Press Releases

RS Components Highlights Outstanding Features of New Ultra-Reliable Sealed Connector System

Ingenious moulding and sealing of Molex ML-XT system ensures superior reliability at competitive price

Hong Kong, 21 May 2015:

RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has identified two ingenious features of the newly launched Molex ML-XT™ rugged, sealed connector system that help ensure superior reliability at a highly competitive price point.

The ML-XT plastic housing and seal are moulded using a one-piece design, which is not only economical but also supremely reliable. Permanent bonding using two-shot Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) moulding technology ensures IP68 ingress resistance as well as immunity to loss or misalignment of the seal. Accurate alignment ensures repeatable retention during unmating and mating of the plug and receptacle.

In addition, an innovative rear seal cover provides an answer to the loss of sealing that can occur as wires exiting conventional connectors become bent or moved. The ML-XT rear seal cover prevents the cable flexing close to the seal and so maintains the perfect cable-entry angle. The seal is moulded in High-Consistency Rubber (HCR) for superior tear resistance during terminal insertion/extraction.

Additional benefits of the ML-XT system include reduced inventory, assembly time and costs, since the plug and receptacle housings are supplied pre-assembled with the rear seal locked in by the cover. The connector terminals have current ratings up to 13A, and utilise the proven Molex XRC™ design thereby enabling harness makers to use their existing assembly tooling.

The ML-XT system is designed for automotive applications, which demand extremely competitive pricing while at the same time imposing some of the toughest temperature, vibration and ingress-hazard conditions encountered by electrical wiring. The outstanding performance and cost-effectiveness of the connectors means they are also well suited to autosport applications, industrial automation and control in harsh environments, or equipment installed outdoors in extremely cold, hot or humid conditions.

The ML-XT system offers a drop-in replacement for existing industry-standard connectors of this type. ML-XT connector plugs and receptacles, and XRC terminals and tooling, are in stock at RS Components.