of insulating material of a cable or wire.*
JACKSCREW (SCREWLOCK):
A screw attached to one half of a two piece multiple contact connector used to draw and hold both halves together and to separate them.*
KEY:
A short pin or other projection which slides in a mating slot, hole, groove, or keyway to guide two parts being assembled. Generally used in shell-enclosed connectors to obtain polarization.*
KEYWAY:
A slot or groove in which a key slides.*
LOCATOR:
(See STOP PLATE) Device for positioning terminals, splices or contacts in crimping dies.*
LOCKING SPRING:
(See CONTACT RETAINER.)*
MATE:
The joining of two connectors.*
MOLD, POTTING, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR:
An item, solid or split, designed to be used as a hollow form into which potting compound is injected and allowed to cure or set to seal the back of an electrical connector. The potting may eliminate the need for a back shell of the connector. The form may or may not be removable after potting.*
NOTE: This Glossary of Terms is taken from the Encyclopedia of Connectors.