The primary function of a signal connector is to move electrical signals from one location to another, so it is important to consider the electrical requirements of the application when defining the connector. Starting with basic direct current (DC) parameters, understanding current and voltage defines many of the necessary characteristics. The presence of voltage affects material selection, and if high voltages are present, insulating materials with strong insulating properties may be required. While alternatives to connectors with wide pin spacing may be chosen, this may result in connectors larger than the required size, which may not be suitable depending on the space constraints of the application.
The current defines the contacts or pins on the connector and must handle anything that may happen in addition to being able to handle steady-state current. In some cases, multiple pins can be connected together to handle high power signals such as feeds and grounds, another approach (if space constraints prevent separate connectors for power and signals) is to use hybrid technology to specify modern connector types Dedicated pins for power and signal routing
While the pins of the signal connector can handle current currents, the pins have a small inherent level of resistance that can generate heat in very high current applications. These can lead to safety issues or simply require additional cooling, and can also add cost and take up space.
In addition, in addition to meeting these electrical requirements, parallel signal connectors need to be considered because space has become a consideration in these specifications: the connector needs to be large enough to handle the required current, the connector needs to have enough contacts, the connector should have space, etc. to allow for cooling or additional cooling factors.
