Our engineers have created a wide range of connector overviews and tutorials to inform and educate engineers and entrepreneurs about the arrow.com connector ecosystem. Find helpful product highlights for specific connector releases, see how certain connectors compare to each other, and learn about innovative connector applications.
RJ45 or 8P8C connectors? Finding the true ethernet standard
RJ45 or 8P8C connector? If you’re at all involved in computer networking, you have undoubtedly heard both terms used interchangeably when referring to the connectors on the end of your Ethernet cables. But are the terms actually interchangeable, and if they are not, how did this incredibly common practice come to be? That’s what we’ll explore today.
Connectors: Basics of terminal blocks and types
While components are ever increasingly being integrated into single packages such as SoCs and single-board computers, it can be argued that one component type, connectors, will always be around. In this article, we will learn the basics of connectors, why choosing the right one is vital for any design and some common examples of terminal blocks.
Electrical connector resistance: Impact on circuit design
Just about every system we look to design utilizes connectors of some sort. These connectors may be internal only, they might connect one board to another, add antennas for communication, or give us external inputs and outputs for power and signal. One thing that comes with every connector is additional resistance in our signal chain. The resistance, depending on the connector, can be a good or bad thing for what we are trying to achieve.
Choosing a connector: 7 questions to ask
With millions of connectors to choose from—circular, header and PCB receptacles, power connectors, RF and more—finding the right one can be difficult. Here are seven key questions to help you zero in on the right connector for your application.
High-voltage connector design: Connector types & design issues
High voltages are needed in a wide range of applications, including high-voltage power supplies, high-voltage test equipment, hi-pot testers, electrostatic filters, UV curing systems, high-voltage ignited lamps, mass spectrometers, electron beams, measurement equipment for cable diagnosis, plasma process technology, industrial X-ray technology, ultrasonic welding systems, flasher systems, measurement for the solar industry, and laser applications.
USB connector types: Mini USB connectors & pinouts
USB cables come with five different basic types of USB connector: types A, B, micro B, mini B, and C. The mini connector is common on older non-Apple mobile phones and other portables. However, the USB micro has largely replaced the mini in recent years, and USB-C may soon replace the micro.
Fiber-optic connectors: SC vs. LC
Fiber-optic connectors are continuously evolving with the maturity of optical fiber transmission technology. At the same time, the demand for fiber-optic connectivity devices such as the Subscriber Connector (SC) and Lucent Connector (LC) is escalating due to a massive growth in high-bandwidth communication and data services.
Electrical connector reliability: Connector types & concerns
Reliability is a term that's commonly used in our daily lives. Some cars are sought after for their high reliability; others avoided for the opposite reason. Reliability is a desired quality in a friend, a boss, a paycheck; yet its precise meaning can vary depending on the context.
SATA vs. M.2: Connectors that enable faster computing
NVMe, SATA, PCIe and M.2 connectors are breaking through the connectivity bottleneck in data storage to enable smaller and faster design. We break down the top data storage connectivity technology of today and tell you what the future of flash data storage will look like.
Industrial connectivity protocols - A primer
Industrial networks are crucial to the working of a plant or factory. With thousands of end nodes aggregated for control and monitoring, often operating under harsh environments, the industrial network is characterized by strict requirements for connectivity and communication.
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