Glossary For Connector/Housings
Glossary for connector/housings
Throughout the Service Manual certain terms are used to describe components and their location on the connector/housings.
A standard connector consists of a housing with cable terminals inside it. There are also connectors with different covers around the housings.
The purpose of the housings is to insulate the cable terminals and ensure a good electrical contact as well as to protect them from damage and deterioration due to the environment.
Pin housings and socket housings
Pin housings hold the Pin (male) cable terminals.
Socket housings hold the Socket (female) cable terminals.
The housings interlock with each other or to a component There are both color and mechanical physical) codings used.
Connector halves
When a pin housing and a socket housing are connected together they are also called the connector halves.
Locking
To open the connector halves a catch must be released. There are two main types of locking systems: Active locking and Passive locking.
The housings - contact side V. cable side
The Contact side is the front of the housing where the cable terminals, Male or Female, are connected with each other.
The Cable side is the rear of the housing where the cable enters it.
The housings, top or bottom
Refers to which orientation the housing is shown from in illustrations.
The side in the illustrations that is up is referred to as the top in the text. The side that is down is called the bottom.
The housings, cavities and position numbers
A cavity is the space in the housing where a cable terminal is located. Each cavity has a number and that number (terminal number) is given in the wiring diagrams as the position number.
Example: designation 24/11:3 means position 3 in connector 24/11.
The housing cavity opening
The cavity opening on the housing contact side has an easily identifiable shape, to match the different types of cable terminals. It is the cavity shape which determines which terminal removal tool is to be used.
Extraction groove
Some housing cavity openings have a extraction groove. The groove is used to insert a terminal removal tool. Cavity openings can have one or two extraction grooves.
Moisture proof housings
Moisture proof housings have moisture proof cable terminals. The moisture proof cable terminals have wires fitted and then sealed in a plastic material.
Other housings have enhanced moisture resistance through addition of various types of seal such as gaskets, a rubber sleeve fitted over the cables, plugs in unused cavities and seals on the insulation wings of the cable terminal.
Terms used for cable terminals
There are many different designs of cable terminals - tab, pin and timer are all examples. Here are some terms which apply to all cable terminals.
- The different types of cable terminals are described in extracting the cable terminal from the housing.
Size
Cable terminal size is calculated as the width of the tab section. The receptacle terminal size is given as the matching tab's size. For pin/socket terminals the size is the diameter of the pin.
Cable terminal specifications are written with the size first, for example 2.8 Tab.
Cable areas
Every cable terminal type is available in sizes (approx 2 to 4) for different cable areas, so the size of the core wings and insulation wings vary.
Seal sws (single wire seal) on cable terminals
On SWS (single wire seal) cable terminals a seal must be used. The seal is crimped round the cable at the insulation wings and seals against the cavity in a housing.
Locking tab
Most cable terminals have one or two locking tabs which retain the cable terminal in the cavity. There are also cable terminals without any locking tab.
It is important that the locking tab is sticking up from the cable terminal so that it catches properly in the housing when it is connected.
Dimples
Some tab/receptacle terminals in single pin (and multi pin) variants have dimples in the housing.
The dimple is a mechanical locking device between the tab and receptacle terminals.
Core crimp and insulation wings
The cable terminals crimping section consists of two parts, which are both formed at the same time in the crimp tool.
Core crimp (1) for the electrical connection with the stripped section of the cable (the core).
Insulation wings(2), which are pressed on to the cable's insulating sheath and support the core crimp, reducing the effects of mechanical stress.
Primary locking and secondary locking
The cable terminals are retained in position in a housing by different types of locking devices which prevent the cable terminal being pushed out of the rear of the housing when they are connected together.
The locking catches must be opened when inserting a cable terminal in a housing.
Primary locking
Primary locking is normally on the cable terminal, consisting usually of one or two locking tabs. See examples in illustration.
- Single primary locking uses one locking tab
- Double primary locking has two locking tabs
If there is no primary locking on the cable terminal there may be a type of locking catch located in the housing cavity instead. There is always one separate primary locking for each cable terminal.
Secondary locking
Secondary locking is always located in the housing itself. Secondary locking can be a socket section or locking lid with catches, which must be opened in order to remove a cable terminal. Secondary locking protects, supports and holds the cable terminals in place.