Data Sheet

Circular Power Connectors 53
Current Carrying Capacity
BUCCANEER FOR POWER
6000 Series Buccaneer
The thermal properties of the materials used in the
construction of a connector limit the current carrying
capacity. There are a number of factors that determine
the amount of current that can be handled: contact
spacing, size of cable, ambient temperature and the
heat that is generated by the current passing through
the connector.
The maximum current varies with dierent contact
layouts, and because of these factors it is necessary
to produce de-rating curves for each pole variant. This
de-rating curve is specied in the standard IEC 60512
part 3. De-rating curves are plotted for each contact
carrier combination with the current being carried
simultaneously by all contacts. These graphs show the
heat rise generated as the current is increased.
The red line indicates the direct correlation between
current applied and the measured temperature rise
within the connector. The dotted blue line shows rated
current and the green line is derived by applying a
factor of 0.8 to the original plot data to give a de-rating
curve. The dashed blue line shows the rated current.
The shaded area under the 0.8 curve shows the
permitted operating area, and allows safe current vs
ambient temperature characteristics to be determined.
= tested operating limits
= de-rated operating limits
= rated current