Connectors

Connectors are a major cause of equipment failure.

Pins are wired incorrectly, bare wires touch and short circuit or connector pins are accidently bent.

Failed connectors can mimic system chassis failure

DC Direct Current AC Alternating Current

Alternating Current

Alternating Current

Alternating Current

Radio Signal or Alternating Current (AC)

Removing pins from connector

Local Companies like Pan Pacific build connectors for Boeing

Typical connector from your

text “Bayonet coupling A quick coupling mechanism for mating a plug onto a Receptacle utilizing three equally spaced pins protruding from the receptacle shell which engage corresponding ramps milled into the coupling nut of the mating plug. Mating and unmating is accomplished by rotating the coupling nut.”

Radio Frequency Connectors• BNC Bayonet Neill Conce

lman (British Navel Connector)

• TNC Threaded Neill Concelman connector

• Series N Plug (connector) weatherproof, RF connector, with consistent performance through 11 GHz. Primary use is connecting and terminating Coax RG-8, RG- 58, RG-141 and RG- 225

• SMA connectors (Subminiature) Screw type mechanism like F connector, 50 ohm impedance, Electrical performance DC to 17 GHz.

http://rmsconnectors.com/ RMS company

Sockets replaces the historic Male and Female connector

Connector Catalog with Mil-Spec data

http://rmsconnectors.com/pdfs/rms_connectorsGuide.pdf

Polarization

D Subminiature.

• D Subminiature. – The "D" refers to the shape of

the connector, which is wider on one side to prevent the plug from being inserted incorrectly.

– The connector is often used in circuits under about 5 amps, such as power, audio, digital signals and ground.

– Manufactured in many sizes sizes, with 15-and 25-pin models common in avionics.

– The type sold in most electronics stores for PC use are unreliable for aviation use. A good connector will also have a sturdy system for removing strain on the cable.

ARINC ConnectorsWhen old airline aircraft are upgraded with digital avionics (such as the Boeing 747-400) the flight deck becomes a "glass cockpit," meaning EFIS, the electronic flight instrument

system. Digital equipment requires ARINC 600 connectors. • 404• http://www.te.com/cat

alog/feat/en/c/18538

• 600 – used on new digital equipment

• http://www.te.com/catalog/feat/en/c/18598

600 connectors

ARINC 600 Rack and Panel Connectors

150 connections in one block

Connector tools• A large variety of

tools are used for inserting and extracting pins from connectors

• A large Aviation industry surrounds the construction of connectors.

• Tools like these are replacing the soldered type connectors

Heat Gun

A heat gun is essential for heat shrink tubing and solder sleeving.

Heat Gun

• Video of Heat Gun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRn9lYKD-Wg

• Video of N connector http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDP6nFwqAps

Coax Connectorshttp://www.te.com/catalog/menu/en/26435

Coaxial Cables have the following construction

Metallic center conductorLayers of Dielectric or insulating MaterialA shield

FoilWire mesh

A protective jacket

Coaxial or Coax CableThe inner and outer conductors are separated by an insulating layer known as dielectric.

Choice of materials and dimensions determines the cable's electrical properties, including attenuation at various frequencies.

TNC next to BNC

Coax

coax

Coax

Video of coax

Single shield Coax

2 Shields for immunity to electrical noise--Ingress

This is not Twinax, see

below connector

Triaxial cable Twinaxial

Coax Bend Radius

Wiring to hold connectors in place

Lockwire

Applications other than Avionics

Safety wire or lockwire is a type of positive locking device that prevents fasteners from loosening due to vibration and other forces. The presence of safety wiring also serves to indicate that the fasteners have been properly tightened.

Safety Wire

Connectors (soldered)

Connectors• “Working with

connectors often takes up more of an installation technician's time than any other task” quote from your text.

• Light aircraft have connectors in the dozens while large AC have them in the hundreds.