Wire connectors - or wire nuts, as some people might call them - are covers that help to connect two electrical wires together. These little connectors help to prevent exposure of live wires, while also protecting people from coming in contact with them and ensuring that the wires don’t touch any harmful surface.

Wire Connectors are Easy to Use

One of the best parts about wire connectors is their ease of use. Today, it’s easy to find wire connectors being used for pretty much anything - from DIY electrical projects to electrical repairs and much more. Even beginners can easily use these tools as they don’t require much in terms of getting used to. As long as you remember to turn off the electricity supply to the circuit you’re working with, you shouldn’t have much of a problem.

Today, it’s easy to see these electrical connectors in different sizes, shapes, materials, and colors. And as the scope of electrical work continues to grow, we’ve seen more different types of wire connectors being used. In this projects beginner’s guide, we’ll look into some of these connector types and explain how they work and the instances where they can be useful.

Twist-on wire connectors

With the twist-on wire connectors, you get external grooves - or wings - for easy handling. These cable connectors are twisted by hand, and they are held in place by interior grooves or a tapered coiled metal spring that is placed inside the connector itself.

Twist-on connectors are usually color-coded to show their capacity. They’re easy to twist on and off as you please, and they are commonly used in electrical wiring systems for ans, light switches, electrical outlets, HVACs, and more.

Push-in wire connectors

The push-in wire connectors are only to be used with solid wires. As their name suggests, their connection is achieved by pushing a solid wire into the connector until it is able to sit perfectly in place.

Push-in connectors come with a clear shell that allows you to see if the connection was properly made. The shell also makes it easier to find a loose connection while handling electrical repairs. And because the connectors are small, they can easily fit within junction boxes.

Crimp-on wire connectors

These wire splicing connectors usually come with copper or steel materials. They require a crimping tool to form the right connection, and since the connectors are crimped firmly in place, they are designed to be near-permanent.

Besides their size and ease of use, crimp-on connectors are also important when it comes to ensuring that a wiring job is perfectly done.

Board-to-board connectors

The board-to-board connectors are used to connect printed circuit boards (PCBs) without the need for an actual wire. These connectors are idealfor systems with limited space as they can easily reduce wire concentration and clutter.

Wire-to-wire connectors

A wire-to-wire connector is used to create a seamless link between two wire-terminated connectors. They can be used as electronic, electrical, and computer connectors, and also to fit inside female connectors.

Typically, a wire-to-wire connector comes with 1 to 50 circuits or locations. Their size is usually measured in American wire gauge (AWG) - a standard for non-ferrous wire conductor size identification.

Wire-to-board connectors

The wire-to-board connectors usually make use of crimp technology to connect one wire to a PCB. They are flexible and highly dependable, making them among the most popular wire splicing connectors available.

With these connectors, it’s easy to route electricity between PCBs in a simple manner. The connectors can be used in automotive, telecommunication, commercial, and industrial applications.

D-subminiature connectors

D-subminiature connectors are primarily used in computer applications, where they serve as critical powers on modems. These connectors are much larger than others, with two or more rows of pin counts and a D-shaped metal component that protects the connector and defines its shape.

DC connectors

Direct current (DC) connectors help to route direct current to a specific application. With their delicate functionality, it is important for you to use these connectors with caution to avoid any equipment damage.

USB connectors

Universal serial bus (USB) connectors are sleek interface devices that are capable of connecting to over 127 devices. Normal computers include at least two USB ports for optimal connectivity, while standard desktop computers can have up to four ports.

Since USB connectors can be plugged in and removed while the attached device is still on, these connectors are broadly used in computer systems that need regular attachment and separation from external devices.

RF and microwave connectors

Radio frequency (RF) and microwave connectors are the best bet when you need to connect cables that operate within the microwave spectrum.

The term “microwave” refers to electromagnetic energy with a frequency rating of at least 1 GHz and a wavelength shorter than 30 cm. On the flip side, radio frequency is alternating current that generates an electromagnetic field suitable for wireless broadcasting and communications as long as the current is put into an antenna.