Edge Card Connectors

Edge card connectors are embedded devices that mate with the edges of single-sided or double-sided printed circuit boards (PCBs) in order to provide an external electrical connection. Industry standards define power specifications such as voltage levels, power pin placements, and power requirements. For example, PICMG 1.0/1.2 standards define the power specifications for peripheral component interconnect (PCI) and industry standard architecture (ISA) buses. The contacts of edge card connectors are made of metal and are plated with a thin, metallic coating that improves conductivity and prevents rust and corrosion. Plating materials include gold, copper, nickel, and silver. Contacts are housed in a termination assembly that is usually made of plastic. Edge card connectors are used widely in personal computers (PCs) and, depending on their components, are suitable for some lead-free applications.

Typically, edge card connectors are available with one or two rows of contacts. Contact pitch, the distance between pins, ranges from as small as 0.0197'' or 0.5 mm to as large as 0.111'' or 2.84 mm. Some edge card connectors are straight. Others are right-angled. A variety of termination options are available. Crimping compresses or deforms a contact wire barrel around a conductor. Wire wrapping requires the use of a special tool to wrap a stripped or unstripped wire around a terminal post that contains a series of sharp edges. Insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) force an insulated conductor into a restrictive slot, slicing through insulation. In PCB solder or solder pin termination, electrical connection is made by soldering wires or pins onto a printed circuit board. With solder cup terminations, soldering the connector onto the mounting location creates an electrical connection. Termination methods also include cage clamps, screws, lugs, and quick-connect tabs.

Performance specifications for edge card connectors include number of contacts, voltage rating, current rating, contact resistance, insulation resistance, dielectric withstanding voltage, and operating temperature. The voltage rating is the maximum operating voltage. The current rating is the maximum recommended continuous flow of electrical current. Contact resistance measures the electrical resistance of mated contacts that are assembled in a connector for typical service use. Insulation resistance is the electric resistance between two conductors separated by an insulating material. Overall contact resistance is a wire-to-wire measurement. Dielectric withstanding voltage is the maximum potential gradient that a dielectric material can withstand without failure. Operating temperature is a full-required range.

Edge card connectors meet the requirements of a variety of national and international standards and approval organizations. Examples include Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).  TÜV Rheinland/Berlin-Brandenburg provides international approval services for product safety. The CSA mark indicates compliance with Canadian standards, while the CEE and VDE marks identify conformity with European guidelines. Edge card connectors are also available that meet Japanese industrial standards (JIS). 

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Part Numbers for Edge Card Connectors