Effect of connector design on the performance of service entrance power connectors

• Published in: Proceedings of the Forty-Eighth IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts pp. 239 - 245
• Main Author: Braunovic, M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway NJ IEEE 2002
• Subjects: Aluminum; Applied sciences; Connection and protection apparatus; Connectors; Contacts; Degradation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electronic equipment and fabrication. Passive components, printed wiring boards, connectics; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Insulation testing; Laboratories; Maintenance; Power electronics, power supplies; Power system reliability; Power system stability; Testing, measurement, noise and reliability; Thermal stresses; Bolted joint; Performance evaluation; Circuit design; Power circuit; Aluminium; Power electronics; Electrical insulation; Experimental study; Protection circuit; Interface structure; Experimental result; Electrical connector; Test method; Laboratory test; Copper; Reliability; Saline solution; Protection test; Comparative study; Defect detection; Electrical test
• ISBN: 9780780374331; 0780374339
• DOI: 10.1109/HOLM.2002.1040847

Describes the results of laboratory tests carried out on aluminium-to-copper service entrance connectors. The laboratory performance tests were carried out on insulation piercing, bolted, wedge and compression types of service entrance connectors subjected to current-cycling tests in a saline environment. The current-cycling tests were carried out in accordance with a modified testing procedure. The results showed that insulation piercing and wedge connectors passed the current cycling tests whereas the compression and bolted type connectors failed the current-cycling tests. These results showed that insulation piercing and wedge connectors provide the best protection of the conductor-connector interface since neither the current-cycling nor the exposure to a saline environment produced significant deterioration in their performance.