22. Sex Talk

Molex Plug is a brand name that has become a generic term for a type of multi-wire electrical connector, much like Scotch Tape and Band Aid have become generic terms for their products. From now on I will not capitalize molex unless I'm Talking about plugs made by Molex. What I'm talking about here is the Radio Shack version which they call an "Interlocking Connector". If you go into any Radio Shack and say "molex plugs" they will lead you straight to them.

To describe and differentiate between all sorts of connection parts the sexual terms "male" and "female" are used. It is generally understood that the plug on the lamp cord is male and the wall receptacle is female.

However, with molex type plugs, descriptions are much more in tune with the present, where no one seems to know or even care what words like male, female or marriage mean.

Designation of pin connections are conventional: bullet shaped male fits into hollow circular shaped female. However, descriptions of connectors themselves are much less precise. "Female" connectors are supplied with female pins, but can use male pins or any combination of female and male pins. "Female" connectors fit inside of "Male" connectors. In common usage that makes "Female" connectors plugs, and "Male" connectors receptacles.

On their package, Radio Shack clarifies (?) the situation with the following statement:

"Male pins are normally used in the plug, female pins in the receptacle. They can, however, be interchanged to provide a great variety of polarization combinations when similar connectors are used adjacent to each other, and when wire leads are not otherwise polarized." (Emphasis mine.)

If that is true, why are plugs supplied with female pins and receptacles supplied with male pins?

Packages containing plugs and female pins are labeled "Female Interlocking Connector" and packages containing receptacles and male pins are labeled "Male Interlocking Connector".

I'm so confused.