Elevating Refrigerator Design and User Experience

Refrigerator manufacturers identify operator ergonomics as a priority on the assembly line. To reduce the risk of fatigue and injury, manufacturers prefer connectors that offer a low mating force and maintain a high-quality connection. Molex connectors support operator ergonomic requirements and deliver secure and reliable connections for consistent product performance.

With increasing consumer expectations for new refrigerator functionality, design engineers are challenged to future-proof refrigerator electronics designs while ensuring speed to market.  The use of pre-assembled wire harnesses can streamline upgrades, minimize supply chain challenges and accelerate time to market. Molex cable assemblies are efficient and reliable solutions to meet complex cabling requirements associated with updates, enhancements or new model launches. 

Refrigerator designs demand effective climate control systems that maintain precise temperatures and deliver reliable performance. Molex provides a broad range of connectors designed for high reliability with features such as terminal position assurance and latching devices to safeguard against mis-mating or accidental disconnections, helping to reduce device failure.

In refrigerator design, lighting solutions must provide optimal illumination while also adhering to space constraints imposed by the appliance’s electrical architecture. For design engineers, this requires a careful selection of components that balances space-saving characteristics with a variety of configurations. Molex offers design engineers a portfolio of connectors that feature small PCB footprints with an array of options to provide design flexibility.

As a critical element of refrigerator design, the temperature sensing system is often restricted to only one area within the device yet accurate temperature readings may require more than one beta value. Engineers must design effective methods for ensuring consistent temperature readings regardless of where the temperature sensing system is located. Molex offers connectors that can be terminated to the end of the thermistor, providing secure retention to the PCB and helping to ensure more accurate temperature readings.  

Consumers frequently use the ice and water dispensing feature on a refrigerator and expect the sub-system to function reliably over the life of the device. Design engineers need to incorporate connectors into the ice and water dispensing design that provide exceptional durability to withstand frequent use. Molex connectors include features designed for durable performance, such as friction and positive locks, terminal position assurance and mounting ears for stronger retention force.

Consumers expect home appliances to operate like smart home devices, and refrigerators are no exception. Wi-Fi enabled service alerts, communications and remote monitoring are increasingly considered table stakes.  To meet the reliability demands of Wi-Fi communications, Molex connectors offer full EMI shielding for exceptional signal integrity, while providing a small footprint for PCB space savings.

As design engineers look to the future, cameras within refrigerators are becoming more important to consumers to enable remote access and automate grocery list creation. This added functionality presents a challenge when considering layout constraints on an already dense PCB. Molex connectors maximize space savings with a small pitch and mated height while providing quality data transmission.