25 Common Terms You Should Know

Shell - Houses insert and contacts Insert - The dielectric or insulating inner core, holds contacts Coupling Nut - Outer threaded or grooved ring which holds mated pair together Jam Nut - Nut that holds receptacle to a panel Bayonet Coupling - A non-threaded, ramp type of coupling Contacts - Mechanical tip to which electrical engagement is accomplished Pin Contact - Male half of a mated pair of contacts Socket Contact - Female half of a mated pair of contacts Solder Contact - A contact to which wire is joined by soldering Crimp Contact - A contact to which wire is joined by mechanical squeeze Plug - The cable/coupling half of a mating pair Receptacle - The panel/receiving half of a mating pair Mating Pair - Two connectors that couple together. Shell size insert arrangement and rotation must be compatible Plating - The metal finish applied to contacts and or shell components (protective) to resist corrosion and wear Grommet - Resilient part at back of insert (attached or see rate); gives wire moisture seal Gland - Resilient ring in rear accessory, provides seal on jacketed cable Sealing Plug - Plastic type slug, placed in unused grommet holes to seal Grounding Fingers - A metal strap around plug shell for positive shell-to-shell conductivity/shielding Hermetic - A connector with fused glass insert for air tightness Mating/Unmating Forces - Torque required to couple/uncouple a mating pair of connectors or contacts Rear Termination - An accessory which threads to back of shell Strain Relief - A type of accessory which clamps wires for support Potting Boot - A type of accessory which forms a mold for potting compound EMI or RFI Backshell - A type of accessory to terminate wire shielding Interface Seal - A resilient part on the face of pin inserts which provides moisture seal.