MHV connector
Encyclopedia
The MHV connector is a type of RF connector
used for terminating coaxial cable
.
The connector looks almost identical to a typical BNC connector
, but is not designed to mate with BNC jacks. MHV connectors can be recognized by the slightly protruding insulation on the male plug and the slightly different insulation length in the female jack. Despite these design differences, MHV and BNC plugs and jacks can be made to mate by brute force. This causes safety hazards, since a user can accidentally (or deliberately) mate a low voltage cable to a high voltage jack, (although in a correctly made MHV connector the pin is further back in the insulator than on BNC so theoretically they should never be able to make contact when used with BNC)
The MHV connector is typically rated for 5000 volt
s DC
and 3 ampere
s. It was commonly used in laboratory settings for voltages beyond the rating of BNC connectors.
MHV connectors are presently considered by some as a safety hazard because of the possibility of high voltage on the exposed central pin when not plugged in, and because the ground connection is broken before the power connection when demating. SHV connector
s are designed to prevent these hazards, and cannot be mated to BNC connectors.
RF connector
A coaxial RF connector is an electrical connector designed to work at radio frequencies in the multi-megahertz range.RF connectors are typically used with coaxial cables and are designed to maintain the shielding that the coaxial design offers. Better models also minimize the change in transmission...
used for terminating coaxial cable
Coaxial cable
Coaxial cable, or coax, has an inner conductor surrounded by a flexible, tubular insulating layer, surrounded by a tubular conducting shield. The term coaxial comes from the inner conductor and the outer shield sharing the same geometric axis...
.
The connector looks almost identical to a typical BNC connector
BNC connector
The BNC connector ' is a common type of RF connector used for coaxial cable. It is used with radio, television, and other radio-frequency electronic equipment, test instruments, video signals, and was once a popular computer network connector. BNC connectors are made to match the characteristic...
, but is not designed to mate with BNC jacks. MHV connectors can be recognized by the slightly protruding insulation on the male plug and the slightly different insulation length in the female jack. Despite these design differences, MHV and BNC plugs and jacks can be made to mate by brute force. This causes safety hazards, since a user can accidentally (or deliberately) mate a low voltage cable to a high voltage jack, (although in a correctly made MHV connector the pin is further back in the insulator than on BNC so theoretically they should never be able to make contact when used with BNC)
The MHV connector is typically rated for 5000 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
s DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
and 3 ampere
Ampere
The ampere , often shortened to amp, is the SI unit of electric current and is one of the seven SI base units. It is named after André-Marie Ampère , French mathematician and physicist, considered the father of electrodynamics...
s. It was commonly used in laboratory settings for voltages beyond the rating of BNC connectors.
MHV connectors are presently considered by some as a safety hazard because of the possibility of high voltage on the exposed central pin when not plugged in, and because the ground connection is broken before the power connection when demating. SHV connector
SHV connector
The SHV connector is a type of RF connector used for terminating a coaxial cable.The connector uses a bayonet mount similar to those of the BNC and MHV connectors, but is easily distinguished due to its very thick and protruding insulator...
s are designed to prevent these hazards, and cannot be mated to BNC connectors.