Posted to News on 15th Jun 2009, 15:32
Faster connections to aluminium-clad PCBs
Tyco Electronics is introducing new wire-to-board plug connectors and board-to-board connectors to its family of hermaphroditic blade and receptacle connectors. The connectors are designed to make connecting of aluminium-clad printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are commonly used for LED lighting applications that include lighting controls and LED light modules, faster and easier.
These new plug connectors use tin-plated brass crimp-snap contacts for 18-22AWG (0.3-0.9mm2) stranded wire and a UL 94V-0-rated thermoplastic housing. The plug connector mates with board-mount connectors and features positive latching for a secure connection.
Alexander Hunt III, product manager, says: "As LED lighting continues to expand dramatically, manufacturers are looking at solutions to lower the costs of assembling and maintaining lighting systems. With the new series of hermaphroditic blade and receptacle connectors adding wire-to-board capabilities, customers now have a complete end-to-end solution for fast, flexible connecting of lighting modules."
A low-profile surface-mount board connector uses a hermaphroditic blade and receptacle design to allow LED printed circuit board strips to join with more flexibility than traditional post-and-receptacle headers. Connections can be made by sliding the two boards together horizontally or vertically. The capability to slide the two boards together vertically makes replacement of a board in mid-strip easier by lifting out the strip to be replaced and lowering in the new one.
The same board-mount connector is used for both board-to-board and wire-to-board connectivity. The hermaphroditic design results in only one board-mount part needing to be inventoried, and simplifies design by using the same footprint on both ends of the strip. Contacts are supplied in reeled form for processing by high-speed terminating equipment.
Connectors are available in two, four or six positions. They are rated to 6A and 125V AC/DC, with an operating temperature range from -40degC to +105degC. They are UL/cUL-recognised in File No E28476.
