Some of these connectors may also use four nuts and bolts to fix them to the panel.
Large washers can be used to provide an earth connection directly to the connector. The earthing is then accomplished via the panel to which the connector is bolted using a single nut. The very basic BNC connector consists of a panel mounting assembly with a single connection for the coax centre. The sockets or female BNC connectors also come in a number of flavours.
This may not be significant for most applications, but at frequencies near the operational limit of the connector there may be a small difference. Unfortunately right-angled connectors have a marginally higher level of loss than their straight through counterparts. These are ideal in many applications where the cables need to leave the connector in this manner to ensure cables are in a tidy fashion, or where space is at a premium. Of these the straight connectors are the most widely used, although right angled connectors where the cable leaves the plug at right angles to the centre of the connector centre line are also available. In addition to this there are straight and right angled variants. Although there is some latitude, it is naturally best to select the correct cable format. It is therefore necessary to specify the BNC plug for use the cable to be used. In this way all the internal piece parts are compatible with the coaxial cable used. Not only are there plugs and sockets but there are also adapters and also other items such as attenuators.īNC plugs are designed not only for the required impedance, but also to accept a particular coax cable format. However it is wise to fully check the specification.īNC connectors come in a variety of formats. Often the BNC connector is specified for operation at frequencies up to 4 GHz and it can be used up to 10 GHz provided the special top quality versions specified to that frequency are used. Of the two versions of the BNC connector, the 50 ohm version is more widely used. However there are a number of guidelines that can be used. The specifications of the BNC connector naturally vary from one manufacturer to another and it is always best to ensure that the particular component being purchased is suitable for the intended application. Additionally it needed to be smaller than either the N-type or C-type connectors which were much larger. The BNC connector was developed as a result of the need to provide a high quality, robust connector that would be capable of being used in a wide variety of applications. The BNC connector is essentially a miniature version of the C connector which was in turn a bayonet version of the N-type connector. It has also been shown to stand for Bayonet Navy Connector in some references. The BNC connector was developed in the late 1940s and it gains its name from a combination of the fact that it has a bayonet fixing and from the names of the designers, the letters BNC standing for Bayonet Neill Concelman. BNC socket on electronic equipment BNC development This is particularly important for RF applications as it will result in few reflections and a lower level of loss. Accordingly any RF signals travelling along a coax cable will not see any impedance changes as they pass through the BNC connector. Coax cable has what is called a characteristic impedance. This means that it has the same characteristic impedance across the whole of the connector. The BNC is also what is termed a constant impedance connector. This is particularly useful because it prevents accidental disconnection if the cable is pulled slightly or repeatedly moved. One its chief mechanical attributes is that it uses a bayonet fixing. In fact BNC connectors are used in applications where coaxial or screened cable is required, and particularly for RF applications. The BNC connector is used on test equipment for everything from oscilloscopes to audio generators, and power meters to function generators. It is very easy and convenient to use, and offers a very high level of performance. The BNC coax connector is one of the most widely used RF connectors today. Related connector types: Other connectors RF connectors RF connector specifications BNC connector TNC connector N-type connector SMA connector SMB connector MCX connector Precision connectors UHF connector F-type
BNC Connector - an overview, information or tutorial about the BNC connector used for making RF connections.