Connectors, socket connectors, terminals, is the difference between the three?

- 2022-11-11-

The application range of terminals, connectors, socket connectors? Effect how? Application field? If you have this confusion, we will be explained from three aspects.
A: the difference on the concept
1.The terminal blocks
For the convenience of wire connection arises at the historic moment, is used to implement a kind of accessories of electrical connections. Is the metal conductor encapsulated in insulation plastic parts, both ends can be inserted into the holes of the wire.Such as, for example, there are two wire, sometimes need to connect, sometimes need to disconnect, then connect them can use the terminal blocks, and you can disconnect at any time, without having to weld them up or intertwined, very convenient.
2.Connectors
Also called receptacle connectors, is one of the electronic engineering technical personnel often contact parts. Also referred to as: plugs, sockets, generally refers to the electric connector, which connect two of the active components, transmission current or signal.
3.Socket connectors
 It’s a kind of connection joint positioning electronic circuit, consisting of plug-ins and joint, usually they can be completely separated.Connectors and switches in common is that by the changes of the contact state, to realize the conversion circuit, the essential difference lies in the connector only insert, pull out two states, cannot achieve transformation in the ontology, and can switch on the ontology realizes conversion circuit. The corresponding relation of connector contact is fixed.
B: the difference between the belonging scope
1.Connector = connector? The connector is the connection of the wire to the wire, and the connector is the connection between the wire and the board and the box. In real life, people often vaguely think of them as the same thing. 
2. Terminal = connector? Connector is a general term, and terminal belongs to one of the categories of connectors. Generally, we commonly see connectors, usually including plastic shell and terminal, plastic shell in the majority, play a protective role; The terminal is metal and acts as a conduction. 
3.The relationship between the three in the electrical, electrical field, connectors and connectors (or connectors) refer to the same thing. Generally understood, they are the kind without tools, with a hand plug and guard can be quickly connected. And the terminal, to use tools (such as screwdriver, cold press clamp) will be two together, generally used for power input and output.
 C: The difference between the actual application 

Wire connection can be said to be everywhere, so the use of connectors is very wide, applied in various industries. Connectors are divided into many categories, including rectangular connectors, circular connectors, stepped connectors, etc. The terminal row generally belongs to rectangular connectors. The terminal row is generally used in the electronic and electrical field, for PCB circuit board, printed board and distribution cabinet internal and external connection. The use of terminal more and more, but also more and more types. At present, in addition to the most widely used PCB board terminals, there are hardware terminals, nut terminals, spring terminals, etc., in the power industry has a special terminal row, terminal box, above the wiring terminals, single layer, double layer, current, voltage, ordinary, broken and so on. In short, connectors, terminals and socket connectors are different application manifestations of the same concept, which are popular names according to different practical applications.