Text on electrical contact design (connectors)

[thested]

Hi everyone,

I am designing electrical contacts (connectors) for home electronics that need to be able to open and close 120VAC and 15 amps.

I have heard a rule of thumb that it is best to have at least 1 atmosphere of contact pressure to ensure a long term connection between the two contacts. I also have questions on the type of plating, and whether or not I need one of those little rivets you see in microswitch contacts. I will also need to design a contact connection for a 5VDC signal, which I think has different plating requirements.

Can anyone recommend a good book that has guidelines on such things?

Thank you.

 

[Skogsgurra]

I have three "classics" - at least two of them are.
"Electric Contacts" by Ragnar Holm. Uppsala 1946
"Modern Relay Technology" by Hans Sauer. Heidelberg 1986
And the newly published "Trilogy of Connectors" by the Würth staff.
All worth having. The Trilogy is easiest to find - for obvious reasons.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.