Connector Overview: Your Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Connectors

As the name suggests, a connector connects circuits. They are usually available in pairs and have a gender designation: female jack and male plug. The plug’s terminal perfectly fits into the jack’s socket holes (or pins) to enable the transfer of power, data, or signal from one device to another. 

Common types of electronic connectors include: 

• Japan Solderless Terminal (JST)
• PCB interconnects
• Edge connectors
• Ribbon cable connectors
• Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connectors

Connectors enhance convenience when using electronic devices. Before the first electrical plug, appliances had to be wired directly to the power supply. (Think of a connection from light sockets on the ceiling in the center of a room.)

This was not only inconvenient but also dangerous. What would happen if an electronic device connected to the light socket with an extension cord accidentally fell from the kitchen counter? A ripped cable and short circuit might be the result, and these accidents wouldn’t be uncommon in a world without connectors. 

In 1904, American inventor Harvey Hubbell developed the first detachable electrical plug, an ingenious solution that revolutionized how electrical devices were disconnected or connected to the power supply. Since then, multiple types of connectors have emerged.

Types of Electrical Connectors

The most common connector types include: 

• Audio Connectors
• Video Connectors
• Power Connectors
• Data Connectors

Let’s look at examples of connecting devices in each category, their uses, and their pros and cons. 

Audio Connectors

Audio connectors transmit audio signals and can be single-channeled (monophonic) or multi-channeled (stereophonic). Common types of audio connectors include the following: 

• RCA connectors can transmit both video and audio signals. They are often color-coded to reduce human error—red and white for stereo audio or yellow for composite video. They are also affordable and usable in multiple electrical devices, from TVs and stereo systems to digital camcorders and cameras. 
• Tip, Ring, and Sleeve (TRS) connectors are widely used in speakers, phones, headphones, and other consumer devices. The name originates from the connectors’ coaxial contact: the tip (T), ring (R), and sleeve (S). 
• External Line Return (XLR) connectors have circular pins and a notch, which act as a keying mechanism. Since incorrect mating can cause electrical or mechanical damage to the pins, manufacturers designed XLR connectors so that you can only plug them in one orientation.
• DIN connectors transmit analog audio signals. The plug and jack have a notch to connect the two in a specific orientation. 

Video Connectors

They transmit video signals (some carry both audio and video). Common types include High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI), Video Graphic Array (VGA), and DisplayPort. Barring VGA, all the other video connectors on this list are digital. 

HDMI and DisplayPort can transmit video and audio signals simultaneously. VGA does not carry audio signals—it is video-only. Because VGA is not commonly used anymore, it should be your last-resort video connector. 

Power Connectors

As the name suggests, power connectors carry electricity from the power supply to a device. They transmit alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Common types of these connectors include: 

• Molex connectors: Commonly used to supply electricity to computer drives, Molex connectors have spring-metal pins compatible with perfect-fit sockets. The connection between the pins and sockets ensures proper plugging orientation. 
• Barrel connectors: These connectors provide devices like laptops with an external power supply. A barrel connector transmits low-voltage DC from an adapter and carries it into the electronic device. Barrel connectors come in standard lengths and work well in a wide range of consumer electronics. 

Data Connectors

Data connectors transmit data from one device to another. Examples include: 

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

Manufacturers widely use this technology in consumer electronic devices like smartphones, printers, and computers. They are available in different versions, with the latest ones boasting the fastest data transfer speeds. 

Ethernet

Ethernet connects devices in both wired LAN and WAN networks. It enables devices to communicate through rules (or protocols). For this reason, it’s more secure than wireless connections like Wi-Fi. 

Ethernet is high-speed, secure, and reliable, which makes it a popular network connection method, especially in company offices, schools, and hospitals. Typical Ethernet speeds include 100-base TX (up to 100 Mbps) and Gigabit Ethernet (1000-base T, 1000 Mbps). 

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

These data cables are an industry standard for connecting storage devices such as hard disks to a computer’s host bus adapter. They are available in power-only, data-only, and power + data SATA connectors. 

The first SATA came about in 2003. Since then, these connectors have undergone significant changes in data transfer speed. The latest generation SATA III runs at 6GB/s with a bandwidth throughput of 600MB/s and is backward compatible with SATA II. 

3 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Connectors

Choosing suitable connectors is vital to the success of your design project. Below are the most critical factors to consider: 

1. Voltage and Current Requirements

Determining your engineering design’s voltage and current requirements is the first step to choosing the suitable connector. Identify the required contacts and ensure each can meet your design’s power demands. 

The wire length will affect the connector’s current carrying capability (the longer the cord, the more resistance, and the lower the current). The connector’s insulation material and contact spacing will influence the voltage. 

2. Environmental Factors

When your product is used in harsh environments, you want connectors to withstand the conditions. For instance, hermetically sealed connectors leverage unique materials to create an airtight seal. The air and moisture resistance enables them to work correctly even when submerged in water and under specific pressure. There are also water-, oil-, and moisture-resistant connectors in the market. 

3. Application-Specific Requirements

Sensitive applications require protection. The impact of electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI) may reduce a circuit’s performance or even stop it from functioning. So manufacturers designed EMI or RFI filtering to protect connectors from radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) between electrically charged objects can also affect a circuit. Using ESD-shielded connectors protects your circuit from electrostatic discharge damage. 

Get High-Quality Connectors From PartStack

With dozens of connectors on the market, you need to buy yours from credible connector manufacturers offering the best. The most suitable connectors depend on your application-specific requirements, the environmental conditions, and the specific voltage and current demands. 

Whether you need a connector for a specific application or a general-purpose connector, we have the right solution. We offer a range of high-quality connectors from top brands, including Amphenol, TE Connectivity, and Molex. Browse our connectors today and get connected!