Glossary for connector/housings

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Throughout the Service Information certain terms are used to describe components and their location on the connector/housing.

Housings

Fig 1: Identifying Housing Removal

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

A standard connector consists of a housing with cable terminals inside it. There are also connectors with different covers around the housings.

The purpose of the housings is to insulate the cable terminals and ensure a good electrical contact as well as to protect them from damage and deterioration due to the environment.

Pin housings and socket housings

Pin housings hold the Pin (male) cable terminals.

Socket housings hold the Socket (female) cable terminals.

The housings interlock with each other or to a component. There are both color and mechanical (physical) codings used.

Fig 2: Identifying Pin Housing And Socket Housing

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

Connector halves

When a pin housing and a socket housing are connected together they are also called the connector halves.

Locking

To open the connector halves a catch must be released.

There are two main types of locking systems: Active locking and Passive locking.

Fig 3: Cable Housing

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The housings - contact side v. cable side

The Contact side is the front of the housing where the cable terminals, Male or Female, are connected with each other.

The Cable side is the rear of the housing where the cable enters it.

Fig 4: Cable Housing

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The housings, top or bottom

Refers to which orientation the housing is shown from in graphics.

The side in the graphics that is up is referred to as the top in the text. The side that is down is called the bottom.

The housings, cavities and position numbers

A cavity is the space in the housing where a cable terminal is located. Each cavity has a number and that number (terminal number) is given in the wiring diagrams as the position number.

Example: designation 24/11:3 means position 3 in connector 24/11.

Fig 5: Housing Cavity Opening

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The housing cavity opening

The cavity opening on the housing contact side has an easily identifiable shape, to match the different types of cable terminals. It is the cavity shape which determines which terminal removal tool is to be used.

Extraction groove

Some housing cavity openings have a extraction groove. The groove is used to insert a terminal removal tool. Cavity openings can have one or two extraction grooves.

Fig 6: Cable Terminal Extracted With Secondary Locking Opened

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

Moisture proof housings

Moisture proof housings have moisture proof cable terminals. The moisture proof cable terminals have wires fitted and then sealed in a plastic material.

Other housings have enhanced moisture resistance through addition of various types of seal such as gaskets, a rubber sleeve fitted over the cables, plugs in unused cavities and seals on the insulation wings of the cable terminal.