AMP Circular Plastic Connectors (CPCs)
08-18-06 | 12:04 AM
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
AMP Circular Plastic Connectors (CPCs)
I've gotten some questions lately about the connectors I'm using in my car, so I thought I should post about them.
I started using these connectors several years ago when wiring up two of Mariah Motorsports' e-production race cars. I wanted something like Deutsch's connectors, without the expense/hassle. After going through the Digi-Key catalog, I came across AMP's CPC line of products; specifically their Series 1 connectors. AMP CPC Series 1 connectors are made of flame-resistant thermoplastic, and are rated at 600 volts/13 amps per pin. They use a round threaded collar with a detent, to lock in place. This makes things easy to connect/disconnect, and you are always sure the connector is locked.
In order to build up a connector, you need: the outside shell, and contacts to put into that shell. The shell you choose dictates how many contacts are in the connector, and the shell you're using dictates whether you need socket or pin contacts. Shells come in 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, and 37 conact counts. Shells can be plugs or receptacles, and receptacles can be free hanging, or flanged (i.e. bulk-head). Shells can also be standard or reversed; reversed meaning that pins are in the plugs and sockets are in the receptacle. Contacts come in several attachment styles (e.g. crimp, solder) and materials/finishes (e.g. gold plated, tin/lead). For all projects I've done so far, I've bought crimp contacts made with gold/nickel and then soldered them after crimping.
The bad news is, to remove contacts from a shell, you need a special tool (your paperclip will no longer work). The good news is that this tool is cheap.
To use this tool (Digi-Key Part# A1329-ND), you insert it from the front of the connector, and push the outside tube in around the contact. To eject the contact, you depress the plunger and it pushes out the back:
It can be daunting to order connector parts the first time, but in reality it's not so bad. I purchase all of my harness building supplies from Digi-Key; they ship quickly, and their online store is easy to use. To find parts, check out their site (http://www.digikey.com), and search for 'amp circular plastic "series 1"'.
I started using these connectors several years ago when wiring up two of Mariah Motorsports' e-production race cars. I wanted something like Deutsch's connectors, without the expense/hassle. After going through the Digi-Key catalog, I came across AMP's CPC line of products; specifically their Series 1 connectors. AMP CPC Series 1 connectors are made of flame-resistant thermoplastic, and are rated at 600 volts/13 amps per pin. They use a round threaded collar with a detent, to lock in place. This makes things easy to connect/disconnect, and you are always sure the connector is locked.
In order to build up a connector, you need: the outside shell, and contacts to put into that shell. The shell you choose dictates how many contacts are in the connector, and the shell you're using dictates whether you need socket or pin contacts. Shells come in 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, and 37 conact counts. Shells can be plugs or receptacles, and receptacles can be free hanging, or flanged (i.e. bulk-head). Shells can also be standard or reversed; reversed meaning that pins are in the plugs and sockets are in the receptacle. Contacts come in several attachment styles (e.g. crimp, solder) and materials/finishes (e.g. gold plated, tin/lead). For all projects I've done so far, I've bought crimp contacts made with gold/nickel and then soldered them after crimping.
The bad news is, to remove contacts from a shell, you need a special tool (your paperclip will no longer work). The good news is that this tool is cheap.
To use this tool (Digi-Key Part# A1329-ND), you insert it from the front of the connector, and push the outside tube in around the contact. To eject the contact, you depress the plunger and it pushes out the back:
It can be daunting to order connector parts the first time, but in reality it's not so bad. I purchase all of my harness building supplies from Digi-Key; they ship quickly, and their online store is easy to use. To find parts, check out their site (http://www.digikey.com), and search for 'amp circular plastic "series 1"'.
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