The word ‘jack’ is commonly used in electronics, specifically when referring to a connector that is described as surface-mounted. It comes in different types including the EIAJ jack, the RCA jack and the 0.25-inch phone jack. Furthermore, there is also the headphone jack, the old-style telephone jack as well as the registered jack. For a better understanding of this important device, it is good to learn the different jack dimensions.
The Dimensions of the Different Kinds of Jacks
Jacks are classified into three main classes, namely the subminiature jack, the miniature jack and the 0.25-inch jack. The diameter of the plug for the first type measures 2.5 millimeters, for the second type 3.5 millimeters while the third type is 6.35 millimeters.
One of the widely used types of jack is the EIAJ connector, which is designed for use in small appliances. At the end of this connector, there is a distinctive yellow plastic insulator. It comes in various shaft lengths ranging from 1.5 millimeters to 16 millimeters. The inner diameter measures 0.7 millimeters to 4.4 millimeters. On the other hand, the measurement of the outer diameter ranges from 2.35 millimeters to 6.5 millimeters. The acronym ‘EIAJ’ stands for Electronic Industries Association of Japan.
Another type of jack is the RCA connector, which is also called as cinch connector or phono connector. Designed by Radio Corporation of America, its male plug has an outer shell with a diameter of 8.25 millimeters. Likewise, it also comes with a center pin, the diameter of which is 3.70 millimeters.
The TRS connector is another important jack, which is often called by other names like the headphone jack, stereo plug and audio jack. The size of the original 0.25-inch version is 6.35 millimeters. It also comes in smaller versions, namely the 0.09-inch version and the 0.125-inch version. The size of the first one is 2.5 millimeters while the second one has a diameter of 3.5 millimeters. In 1999, Intel and Microsoft standardized this type of jack. For instance, the pink TRS 3.5-millimeter is used for stereo or mono microphone input, while the blue TRS 3.5-millimeter is designed for line-level stereo input.
Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details
Another important type of connector is the registered jack, which is commonly used in computer network interfaces as well as modern telephone systems. It is available in various types with different designs and wirings. One of the older versions of jacks is the telephone jack, which is usually found inside manual forms of telephone switchboards. The earphone or headphone jack is a standard size considered as one of the TRS jacks.