An Engineer’s Guide to Understanding Connector for Use in Harsh Industrial Environments

Connectors are often seen as the weakest link between sub-systems, and sometimes this is rightly so. This can be as a result of underspecifying the connector system or not appreciating the difference between the various rating schemes.

Connectors have to operate reliably in a wide range of environments and increasingly have to carry both power and signals without reducing the overall performance of the system. Humidity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) are among the biggest factors, with moisture and dust ingress being the primary concern in many situations.