Connector system simplifies harness design

The new VersaBlade wire-to-wire connector system offers modularity and design flexibility for wire harnessing of appliance/HVAC applications.

The new VersaBlade wire-to-wire connector system from Molex offers modularity and design flexibility for wire harnessing of appliance/HVAC applications such as refrigerators, washing machines, heating units and ventilators.

In complex harness configurations where each separate connection increases the risk of mismating or signal failure, VersaBlade offers superior mating reliability, ease of assembly and costs savings versus round-pin or cantilever type terminal designs.

The VersaBlade system is based around three components: 1.78mm-wide flat blade tab terminals; multiconfigured modular housings; and terminal position assurance (TPA) inserts.

This versatile system can service both signal and power needs for a variety of multicircuit wire-to-wire and panel-mount applications.

The heart of the VersaBlade system is the blade terminal.

This tab-style terminal is an industry standard, especially in the white goods, HVAC and automotive markets in the Far East.

The 1.80mm-wide tab terminals accept AWG 14-22 wire and can carry 4 to 15A and 300V.

This gives VersaBlade both signal and power carrying capability.

The copper alloy tab provides a low insertion force for easy mating/unmating even in larger circuit sizes.

The blade shape offers more structural integrity, truer positioning and less terminal deformation than round-pin types.

A housing-locking window provides further terminal protection, while terminal notches prevent mismating.

TPAs ensure terminals are fully seated, and the lead-free/RoHS tin plating meets environmental needs.

Housings are offered in two styles: preconfigured wire-to-wire types and multibranch types that mate to a common panel-mount housing unit.

Both styles are moulded of UL94V0 polyester, UL and CSA recognised and supporting all standard flammability requirements.

The pre-configured wire-to-wire types are available from 1-6 circuits.

Smaller circuit sizes up to three circuits are available in both free-hanging and panel-mount versions.

The three-circuit version can accept both male and female terminals on one side.

The four and six circuit versions are hybrid types that accept both male and female terminals on one side.

These hybrid types have housings clearly marked to indicate where male and female terminals are loaded in order to avoid mismating.

Housing silos are also sometimes different lengths or orientations for further polarisation and ease of mating.

Positive thumb-latches offer secure mating retention, and terminal position assurance (TPA) clips eliminate terminal back-out and provide extremely high retention force.

These preconfigured types of housings are often used as harness trees for foamed refrigeration applications.

The multibranch panel-mount type includes a common housing unit with spring-style mounting ears for stable panel mounting.

Two circuit male or female housings mate to this panel-mount version and then often branch out to different connection points between control board remote motors, fans and sensors.

The two-circuit housings come in both friction and positive lock styles.

Square plastic silos optimise alignment and functional stability.

They also feature colour-coded TPAs, visual moulded-in guides and colour stripes for additional polarisation and mating assistance.

The many intermating options offered by VersaBlade enable users to design their harnessing around one system rather than using various different power and signal connector styles, thus saving cost and assembly time.

The dual-row style of the multi-circuit housings provide better heat dissipation compared with multirow round-pin housings.

Individually isolated terminals are also placed about 5.00mm apart for better electrical isolation compared with competing versions that have signal paths running as close as 3.00mm.

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