摘要 |
An electrical cable connector having a voltage detection test point generally includes an internal conductor, an inner insulating sheath surrounding the conductor, a conductive outer shield surrounding the insulating sheath, a separately molded plastic insulative shield disposed adjacent an opening formed in the conductive outer shield and held by the inner insulating sheath and a conductive voltage detection test point terminal disposed within the plastic insulative shield, wherein the test point terminal is capacitively coupled to the internal conductor for external testing of a voltage of the connector. In a preferred method for forming an electrical cable connector, such as a loadbreak power cable elbow connector, having a voltage detection test point, an insulative shield is first molded from a thermoplastic and a conductive voltage detection test point terminal is inserted within the plastic insulative shield. An outer shield is then molded from a conductive material. The conductive outer shield has an opening formed therethrough for accommodating the pre-assembled insulative plastic shield and test point terminal. After the pre-assembled insulative plastic shield and test point terminal are positioned adjacent the opening of the conductive outer shield, and after the conductive outer shield and an internal conductor are positioned within a mold cavity, an inner insulative housing is molded within the conductive outer shield and around the internal conductor. Upon molding, the pre-assembled insulative plastic shield and the test point terminal is held to the inner insulative housing. As a result, the test point terminal becomes capacitively coupled to the internal conductor for external testing of a voltage of the connector.
|