Connectors 101

What is a connector?

A connector is an electrical component that links two or more components together. The major types of connectors are:

Wire to wire (e.g., an in-line connector that connects a battery to a wire harness)
Wire to board (e.g., a connector that attaches a sensor to a printed circuit board)
Board to board (e.g., connectors used to mate a daughterboard with a motherboard)
Power connectors, which handle higher currents
Modular connectors (e.g., Ethernet plugs)
Terminal blocks and barrier strips, which are useful for connecting and disconnecting wires with screw terminals (e.g., a connector used inside a sprinkler or security control box)

What companies manufacture connectors?

Molex (free samples request)
TE Connectivity (free samples instructions)

You can also order connectors directly from distributors (e.g., Newark, Digikey, Mouser)

How do I choose a connector?

About Me

SHAWN JORDAN, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. He teaches context-centered electrical engineering and embedded systems design courses, and studies the use of context and storytelling in both K-12 and undergraduate engineering design education. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering Education (2010) and M.S./B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University, and received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2017.