Guide To Automotive Electrical Connectors

The connector is a very common word that we often come across when we talk about electrical equipment and projects. They play a very important role in all electrical projects and equipment. It is paramount to use the right connector for the right application. It is not only an important fa from a safety point of view but also equally important for the production of effective and efficient products.

That’s why you will find a huge variety of connectors designed to suit any application or a specific product. Similarly, there are automotive electrical connectors that are manufactured and designed, especially for use in automobile electrical systems. The automobile industry has undergone a huge and massive transformation in recent years. Therefore, the latest technology is being incorporated into the electrical systems of automobiles. These latest electrical systems are considerably wired and designed to operate by a microprocessor.

This has led to an increase in demand for good-quality and reliable automotive electrical connectors. Suppose you are planning to select automotive electrical connectors for your vehicle. In that case, you need to consider a few factors such as the density of the circuit, wire size, voltage, current rating, and configuration.

Automotive Electrical Connectors

Types Of Automotive Electrical Connectors

As per ISO standard 10487, automotive electrical connectors are divided into the following 4 categories:

Group A – This category connector is known as power connectors. They are used to connect the automobile’s head unit to the power supply, various on/off switches, different volume controls, and special parts like antennas.

Group B – These are the type of automotive electrical connectors that are used to connect the various speakers around the automobile.

Group C – These are optional or surplus automotive electrical connectors that are mainly used to connect specialty peripherals such as CD decks, remote control, and external amplifiers.

Group D – Theis group includes connectors that are optional and are mainly used to connect satellite navigation systems of the automobile.

Besides, many other systems in automobiles require the usage of electrical connectors such as sensors, ignition systems, computer systems, power windows and doors, lighting, and radio receivers.

Other than the classification mentioned above, these automotive electrical connectors can also be categorized based on form factor:

• Terminal connectors – These connectors are used to make unsoldered connections.
• Multi-pin sealed connectors – These connectors are used to prevent the entry of environmental contaminants.
• wire-to-board connectors – These connectors are mainly used to connect various components to the circuit board of the computer system.
• Board-to-board connectors – These connectors are used to link two different circuit boards.
• Wire-to-wire electrical connectors – These connectors are used to connect two cables that are wire-terminated.

Automotive Electrical Connector Gender Types

This is one of the first ways to distinguish between different types of automotive electrical connectors, whether they are of the male or female gender.

The male connector comprises pins that are protruding out. And the female connector is generally the receiving part. It mainly comprises of a jack or socket. To form a complete connection the female connector receives and holds the "male" connector inside it.

In simple words, we can say that the male connector includes pins and the female connector includes the connections that mate with these pins. In order to mate, both the male and female connectors need to be of the same connector type.

Concluding Thoughts

So, this was a basic guide explaining the different types of automotive electrical connectors. With this information, you can now understand the role of connectors. If you find this article useful, then you can share it with your near and dear ones who might be in search of this piece of information. For more practical information, you can consult with an automobile technician.