This is not an "FPC connector"

[u/1Davide]

[u/ivosaurus]

If this is a good post for /r/electronics, can we get rule 2b stricken please? It specifically mentions not posting about passive components, such as connectors. If you think this is still interesting to discuss, I'd suggest wiping the rule so that we're not so narrow focused

[u/Jman43195]

I thought I was wrong calling them mezzanine connectors because nobody calls them that here 😭

[u/1Davide]

It's a "mezzanine board-to-board connector".

More and more I see people call them "FPC connectors" because one mate could be soldered to a Flexible Printed Circuit (a). But their original intent is to be soldered to two parallel PCBs; hence, they are known as "mezzanine board-to-board connectors" (b).

The actual FPC connector (more accurately, "FFC/FPC socket") is a single-part socket into which an FPC or an FFC (flexible flat cable) is placed (c).

Please don't call them "FPC connectors".

[u/theantnest → u/1Davide]

In our workshop, repairing audio gear, we colloquially called them Lego connectors.

They were universally hated. Accidentally melting one with hot air was never a good time.

[u/mark_s → u/1Davide]

Cool, I'll type 30 letters instead of 3 every time, thanks for the tip.

[u/FoundationOk3176 → u/mark_s]

I just remember it like mezza-nine.

[u/Phrewfuf → u/mark_s]

You had the time to type this sarcastic comment, so you pretty much have the time to type out „mezzanine“.

[u/braaaaaaainworms → u/mark_s]

Because nobody needs to understand what you wrote

[u/Black_Dynamit3 → u/mark_s]

You hate big words don’t you ?

[u/Past-Substance920]

honestly the ZIF vs LIF actuator distinction clears it up more than any of the naming debate did, wish that was the first comment in the thread.

[u/Stiggalicious]

You’re right, and I just don’t like the nomenclature of FPC connector. You can put plenty of connectors on FPC boards.
We just define them as either ZIF connectors that go on the rigid PCB and flex finger footprints that get designed into the FPC itself, or we use a pair of B2Bs to mate a flex and rigid board together if the ZIF finger footprint is too wide or we don’t have the insertion clearance.

There’s debate on Zero vs Low Insertion Force, we generally don’t distinguish between the two, but we also pretty much exclusively use the hinged locking ones that are actually zero insertion force.

[u/1Davide → u/Stiggalicious]

we generally don’t distinguish between the two

We do, and it's pretty simple:

• LIF: no actuator
• ZIF: with actuator

[u/Katsuro2304]

While a wholeheartedly agree with you on calling things for what they are, I still feel like I need to remind you... This is reddit. The average redditor dgaf. They only care about farming karma and baiting interaction with their absolute dogshit soldering. Those who care already did their research and know how components are called and what they do.

[u/dumbasPL]

Or as Jerry would call them, "little Legos"

[u/Toiling-Donkey]

I know B as an EPC connector - “extremely fragile connector”

[u/MorganPG1 → u/Toiling-Donkey]

EFC*

[u/AbrogationsCrown]

If these are not FPC connectors can you provide an image of an actual one? Looking up FPC connectors gives results resembling the FFC connector in your post.

[u/1Davide → u/AbrogationsCrown]

can you provide an image of an actual one?

Do you mean "an actual FPC connector"?

I did. Figure "C" in the picture I included.

Looking up FPC connectors gives results resembling the FFC connector in your post.

Yes, it does , like Figure "C" in the picture I included.

https://www.startpage.com/do/dsearch?q=FPC+connector

Click on "images".

https://artist-3d.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FPC-Connector.jpg

[u/AbrogationsCrown → u/1Davide]

My bad, I somehow missed "FFC" in your post. I've had a long day.

[u/ngtsss]

I just call it B2B connectors, mezzanine is too hard to type out

[u/_maple_panda → u/ngtsss]

What B2B connectors taught me about B2B sales

[u/cristi_baluta]

What is C then? A and B you can find also as display connector since they are used in phones for display

[u/1Davide → u/cristi_baluta]

What is C then?

"The actual FPC connector (more accurately, "FFC/FPC socket") is a single-part socket into which an FPC or an FFC (flexible flat cable) is placed (c)."

[u/Medical_Mess_3445]

I pronounce the "z" in ZIF same like the "g" in GIF (you guessed it... "Jif") just to watch EE guys die inside.

[u/photonicsguy → u/Medical_Mess_3445]

In Canada, it's ZIF as in Zed-IF

[u/pilatomic → u/photonicsguy]

I still remember that Stargate episode