ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SPLIT SHELL AND RETENTION CLIP

The present electrical connector assembly includes an outer shell capable of receiving at least one electrical contact module. The outer shell works in cooperation with an improved contact module retaining device which secures the electrical contact module within the shell. The combination of the outer shell with the contact module retaining device protects the critical elements of the retaining device from exterior environments, does not interfere with insertion of the module into the shell, and provides for a precise alignment of the module during and after insertion of the module into the shell. In particular, the outer shell is comprised of two half shells which are open during attachment of a contact module retaining device to each of the half shells. The two half shells are joined to form a connector housing after attachment of the module retaining device. The preferred module retaining device is a clip which is attached so that the main body of the clip is in contact with an interior surface of the half shell. The clip is precisely aligned within the half shell using snap fit contacts which hold the clip in position until the half shells are joined, after which the clips may be held in position by contact with the interior surface of the half shell alone.