Purchasing industrial connectors for any purpose can be a relatively expensive task. So it only makes sense that when making that purchase, and installing those products, you'll want to do so in a way that ensures they will operate at the highest possible level. We all like to let our electronics and technology run in the background, freeing us up to think about more essential tasks and by taking a few extra steps at the start, you can rest easy afterward knowing that your connectors are sure to be free of any interference or damage.
That can be done simply by outfitting your connectors with some of the additional products made specifically to enhance their level of performance. Listed below are just a few of the options available to help you ensure that absolutely nothing gets in their way:
The use of backshells
Many professionals reading this will already be aware that backshells, which form the back end of a connector, securing the cable while also providing strain relief, environmental protection, and other benefits are an essential addition that will help their connectors perform at their best. But some may not know that backshells can also help to protect industrial connectors against some of the most common threats and other problems that have plagued them in the past. For instance, backshells help to form an integral protection against EMI and other forms of screen interference which is another reason they are so often relied upon by people across nearly every professional, medical and military sector.
However, it's not so simple as to just choose to outfit your connector with a backshell and move on from there. At Interconnect Systems, we offer an exceptionally wide selection of backshells made for circular, Mil-Spec, and rectangular industrial connectors. Additionally, those many options are each individually customisable, available in a variety of models, finishes, materials, and more. And by finding precisely the right fit, you can ensure your industrial connector stays in tiptop shape very far into the future.
Sleeving, conduits, and other accessories that boost your connector
With that said, backshells are hardly the only addition that can help you to optimise your investment in industrial connectors. Another option is additional sleeving, which not only provides mechanical protection, and further neutralises EMI, but also crucially protects your cables and wires against more physical issues like dirt and environmental hazards. Available from Interconnect Systems in many different categories, sleeving is another important layer on a fully-optimised industrial connector.
Conduit systems also add an immense boost to the performance of industrial connectors. Offering a more thorough enclosure for interconnect wiring, they help to ensure there is no loosening, leaks, or corrosion emanating from any materials running through the connector. Additionally, they are manufactured in a variety of metals and plastics, and are quite customisable, just like so many of the other products offered by Interconnect. Often overlooked, they're yet another important link in the chain of products protecting your industrial connectors.
When in doubt run a test
At the end of the day, you can outfit your connectors with all the accessories and add-ons currently available but to ensure they are performing at their best, you're going to want to see proof for yourself.
There are many cable tester products currently available that can help you to do just that, including some distributed via Interconnect Systems. To name just one example (specific to the aerospace industry), there is the MIL-STD-1553 Databus Cable Tester. That kit includes a S2476N databus network/harness tester, aircraft-specific interconnect leads, consumable spares, a databus repair kit, a transit case, and various other parts that will help you to isolate and repair even the slightest wiring faults found in your setup. But that's only one of the many benefits offered by this particular testing kit: It can be used on any MIL-STD-1553 platform; it utilises "busmapping" to enact preventative maintenance; and perhaps best of all, it can be run by one single operator.
Additionally, the great benefits offered by this testing kit, as well as its operator-friendly design, are not unique to this specific product. Rather, the MIL-STD-1553 cable tester is quite indicative of many other testing kits currently available, which are similarly essential for those relying on industrial connectors and other cable-based products in their home, vehicle, aircraft, or base. So if you haven't already confirmed the level at which your products are performing, then it might be time to do so and find out.
For more information on how to protect your connectors against interference, and ensure they're performing at their very best, get in touch with the team at Interconnect Systems, an industry leader for more than 20 years. And to purchase the best backshells on the market today, and other products that can optimise your industrial connectors, contact us at 1800 812 214.
