Modern society requires 12-V power for numerous applications, ranging from automotive and marine to cell phones, notebooks, PDAs, and various consumer and industrial products.
Common 12-V wire and cable applications typically require the use of various accessories. These include plug-in power cord sets; coiled cord sets; extension assemblies; cigarette plug splitters, adapters, and sockets; covered cigarette plugs and sockets; high amperage cigarette plugs; marine plugs; fuse clips and holders; cable assemblies; vibration-resistant assemblies, automotive antenna plugs, and sockets; automotive fuse clips; and general fuse holders.
Significant quality differences exist between top-quality and inferior-quality 12-V accessory devices, so design engineers and procurement professionals need to recognize whether the price being paid equates to the value being received. That’s because many imported products are improperly tested and fail to meet applicable requirements, including UL-rating, CL2 and CL3 electrical codes, and MIL-grade standards, to name a few.
Impact of Copper Price Volatility
The cost of 12-V wire and cable products and accessories tend to fluctuate based on the price and availability of copper and the volume of raw materials required to construct a particular device. For example, an automotive 12-V cord set is normally made with twin copper wires and in lengths from 3 to 15 feet. Those that use heavier gauge copper wire in longer lengths tend to be more impacted by fluctuating copper prices, mainly due to the larger volume of raw materials.
Global copper prices remain stable and are predicted to move upward as demand grows. However, the situation is being exacerbated by higher tariffs currently being imposed under the current U.S.-Chinese trade dispute.
Ensuring a Reliable Electrical Connection
在12-V插头组中使用的材料的选择确定了如何有效地进行电力。一般而言，用较便宜的材料镀以的电线更有可能腐蚀和/或氧化，从而导致电阻增加。相比之下，诸如黄金镀金等更好质量的材料可为腐蚀，振动，热，冲击，湿度和压力提供更大的保护。
电气连接的损失，即使对于微秒，也可能导致功率损失和可能的系统故障。
为了防止这种情况发生，首先利用优质的电线和电缆以及耐腐蚀的电镀，对于可能暴露于元素的便携式设备，建议使用耐腐蚀。
精心设计的12-V插头将抵抗冲击和振动，同时也可以轻松拆卸工具。如果要在其一生中插入并提取数百甚至数千次的12-V插头，则应通过维持足够数量的保留力来设计其耐用性。但是，您应该避免使用过多的保留力的解决方案，因为这可能会导致接触表面长期磨损。
Understanding Real-World Tradeoffs
如果长期可靠性很重要，那么在评估12-V线和电缆产品的潜在供应商时，必须进行全面的尽职调查。选择可靠的供应商至关重要，尤其是当过早的产品失败可能使OEM面临昂贵的维修，返工，保修申报表，声誉丧失和产品责任索赔的风险时。为高质量材料花费一些额外的费用是值得的，以确保更高的客户满意度。
同时，您无法在真空中设计。产品设计总是涉及权衡：尺寸和重量限制与耐用性；易于插入和去除与在严格条件下保留插头的能力；材料与组件成本的耐用性；。不幸的是，这个简单的安全步骤常常被忽略，因为大多数人不知道12V设备的能量尖峰的频率。
例如，每当电源从启动器转移到交流发电机时，汽车电气系统就会产生正能量和负能量尖峰。电池像大型电容器一样工作，可以软化这些尖峰，可更换熔丝为敏感组件和电路提供了附加的保护。
特别建议使用可更换的保险丝，对于12V设备，这些设备在国际上行驶前往电网不可靠且频繁的功率飙升和布朗特的位置。
Tom Blaha is President of内存保护设备.
