Hey everyone, Other Connector
So let’s cut to the chase—if you’re reading this, you’re either an engineer sourcing connectors, a procurement lead trying to cut down on waste, or maybe someone who’s just had enough of tossing out parts that “should work again.” I’m here from an Other Connector supplier, and I get the questions every single week: “Wait, can your connectors even be reused?” It’s a fair ask, honestly. Most people only hear about disposable connectors, the ones that go into a phone and get tossed when the device dies, or the ones that snap into place once and never come out. But Other Connectors? They’re the unsung workhorses in everything from industrial machinery to medical devices, electric vehicle charging stations, even the sneaky stuff in aerospace. And reusable ones? They’re not a myth—they’re just not talked about enough.
First, let’s clear up what “Other Connectors” are, because a lot of folks mix that term up with random oddball parts. We’re not talking about the generic HDMI or USB plugs you grab at a corner store. Other Connectors (sometimes called “custom interconnects” if we’re being fancy, but we keep it casual) are the ones built for specific, unique use cases. Maybe it’s a high-temperature connector that works in a factory furnace, or a waterproof one that goes under a hospital’s MRI machine, or a tiny one that fits into a drone’s circuit board. They’re not off-the-shelf, so when a customer buys one, they’re not just getting a plug and a socket—they’re getting a part designed to fit their exact needs. That’s why reusability isn’t just a nice bonus; it’s a big deal for people who need to service their equipment without replacing the whole connection every time.
Now, the big question: Are they reusable? The short answer is… it depends, but way more often than you think, most of our Other Connectors are built with reuse in mind. Let’s break down why some people say no, and when it actually works. First, I’ve seen so many engineers try to use disposable connectors for multi-use jobs, and that’s where the confusion starts. Disposable connectors are made to be crimped or pressed once—their pins are soft, their housings are made to break if you pull them too hard, because the manufacturer just wants you to buy a new one. Other Connectors? We design ours to be mated and unmated multiple times, but only if you do it right.
Wait, “do it right” is key here. A lot of people yank a connector out like it’s a USB plug they forgot they shouldn’t pull, and then wonder why the pins bent or the seal broke. But if you follow the care steps? Let’s say you’re working with a standard industrial Other Connector—mating/unmating 50 to 100 times is totally normal for our line. Some of our heavy-duty ones? We’ve tested them up to 500 mate cycles, no issues. That’s not a number I made up, by the way—we do in-house tests every month, because our customers (factory managers, EV techs, medical device teams) rely on that. I remember a customer last year who works on commercial printing presses; he told me he uses the same Other Connectors for the press’s ink system for 3 years, removing and reattaching them every time he cleans the lines. He said he only replaces a connector if it gets physically damaged, not from wear and tear. That’s the kind of win we love to hear.
But let’s not pretend all Other Connectors are reusable. There are edge cases where it’s just not safe, and we’ll be the first to tell a customer that. For example, if you’re working with a connector that’s rated for high-voltage power—like 1,000 volts or more—sometimes the seal between the connector and the housing is made to create a permanent, gas-tight fit. Why? Because if that seal breaks even a little, you could get arcing, which is dangerous. In those cases, we’ll usually build you a version where the seal is designed to be reusable, but you have to replace the small gaskets every few cycles. It’s a little extra cost, but it’s way safer than dealing with a fire or a power outage in a factory. We’ve had a aerospace client who had to use non-reusable connectors for satellite components, but that’s because in space, any tiny breach could be a disaster. We didn’t fight them on it—we gave them the non-reusable option, and also offered a reusable alternative for ground testing, which they use all the time. That’s the balance we try to strike: we don’t push reuse if it’s a bad idea, but we make it easy when it’s possible.
Another thing people don’t talk about: reusing Other Connectors saves a ton of money and waste. Let’s do quick math. A typical Other Connector for industrial use is $20 to $50. If you have a machine that needs 10 connectors for a routine service, that’s $200 to $500 every time you service it. If you reuse, you only pay for the occasional repair or replacement, not a whole new set. And waste? The average electronic component manufacturer throws away 1.8 million tons of electronic waste a year, a lot of it from disposable connectors that get tossed when equipment is serviced. We’ve had a few customers switch to our reusable Other Connectors and cut their connector-related waste by 70% in a year. That’s not just good for their wallets—it’s good for the planet. And hey, let’s be real, procurement teams love that kind of stat when they’re trying to hit sustainability goals.
But wait, what about when reuse does go wrong? We’ve seen it too. Last year, a startup working on portable solar panels tried to reuse a small Other Connector for their battery pack, and bent a pin. Why? They didn’t use the right tool to remove it—they just pulled it out with pliers. That’s why we always include a free removal tool with every set of reusable connectors, and we post 2-minute tutorials on our website showing how to mate and unmate properly. Pin bending is the #1 mistake people make, and it’s totally avoidable. Another time, a customer reused a connector that had a rubber gasket, and didn’t replace the gasket after 20 cycles—so the waterproof seal broke, and their outdoor sensor got damaged. We still covered that under our warranty, because we wish we’d reminded them to replace the gasket. That’s why we don’t just sell connectors—we’re here to walk you through the use case, no matter how small.
Now, let’s talk about what makes a good reusable Other Connector vs. a bad one. From our end, here’s what we prioritize: first, durable materials. We use brass pins with a gold or tin plating (depending on the use) because they don’t corrode and can handle multiple mating cycles. The housing is either nylon 66 for industrial use or silicone for medical, both of which resist wear and tear. We also make sure the locking mechanism is smooth—no cheap plastic latches that break after a few uses. For waterproof connectors, we build the gasket to be replaceable, so you don’t have to throw the whole part away when the gasket gets worn. We even add markers on the connector to show which end mates with which, so you don’t mix up pins, which is another common mistake that makes people think connectors can’t be reused.
What about when your connector is old? Can you reuse a 10-year-old Other Connector you have in storage? That’s a question we get a lot. If it’s been stored properly—cool, dry, no dust, not exposed to extreme temperatures—then yeah, probably. But if it’s been sitting in a garage or a factory floor for years, the pins might have corroded, or the housing might have cracked from heat. We always tell customers to test a connector before using it in a big project—plug it and unplug it a few times, check for bend pins, test the electrical connection. If it works, great! If not, it’s easy to fix—usually just cleaning the pins with isopropyl alcohol, which we also give tips for.
Let’s wrap this up with a real example, because stories stick. A manufacturing client we work with makes food processing equipment. Their old process was: every time they cleaned the equipment, they’d disconnect the connectors, which were disposable, and toss them. They were spending $12,000 a year on connectors, and throwing away 500 of them a month. We worked with them to design a set of reusable Other Connectors, made with food-safe silicone housings and sealed pins. Now, they only replace connectors if a pin is damaged, not every service run. Their connector costs dropped to $3,000 a year, and their e-waste from connectors is almost gone. They told us last quarter that the ROI on the new connectors was only 6 months. That’s the kind of result that makes all the late nights at the factory floor testing worth it.
So to circle back: Are Other Connectors reusable? Yes, most of them, if they’re designed for it, and you use them correctly. The key isn’t to just grab any connector and plug it in multiple times—it’s to work with a supplier who builds reuse into the design, gives you the tools and tips to do it right, and will be honest with you when reuse isn’t the best call. We’re not here to force customers into reuse if it’s unsafe or impractical—we’re here to help them get the most out of their parts, save money, and cut down on waste.
If you’re tired of tossing out connectors after every service, if you want to cut your costs or hit your sustainability goals, reach out to us. We don’t do generic sales pitches—we’ll ask you about your exact use case, tell you if reuse is possible, and even show you examples of how other customers have made it work. No jargon, no hidden fees, just straight talk about connectors that can actually do what you need them to.
Automotive Connector References
- Industrial Electronics Society. (2022). Testing Protocols for Reusable Interconnect Devices. Presented at the IEEE Industrial Electronics Annual Conference.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Electronic Waste Reduction Strategies for Industrial Manufacturers. EPA Sustainability Program Report.
- Connector Specifier Association. (2021). Guide to Mate Cycle Rating for Custom Interconnects. CSA Technical Bulletin 47.
- Journal of Medical Device Engineering. (2022). Reusable vs. Disposable Connectors in Clinical Equipment: Safety and Cost Analysis. Vol. 18, Issue 3.
Wenzhou JKUN Connector Co., Ltd.
Address: No.2667, Ningkang East Road, Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province, China
E-mail: sales@cnjkun.com
WebSite: https://www.jkunjcj.com/
