Connector is an indispensable component in electronic devices, which serves as a communication bridge between blocked or isolated circuits within the circuit, allowing current to flow and enabling the circuit to achieve predetermined functions. The form and structure of connector pins are ever-changing, and there are various forms of connectors depending on the application object, frequency, power, and environment. Although there are many types of connectors, their basic performance can be classified into three categories: mechanical performance, electrical performance, and environmental performance.

In terms of connector function, the insertion and extraction force is an important mechanical performance. The insertion and extraction forces are divided into insertion force and extraction force (also known as separation force), and their requirements are different. In relevant standards, there are provisions for maximum insertion force and minimum separation force, which indicates that from a usage perspective, the insertion force should be small (resulting in structures with low insertion force LIF and no insertion force ZIF), and if the separation force is too small, it will affect the reliability of contact.

Another important mechanical property is the mechanical life of the connector. Mechanical life is actually a durability indicator, referred to as mechanical operation in the national standard GB5095. It is evaluated based on whether the connector pins can complete their connection function (such as contact resistance value) normally after a specified insertion and extraction cycle, with one insertion and one extraction as a cycle. The insertion and extraction force and mechanical life of connectors are related to the contact structure (positive pressure), the coating quality of the contact area (sliding friction coefficient), and the accuracy of the contact arrangement size (alignment).

Vibration and impact performance: Resistance to vibration and impact is an important performance of electronic connectors, especially in special application environments such as aviation and aerospace, railway and road transportation. It is an important indicator for testing the robustness of the mechanical structure and electrical contact reliability of electrical connectors. There are clear provisions in the relevant test methods. The peak acceleration, duration, and pulse waveform of the impact test should be specified, as well as the time for electrical continuity interruption.

Contact resistance: High quality electrical connectors should have low and stable contact resistance. The contact resistance of connectors varies from a few milliohms to tens of milliohms. The factors that affect contact resistance include the electrical resistivity of the contact surface material, contact pressure, contact area, contact shape, surface conditions (relative cleanliness, roughness, and hardness), current magnitude, open circuit voltage at the contact point during current interruption, temperature, and thermal conductivity of the wire.

Dielectric strength, also known as voltage resistance or dielectric withstand voltage, is the ability to withstand the rated test voltage between connector contacts or between contacts and the shell. The measurement method is to apply a test voltage higher than the working voltage between the contact parts of the connector and between the contact parts and the shell for a specified time to determine the correctness of the insulation material, insulation spacing, and insulation structure, check for defects in the parts, and assess the ability of the electrical connector pins to withstand instantaneous overvoltage caused by opening, closing, surge, and similar phenomena

Insulation resistance is an indicator that measures the insulation performance between the contacts of electrical connectors and between the contacts and the shell, with an order of magnitude ranging from hundreds of megaohms to thousands of megaohms. It is determined by the insulation dielectric capacity of the medium, and the higher the insulation resistance value, the better. Insulation resistance cannot be equated with withstand voltage, as insulation materials are mixed or synthesized from different materials, their insulation resistance naturally varies. Therefore, the measurement of insulation resistance cannot completely replace the measurement of cleanliness or non-destructive degree.