Today, features like Light sensors, Powerful stereo systems, Internet access, advanced driver assistance systems, and voice control systems are common in every vehicle, which means the ever-increasing diversity of the connection systems. According to SourceToday, there were 240 connectors in an average vehicle five years ago. We will understand automotive wire harness connectors in detail.
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Automotive Wire Harness Connector Basics
The automotive wire harness is an assembly of the connectors, cables, and terminals spread throughout the vehicle.
And connectors are responsible for transmitting electric power and information to different components within your car. There are different types and varieties of connectors used by automakers; for example, printed circuit boards, circular, rectangular, charging connectors, etc.
These connectors connect or disconnect the electrical lines and consist of male and female terminals. Male and Female terminals are collectively combined with linking you to the electrical connection, which results in fulfilling your desired action (e.g., automatic window or stereo system).
Wire harness in Motor Vehicle
What are the main functions of the Automotive Wire Harness Connector?
These connectors fulfill three purposes.
Internal connectivity
These connectors connect the components inside the car. For example, stereo systems, sensors, etc.
External connectivity
You can use the connectors during the car repair process. Mechanics try to detect the real situation of the car by connecting the vehicle with external equipment via an external connector.
Replacement
You can also use the connectors to replace other connected devices. Although for a temporary period, these connectors play a crucial role. By then, you are free to use your vehicle.
Electric cabling in car
Characteristics of Automotive Wire Harness Connector
It is no secret that automotive connection systems have high standards due to the different environmental factors involved in the vehicles functionality. And the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) keep the technical reliability sharp in light of the environmental conditions such as vibrations, braking oil, engine oil, high temperature, etc.
Here, it is super important that the different connections within the vehicles are connectable or disconnectable in rough working conditions. Therefore, producers focus on inventing a powerful connection system to ensure your cars best performance.
Automotive-colored connectors
Automotive Wire Harness Connector components and their functionality
Consider the following different components to make things easier for your understanding of the connector.
Connector Housing
You can use the connector housing to carry the terminals and pins while securing the connection with the mating part. You can also call it plastic insulation, whereas its design differentiates between male, female, sealed, and unsealed connectors.
However, it is crucial to know that the sealed connection system contains a radial seal that guards your electrical system against dust and water. Furthermore, this component has different coding in various notches. Also, manufacturers mark it with various colors to help new people understand its works.
Terminal Position Assurance
As the name implies, you will mobilize the terminal positions together in the housing through your hands. You insert the crimps into the housing and create a technical link. For assurance, the automaker/mechanic hears a sound of a certain click.
Electricians introduced this clicking property of the terminal to reduce mistakes in mass production. Once you make the perfect technical link, you will set the secondary lock to keep the connector in its location.
Connector Position Assurance
All the connectors are assembled connection systems via hands. Of course, if connectors lack proper assembly, you may be able to achieve the electrical connection. However, the connector will not protect the connection against water and wind.
Single Wire Seal
Most people use it to protect the cavity against environmental conditions. Automakers ensure to crimp the seals into the terminal and cable in one step and push it into each cavity. These Single wire seals comprise an important fluid known as silicon oil that supports the assembly process.
Block seals
Block seals also play a role similar to a single wire seal and protect the cavity from external factors while offering openings to retain cables. It means that a block seal guards several cavities altogether.
Cavity Plug
Goto Suntex Electronics to know more.
Explore more:A cavity plug protects unused cavities from external environmental factors by blocking them. You can insert and remove them using your hands or a screwdriver.
Wire harness with plastic housing
Types of Automotive Wire Harness Connectors based on connection systems
You can connect three types of connection systems as per desire.
Wire-to-wire Connection
This type of connection comprises male and female connectors. Mostly, it connects and disconnects small applications and creates a link with the main wire harness.
Board-to-wire connection
The connection is fixed to a conductor board using this type of connection system. Here, the conductor board is linked to the male connector known as the PCB Header. On the other hand, the female terminal links to the wiring harness. This connection connects the engine control unit with the main power source.
Device Connections
This type of connection system is used mainly in sensor systems. And similar to the board-to-wire connection, it is composed of female mating parts already assembled for the given application.
Cable assemblies
Types of Automotive Wire Harness Connectors based on the electrical system
According to ISO standard , there are about four types of connectors.
A-Group connectors
These connectors, also known as Power Connectors, join the vehicles head unit to the power supply unit.
B-Group connectors
These types of connectors are used to connect the speaker around the vehicle.
C-Group connectors
These types of connectors are optional and used to connect peripherals.
D-Group connectors
These types of connectors are optional similar to C-Group and are used to connect the navigation system.
Wiring harnesses under the dashboard
Standards of the automotive connectors
Automotive electrical connections are prepared, tested, and installed in the vehicles per global standards and specifications. It includes ISO:
for passenger car radio connections.
for Road vehicle front radio installation.
for Passenger car motor connections.
Challenges faced in the automotive connector industry
With technological advancements in heavy-duty vehicles, many connectors are used to overcome excessive stress and strain experience. However, manufacturers tend to rely heavily on connector equivalents or component availability. Therefore, it creates multiple problems since this connector equivalent is less durable than the real connectors.
Another challenge faced in the automotive connection industry is sourcing wire harnesses in todays market. Several distributors either do not deliver the connectors and wire harnesses on time or dont have the desired quantity.
Wiring harnesses
Conclusion
There is a rising need for more durable wiring and connectors as modern automobiles become increasingly networked and microprocessor-controlled. Do you need help with them? Here at Cloom, we offer wiring harness and cable assembly solutions so that you do not have to worry about perfection.
^^^This is great advice. Id first decide what type of connectors you want to use. There are many types of water tight and non water tight. Check out Molex, deutsch, weatherpack, and several others. They use the same type (male/female barrel type) of terminals. Once you decide which you want to use get a kit for the type you want. There are many places to get a kit or each individual piece. Follow the advice and get pins and seals in bulk, youll be happy you did when you are knee deep into a project only to run out. Lastly find a crimp tool that works with your terminals. There are budget crimpers that do a good job, but you will have to crimp the wire and then crimp the insulation in two steps where some nicer more expensive ones will do it in one step. My most important piece of advice is to watch a couple of videos on making up a connector and practice. Make sure you can make good reliable crimps before jumping into the job. Its not hard and you will be knocking them out in two or three crimps! Make a thread on this project, Id love to follow along.
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