A printed circuit board (PCB) is a physical piece of technology that allows for the assembly of electrical or data circuits on a horizontal layer of material.
When designing data cabinets, home appliances, office equipment, cable junction boxes or anything that involves electronics, PCB hardware are integral components for your project. This guide will help you understand the different components that can enhance the performance of your printed circuit board.
We strongly recommend that you try the hardware you need for your electronic circuit board before you buy – request free samples so that you can ensure they’re right for your application. You can also download free CADs to help with your application and circuit board design.
A good starting point is to see what solutions are commonly used for certain applications.
Solutions Consumer Electronics & Office Machinery Consumer Appliances Data Cabinets Electrical cabinets Automotive PCB supports ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ PCB standoffs and spacers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Card guides, ejectors and pullers ✔ ✔ ✔ PCB mounting block ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ PCB fan accessories ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ PCB LED hardware ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ PCB grommets ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Before choosing your hardware, you might find it helpful to read How to ensure a smooth PCB assembly. The information could help you decide which components you should use. Otherwise, here’s a look now at the hardware you need.
PCB supports, also known as PCB support pillars and PCB support posts, do what the name says: they support the mounting of a PCB. They do this by joining your PCB board to the required surface. They also add an element of insulation and protection from electrical transmission, while providing a more secure, stable hold. For materials, you can choose between plastics and metal. Plastics make your PCB lighter, and you might prefer the ease of installation that most of these supports offer.
What are the different PCB mounting types?
Mounting options vary, and include adhesive, edge locking, reverse locking, screw locking and snap lock. Here’s a look at the primary categories:
Threaded
Snap-Fit
Quickly pushes into a panel or chassis hole, giving a strong but efficient mounting that saves you time when undergoing installation.
Different types available include edge lock, bayonet and fir tree.
Snap-Lock
Pushes into a panel or chassis hole, giving a secure but easily releasable fix.
Press fit/blind hole
Fins hold securely to a range of binding holes with a painted style that drives easily into applications with space restrictions.
Adhesive base
Adhesive tape eliminates the need for a mounting hole, providing time and space efficiencies.
Need
Fast and easy installation
Solution
Self-Adhesive PCB Support Pillars - Non-Locking
Why?
Need
Easy installation for more mechanical strength
Solution
PCB Support Pillars - Locking/Teardrop/Threaded Male
Why?
Need
Connect multiple boards or when back of the panel is not easily accessible
Solution
PCB Support Pillars - Two-Prong Snap-Lock/Two-Prong Snap-Fit
Why?
PCB spacers help component mounting on PCB maintain space and positioning of circuit board components within your PCB. Both can have the same shapes. You can get a hexagonal standoff or a hexagonal spacer. You can also choose a round standoff and round spacers.
So what exactly is the difference? Spacers are unthreaded, with a through hole. Standoffs are threaded on both ends and come in both male and female designs. Sometimes you’ll see the description “threaded round spacer”. This is a standoff, because it’s threaded. The bottom line is, they have the same purpose. The difference is in whether or not they’re threaded.
Materials: Plastic, metal or ceramic?
Materials vary. Use ceramic spacers for extremely high-temperature applications. PCB plastic spacers, such as a Nylon PCB standoff, offer good corrosion resistance and are cost-effective for mass production, while still having good mechanical properties. They’re also the preferred choice over metal if you need a lightweight alternative.
Examples of PCB standoffs and spacers include:
Need
Sturdy, insulated spacing for high-power electronic applications
Solution
PCB Standoffs - Round/Metric Threaded/Insulator/Nylon & Brass
Why?
Need
Good isolation for the fastening screw
Solution
PCB Spacer - Non-Threaded/Round/Through
Why?
Need
Sturdy, insulated spacing for high-power electronic applications
Solution
PCB Standoffs - Round
Why?
Need
Easy installation
Solution
PCB Standoffs - Hexagonal/Unthreaded/Self-Tapping
Why?
You can learn more on how to choose your PCB spacer from our guide, How to Choose PCB Spacers.
PCB card guides are used to mount circuit boards in tight spaces. One example of this is a PCB rack. Use a PCB vertical card guide or a horizontal one depending on the mounting direction of PCBs in your application. Card guides are often used to save space and prevent boards from bending. They’re easy to install and some come with adhesive backs while others give you a locking action. Both give your PCB more stability. In addition, some options help when your PCB needs protection against shock and vibration.
Examples include:
Need
Stand up to shock and high vibration
Solution
PCB Card Guides - Horizontal/Snap-In/Deep Channel
Why?
Need
Added stability
Solution
PCB Card Guides - Vertical/Snap-In/Locking
Why?
Need
Added stability for parallel mounting
Solution
PCB Card Guides – Horizontal/Adhesive/No Mount/Slide In/One Sided
Why?
A card ejector, also known as a puller, inserter and extractor, is fitted to relieve stress to the PCB and its circuitry by helping to remove the card from restricted spaces. It’s mounted onto the board itself, providing a handle, so that a technician can pull out the board, avoiding the circuitry. In essence, a card ejector performs as a lever. It uses mechanical force against a guide rack or chassis.
A circuit card puller attaches to a PCB to help pull it out and push it back into position. These are used when you’re facing difficult insertion and extraction problems, which means you’re probably dealing with having to remove large PCBs and tight-gripping multi-pin edge connectors.
Examples of card ejectors and pullers include:
Need
Ease of pulling out board and pushing back in
Solution
PCB Card Pullers
Why?
Need
Aid in removing PCB from restricted space
Solution
PCB Card Inserters & Extractors
Why?
Need
Easy card insertion and extraction
Solution
Circuit Board Ejector
Why?
If you’re using solderless connectors, use a PCB mounting block to provide a secure connection. They’re especially useful for mounting printed circuit boards and small panels at right angles within your application. PCB mounting blocks are popular in a variety of industries, including automotive, telecommunications and consumer electronics.
Example of a PCB mounting block includes:
Need
Electrical connection between chassis and board
Solution
PCB Mounting Block
Why?
If you are a design engineer, using PCB in your projects, visit our Design Engineer's Guide to PCB Hardware.
A fuse cover encases electrical fuses, providing insulation and protection from A fuse cover encases electrical fuses, providing insulation and protection from contamination and liquids.
Examples of fuse covers include:
Need
Snug fit for fuse clips and blocks mounted to PCB printed circuit board
Solution
Fuse Covers - Quick Fit, Flexible, Transparent
Why?
Need
Hold and cover fuse
Solution
Fuse Covers - Holder & Cover
Why?
Need
Protect fuse when maintenance is performed on surrounding components
Solution
Fuse Covers - Rigid, Solid
Why?
Need
Prevent obstruction and debris from falling into fan blades
Solution
Fan Guards, Plastic, Snap-in
Why?
Need
Protective seal while isolating noise and vibration
Solution
Fan Gaskets
Why?
Need
Remove particles suspended in air
Solution
Fan Filters, Mesh
Why?
LED components, such as LED spacer mounts, position and restrict movement of your LED lights. LED spacers raise the LED from the board surface and provide more stability, rigidity and height conformity. This rigidity and stability make the manufacturing process easier. It’s also vital when the board is serviced, or when the PCB or other parts need repairs
Other critical components include LED mounts and holders. Your LED light mount will have holes to pass the leads through before soldering the LED to the PCB. While through hole LED sizes vary, your LED spacer must have the right number of holes in order to take the leads attached.
For applications where the LED is not mounted directly on the PCB, you’ll need an LED lens holder.
You might also need an LED light pipe, which transmits light from the LED mounted on a PCB. LED light pipe technology translates to excellent visual performance, providing uniform lighting. It also significantly reduces shadows and glare. Another big advantage: they’re easy to install.
Examples of PCB LED hardware include:
Need
Ease in guiding the lead wires and preventing leads from shorting
Solution
LED Spacers - Round, Imperial Spacers, Moulded, T-1 3/4
Why?
Need
Auto insertion and pre-assembly
Solution
LED Spacers - Round, Metric Spacers
Why?
Need
Transmits light at a 10˚ angle
Solution
LED Lens Holder
Why?
Need
Mount LEDs at a 90˚ angle
Solution
LED Mount – 90˚ angle
Why?
Need
Make illumination crystal clear in desired location
Solution
LED Light Pipe
Why?
If you are a procurement or purchasing director or buyer, please visit our Quick Buyer's Guide to PCB Hardware.
While these can be used to secure panels, plastic screw grommets can also be used to securely fasten PCBs.
Examples of screw grommets include:
Need
Secure PCB through round hole
Solution
Screw Grommets - Natural, Folding Legs
Why?
Need
Secure PCB through round hole
Solution
Screw Grommets - Natural, Square Hole
Why?
You’ll also need transistor insulators. These transfer heat efficiently between your transistors and heatsinks. Another option is thermal grease, but this is laborious and extremely messy. Instead, place your transistor insulators between your transistors and heatsinks. Not only will the transistor be electrically insulated, but thermally conductive as well. Call it transistor heat sink insulation if you want. The result is, your heatsink heats up and dissipates the heat.
To eliminate the chance of a short circuit or electric shock to your transistor insulator, use transistor covers to mount and protect transistors.
Examples of transistor insulator solutions include:
Need
Transfer heat efficiently between heatsinks and transistors
Solution
Transistor Insulators – Pad
Why?
Materials play an important role in PCBs and their components. Before designing your board, we recommend that you check out Your PCB substrate: a guide to materials.
Because PCB solutions come in a choice of materials, it’s important for you to know each of those materials’ properties. This knowledge will give you an idea of the performance you can expect from the solution. With that in mind, here’s an overview of common materials for PCB hardware:
Nylon
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Acetal
Polystyrene (PS)
Polycarbonate
ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene)
Stainless Steel
Brass
Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download for free. You can also request free samples to ensure the solutions you’ve chosen are exactly what you need. If you’re not quite sure which product will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you.
You’ll like our flexibility too, if it’s just a small order you need, no problem. Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast despatch.
Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.co.uk or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 0345 528 0474.
With high quality products and considerate service, we will work together with you to enhance your business and improve the efficiency. Please don't hesitate to contact us to get more details of PCB Consumables.