Contact technology boosts current density

Contact technology boosts current density

Comprising a novel design in which gold-plated pure copper wire conductors are woven with engineered fibers, the LowR Contact System from interconnect manufacturer Tribotek (Burlington, MA) promises lower contact resistance and higher current density than any existing conventional solution. Allowing up to 700 A for a size 4/0 contact, the technology offers designers a smaller solution that meets the increasing current demands imposed on power distribution systems.

A unique woven-socket design enables a contact system with higher current densities than existing solutions.

The contact features ferruled copper conductors, and fibers that are crimped into a mechanical spring. As the mating pin is inserted into the socket, the fibers tighten to generate the correct amount of normal force. The woven-socket design enables conductors to have massively parallel points of contact.

Contacts are available in sizes from 0.040 to 0.50 in., and can terminate to pc boards, cable, and busbars. The contact system maintains wipe across mating surfaces, and offers high tolerance to thermal cycling. Vibration tolerance is from 0.11 to 0.13 mW resistance during three hours vibration testing, while performance during thermal cycling is demonstrated from 0.5 to 0.6 mW resistance over 500 one-hour cycles with 30 A.

Contact resistance remains constant in a variety of pin-misalignment conditions. For more information, contact Information at 781-270-0900, e-mail , visit or visit .

�Ralph Raiola