{"id":1346,"date":"2017-07-21T08:00:18","date_gmt":"2017-07-21T15:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/eagle\/blog\/?p=1346"},"modified":"2023-09-25T12:51:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T19:51:40","slug":"pcb-connectors-for-hobbyists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/pcb-connectors-for-hobbyists\/","title":{"rendered":"PCB Connectors for Hobbyists"},"content":{"rendered":"

Out in the Wild – The PCB Connectors You Need to Know About as a Hobbyist<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n

Welcome, hobbyists, to the wild savanna of PCB connectors! We\u2019ve got USBs, RCAs, barrel connectors, and more all roaming about in the wild, offering ways to transmit power, bring in data as input, and send out new output. While you might have seen many of these connectors roaming out in the wild in your own electronics, do you know them by name, and what they do? By the end of this blog post you will, but wait, Crikey look, there she is! We finally spotted the mysterious USB-C connector, what a beaut. Let\u2019s see what else we can find out in the wild today!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

The Lingo Down Under<\/h2>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re planning to track and hunt connectors out in the wild, then you\u2019ll need to know how to talk and act like one, so you can blend in! First off, every connector comes in one of two genders, <\/span>male <\/b>or <\/span>female<\/b>. These male and female connectors have what are called definite mating cycles<\/strong><\/b>, Which means that they can only be connected and disconnected a certain amount of times until they break! For example, USB connectors are designed to be mated thousands of times, whereas something like a Molex power connector can only mate a few times before going belly up. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A USB male (left) and female (right) out in the wild, ready to be connected. (Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How do these male and female connectors go about mating? Through a process called <\/span>contact. <\/b>On each connector, there\u2019s a set of metal parts that press together and form a connection. Of course, connectors can\u2019t just make contact with any kind of connector. Each one has its own unique <\/span>polarity<\/b>, which means that it can only be connected in one orientation with a particular type of connector. You might also hear this referred to as a connector being <\/span>keyed<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An excellent example of polarity is shown in the image below, with this XLR connector, you\u2019ll notice that it has a notch that only allows it to be oriented in one direction. You\u2019ll find this notch or other similar markings on nearly every connector out in the wild.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See the notch on the top of this female XLR cable? It only accepts a connection in one orientation. (Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t just walk up to any connector out in the wild and catch it though. Each connector has its own way of protecting itself, called <\/span>strain relief<\/b>. This helps to keep all of the sensitive metal contact pieces inside from breaking when jostled around by human hands and other mechanical vibrations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let\u2019s say you do manage to capture and kill one of those dangerous connectors out in the wild. What now? You\u2019ll want to return home with your prize and mount it to your trophy wall! In electronics, <\/span>mounting <\/b>refers to how a connector is attached to a panel or PCB, which can be attached via surface mount (SMT) or through-hole. Mounting will also determine how the connector is angled from its attachment, which can be either straight or right-angled.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Connectors Roaming the Wild<\/h2>\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find connectors all over the place out in the wild, being used to join sections of circuits together on PCBs and other devices. Every connector has its own set of unique set of characteristics, including different physical sizes, shapes, vibration resistances, and more. But that\u2019s not all; you can also group connectors into some distinct families which make them easy to keep track of in your head. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n