3M Mini Clamp II Connectors

NOW available through Challenger Components Ltd

 Introduces New Mini-Clamp II Connectors

Diversified technology company 3M has announced two new additions to the Mini-Clamp Connector family of products, the Mini-Clamp II Wiremount Plug 371 Series and Wiremount Socket 373 Series. The new connectors provide durable, reliable and easy field termination interconnection for I/O applications commonly found in a wide range of sensor control systems, including factory automation and industrial controls. The IDC wire termination requires standard pliers, making the process simple and easy to complete in the field, without requiring specialist tools or extensive wire preparation, thus helping to reduce the overall cost of wiring installations.

The 3M Mini-Clamp II connectors are part of 3M’s field bus system offering, which is designed to reduce the amount of wire usage while saving space in factory automation installations. Using 3M insulation displacement technology (IDC), the connectors are designed to reduce maintenance work by providing higher connection reliability while eliminating cable and stripping and tinning, as well as the need for repetitive screw-type wire terminations.

In addition, the 3M Mini-Clamp II connectors have an integrated guiding and alignment feature built into the cover, which provides reliable positioning of the individual wires. Semi-transparent covers allow for visual inspection for proper wire positioning prior to the simple wire termination. Polarizing tabs help provide proper mating while latching features help provide a secure connection, even under severe conditions such as mechanical stress and vibration in industrial environments.

Among the typical applications and industries in which the connectors are used are semiconductor and LCD manufacturing machines; medical, packaging systems, conveyor systems, elevators and lift systems; flow meters; motion test and measurement systems; traffic light and control systems; base press control electronics; food and packaging industries; automotive and metal industries; solar and alternative energy; and sensors.

The new Mini-Clamp II Connectors by 3M are available in 2mm pitch that use colour coding (red, yellow, orange, green, blue and grey) to enusre proper wire usage, wire alignment and retention in the cover. The 3M Mini-Clamp II Connectors are available in 3- and 4-pin wiremount configurations in socket, panelmount socket, and plug versions. They are also available in boardmount socket configurations: a 3- and 4-pin single row socket connectors; and a 6-pin (2 x 3 pins), a 8-pin (2 x 4 pins), a 12-pin (4 x 3 pins) and a 16-pin (4 x 4 pins) multi-row socket connector. Dust caps are available for more harsh and dusty environments.