

Users should be aware that there are standardized jack and plug combinations in which the center pin is in the jack for some and in the plug for others. The connector with the center pin is accepted as male and the mating connector is accepted as female. Some in the industry avoid declaring male and female when discussing connectors, while many engineers, following the conventions of the RF connector industry, have accepted the center pin configuration for defining the gender of barrel power connectors. The definitions of gender for dc power connectors are less standardized than the definitions of jacks, plugs and receptacles. A receptacle is also mounted on a power cord and receives power from a mating plug. The plug is most often located on the electrical cord and supplies power from the power supply. The jack typically receives power and is mounted in the appliance, either on a PCB or in the chassis. While there is not an absolute standard for the definition of barrel power connectors, the electronics industry has drifted towards common usage of the terms jack, plug and receptacle. Jacks, Plugs, and Receptacles in Dc Power Applications Additionally, there should be little concern that sensitive components will be damaged by plugging a power connector into an incorrect receptacle since barrel connectors are almost exclusively used to supply power to electronic devices. A benefit of the recessed second conductor is that it is difficult to accidentally create a short between the two conductors. Both the jack and the plug of barrel connectors feature one exposed conductor and a second recessed conductor. These ratings ensure reliability when using these connectors in power delivery applications. Low voltage dc power connectors, often referred to as barrel connectors, have both current and voltage ratings specified by the manufacturer. Selecting one of the more commonly used models is often the best choice for power supply connections as these connectors are inexpensive and readily available. Specifying the proper dc power connector is not a complex task and can be completed quickly and painlessly. You have finished the initial phases of your new design and are anxious to see the project through to completion, but a few tasks remain, including the selection of the low voltage dc input power connector.
