Power plate for a socket connector

A socket connector comprising:

• a housing having a mating interface configured to mate with an electronic component and a mounting interface configured to mount to a circuit board,
• signal contacts held by the housing and extending between the mating interface and the mounting interface;
• power contacts held by the housing and extending between the mating interface and the mounting interface, the power contacts being configured to transmit power from the circuit board to the electronic component, each of the power contacts having a commoning element;
• and
• a power plate coupled to the commoning elements of a plurality of the power contacts to electrically common the power contacts to one another, wherein the power plate is loaded onto the commoning element and secured to the power contact by an interference engagement with the commoning element.

A socket connector comprising:

• a housing extending along a connector axis;
• signal contacts held by the housing, the signal contacts being parallel to one another and spaced apart along the connector axis;
• power contacts held by the housing, the power contacts being parallel to one another and spaced apart along the connector axis, each of the power contacts having a commoning element;
• and
• a power plate extending along a plate axis generally parallel to the connector axis, the power plate having a band extending along the plate axis and a plurality of arms extending outward from the band in a direction generally perpendicular to the plate axis, the power plate being coupled to the commoning elements of a plurality of the power contacts to electrically common the power contacts to one another, wherein adjacent arms engage different power contacts.