Information

A STEP AHEAD
Common Contact System Technical Manual
12
AWG American Wire Gage - Reference National Bureau
of Standards Copper Wire Table (Handbook 100) AVS.
Barrel - (1) Conductor barrel: the section of the terminal,
splice or contact that accommodates the stripped conductor,
or (2) Insulation barrel: The section of the terminal splice or
contact that accommodates the conductor insulation.
Barrel Chamber - The bevel at the end of the conductor
barrel providing for easier entry.
Belled Mouth (bellmouth) - The flared or wide entrance of
a terminal, splice or contact barrel to permit easier insertion
of the conductor.
Bifurcated Contact - Describes lengthwise slotting of a flat
spring contact as used in a printed circuit edge connector.
Circumferential Crimp - The type of crimp where the
crimping dies completely surround a barrel resulting in
symmetrical indentations in the barrel.
Closed Entry - A contact or a contact cavity design in the
insert or body of the termination assembly which limits the
size and position of the mating contact or printed circuit
board to a predetermined dimension.
Contact - The conductive element in a termination assembly
which mates with a corresponding element for the purpose
of transferring electrical energy.
Contact, Bellows - A contact in which a multileaf spring is
folded. This provides more uniform spring rate over the full
tolerance range of the mating unit.
Contact, Crimp - A contact whose conductor barrel is a
hollow cylinder accepting the conductor. After a bared
conductor is inserted, a crimping tool is applied to swage
or form the contact metal firmly against the conductor. An
excellent mechanical and electrical contact results. Often
referred to as a solderless contact.
Contact, Dressed - A contact with a permanently attached
contact retaining member.
Contact, Female - A contact into which the mating contact
is inserted. Similar in function to a socket contact.
Contact, Fixed - A contact permanently included in the
insert material. It is mechanically locked, cemented or
embedded in the insert.
Contact, Insertable / Removable - A contact that can be
mechanically joined to or removed from an insert. Usually
special tools lock the contact in place or remove it for repair
or replacement.
Contact, Male - A contact of design to make contact by
insertion into a mating contact. Similar in function to a pin
contact.
Contact, Nude - A contact with a contact retainer
that remains in the insert at all times.
Contact, Open Entry - A socket whose engaging
end is split and therefore vulnerable to distortion or
damage from test probes or other wedging devices.
Contact, Pin - Male-type contact designed to fit inside
the mating female contact member.
Contact, Sheet-Metal - Contacts made by stamping
and bending sheet metal rather than by the machining
of metal stock.
Contact, Socket - A female-type contact (usually
completely surrounded by insert material).
Contact, Solder - A contact which has a cup, hollow-
cylinder eyelet or hook to accept a conductor and
retain the applied solder.
Contact Area - The area in contact between two
conductors, two contacts or a conductor and a contact
permitting the flow of electricity.
Contact Arrangement - The number, spacing and
arrangement of contacts in a termination assembly.
Contact Engaging and Separating Force - Force
needed to either engage or separate mating contacts.
Contact Float - The overall side play and/or angular
displacement of contacts within the insert cavity.
Contact Inspection Hole - A hole in the cylindrical rear
portion of contact used to check the depth to which
a conductor has been inserted. Crimp-type contacts
usually have inspection holes; solder-types seldom do,
except larger sizes in which the hole’s function is to
allow solder and air to bleed out during soldering.
Contact Resistance - Electrical resistance of a pair
of engaged contacts. Resistance may be measured in
ohms or millivolt drop at a specified current over the
engaged contacts.
Contact Retainer - A device either on the contact or
in the insert to retain the contact in an insert or body.
Contact Retention -
The axial load in either direction
which a contact can withstand without being dislodged
from its normal position within an insert or body.
Contact Shoulder - The flanged portion of the contact
which limits its travel into the insert.
Contact Size - An assigned number denoting the size
of the contact.
Contact Glossary