CD1408ConnectorStory
CD1408ConnectorStory
CD1408ConnectorStory
CD1408ConnectorStory
CD1408ConnectorStory

Any Termination Data on Field Connectors?

July 30, 2014
We Have Customers With Varying Preferences for the Method of Terminating Field Connections Outside the Panel. We Even Have Our Own Internal Disagreements. We Wanted to Simplify. See What Vendors Said:

We have customers with varying preferences for the method of terminating field connections outside the panel. We even have our own internal disagreements. We'd like to simplify, and we wonder if anybody, whether it's from vendors or independent test centers, etc., has compiled meaningful data, meaning some mean time between failure (MTBF) comparisons about termination failures, which include M8/M12 as well as screw, spring and IDC. It would be helpful to argue a preference based on data rather than mostly subjective or anecdotal viewpoints.

—from June'14 Control Design

Answers

[The following are some of the responses we received when we posted the question on LinkedIn's Industrial Automation and Process Controls Network Group.]

Sooner or Later

I haven't compiled any meaningful data, but I would express reservations about the usefulness of MTBF calculations with connectors. I guess you meant mean time to failure (MTTF), as connectors are generally replaced rather than repaired. MTBF is more appropriate for electronic and electromechanical devices where there is some chemical or fatigue based wear-out phenomena. Connector life (or lack thereof) is generally determined by the initial installation, and after that by subsequent insults from mechanical or environmental conditions.

Wear-out phenomena reduce life deterministically according to the Arrhenius relation or similar. For example, insulation in most connectors contains antioxidants, with typically enough antioxidant to get to 20 to 30 years at maximum operating temperature (say 90 ºC), then it goes chalky and brittle. The lifetime doubles for every 10 ºC decrease in temperature. The temperature increases with (square of) current, and typically a pin-socket connector is matched fairly well to the wire gauge, so a 1.6-mm pin might be used on a 1.5-mm2 (or 16 gauge) wire and be “rated” at 16 A. So if you run at 10 A, it should last four times longer (= 100 years), but overload to 20 A, and it will last only 4.5 months.

The point here is that most field wiring has a large safety margin, so it will fail because of something other than old age. My experience is that non-overloaded connectors will last forever until they get wet or until bumped.

My personal experience with field connections is that the M12 connector, when fitted to the rear end of a proximity switch is incredibly unreliable (i.e., about six failures in 80 connectors in three years). The proximity switches are mounted in awkward places inside machinery and usually need to be adjusted by non-instrument-technician workers. The right-angle connector especially is used as a handle to stop the prox switch rotating when the stop nuts are tightened, and usually cracks internally or damages the prox, but it might take weeks before it starts failing intermittently.

The other big killer for connectors is lack of strain relief, and this can be made worse by poor choice of wire (e.g., 26-gauge wire with 600-V insulation is all sheath and no wire).

Finally, any pin-socket connectors that might get wet (i.e., not mounted in the computer room) should have silicone grease applied to the contacts.

Another problem connector is the rectangular one fitted to solenoid valves. Some of these fall apart in months (the ones with clear plastic, so the LED is visible, suffer environmental stress, cracking due to solvents in the oil/coolant/degreaser), and they're usually held on with a really flimsy screw.

Bob Turner,
director,
Salbay Engineering Pty

Also Read: Note to Manufacturing Facilities: It's All About Ethernet


Dial M for Good Connections

I recommend fast connections such as plugs (M18/12/8, etc.) with molded ends. Our wiring problems are close to 0%. The additional material costs compared to the labor and troubleshooting is minimal. Most of the time the job has to be done during shutdowns or weekends. Time is money.

Spring connection (cage clamp) should be used because they never get loose, even from high vibrations. Stay away from putting wire furls on. It doesn't make the connection better and is unnecessary. We use, if the customer allows us, only cage clamp terminals, such as those from Wago, Harting Plugs, Phoenix Contact, even with relays, power contactors, motor controllers, power supplies, etc.

If the customer understands this, it's not necessary any more to tie up all connections. When someone doesn't understand the advantage of those connections, then troubleshooting must be fun for him. I don't know one case in our company when we  ever had a problem with the cage-clamp technique.

Franz Stranninger,
CPO,
SAR Automation

Same Here

We also go with over-molded connectors for connections outside the panel or for connecting multiple panels together. It simplifies wiring and, other than a rare bad cable, it's pretty much trouble-free.


Mark Will,
automated systems engineer
Labeling Systems

[We received these responses when we posted the question to LinkedIn's Automation Engineers Group.]

It's Technique, Not Type

I look forward to seeing empirical evidence. I have heard a lot of arguments from suppliers, consultants and end users. My experience is that the terminations that fail are the ones that are not correctly installed (i.e., screws not tightened, crimps not crimped properly, etc.).

Michael McKay,
principal engineer,
Pesce Pty


Cage Clamp for Me

I find cage-clamp style terminals to be the best. Much faster wiring and no loose screws. IDC is great too, but the big problem is the wiring needs to be within specification. Also the same wire can only be connected/disconnected a couple of times before the knife damages the core. Old fashion screw terminals: I see absolutely no reason at all to even consider using them. I think it will be hard to find some sort of statistics on this. If you look at the data sheets of the Phoenix Contact Clipline series, you will find test results of the various types of clamps.

Patrick Stave,
automatiker,
Nordlaks Produkter

Ask the Right Companies

The companies that could answer this are those that fabricate modules or equipment installed off-shore, vibrate or move, and/or are in hazardous areas. The equipment failures due to improper terminations probably are some of their biggest issues.

Alejandro Varga Meder,
project management,
Devco USA,

[We received this response when we posted the question to LinkedIn's Automation.com Group:]

SEPTEMBER'S PROBLEM

We build most of our custom, one-off control cabinets in-house. We've had success using vortex coolers to control the enclosure temperatures when we have heat issues. Now we're getting into markets that place our systems in hazardous environments. What's the experience with adding purging capabilities to vortex coolers? Are we better off with conventional gas purge systems or another approach? We need an effective, but still cost-responsible solution.

SEND US YOUR COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS OR SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. We'll include it in the September '14 issue, and post it on ControlDesign.com. Send visuals if you’d like—a sketch is fine. Email us at [email protected]. Please include your company, location and title in the response.

HAVE A PROBLEM YOU'D LIKE TO POSE to the readers? Send it along, too.

Spring for Me

I prefer spring terminal blocks over screw connections. Not only are connections faster, but you don't have to worry that the screws are tight. I don't use IDC terminals since wiring never seems to stay “carved in stone,” and they aren't faster unless in high-volume assembly. I always use DIN crimp ferrules on the ends of stranded wire. Most automation wiring is with individual wires in terminal blocks. At www.plctalk.org there's a 12-page thread over 10 years with photos of member's automation cabinets.

A former co-worker worked at a local Siemens rail-car plant and related that he performed extensive testing to qualify terminations for that continuous vibration environment. I recall he said they hadn't accepted spring terminals when he left. The robotics industry similarly spends much time qualifying both connectors and flexible cables. In general automation, wiring is usually sessile, so attributes like corrosion resistance are of more concern. Aerospace is another high-vibration environment. Amphenol circular connectors have long been used there. I think multi-turn collars were first, then bayonet lock, and today a click-lock type seems most common. They can be very expensive.

William Grissom,
engineering specialist,
Aerojet