Separable electrodes with electric arc quenching means

An electrical connector including a first connector part having a pin contact with an end for mating connection with a second connector part having a socket contact, comprising:

• an insulative coating on a part of the pin contact peripheral surface leaving an outer end portion of said pin contact free from said coating to enable mating connection with the socket contact;
• cap means received on said pin contact resiliently urged toward the end of said pin contact, said cap means being maintained at ground potential;
• and
• a body of a material which can exist in a first relatively high electrical resistance state when subjected to little or no electric field and in a second relatively low electrical resistance state when subjected to more than a predetermined amount of electric field, said body having an opening for sliding receipt of the pin contact therewithin and having one end thereof conductively and physically secured to the cap means for unitary movement therewith;
• said body providing an interconnection between the cap means and the bare end portion of the pin contact, and wherein the body exists in said first relatively high resistance state when the connector parts are mated and the body exists in said second relatively low resistance state when the connector parts are unmated.