Abstract: A charging inlet includes a power terminal, a holder member, and a thermal sensor. The power terminal is configured to releasably engage a mating contact of an external power source. The holder member is proximate to the power terminal, and has an electrically insulative material. The holder member defines at least a portion of a pocket that is fully enclosed. The thermal sensor is disposed within the pocket for monitoring a temperature of the power terminal.

Abstract: A power connector includes a housing having a terminal channel holding a terminal. The terminal includes a mating pin at a front of the terminal and a cable connector at a rear of the terminal. The mating pin is positioned in the terminal channel for mating with a charging connector. The power connector includes a power cable including a conductor terminated to the cable connector at the rear of the terminal. The power connector includes a cable heat exchanger thermally coupled to the conductor of the power cable. The cable heat exchanger includes a coolant channel for coolant flow through the cable heat exchanger for actively cooling the conductor of the power cable. A thermally conductive separator electrically isolates the cable heat exchanger from the conductor of the power cable.

Abstract: A charging inlet includes a power terminal and a thermal sensor for monitoring a temperature of the power terminal. The power terminal is configured to releasably engage a mating contact of an external power source. The power terminal includes a cylindrical shaft. The thermal sensor includes a substrate and a sensing element mounted on the substrate. The substrate is flexible and curves along at least a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical shaft.

Abstract: A power connector includes a housing having a terminal channel and a terminal received in the terminal channel including a mating pin at a front of the terminal and a cable connector at a rear of the terminal. The mating pin is positioned in the terminal channel for mating with a charging connector. The cable connector includes a pad configured to be terminated to a power cable. The power connector includes a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the pad of the terminal. The heat exchanger includes a coolant channel for coolant flow through the heat exchanger for actively cooling the terminal. The heat exchanger includes a thermally conductive separator electrically isolating the heat exchanger from the pad of the terminal.

Abstract: A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and a position sensor. The electrical contact includes a shaft that defines a channel. The channel extends into the shaft from an opening along an outer surface of the shaft. The sensing element is disposed at least partially outside of the channel and is operably connected to the channel through the opening. The sensing element is movable relative to the electrical contact based on a temperature change within the channel. The position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and the sensing element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position change of a portion of the sensing element outside of the channel responsive to the temperature change within the channel.

Abstract: A cooling system for a power connector of a charging inlet assembly includes a cooling adapter coupled to a housing of the charging inlet assembly including an adapter body forming a cavity. The cooling adapter includes supply and return ports adjacent a cable exit. The cooling system includes a heat exchanger positioned in the cavity of the cooling adapter including a heat exchanger body configured to receive the power cable and/or the terminal. The heat exchanger body is thermally coupled to the power cable or the terminal to dissipate heat therefrom.

Abstract: A receptacle connector for a charging inlet assembly includes a housing and a terminal assembly coupled to the housing including cap extending from a pin. The pin is positioned in a terminal channel of the housing for mating with a charging connector. The pin has a rear flange and a rear mounting post with a base of the cap coupled thereto. A pad extends from the base configured to be coupled to a power cable. The receptacle connector includes a secondary lock assembly having a locking wall engaging and blocking rearward movement of the rear flange of the pin in a locked position. The locking wall is disengaged from the rear flange of the pin in an unlocked position.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing having a terminal channel with a power terminal in the terminal channel. The electrical connector includes a temperature sensor assembly positioned in the chamber. The temperature sensor assembly includes a sealing pad holding the power terminal and a thermal shunt held by the sealing pad. A temperature sensor is coupled to the thermal shunt. The sealing pad is electrically insulative and has a terminal opening receiving the power terminal. The sealing pad is thermally coupled to the power terminal and thermally coupled to the thermal shunt. The thermal shunt has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the sealing pad. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the power terminal through a thermal path defined by the sealing pad and the thermal shunt.

Abstract: A power connector includes a housing having a terminal channel holding a terminal. The terminal includes a mating pin at a front of the terminal and a cable connector at a rear of the terminal. The mating pin is positioned in the terminal channel for mating with a charging connector. The power connector includes a power cable including a conductor terminated to the cable connector at the rear of the terminal. The power connector includes a cable heat exchanger thermally coupled to the conductor of the power cable. The cable heat exchanger includes a coolant channel for coolant flow through the cable heat exchanger for actively cooling the conductor of the power cable. A thermally conductive separator electrically isolates the cable heat exchanger from the conductor of the power cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing that extends between a front and a rear. The housing has a chamber at the rear. The housing has a terminal channel between the front and the rear. A terminal is coupled to the housing. The terminal includes a mating pin at a front of the terminal and a cable connector at a rear of the terminal. The mating pin is positioned in the terminal channel for mating with a charging connector. The cable connector is positioned in the chamber at the rear of the housing. A terminal heat exchanger is positioned in the chamber. The terminal heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the cable connector of the terminal. The terminal heat exchanger has a separator electrically isolating the terminal heat exchanger from the terminal.

Abstract: A receptacle connector for a charging inlet assembly includes a housing and a terminal assembly coupled to the housing including cap extending from a pin. The pin is positioned in a terminal channel of the housing for mating with a charging connector. The pin has a rear flange and a rear mounting post with a base of the cap coupled thereto. A pad extends from the base configured to be coupled to a power cable. The receptacle connector includes a secondary lock assembly having a locking wall engaging and blocking rearward movement of the rear flange of the pin in a locked position. The locking wall is disengaged from the rear flange of the pin in an unlocked position.

Abstract: A charging inlet includes a power terminal and a thermal sensor for monitoring a temperature of the power terminal. The power terminal is configured to releasably engage a mating contact of an external power source. The power terminal includes a cylindrical shaft. The thermal sensor includes a substrate and a sensing element mounted on the substrate. The substrate is flexible and curves along at least a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical shaft.

Abstract: A charging inlet includes a power terminal, a holder member, and a thermal sensor. The power terminal is configured to releasably engage a mating contact of an external power source. The holder member is proximate to the power terminal, and has an electrically insulative material. The holder member defines at least a portion of a pocket that is fully enclosed. The thermal sensor is disposed within the pocket for monitoring a temperature of the power terminal.

Abstract: A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and a position sensor. The electrical contact includes a shaft that defines a channel. The channel extends into the shaft from an opening along an outer surface of the shaft. The sensing element is disposed at least partially outside of the channel and is operably connected to the channel through the opening. The sensing element is movable relative to the electrical contact based on a temperature change within the channel. The position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and the sensing element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position change of a portion of the sensing element outside of the channel responsive to the temperature change within the channel.

Abstract: A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and at least one position sensor. The electrical contact releasably connects to a mating contact for establishing a conductive path across a mating interface. The electrical contact defines a channel therein that extends from an opening along an outer surface of the electrical contact. The sensing element is at least partially outside of the channel and is configured to move relative to the electrical contact from a first position to a second position based on a temperature increase within the channel that exceeds a designated threshold temperature. The at least one position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and is configured to detect a position change of the sensing element from the first position to the second position, indicating that the temperature within the channel exceeds the designated threshold temperature.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing having a terminal channel with a power terminal in the terminal channel. The electrical connector includes a temperature sensor assembly positioned in the chamber. The temperature sensor assembly includes a sealing pad holding the power terminal and a thermal shunt held by the sealing pad. A temperature sensor is coupled to the thermal shunt. The sealing pad is electrically insulative and has a terminal opening receiving the power terminal. The sealing pad is thermally coupled to the power terminal and thermally coupled to the thermal shunt. The thermal shunt has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the sealing pad. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the power terminal through a thermal path defined by the sealing pad and the thermal shunt.