Many EOEMs, especially those in the industrial and telecommunications industries, require their connectors be subject to additional, more stringent performance testing beyond the connector’s standard qualification tests. Their applications may require high cycle connectors, exposure to harsh environments, or be expected to perform over a much longer life expectancy than the average connector.
High Cycle Connectors
Let’s say it another way … few connector sets are subject to 2,500 – 10,000 mating cycles, and few have to survive the equivalent of a brutal Mixed Flowing Gas test. But, if your application requires that, you should know about Samtec Extended Life Products (ELP). ELPs are popular Samtec interconnects that are tested to much higher mating cycles (i.e., high cycle connectors), and they pass a nasty 10 year Mixed Flowing Gas (MFG) test.
EDT and MFG
A product must pass two tests to be ELP certified. First is an Extended Durability Test (EDT), which subjects the interconnect system to a higher cycle count. Note EDT is not a test to failure; rather, we test the interconnects to a set number of cycles and rate the connector at that level. The major stresses in EDT are thermal shock and humidity, and connectors are certified if they experience ≤ 15 mΩ LLCR from the initial value. Click here for an example of an Extended Durability Test.
Second, the product must pass a 10 Year Mixed Flowing Gas (MFG) test, based on EIA-364-1000. Click here for an example of a MFG test.
Standard Samtec Design Qual Testing
By the way, standard Samtec Design Qualification Testing for all products includes the following:
- Gas tight
- Normal force
- Thermal aging
- Mating / Unmating / Durability (240 hours)
- IR / DWV
- CCC
- Mechanical shock / Random vibration / LLCR
- Mechanical shock / Random vibration / Nanosecond event detection
Again, most interconnect applications do not require this level of ruggedness, but verification is available if necessary. If you need to verify product performance to a specific level, Samtec is willing and able to test to your requirements. For more info about specific testing capabilities, or for more info on ELP in general, contact Samtec’s Engineering Support Group.
Other Links That May Be Of Interest:
- Gas Tight Testing For Connectors
- Thermal Shock Testing For Connectors
- Testing Connectors With Mixed Flowing Gas
- Using Nanosecond Event Detection To Identify Effects of Mechanical Shock and Random Vibration
- Mechanical Shock and Vibration and Your System
- Current Carrying Capacity
- Insulation Resistance and Dielectric Withstanding Voltage Testing
- Wishing For “Normal” Force
- The Effects Of Thermal Aging
- Understanding Low Level Contact Resistance (LLCR)
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