spring contacts and battery charging contacts
Spring contacts – also with customer-specific specifications
We offer a comprehensive range of high-quality standard spring contacts and battery charging contacts suitable for a wide variety of industrial and electronic applications. Our online catalog contains over 300 different standard spring contacts and connectors are available, which you can request directly from us with just a few clicks.
Furthermore, we enable customized adjustmentsto optimally meet your individual requirements. This includes modifications to the Rated current, the spring force and the Surface coatingOur experienced engineering team will support you in developing customized solutions and offers a wide range of material options, special coatings, and flexible connector configurations. This ensures that your spring contact solution is perfectly tailored to your application.
Reference examples of customer-specific spring contacts & connectors
Our customized spring contacts are used in a wide range of applications. Through tailor-made solutions, they meet specific technical requirements and ensure reliable signal and power transmission in a wide variety of industries. Here are some examples of successful customer projects:
Reliable connection technology for versatile applications
Spring contacts, also known as Pogo pins or Spring Loaded Contacts (SLC)These are a proven solution for reliably connecting uneven surfaces. The connection is made by probing a spring-loaded pin, which ensures constant electrical contact.
Thanks to their high functional reliability and long service life with high cycle numbers, spring contacts are ideal for power and data transmission. While our standard models cover nominal currents from 1A to 2A, specially developed variants are able to transmit up to 15A. We also enable customer-specific developments to achieve even higher current loads.
Individual spring contact connectors for tailor-made solutions
Spring contact connectors consist of several spring contact pins that are assembled in a plastic housing. We offer customized connector solutions that can be customized in terms of pitch, number of pins and housing dimensions. In addition, we develop magnetic connectors in which the integration of magnets enables a self-guiding and secure connection.
High current contacts
In addition to miniature spring-loaded battery charging contacts with a current carrying capacity of 5A to 15A, we also offer so-called "Crown Spring Contacts" with a current carrying capacity of up to 250A. This design ensures 100% contact between the plug and socket, creating an extremely stable and vibration-resistant connection. At the same time, the low contact resistance ensures efficient power transmission even under high loads.
Optimized assembly and automation
For easy and efficient integration we offer different connection types, including SMD, THT, solder cup and crimp connection. In addition, almost all Spring contacts with a component cap and supplied on reels or tapes. This facilitates automated assembly, reduces assembly time, and ensures efficient processing in series production.
With our standard and customized spring contacts, we offer you a flexible, durable and high-performance connection technology that can be perfectly adapted to your specific requirements.
Advantages of spring contacts
- Spring contacts have a long mechanical service life,
- adjustable and measurable spring force,
- small pitch and a high integration density.
- Transmission of high currents up to 15A are possible
- SMD, THT, crimp connections, solder cup for flexible connections
- high tolerance compensation compared to fixed connectors
- good performance in high frequency applications
- RoHs compliant and halogen free
Application of spring contacts
- Battery charging stations and battery compartments of electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and cameras
- Connectors in aerospace engineering, eg for avionics systems or satellites
- Medical technology, eg for connecting sensors and actuators in implantable devices or as part of diagnostic and therapy devices
- Industrial applications, eg for connecting sensors, actuators or controls in machines or robots
- Military applications, e.g. for robust connectors in communication systems, navigation and surveillance technology or for contacting in mobile units and vehicles under extreme environmental conditions
design of spring contacts
A spring contact probe consists of three precision-engineered components that are perfectly matched: a plunger, a spring, and a probe sleeve. Together, they form a complete, reliable, and durable system that ensures a seamless electrical connection. The use of various design constructions significantly improves the performance and service life of the spring contacts.
standard designs
Back drill design
The back-drill design is particularly suitable for compact designs and at the same time offers a high degree of flexibility in adjusting the spring force. By using a longer spring instead of a hollow piston, the spring forces can be precisely tailored to customer-specific requirements. This enables more precise contact, which at the same time results in a longer service life and optimized mechanical performance in demanding applications.
bias design
The bias design is recommended for maximum contact guarantee and to reduce signal interference caused by vibrations. The piston is bevelled at the end at an angle of up to 18°, which ensures constant, reliable contact. This design is used for almost all spring contact pins with a length of 3,5 mm and above and ensures a stable electrical connection, even in demanding operating environments.
4P design with ball
The 4P design with ball is the ideal solution for applications that have particularly high requirements for current carrying capacity and vibration resistance at currents above 3A. To prevent the compression spring from burning up under high load, a stainless steel ball is integrated between the piston and the compression spring. This design not only ensures even force distribution, but also reduces electrical resistance and increases the service life of the spring contact.
Thanks to this robust construction, the 4P design with ball offers a reliable high-current solution, even under extreme mechanical loads.
4P design with cap
The 5P design with cap is particularly suitable for high-current applications from 4A. Thanks to the reinforced piston shell and a specially developed internal structure, the contact area within the spring contact is enlarged, ensuring stable and reliable current transmission.
In addition, these high-current spring contacts offer a service life of at least 10.000 cycles, making them ideal for high-performance applications where a permanent yet robust connection is required.
Special spring contact designs
360° rolling pin spring contact
The Rolling Pin offers a reliable 360° contact between two components - even during lateral and rotating movements. In contrast to a classic spring contact, the rolling pin is equipped with a piston that also has an integrated ball in the pin tip. This ensures a particularly stable and uniform connection.
At the same time, the spring-loaded ball significantly reduces possible transmission interference that could be caused by movements, vibrations or sudden shocks.
In addition, we offer different variants for SMD and THT assembly, so that the rolling pin can be flexibly integrated into different applications. Depending on the pin, the Rated current between 1A and 6A, which ensures a wide range of applications in various industrial sectors.
Screw design spring contact / Screw spring contact
The constant miniaturization of electronic devices poses immense challenges for manufacturers and engineers, as more and more functions have to be accommodated in a small space. In this context, manufacturing technology plays a central role in ensuring the performance and reliability of the devices. This is exactly where the spring contact design with integrated screw thread comes into play, as it perfectly meets the requirements of miniaturization.
The design not only enables the transmission of power and signal currents, but also fulfills an important function as a screw. The integration of the screw thread ensures a safe and reliable attachment of the spring contact without the need for additional fastening elements. This saves space and significantly reduces assembly time.
The screw thread can be used on all Flat Type spring contacts from a piston length of 3,5 mm This makes the design extremely flexible and adaptable to the requirements of a wide range of applications.
Coating of spring contacts
As standard, the piston and the pin sleeve are made of brass, while the spring is made of stainless steel. Alternatively, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and SK4 steel are also available for the manufacture of the pistons. Beryllium copper and phosphor bronze can also be used for the pin sleeve. This allows spring contacts to be specifically adapted to mechanical, electrical and thermal requirements.
To ensure optimal electrical conductivity and high protection against corrosion and oxidation, our spring contacts are Standard gold coatingThe coating of the pin sleeve and piston is usually carried out in two steps: first with a 1-2μm thick nickel layer, then with a 0,1-1μm thick gold layer.
In addition, we offer partial coatings of individual components as well as alternative precious metal coatings to best meet your specific requirements.
Comparison of individual coatings
| Coating | Hardness (HV) | function (color) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 200 | low resistance (gold) |
| PSG | 200 | A cheaper alternative to gold |
| Great AP | 400 | very high corrosion resistance, low electrical resistance (silver) |
| Super APT | 400 | highest corrosion resistance, low electrical resistance (silver) |
| Nickel | 150-200 | Corrosion resistance / comp. cheap (silver) |
| Palladium Nickel | 330-380 | Improved signal transmission (silver) |
| brass | 600 | Alternative to nickel (silver) |
| palladium cobalt | 450-600 | Alternative to palladium-nickel (silver) |
| palladium cobalt | 600-800 | Color requirement black |
Galvanic corrosion at spring contacts
Due to the multi-layered structure of a spring contact, metals with different electrochemical properties inevitably come into contact. If moisture or other conductive liquids enter the contact area, an electrochemical process can begin. Examples include condensation or perspiration. In this context, the liquid acts as an electrolyte, creating a galvanic cell between the metals with different electrochemical potentials. The less noble metal acts as the anode and slowly begins to dissolve, while the more noble metal acts as the cathode. This can lead to corrosion, which in turn increases contact resistance and ultimately causes malfunctions in the electrical connection.
Influence of coating quality
Another critical point in this context is the thickness and quality of the gold plating. Since gold is a relatively expensive material, standard platings are often very thin for economic reasons. At the same time, spring contacts are subject to mechanical stress during operation because they move when they make contact. This movement is generally desirable, as it improves the electrical connection and removes existing oxide layers. However, over time, it can also lead to microscopic damage or pores in the gold layer. If moisture penetrates these areas, it can reach the underlying nickel or copper layer and trigger galvanic corrosion.
Furthermore, galvanic corrosion can occur not only within the spring contact but also at the contact point with the mating contact. This is particularly common when different coatings meet, for example, a gold-plated spring contact on a tinned circuit board. Due to the potential difference between the materials, an electrochemical process can develop here as well, which in turn increases the contact resistance in the long term and thus impairs the reliability of the electrical connection.
Super AP and Super APT coatings for high corrosion resistance
To counteract these effects, special coating processes are used in high-quality spring contacts. Super AP and Super APT coatings These contacts were specifically developed to significantly increase corrosion resistance and service life. An optimized layer structure and a particularly dense, resistant surface reduce moisture penetration and minimize wear on the contact surface. At the same time, the contact resistance remains stable even after many mating cycles.
Especially in applications with increased environmental stresses – such as in medical technology, industrial electronics or mobile devices – this special coating technology makes a crucial contribution to preventing galvanic corrosion and ensuring a permanently reliable electrical connection.
Comparison to the Super AP & Super APT coating
| Comparison | Test standard | Gold (50u") | Super-AP | Super-APT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nickel release | EN12472: 2005 T1: 2009 | Nickel-containing process | nickel-free process | nickel-free process |
| impedance | EIA-364-23 | < 50 mΩ | < 50 mΩ | < 50 mΩ |
| Salt water Resistance | EIA-362-26 | 96 HR | 168 HR | 168 HR |
| transpiration Resistance | ISO-3160 | 96 HR | 168 HR | 168 HR |
| Oberflächenhärte | ISO6507-1:2005 | 200 HP | 400 HP | 400 HP |
| Electrolysis- resistance time | 1mA, 5V, Pitch=0.60mm | < 1 min | 60 Min | 90 Min |
PSG coating – an economical alternative to gold
The PSG Coating is an nickel-free, gold-colored functional coating For electrical contacts, connectors, spring contacts and pogo pins. It was developed as an economical alternative to thick gold plating (Ni/Au ≥ 10 µ″) and offers comparable technical properties with a significantly reduced amount of precious metal.
The coating meets industrial requirements for corrosion resistance, solderability, mechanical strength, and service life, and is designed for up to 10.000 mating cycles. Extensive environmental and stress tests confirm performance on par with conventional gold systems. With significant cost advantages of up to 50%, PSG is particularly suitable for cost-critical series production applications where reliability and quality remain paramount.
Reference of a partial super-AP coating
In the example shown, the connector is for a wearable application with a Partial Super-AP coating (silver) equipped with [missing information]. This is intended to minimize corrosion of the electrical contacts caused by sweat or moisture. The plug is available under the article number [missing information]. SVPC-C-P08945MS1-03A250HR and SVPC-C-P08945FL2-03AHR available. The spring contact plug has a current of 1A and a spring force of 120g. The service life is at least 10.000 cycles.
Our services at a glance:
- Individual development and adaptation for special requirements or housing designs
- Large selection of spring contacts in various designs and lengths
- Optional with component placement cap for automated assembly processes
- Variants with high current carrying capacity, low contact resistance and durable spring technology
- Sample sets for testing We offer this at a fixed price.
Catalogue “Spring Contacts”
Tabular product overview of all spring contacts
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