Coaxial sockets are also referred to as tip connectors or barrel connectors. These are normally used to tail and top the cables and connect the cables to external power supplies. They are also used to connect cables to each other while keeping the outer interference shielded. Coaxial sockets are available in a wide variety of sizes to suit the dimensions of different wires. Each of these works in a combination to make sure that the signal transmission is smooth.
Choosing a coaxial socket
When you purchase a coaxial socket, you need to keep a few key parameters in your mind like
- The voltage
- The required frequency
- The environment where the sockets will be used
- Whether you need a male or a female coaxial socket.
Types of coaxial sockets on the basis of gender
In the case of electrical engineering, electrical cables, as well as coaxial sockets, have been divided into two types for easy identification
- Male
- Female
The male coaxial sockets have a connecting pin or a protrusion that gets inserted into the indentations present in the female coaxial socket. For example, plugs and sockets. When a male and a female coaxial socket is connected, it is referred to as mating.
Coaxial cable genders have been put in not just to allow easy identification of the physical connections but also to ensure that the power, as well as signal data, flows in the correct direction. The data always flows from the male to female connectors, which have matching electrical polarity. This prevents any unsafe installations as well as interference. Female connectors have been observed to be more resistant to damage compared to male ones. Therefore, the female coaxial sockets are placed in crucial sections while the male sockets are relegated to connecting the cables.
Male coaxial sockets design
Male coaxial sockets have a pretty straightforward design. They basically have a central pin that has been designed to fit a compatible plug that is present on the female connector. They also have a spring-loaded electrical contact point on the side.
Female coaxial socket design
Female coaxial sockets generally have a metal tube that has been designed to precisely contain the male pin. The male pin is normally referred to as the tip. The metallic tube is surrounded on the outer side by an insulating layer and then by an outer cylinder. This is referred to as a sleeve or barrel. The outer cylinder functions as the electrical contact point along with the inner tube. If you are planning to purchase coaxial sockets for your work, check out the TTS group. They have been helping their customers since 1979 with test tooling solutions.
Genderless coaxial sockets
There are genderless coaxial sockets available as well. These have the male protrusion points as well as the female slots combined in the same connection point. This enables these coaxial sockets to be connected to either female connectors or male connectors of matching types and sizes.
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