USB connectors come in two flavors: host and peripheral. In the USB standard, there is a difference between the two, and the connectors on cables and devices reflect this. However, all USB connectors will have some things in common:

This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.There is one consistency however; all antennas, cables or anything was being attached to a potential stationary object used an outer nut or inner thread design and all stationary devices used the outer thread design. This applies for all SparkFun products. All of our antennas are either SMA male or RP-SMA female. All of our boards are either SMA female or RP-SMA male. RP-SMA Connectors C13 female IEC power connector, on a fairly standard AC power supply cable. Cables with this end can be found all around the world, usually with the dominant local AC connector at the other end. Printed circuit board (PCB) mounted screw terminals let individual wires connect to a PCB through leads soldered to the board. Hybrid connector". Telecommunications: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms (FS1037C). National Telecommunications and Information Administration. 23 August 1996.

Molex connectors are designed to carry a lot of current: up to 11A per pin. For projects where a lot of power may be needed--a CNC machine, for instance, or a 3D printer- a very common method for powering the project is to use a desktop PC power supply and connecting the various system circuits through Molex connectors.a b c d e f Connectors – Technologies and Trends (PDF). ZVEI – German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association. August 2016. Screw terminals are low in cost when compared to other types of connectors, and can be readily designed into products for circuits carrying currents of from a fraction of an ampere up to several hundred amperes at low to moderate frequencies. The terminals easily can be re-used in the field, allowing for the replacement of wires or equipment, generally with standard hand tools. Screw terminals usually avoid the requirement for a specialized mating connector to be applied to the ends of wires. Field Installable: The secret to mastering connectors". Design Spark. RS Components. 16 March 2017. Solder connectors . Retrieved 1 July 2019. Anything 2.4GHz (Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, and Nordic) generally use the new convention: RP-SMA male on the antennas and RP-SMA female on the modules.

While wires may be crimped, they should not be heavily tinned with solder prior to installation in a screw terminal, since the soft metal will cold flow, resulting in a loose connection and possible fire hazard. [ citation needed] Screw connectors sometimes come loose if not done up tightly enough at fitting time. Verifying adequate tightening torque requires calibrated installation tools and proper training. In the UK, all screw connectors on fixed mains installations are required to be accessible for servicing, for this reason. [ citation needed] Advantages and disadvantages [ edit ] Two types of screw terminals showing a significant development in design. Basic, with the wires held between the screw heads and the terminals (left) and with the wires held, reversely, between the metal clamping plates and the rear of the terminals (right).Polarity is the final aspect to consider; most often, the sleeve will be considered 0V and the tip will be a positive voltage relative to the sleeve. Many devices will have a small diagram indicating the polarity expected by the device; care should be taken to adhere to this, as an improper power supply may damage the device. Applications [ edit ] Two paired screw terminals, typically used for connecting ceiling-mounted light fixtures

Mating cycles - Connectors have a finite life, and connecting and disconnecting them is what wears them out. Datasheets usually present that information in terms of mating cycles, and it varies widely from one technology to another. A USB connector may have a lifetime in the thousands or tens of thousands of cycles, while a board-to-board connector designed for use inside of consumer electronics may be limited to tens of cycles. It's important that you select a connector with a suitable life for the application. Mount Endres, Herbert (19 December 2011). "Gold or Tin versus Gold and Tin?". Molex . Retrieved 1 July 2019.In the case of insulated crimp connectors, the crimped area lies under an insulating sleeve through which the pressing force acts. During crimping, the extended end of this insulating sleeve is simultaneously pressed around the insulated area of the cable, creating strain relief. The insulating sleeve of insulated connectors has a color that indicates the wire's cross-section area. Colors are standardized according to DIN 46245: a b c Worley, Jon (31 July 2018). "Circular Connector Terminology Guide". NYK Component Solutions . Retrieved 2018-10-15. PCB mount connectors soldered to a printed circuit board, providing a point for cable or wire attachment. [6] :56 (e.g. pin headers, screw terminals, board-to-board connectors)