Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a range of questions and answers to help & inform anyone thinking of ordering Industrial Connectors :

Do Northern Connectors have a price list?
As our range of connectors and components is extensive it would be very difficult to publish and update a full price list. Our quotations are tailored to your enquiry and take into account the quantity required, pack size/MOQ of the specific item (if any) and availability.

Do my connectors come with contacts or do I have to purchase these separately?
As a general rule, connectors with crimps require contacts to be ordered separately, while solder and screw terminating connectors come with the contacts already loaded.

Do I need a connector that is a plug, socket, male or female?
This depends on the application. As a general rule, the active side of the assembly with the power or where the signal originates should be female, with socket contacts, and the passive side male with pin contacts.

Do I need a shielded connector and / or gland?
Only if there is an issue with EMC, signal integrity or other forms of RF interference.

How do I terminate my cable?
This depends on whether you are using solder bucket, screw termination or crimp contacts. As a general rule solder buckets require soldering, screw termination can be fixed in place with only a screwdriver while crimps usually require a special crimping tool for the particular contact in question.

How does the shielding braid terminate on this particular type of backshell?
This depends on the backshell in question. Typically though the braid terminates at the gland or, in the case of D hoods, inside the rear cavity of the backshell just in front of the gland.

What sort of termination is best for my particular application?
Crimp, Solder, IDC, Cage-Clamp Or Screw? This usually depends on the type of connector selected and not the other way around. However, in high vibration environments where a faulty termination would cause serious problems, it is always advisable to select a connector with crimp terminating contacts.

Which layout / shell size is the best for my particular application?
This depends on how many individual cores need to be terminated, the overall diameter of the cable and the type of connector required. As a general rule, the more contacts required the larger the shell size of the connector. This also applies to the cable diameter. The larger the overall diameter of the cable the larger the cable entry gland and thus the larger the connector shell.

What is the difference between Souriau size 16 and size 20 contacts?
Size 20 contacts are 1mm in diameter, and can be used on applications of 7.5 Amps and below per pin. Size 16 contacts are larger, with an OD of 1.6mm, and a current capacity of up to 13 Amps per contact.

What is the difference between machined and stamped and formed contacts?
Machined contacts are solid, machine turned and are usually the best choice for high current applications or applications where signal integrity is important. Stamped and formed contacts are a cheaper alternative for less demanding applications.

What is the difference between male and female connectors?
Male connectors usually have shrouded pin contacts, while the female connector has recessed socket contacts. On screw fastening connectors such as M8, M12 etc the male has the thread on the outside of the fastening with the thread on the female half on the inside of the coupling ring.

What wire size will a connector accept?
This depends on the size of the cable entry gland and the type of contact used with the connector. Most connectors fall within the AWG range of 14 – 30. However larger and smaller cable cores can be accommodated with certain connectors.

What kind of D-sub hoods are available?
There is a very large choice of hoods for D connectors. Typically they come in the usual 5 sizes – 9,15,25,37 and 50 way. They are also available in a variety of materials, entry types, fastening types and shielding.

What is a flange mounted receptacle?
This is a square flanged receptacle that is held in place by the four screw holes found at either corner of the front facing flange. Unlike a jam nut, five holes are required to mount a square flanged receptacle. One for the central connector body holding the insert and contacts, plus an additional four smaller holes for each of the corner screws.

What is a jam-nut / bulkhead receptacle?
A jam nut is a circular, panel wall fastening, receptacle with a flat. This is designed to be mounted through a panel cut out via a single front or rear fastening nut. The flat side of the jam nut holds it in place and prevents it rotating if it has been fitted into a correspondingly shaped panel cut out.

How do Anderson Power – Powerpole and Multipole connectors stay securely mated without latches?
These connectors use what is known as ‘flat wiping technology.’ This comprises of a detent or bump on the surface of the contact and also a powerful stainless steel spring that together hold the connectors in the mated position. Other than the standard low detent contacts that help to hold the connectors together there are also high detent versions available that require a greater force to mate and unmate. In many applications the detent and spring force is enough to securely hold the connectors in the mated position without the need for latches. Latching shells, clips, or other external devices can be used to secure flat wiping systems in applications where shock, vibration, or cable strain may overcome the inherent force holding the connectors together.

How does Anderson Power’s genderless connector design work to make a mated pair?
Genderless Powerpole and Multipole housings do not have a male (pin) and female (socket) side. For wire-to-wire applications the exact same housings and contacts are used on both sides of the mated pair. To make a mated pair of Powerpole or Multipole connectors simply assemble the connectors closely following the assembly instructions seen in the catalogue. After each connector half is fully assembled take one half and flip it over. The two halves will now mate together.

If you would like definitions of any industry terms or abbreviations please view our Component Glossary.