A Comprehensive Guide to the Connectors Sold by Northern Connectors

Northern Connectors is one of the UK’s leading distributors of industrial connectors.

Established over 40 years ago in St Helens, close to Manchester and Liverpool, we understand that quality connectors are essential for various applications.

Whether for manufacturing or electronics, they transmit power, data, and signals between devices, systems, and components, ensuring seamless operation. 

But that’s not all – these rugged workhorses hold up to the harshest environments within factories, building sites, and even outdoor applications.

Read on for an overview of the different types of connectors we stock and their applications.

Electrical Connectors

Electrical connectors are crucial components in almost every piece of electrical or electronic equipment. They pave the way for voltage, current, or signals to flow freely from one device to another, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Key types include:

• Circular connectors – Used in harsh environments, such as military or aerospace.
• Rectangular connectors – Used predominantly in rugged industrial and data transmission applications for their excellent versatility.
• Power connectors – Used in the most challenging and demanding environments to connect a device to a power source.
• M12 connectors – Used in factory automation for connecting sensors, actuators, industrial ethernet, and fieldbus applications.
• Sensor and automation connectors – Used in industrial automation to provide reliable connections between sensors, actuators, and other components.

Specialised connectors

As their name implies, specialised connectors are designed to address specific needs that standard connectors cannot fulfil. They’re ideal for applications that require enhanced performance, durability, or unique configurations.

Key types include:

• Connectors for food and beverage applications – Used in processing and production equipment, such as pumps, motors, sensors, and control systems, to ensure safe and hygienic connections for fluids, power, and signals.
• Photovoltaic connectors – Used to establish solid connections between solar panels and other components in a photovoltaic (PV) system, ensuring efficient energy transfer.
• Valve and actuator connectors – Used to connect actuators to valves, allowing you to control fluid flow precisely and adjust the flow rate to suit your needs.

Data and communication connectors 

Data and communication connectors, also known as network connectors, are components used to establish connections between ethernet cables, fibre optic cables, and various other data transmission cables.

Key types include:

• Data connectors – Used in industrial environments to facilitate reliable data transmission for critical applications.
• RF coaxial connectors – Used to transmit radio frequency signals by connecting coaxial cables to devices with minimal interference.
• D-sub connectors – Used in computer monitors, printers, audio and video interfaces, networking equipment, and more for data and signal transmission.

Cable protection 

Cable protection systems safeguard electrical cables and wires from external hazards, such as dust, dirt, moisture, and excessive heat.

This includes:

• Glands and cable protection – Used to secure cables to equipment, surfaces, or enclosures, preventing them from being removed or damaged. They seal the entry point and prevent contaminants like dust and water from penetrating systems.

Electronic assembly

Electrical assemblies rely on various electrical components that are connected to a printed circuit board or other surface to perform a specific function.

Key types include:

• PCB connectors – Used to transfer power, signal, and data between components or printed circuit boards to enable economic assembly of electronic devices and electrical equipment.
• Wire-to-board connectors – Used for efficient connections between boards and wires in devices.

Order top-quality connectors today

Offering a wide variety of connectors from well-known names, including binder, HARTING, and Weidmüller, to name but a few, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a supplier with more variety, knowledge, and experience than us!

Browse our extensive range and click through to identify the perfect connector for your needs.

For the best products and expert advice, call us on 01744 815 001 or fill out our online enquiry form, and we’ll get back to you soon.