How Does Interlocking Ensure The Safe Use Of Heavy-duty Connectors?

Interlocking, or signal management circuitry, is a guarantee for the safety and reliability of the heavy duty wire connectors system. Adding interlocking prevents dangerous situations such as arcing caused by live disconnection and closure during actual operation of the entire wire connector heavy duty system.

Currently common heavy duty electric cable connectors systems, while offering multiple latch options, generally integrate interlocking functionality within the latches. Through the interlocking logic sequence, an interlocked heavy duty automotive electrical connectors system can be shut down when energized. Upon disconnection, the power terminals and interlocking terminals will sequentially connect/disconnect. In automotive heavy duty 12v connectors designs, most terminals, in addition to interlocking functionality, employ 90-degree or 180-degree plug designs to provide EMI shielding. Furthermore, the entire heavy duty 12 volt connectors system utilizes a wide range of temperature and wire diameters to adapt to many hybrid and pure electric vehicle applications.

Under interlocking, the response time of the 12v heavy duty connector system to the interlocking terminal circuit is between 10 and 100 ms. When the disconnection time of the connected system is less than the system's response time, a safety risk of live plugging and unplugging arises. This is a risk that interlocking cannot eliminate while improving the overall safety performance of the system.