In the infrastructure construction of modern society, outdoor power equipment plays a vital role, such as street lighting system to provide security for night travel, outdoor charging pile to help electric vehicles convenient charging, communication base station power equipment to ensure the stable operation of communication network. As a key component in these outdoor power facilities, the performance of waterproof plug and socket connectors directly affects the reliability and stability of the entire system.

Application and layout strategy of waterproof plug and socket connectors in outdoor power facilities

Street lighting system

In the street lighting system, the internal light pole usually needs to connect a variety of lines such as power lines and control lines. The application of waterproof plug and socket connectors makes the connection of wires inside the lamp pole convenient and efficient. In general, a waterproof socket is set at the bottom of the light pole or in an appropriate position, and the power is transmitted here through an underground cable, and then the power cord plug of the street lamp is connected with it to achieve power supply. This connection method is convenient for the installation, replacement and maintenance of street lights, without complex wiring operations. For example, some new street light waterproof plug and socket connectors use a quick plug and pull design, which can be connected or disconnected with simple operation, greatly reducing the maintenance time of street lights. In the layout, it is necessary to take into account the height of the light pole, the direction of the line and the surrounding environmental factors. Connectors should be installed in a relatively dry and easy to operate location, avoid rainwater accumulation or external force impact areas. At the same time, in order to prevent the line winding, a reasonable collecting device is usually used with the connector to make the line inside the light pole orderly.

Outdoor charging pile

Outdoor charging piles need to cope with the use of different users frequently plug and remove charging guns, waterproof plug and socket connectors here bear the heavy responsibility of stable power transmission and security protection. The charging gun and the main body of the charging pile are connected through a waterproof plug and socket to ensure that there will be no leakage or short circuit accidents during the charging process, even if it encounters rain weather. In the application mode, the interface design of the connector should match the specifications of the charging gun to ensure tight connection and normal signal transmission. In terms of layout, the waterproof connector is usually set in a specific position of the charging pile shell, which should take into account the convenience of user operation, while having good waterproof performance, there will generally be a special waterproof cover or protective structure design. For example, the waterproof plug socket connector of some high-end outdoor charging piles adopts a hidden design, which can effectively avoid the intrusion of dust and water when not in use, and can be easily inserted and removed by users when in use.

Communication base station power supply equipment

As the core node of communication network, the stability of power supply equipment of communication base station is very important. Waterproof plug and socket connectors are used for connecting various power modules and devices in the base station, as well as connecting the base station with external power supply lines. Inside the base station, due to the large number of devices and limited space, the layout of the connector needs to be carefully planned to ensure that the line is simple, good heat dissipation and easy maintenance. For example, the modular connector layout concentrates the power connection parts of different functions in a specific area for easy troubleshooting and replacement. When connecting with the external power supply line, a connector with excellent waterproof performance should be set at the entrance of the base station or an appropriate location to prevent impurities such as rain and dust from entering the base station power system. Some communication base stations are located in remote mountainous areas or harsh environment areas, and the high reliability of waterproof plug and socket connectors can effectively reduce the risk of power failure caused by environmental factors and ensure the continuous operation of the communication network.

Special requirements for the performance of waterproof plug and socket connectors in outdoor environments

High water and dust resistance rating (IP68 and above) is required.

In the outdoor environment, rain and dust are everywhere. Waterproof plug and socket connectors must have excellent water and dust resistance to prevent moisture and dust from entering the interior of the connector and affecting electrical performance. The IP68 rating means that the connector is able to maintain normal operation despite prolonged water immersion and is completely protected from dust intrusion. This requires the connector shell seal design to be extremely precise, usually using high-quality rubber seals, sealants and special shell structure design. For example, the material of the sealing ring should have good aging resistance and weather resistance, and will not harden, crack or lose elasticity in long-term exposure to the outdoor environment. The connection parts of the shell should be closely matched, and when threaded connection or snap connection is used, it is necessary to ensure that the connection is firm and sealed well, and there will be no leakage even under strong water pressure impact.

Anti-uv aging ability

Ultraviolet light in sunlight is a big challenge for outdoor connectors. Long-term ultraviolet radiation will make the plastic parts of the connector aging, brittle, affecting its mechanical properties and sealing performance. Therefore, the plastic housing and related components of waterproof plug and socket connectors are usually added with anti-ultraviolet agents to improve their anti-aging ability. These anti-ultraviolet agents can absorb or reflect ultraviolet light and reduce the damage of ultraviolet light to the molecular structure of the material. For example, some high-performance engineering plastics can maintain good appearance and mechanical properties in the outdoor continuous exposure for several years after the addition of specific anti-ultraviolet agents, ensuring the long-term reliability of the connector.

High and low temperature resistance (suitable for -40 ℃ to 80℃ or wider temperature range)

The temperature of the outdoor environment varies greatly, from cold winter to hot summer, the temperature difference can exceed 100 ° C. Waterproof plug and socket connectors need to work steadily in such a temperature range. In a low temperature environment, the material of the connector can not become brittle and crack, and the conductive parts inside can not shrink and cause poor contact; In the high temperature environment, the material can not be softened, deformed, and the insulation performance can not be reduced. In order to meet this requirement, the material choice of the connector is crucial. For example, the use of special cold-resistant and heat-resistant engineering plastics, its glass transition temperature and thermal deformation temperature can adapt to a wide temperature range. At the same time, the internal metal conductive parts will also be special treatment, such as the use of alloy materials to improve its thermal stability, to ensure that it can maintain good electrical conductivity in high and low temperatures.

Vibration and shock resistance

Outdoor power equipment may be subject to various vibrations and shocks, such as the shaking of light poles caused by wind, ground vibrations caused by vehicle driving, accidental collisions, etc. Waterproof plug and socket connectors must have sufficient vibration and shock resistance to prevent loose connections or damage to internal components. In the structural design, the connector will use a buffer device, such as elastic gaskets, shock absorbing springs, etc., to absorb vibration and impact energy. For example, in the street lamp connector, by setting rubber elastic gaskets at the connection part, when the light pole shakes, it can effectively buffer the vibration, avoid the hard collision between the plug and the socket, and ensure the stability of the connection. At the same time, the design of the shell should also take into account the impact resistance, the use of strong materials and reasonable structure, such as reinforcement design, to improve the strength and rigidity of the shell, to prevent rupture or deformation when affected by external force.

Real outdoor power project case

Urban street lighting project

A new type of waterproof plug socket connector is used in the upgrading project of street lighting system in a large city. Before the implementation of the project, the original street lamp connection method had problems such as aging lines and easy loosening of joints, resulting in a high failure rate of street lamps, frequent maintenance, and high maintenance costs. After the adoption of the newwaterproof connector, due to its convenient plug and plug design and excellent waterproof performance, the installation and maintenance efficiency of the street lamp is greatly improved. In the past year of operation, the number of street lamp extinguishment incidents due to connector failure has been reduced by more than 80%, greatly improving the reliability of the city's night lighting. At the same time, due to the good weather resistance of the connector, it is expected that its service life can be up to more than 10 years, which is nearly 5 years longer than the previous connector life, effectively reducing long-term maintenance costs. During the implementation of the project, the technical difficulties encountered were mainly the confusion of the layout of the old light pole line and the limited installation space of the new connector. The solution is to use customized miniaturized connectors, and re-organize and plan the internal wiring of the light pole to ensure that the connectors can be installed smoothly and work normally.

Highway service area charging pile project

In the construction project of outdoor charging pile in a highway service area, the waterproof plug and socket connector faces the problems of vibration, dust and occasional rain splash caused by frequent entry and exit of vehicles, and the waterproof connector is selected with high protection level and anti-vibration structural design. After the operation of the project, the stability of the charging pile has been significantly improved, and the incidence of failure in the charging process is extremely low. According to statistics, in the six months after the use of the new connector, the number of charging interruptions caused by connector problems is only 3 times, while in previous similar projects, the average number of failures in the same period is more than 15 times. This not only improves the user's charging experience, but also reduces the maintenance workload and cost of the operator. At the beginning of the project implementation, the problem was how to ensure the compatibility of the connector in different brands of charging guns. Through cooperation with the charging gun manufacturer, the interface of the connector is optimized to make it compatible with the mainstream charging gun models on the market, ensuring the smooth progress of the project.

Mountain communication base station project

A mountain communication base station construction project, due to the remote mountainous area, bad environment, large temperature changes, and inconvenient transportation, the reliability of the base station power equipment is very high. The waterproof plug and socket connector has an ultra-wide temperature adaptation range and strong resistance to environmental interference. After the base station was put into use, after experiencing the local cold winter (the lowest temperature reached -30 ° C) and hot summer (the highest temperature reached 40 ° C), the power system was still stable, and there was no power interruption caused by connector failure. This effectively guarantees the smooth communication network in the mountain area and provides reliable communication services for local residents and passers-by. During the construction of the project, due to the limited transportation conditions in the mountainous area, it is difficult for large installation equipment to reach the base station location, and the installation of the connector is faced with difficulties. By using portable installation tools and segmental installation methods, the installation problems were solved and the project was completed on time.

Through reasonable application methods and layout strategies, waterproof plug and socket connectors meet the special performance requirements of the outdoor environment, and with the successful experience and solutions in actual project cases, they can provide valuable references for the design and operation and maintenance personnel of outdoor power equipment, and further promote the stable and efficient operation of outdoor power facilities. Improve the reliability and durability of the entire outdoor power system.