What Is a 4 Pin Panel Mount Connector?

Panel mount connectors are used to connect devices that operate in harsh environments. They come in a variety of materials, applications, and form factors to meet industry requirements.

They feature insulators that encapsulate the contacts and separate them from each other. They also have coupling mechanisms like bayonet, threaded, or snap-on to ensure a secure mechanical connection.

Product Description

The panel mount side of this connector set is a mechanical feature built into the design that allows it to be secured to an equipment panel, external case or enclosure. It requires a bigger cut-out in the panel 4 pin panel mount connector to accommodate the connector half and its latching mechanism – usually a larger size than the cable connector.

The Panel Mount connector has an electrical contact termination that consists of a terminal pin on one end to which a wire is soldered. This may be either a crimp or solder contact type (see picture below). Each terminal has an insulation material that must be removed for the connection to take place. Crimp terminations require a crimping tool that applies pressure to the contact section, compressing it tightly around the wire and its insulation. Solder contacts, on the other hand, do not need to be pressed or tightened, and are simply soldered onto the wires in the connector pins.

The Panel Mount connector is sealed to an IP67 rating and offers resistance to dust and moisture. This makes it suitable for harsh environment applications and industrial use. The connector family is available with signal-only (up to 44 contacts) or power and signal/data combinations to suit a variety of telematics applications including air traffic control, fleet management, avionics, automotive and marine electronics. The 369 series connectors also include replaceable panel sealing gaskets to further increase reliability in high-moisture environments.

Applications

There are many different types of connectors, depending on the application and desired performance. When choosing a connector, you should take into account both the size of the available space on your circuit board and the electrical and mechanical specifications of the connector. You should also consider termination methods, which determine how your wire or cable mates with the conductive contacts inside the connector.

For example, some circular connectors support soldering (as shown in this panel mount connector), while others require crimping or screw terminals. You should also consider the voltage and current rating of your connectors, which indicates the maximum amount of electricity they can safely carry. Other factors to consider include the environmental conditions your connectors will be exposed to, such as temperature extremes and moisture.

Additionally, you should consider adding strain relief to your connectors. This will transfer any forces acting on the connector to a more structurally sound object, such as a piece of metal or plastic, rather than the fragile electrical connections inside the connector. For instance, the Panel Mount connectors in your smartphone or computer have built-in strain relief to keep the internal connections safe from tampering. You 12 volt 2 pin waterproof connector should also ensure that your connectors can be inserted and disconnected in the correct direction. For example, a USB connector can only be inserted in one way, and forcing it in the other may damage it.

Technical Information

The number of mating cycles that a connector can endure is important to consider when selecting a model for a particular application. Connectors that are only used occasionally may be rated for thousands of connections, while those designed to be disconnected regularly will need to be capable of fewer.

The physical structure of a connector can also be significant in determining how it is best used. For example, the amount of space that is available for routing cables through the housing or back shell can have an impact on the amount of strain that is put on a solder connection. Similarly, the thickness of a connector’s gold plating can influence how much current it is capable of carrying.

Another important factor to take into account when selecting a connector is its pitch. This is the distance between the centers of individual contacts, and it can vary between different families of connectors. A large pitch will allow more connections to be made on a single terminal, while a small pitch will provide less room for wiring.

Some of the main applications for this type of 4 pin panel mount connector include data and communication systems. Recommended connector families for these types of applications include VULCON and QUIK-LOQ circular connectors, as well as POWER-D and COMBO mixed connectors. When using these types of connectors in harsh environments, it is important to ensure that they are protected with a suitable enclosure to prevent moisture or dust from affecting performance.

Warranty

There are multiple options for fastening (or “mounting”) a connector receptacle to an equipment panel or external case. While free-hanging connectors are the most common, panel mount connectors offer an additional level of stability and protection for cables. Typically, they are designed to mate with a mating cable connector and fit snugly into the panel hole, so that they cannot be easily removed by untrained personnel.

There is more than one way to mount a connector, and the choice depends on how the device will be used. Engineers and users must consider what kind of environment the connector will be subjected to and how much vibration, dust, or moisture it will encounter. In addition, they must think about whether the connector will be exposed to electromagnetic interference signals and what type of power it will receive.

Panel mount connectors can be found in many applications and industries, such as broadcasting, wireless networking, medical equipment, automotive electronics, and industrial automation. These connectors can provide a secure and reliable connection to devices, preventing accidental disconnections and ensuring that signals are transmitted with high quality. They can also be supplied with a variety of accessories, such as caps, boots, and grommets to prevent liquids and gasses from entering the connector body, strain reliefs and cable clamps to protect against excessive mechanical stress, and backshells to protect connections from environmental contamination.