Cables and connectors underpin everything

15 connector articles

This web-based guide, “Fundamentals of connectors,” includes 15 articles in four sections: basics, technology, applications and standards. Basics covers definitions, types and classifications, and structures and principles. Technology covers ratings, and electrical, mechanical characteristics. Applications covers precautions, failures and lifecycles. Standards covers safety and requirements.

Omron

Field to control room

This 3.5-minute video, “DCS wiring connections from field to control room,” covers analog I/O and processor cards, and traces the basic route from field junction boxes, through marshaling and system cabinets, and onward to workstations.

Unique Instrumentation

Five basics pieces

This collection of five online articles, “Connector basics you’ll want to know,” includes roles and designs, interconnection points, board mounting, contact portions and materials.

Hirose Electric

Reading PLC diagrams

This online article, “How to read PLC wiring diagrams for industrial automation” by Fathima Sadina, covers hardware, such as breaker switches, busbars, circuit breakers, switched-mode power supplies (SMPS), analog I/O, digital I/O and terminal boards. It also shows how to read diagrams, including Profibus-to-PLC communications, PLC analog I/O cards and PLC digital I/O cards.

Institute of Innovation and Professional Development

Types and applications

This online article, “What are the different types of connectors? Their uses and applications,” covers types, contacts, terminations, requirements and specs, insertion force, pin pitch, ingress protection ratings, and industry applications.

Norcomp

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Wiring PLC panels, etc.

This nine-minute video, “How to wire a PLC control panel like a pro” by Chris Guyatt, covers communications, inputs and outputs for Zennio PLCs, used mostly in HVAC applications. This video is linked to others on “Reducing control panel wiring by 31%," “Fastest way to learn automation,” and "How to read electrical diagrams.”

Bee Automation

Going in circular

This blog post, “The basics of circular connectors and cables” by Jeff Smoot, covers their characteristics, uses, M5, M8 and M12 designations and codes, applicable standards, selection criteria and application examples.

Same Sky

Resistant materials; codes for power

The first of two short, online articles, “Choosing the right cables for enhanced industrial automation” by Jack Crider, covers types, jacket materials, and the best materials for resisting different conditions. The second, “Understanding power cable options for industrial automation” by Adis Halimic, covers the basic types, characteristics and applications of power cabling in industrial automation, including A-coded M12, T-coded M12, L-coded M12, and 7/8 inch.

Balluff

Load-bearing capacity

The online article, “Cable basics: understanding dynamic, load-bearing capacity” by Lucas Kehl, includes application details for specifying the right cables, It, and covers push and pull, bending and torsion loads, selecting insulators, jacketing materials, bending radius and stranding techniques, and developing specifications for high-acceleration power and control cables.

Machine Design