Should You Substitute Wire Assembly Connectors? Miracle Electronics

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Should You Substitute Wire Assembly Connectors?
Miracle Electronics
Any kind of substitution can be a 50-50 chance
of success and so is the case with substitution
of wire assembly connectors. Substituting wire
assembly connectors can help in coming up with
lesser expensive versions of wire assemblies, but
it may also lead to issues with the interface if
the substituted connector is of inferior quality,
or if the substitution is not done correctly.
This makes it absolutely necessary to choose the
right connector and the right engineer/manufactur
er to connect your connector to your wire
assembly correctly. From the long list of wire
assembly manufacturers in India, one name you can
rely upon to provide you with the best
connectors and engineering is Miracle
Electronics. Here, you have the option to choose
from a variety of connectors like circular,
D-38999 circular, D-Sub, and Mill Spec.
connectors, and can have your wire assemblies
customized as per your requirements.
Substituting wire assembly connectors is a common
practice, and a variety of connectors are
commonly available in the market, most of which
are identical in fit, form, and function, which
is why substitution generally does not have any
impact on the performance of an
interconnect. However, there are some connectors
that are produced to very strict tolerances and
can include electrical components in the form of
circuit boards or EProms which cant be
substituted because of their complexity. These
connectors are specifically used in CXP,
InfiBand, and Fibre Channel applications.
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• However, if you are absolutely determined on
  substituting your wire assembly connectors,
  there are certain things you need to be aware of.
  There are certain concerns that need to be
  addressed, and some questions that need to be
  answered. For example
• Will the connector properly mate with the
  equipment it is to be used with?
• Will the connector provide the correct amount of
  strain relief for the wire?
• Will the connector be able to withstand the
  environment it will be used in?
• Will the connector properly mate with the
  equipment it is to be used with?
• If the substitute connectors are built to
  tolerances that are not the same as the
  connection they are proposed to mate to, it
  could result in broken opens and complete failure
  of the interface. The difference in tolerances
  will not let the contacts mate properly, which
  will result in such hazards.
• Will the connector provide the correct amount of
  strain relief for the wire?
• The next concern is whether the substitute
  connectors are provided with the proper amount of
  strain relief for the application the assembly
  is to be used in. If the strain relief provided
  is not appropriate, the wire could deteriorate
  at the exit point of the connector, causing
  complete failure of the assembly.
• Will the connector be able to withstand the
  environment it will be used in?
• In case of incompatibility of the substitute
  connectors to environmental conditions, the
  entire functioning of the wire assembly can be
  disrupted. For example, in case the wire assembly
  is likely to be exposed to chemicals, cleaning
  fluids, and moisture, the connectors must be
  rated as being fluid resistant or else it will
  lead to complete failure of the wire assembly due
  to shorts or corrosion of contacts and
  termination points.
• For more details, please visit Miracle
  Electronics