Patent attributes
An electrical connector matable to and unmatable from a separable mating electrical connector includes a housing having a terminal channel and an auxiliary terminal channel with a power terminal received in the terminal channel and an auxiliary power terminal received in the auxiliary terminal channel. A TPA device is movably coupled to the housing between an open position and a blocking position for blocking removal of the power terminal from the terminal channel. A protective thermal coupler is held by and movable with the TPA device. The protective thermal coupler has a variable resistive member electrically coupled between the power terminal and the auxiliary power terminal. The variable resistive member provides a shunt so that arcing does not occur when the power terminal is disconnected from the mating power terminal of the mating electrical connector.
