Adequate current flow is crucial in many devices for their proper operation. Whether they are household appliances or specialized machinery or solutions in mechanical industries, problems with current flow in such equipment are annoying and can even be dangerous. A key solution in this regard is specialized connectors. These seemingly small elements are often of crucial importance, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with their types and basic properties.
- What are electrical connectors and what types can be found on the market?
- How to choose the best connector?
- Aluminum to copper connectors – how to connect aluminum and copper?
What are electrical connectors and how to choose the best for your electrical installation? Let’s try to find out more about it.
What are electrical connectors and what types can be found on the market?
Connectors are otherwise known as cable terminations. They are used to connect wires, cables or controls. They are used in many different devices – from low-voltage to high-voltage. Currently on the market you can find a very wide range of the connectors: from those made of copper, aluminum, nickel, steel, brass, bronze, zinc and others. At present, however, aluminum and copper models are the most popular due to their characteristics.
Let’s take a look at the most important information about copper connectors:
- they are very easy to solder,
- thanks to their high flexibility and ductility, they provide a perfect connection,
- they conduct electricity and heat very well,
- they are durable and strong, yet widely available,
- can be recycled,
- they are used in the chemical industry, automotive industry, battery systems and high-power electrical installations.
In turn, the most important features of aluminum connectors are:
- high durability and corrosion resistance,
- low weight,
- possibility of easy processing,
- lower mechanical resistance compared to others,
- lower current conductivity,
- are used in the automotive industry, aerospace and installations exposed to the elements.
How to choose the best connector?
When choosing a certain type of electrical connectors, the first thing to do is to match them to individual needs and the type of installation. It is therefore necessary to look at where they will be used, whether their weight is important, whether they are high-current devices and so on. For many people, cost is also important. On the basis of these categories, you can choose the item that will work best in certain conditions.
Aluminum to copper connectors – how to connect aluminum and copper?
Sometimes it is necessary to connect copper components to aluminum. For this purpose, special aluminum to copper connectors should be used. There are several methods of making such a connection. The first is to use a small piece of copper wire and twist it like a braid with the aluminum wire. It is a good idea to protect the aluminum surface beforehand using a special antioxidant cream. With it, you can be sure that there will be no problem with conductivity. After that, the connection should be secured and connected using a suitable double-rated connector. Note, however, that it must be designed just for this type of connection. The second way to make an al cu connection is to enlist the help of a specialist, who, after proper training and using the appropriate tools, can use a purple COPALUM connector. However, this solution is not for laymen, but only professionals. It is often associated with the need to increase the size of the electrical box, thus generating additional costs.
