For more than 60 years, D-Sub connectors have ensured smooth data transmission on PCs and large production systems. However, assembly often goes less smoothly: the conditions under which connectors are to be soldered to cables, for example, are often anything but ideal. "Situations in which the specialist has to connect contact points overhead in a confined space and in poor light are not uncommon," notes Franz Knorr, owner of Knorrtec, in this context and adds: "If a wire is then soldered incorrectly, the repair work is correspondingly more time-consuming."

Crimping, on the other hand, is a far less complex method of attaching a D-Sub connector. However, the connectors usually have to be attached using expensive special tools, which are only worth buying if they are used regularly. Repair work can also become a lengthy undertaking. Last but not least, fixing with screw terminals is also time-consuming and involves risks: The screws can loosen over time and therefore need to be retightened regularly to avoid downtime.

The D-Sub connector with cage clamp connection and screw lock is available in a 9-, 15- or 25-pin version as well as an HD version.

© Knorrtec

Industrial PCs can be equipped with the plug connector, as can PLC controllers or industrial printers. Even rarely used interfaces, such as special industrial interfaces, can be connected in this way. The energy transition also opens up new possibilities, as the Managing Director explains: "The new D-Sub is suitable for connecting CAN bus interfaces, which are used in wind turbines, for example; measurement technology is also a conceivable area of application."

The connector is available in a 9-, 15- or 25-pin version with dimensions of 31 mm × 60 mm × 16.6 mm or 39.5 mm × 75 mm × 16.6 mm or 53 mm × 75 mm × 16.6 mm. The housing is available as a pure plastic version or as a metallized version for EMC-critical applications. The latter is coated with a nickel layer. This ensures good conductivity so that the D-Sub is resistant to interference.

Connectable cables can have a maximum wire cross-section of 0.5 mm² and a maximum sheath diameter of 10.5 mm. The plug connection with protection class IP20 can be used at temperatures from -20 to +85 °C. The dielectric strength is 100 V, the current carrying capacity is 1.2 A with a test voltage of 1 kV/mm and clearances and creepage distances of 0.5 mm. There are also some variants as three-row HD connectors.