Electrical connector with terminal position assurance system

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a terminal position assurance system. The assembly includes an elongated dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending transversely of the housing. A plurality of terminals are insertable into the cavities. A passageway extends longitudinally of the housing. An elongated terminal position assurance member is insertable into the passageway and movable between a preloaded position and a loaded position. The terminal position assurance member prevents mating of a complementary connector with the connector assembly when the member is in its preloaded position. A plurality of primary locking devices are provided on the housing and movable between locking positions to lock the terminals in their respective cavities when the terminals are fully loaded into the cavities and second positions projecting into the passageway when the terminals are only partially loaded into their respective cavities to thereby prevent the terminal position assurance member from moving from its preloaded to its loaded position. Secondary locking devices are operatively associated between the terminal position assurance member and the primary locking devices to hold the primary locking devices in their first locking positions when the terminal assurance member is in its preloaded and loaded positions.