Test Points

Test points are electrical terminals that are used for testing electrical and electronic equipment. Test points use two basic mounting styles: through-hole and surface mount. Through hole technology (THT) mounts test points to printed circuit boards (PCBs) by inserting the component leads through holes in the board and then soldering. Surface mount technology (SMT) solders sockets to PCB traces instead. With through-hole test points, the maximum diameter of the mounting hole is an important parameter to consider. For both THT test points and SMT test points, maximum rated current is an important performance specification. In terms of features, test points may have plated holes or feature snap-fit mounting. Color-keyed products are also available. 

Test points use several different packing methods. Products that are packed in tape reel assemblies use a carrier tape with embossed cavities for storing individual components. A cover tape seals the carrier tape in place, and this composite tape is then wound on a reel that is placed in a corrugated shipping box for transport and delivery. Test points that are packaged in bulk are distributed as individual parts. Other unlisted, specialized, and proprietary packing methods are also available. Some test points are packed in shipping tubes or stick magazines that protect components during shipping and provide proper component location and orientation for use with industry-standard, pick-and-place board assembly equipment. 

There are two major European Union (EU) directives that affect test points: REACH and RoHS. Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) is the EU standard for supply chain information exchange. The REACH standard provides a portal to facilitate communication with suppliers. If test points are submitted via a trader portal, the supplier portal sends an e-mail to the relevant exporter, requesting registration and providing details about the substances contained in the product. When more complex test points are involved, exporters can also include their own sub-suppliers in the automatic substance query. 

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is a European Union (EU) directive that requires all manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment sold in Europe (including test points) to demonstrate that their products contain only minimal levels of the following hazardous substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl and polybrominated diphenyl ether. RoHS became effective on July 1, 2006 and continues to govern test points sold in EU nations.

• Performing Low Voltage Continuity Tests With High Voltage Hipot Testers
  Manufacturers of heating elements, cable harnesses, and aerospace cables must commonly perform point to point continuity tests and hipot tests as part of their routine production line tests. The...
  (read more)
• Sensicast Calibration Certification Service
  Sensicast offers NIST traceable, A2LA accredited calibration services for SensiNet Smart Sensors. If you are using RTDs, Sensicast can provide certified calibration for the external sensor and Smart...
  (read more)
• High Voltage Scanner Tester
  A high voltage scanner is a device designed to automatically route high voltages to any number of test points in a given device under test. High voltage scanners are useful when conducting multi-point...
  (read more)

Pages: 1 - 3 of 575

Part Numbers for Test Points