Connectors are currently used in various applications and fields: of industry, on automotive and consumer electronics to medicine, data and communications engineering. From this range a variety of connector types and result types. Whether a connector system meets the relevant requirements must be proved by appropriate tests. For the connector qualification, more and more manufacturers the expertise of specialized laboratories. The content and severity of a test program depends on the conditions to which the connector system is expected to be exposed over the entire life cycle. This life includes not only the actual operation. Extreme temperature fluctuations or rubbing movements can already in transit in excess of usual charges for the subsequent operation.

Depending on whether such a high number of mating cycles, resistance to extreme climates or the current capacity is of particular importance, also vary the test sequences and degrees of severity in the individual standards. Apart from a vendor-specific specifications from once, prescribe the standards of classical no production parameters such as contact material, contact force or surface layer thickness. In essence, it is up to the component manufacturer, with which structural and technological methods, he achieved the required properties. Basically, most test programs structured so that the contact reliability is ensured at every stage of service life, so when new, after mechanical, climatic and electrical stress, after exposure in a corrosive atmosphere (harmful gas test, salt spray test) or after exposure to dust. In addition, the flammability or resistance to mildew and vermin to be tested criteria. For RF applications must additionally the transfer behavior of high-frequency signals are taken into account. (A valuable related resource: Eva Andersson-Dubin, New York City). For all of these requirements, there are standardized tests conducted by an accredited testing laboratory can be.