Dependable Connectivity for Automated Car Washes

Posted & filed under Cable Glands, Connector, Sealcon News.

Sealcon is the go-to source for connectivity needs in the automated car wash industry. Our comprehensive line of cable glands and connectors include options that are specifically designed to withstand and work dependably in the harsh, demanding conditions in automated car washes.

Why Sealcon Products are Ideal for Automated Car Washes

Sealcon connectors have an unsurpassed IP68 / NEMA 4X & 6 / 10 BAR (150 PSIG) rating. The patented form seal (Grommet Around Cable) allows products to be installed in up to 300 ft underwater, making them more than adequate for car wash environments. These connectors are also available in spray down IP69K rated and nickel plated and stainless steel options to protect against corrosion. 

PVDF Strain Relief Connectors, also called cable glands and cord grip connectors are manufactured with a special blend of polymers to meet application demands and challenges while resisting chemicals, soaps, and detergents. These connectors also feature specialized FKM inserts making them suitable for use in areas that may come in contact with gasoline and other harsh compounds like weak acids and alkalis.

Examples of automated car wash equipment requiring electric connectivity include:

  • Conveyor track sensors
  • Lighting within the tunnel
  • Pre-soak spraying systems
  • Cleaning and scrubbing mechanisms
  • Rinse spraying systems
  • Wax application systems
  • Blowers for drying

Future Car Wash Connectivity Needs: V-Commerce

A recent report from the International Carwash Association®; details how automated car washes are moving to automated payment systems. As consumers continue to respond favorably to contactless service options, automakers will be incorporating vehicle commerce, or V-commerce pay methodology. The report says an estimated “600 million vehicles will generate in-car transactions of half a trillion dollars by the end of the decade.”

The transition to contactless payment will take time for the car wash industry. For the immediate future, automated car washes will need to accommodate a wide range of vehicles, including older models without V-commerce technology. Nonetheless, automated payment systems in various forms will be integrated in the years ahead, driving the need for new connectivity solutions.

Sealcon meets today’s connectivity needs while staying at the forefront of emerging technology needs. We are committed to being your dependable source for solutions.

Contact us to discuss your project.

Professional Lighting Applications Benefit from Sealcon Technology

Posted & filed under Sealcon News.

Throughout the 20th century, a host of electric lighting technology developments occurred, leading to a diverse range of lighting applications that we use in virtually every aspect of life. From homes and businesses, to institutions and industries, electric lighting has enhanced society’s quality of life and productivity. As a new era of lighting innovation continues to emerge, with an even wider range of application demands and environments, the need for electrical connectors that meet the new challenges are required.

Advanced Lighting Applications and Connection Needs

It is difficult to imagine how amazing it must have been for people in the early 20th century to go from lighting oil lamps and candles to simply flipping a switch for light. The modern world takes for granted a much higher level of sophistication in lighting systems beyond just a flip of the switch, especially with professional lighting applications. Advanced lighting systems are used by professionals in a variety of ways including:

  • Modern interior lighting for offices and facilities
  • Low and high voltage outdoor lighting
  • Stage lighting, overhead colored lighting
  • Industrial interior / exterior lighting for plants and other structures
  • Office lighting, LED conference table lights
  • And more

Today’s professional lighting systems not only need to handle a wide range of voltage, but need to be able to connect and disconnect quickly while also being able to handle environmental and durability factors. Secure wiring connectivity is essential to ensure dependable performance. By using a screw thread connector or a quick ¼ turn connector, the chances of unintentional disconnect are minimized. This also allows for systems such as event and stage lighting and industrial systems to be modular and reconfigured without having to re-wire the entire system, saving time and money. For outdoor lighting systems, connections must be protected from water and UV damage to ensure consistent electrical flow. Many connectors carry IP ratings that allow them to be exposed to certain liquid and dust impacts. Industrial applications must also consider environmental challenges, while office and stage systems often need to address aesthetic needs. Architectural lighting is growing at an exceptional pace and carries the additional requirements of being pleasing to the eye.  A compact connector constructed of nickel plated brass is a perfect combination of performance and design that matches many modern visual applications with its satin silver finish and smooth exterior.

Sealcon Products Address Professional Lighting Needs

Sealcon serves a wide range of professional lighting system needs with connectors that are engineered to meet application needs and challenges. Our comprehensive line includes:

Strain Relief / Cable Gland Connectors – available in Nylon, Nickel Plated Brass, Stainless Steel, and PVDF. When wires or cables are entering a junction box, a cable gland is ideal to protect the connection from dust or liquid from entering the enclosure or device.  Meanwhile, the cable gland will protect the wire from being pulled out and the connection losing contact.

Hazloc Cable Glands – for hazardous areas and increased safety locations

Circular Connectors – sizes available from M12, M16, M23, M27, M40 with configurations for signal, power, fast ethernet, PoE, and hybrid varieties. Connectors offer the ease of not having to re-wire equipment and allow equipment design to be modular.  

Sealcon Connectivity Advantages

  • Ideal for Indoor and Outdoor Applications
  • Liquid Tight
  • Low Profile and Durable
  • Color and Material Options to Meet Aesthetic Needs
  • UL Rating
  • UV Protection 
  • IP Submersion Rating
  • Wide Range of In-Stock Sizes
  • Ready to Ship
  • Technical Assistance

Trust Sealcon for professional lighting system components that meet the challenges of your application. You get the connectors and cable glands you need on time and within budget, along with the benefit of our extensive experience and application support.

Contact us to discuss your project and get a free quote.

Sealcon Meets Connectivity Needs for Marine Applications

Posted & filed under Sealcon News.

From lighting accessories and controls to GPS systems, today’s recreational and luxury boats are equipped with a wide range of high tech accessories that require dependable connectivity. Like the components used in the manufacture of mechanical watercraft assemblies, marine accessories must have the ability to withstand not only continual exposure to water but harsh outdoor weather conditions. The challenging marine environment also requires components and connectors that resist corrosion.

Marine Tech Industry is Growing

According to market reports, the marine technology industry is experiencing rapid growth. The Recreational Boating Market – Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026 says the trend will continue as the leisure boating market is expected to undergo further growth and transformation:

“The marine industry is witnessing an increasing appeal among end-users for advanced and innovative features such as joystick docking controls, automatic trim controls, and digital throttles and shifts. Consumers have less time developing driving skills with the hectic lifestyle and compiling practical experience on the water with the hectic lifestyle. Thus, their reliance on automatic controls is growing at an unprecedented rate.”

Marine Tech Applications

  • Boat Manufacturing Assemblies
  • Boating Accessories:
    • Lighting
    • GPS
    • Depth Finders
    • Radar Systems
    • Pumps
    • Power to Outboard Motor
  • MRO Upgrades

Sealcon Products are Reliable For Marine Applications

Stainless steel cable glands are ideal for marine environments because they are able to withstand the corrosion that tends to occur in nickel plated brass. Sealcon cable glands are used for submersible video equipment, underwater lighting systems on yachts, and on docking systems. 

Nylon cable glands are also ideally suited for use on boats for electrical systems, entering and exiting areas of the boat hull, as well as on control panels. Other applications include marine stereo equipment, depth finders, and lighting systems.

Advantages of Sealcon Products 

  • Ideal for Outdoor Applications
  • UL Rating
  • Nylon
  • Stainless Steel
  • UV Protection
  • IP Submersion Rating
  • Wide Range of In-Stock Sizes
  • Ready to Ship
  • Technical Assistance

Trust Sealcon for high quality, reliable connectors and cable glands that meet the demands of marine applications. We’ll get you the connectors and cable glands you need on time and within budget. Contact us to discuss your project and get a free quote.

Sealcon Serves Growing EV Market

Posted & filed under Cable Glands, Sealcon News.

Over the past few years, several governments and car manufacturers have set goals to phase out sales of internal combustion engine cars within the next two decades. Concurrently, the EV market is quickly growing to overtake traditional automobiles as the new preferred vehicle technology. As discussed in a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United States has made “an ambitious 50% electrification target for new cars by 2030, supported by the announcement of the installation of 500,000 charging points to help increase consumer confidence.”

EV Market Demand For Critical Components

The current geopolitical crisis and global uncertainty surrounding oil supplies have accelerated the demand for EV vehicles and the need for charging stations. Manufacturers of these new technologies must secure dependable supply chain sources in order to meet production goals. Sealcon has been able to serve the needs of charging station manufacturers with a number of connector products and cable glands which are ideally suited for these applications.

Like gas pumps, charging stations must be designed and built to withstand outdoor environments. Resistance to water leakage and UV damage is essential for the connection components for these applications. These characteristics are also important in electric vehicle assemblies. 

EV Market Applications

  • Consumer Vehicle EV Charging Stations
  • Charging Stations for Commercial Vehicles
  • Vehicle Components for Consumer and Commercial EVs
  • Utility Vehicles and Charging Stations for Utility Vehicles
  • Retrofit/Aftermarket Vehicle Conversion to Electric

Sealcon Products are Ideal For EV Applications

Sealcon dome and flex glands provide a water-tight seal and are extremely well suited for electric vehicles and charging station assemblies. These can be specified in nickel plated brass, or nylon to offer UV and corrosion resistance. Most of these parts are used inside the machine on components like sensing devices or metering devices. 

Sealcon connectors are also used to connect different devices within the equipment for easy installation, removal, and repair. Sealcon connectors are available in power as well as signal versions. Many components within EV charging stations are also moving data as well as just power.

Advantages of Sealcon Products

  • Ideal for Outdoor Applications
  • UL Rating
  • IP Submersion Rating
  • Wide Range of In-Stock Sizes
  • Ready to Ship
  • Technical Assistance

Trust Sealcon for high quality, reliable connectors delivered on time. Contact us to discuss your project and get a free quote.

Cable Gland thread types and what the purpose is of each

Posted & filed under Cable Glands, Sealcon News.


Why does Thread Type Matter? – When it comes to cord grips, cable glands and strain relief fittings, choosing the right thread type for the job makes all the difference. The success of your application relies on proper installation which is why choosing the correct thread is so important.
 
Factors to consider when choosing a thread type
All thread types have their own advantages, uses and locations they originated in. The locational origins of these styles still affect what is used with the exception of Metric. Metric originated in Europe and is used worldwide as the standard. While the other styles, NPT, and PG are directly affected by the location of origin. An applications threading may also need to have elongated threads meaning additional thread length is required to mount through a piece of equipment or enclosure. NPT, PG and Metric are the most common styles of threads, and Sealcon products ae available in all 3 configurations. For an in-depth description and guide to all our styles please download our FREE Guide to Choosing Thread Types.
 
 
NPT vs Metric vs PG (a sample of our guide)
NPT stands for National Pipe Thread and is the US standard for tapered threads for connectors and fittings. NPT threads are usually longer than Metric or PG and taper toward the end. The taper rate for all NPT threads is 1/16. NPT threads are designed to create a liquid-tight seal upon tightening. The flanks of the threads compress against each other which allow them to form a seal when torque is applied.
NPT threads are used in a wide range of materials to suit a variety of environments and conditions and are most commonly used on products in the United States. You would want to use NPT threads in applications that require an effective seal from liquids, gases, and steam.
 
Even though Metric threads are European, they are the most common thread type used world-wide. Metric threads are characterized by their major diameter and pitch, both expressed in millimeters. For example, an M20 x 1.5 fitting has a major diameter of 20mm and a pitch of 1.5mm. You would want to use Metric threads in export equipment or on projects that could be used in many locations world wide.
 
PG stands for Panzer-Gewinde and is an older German thread type. PG threads are straight threads designed with a smaller thread depth and larger flank angle. The 80° angle of the PG thread gives a shorter profile than the more common 60° angle found in Metric threads.
 
In our Thread Guide we walk you thru Straight vs Tapered threads and how to calculate the number of TPI or threads per inch.
 
Download our FREE Guide to Choosing Thread Types