What Is a Contact Pin?
A contact pin is a component used to connect electrical signals, consisting of crimp terminals. Contact pins are commonly employed in situations where soldering is challenging or when cable connections need to be made over the shortest possible distance for compactness. They are individually modularized, allowing for the replacement or reuse of each contact. There are various standards, and some types can connect directly to the circuit board.
Materials used for contact pins typically include brass, pure copper, and phosphor bronze, with gold-plated or tin-plated surfaces to prevent corrosion. Phosphor bronze offers greater flexibility, while pure copper is used for power supply applications.
Uses of Contact Pins
Contact pins find applications in various forms, including connections between wire cables and pin-socket type connector terminals in factory automation equipment and electronic devices.
They are also widely used in industrial settings, such as power connection terminals for evaluation boards for various ICs and modules, LAN boards for data communication, and control lines for aerospace industry equipment.
It is important to note that the shape and size of contact pins can vary depending on their intended use, so careful consideration is required when selecting the appropriate contact pins for a specific application.
Principles of Contact Pins
Contact pins, often referred to as contacts, come in two main types: male and female. Pin contacts are male, and socket contacts are female. Male contacts are also known as posts, while female contacts are referred to as housings.
When connecting to a circuit board, a connector that mates with the board, known as a post with a base, is used in conjunction with the housing. The contact pins connected to the wire cable establish electrical connections with the wiring on the board side via the connector.
Each contact pin is electrically connected to the cable through a crimp connection. The central part is the core wire section for crimping the core wire, while the outer part is the sheath section that is securely tightened along with the cable. The central part is also called the core wire barrel and is tightened together with the cable. The sheathed part is also known as the sheathed barrel.
A special crimping tool is used for crimping the contact pins to the cable, and the selection of the tool should be based on the size range of the pins.