EUROPEAN AND US STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOTIVE CONNECTORS

EUROPEAN AND US STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOTIVE CONNECTORS

We see the same cars on the roads in Europe and the US. But the electronics they contain may differ due to differences in the connector and automotive component standards. Connector companies that do business with European and American car manufacturers must either offer two sets of products to meet the specific needs of these countries or offer connectors designed to meet all applicable car connector standards in different markets. When you consider the Asian automotive markets, other strictures come into play. First, the two most important standards that must be met for each product are UL (USA) and VDE (Germany/Europe) certificates. The UL and VDE (Verband der Elektrotechnik) organisations certify electronics used in automotive and other applications. These certifications indicate that the products meet strict guidelines for safety, and reliability and are not harmful to the environment. The connectors must also meet two automotive standards: USCAR in the US and LV214 in Europe. USCAR 2, developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), contains requirements for the design, manufacture and field testing of electrical terminals, connectors, and components that make up high voltage (60 to 6000) electrical connection systems. It includes performance testing at all stages of production and use. The ZLV214 is an automotive standard developed by representatives of German car manufacturers Audi AG, BMW AG, Daimler AG, Porsche AG, and Volkswagen AG. It is the most modern solution for all suppliers. The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) standards cover many areas of the automotive industry, including safety, wiring, electronics, and energy storage.