An electrical connector pair, comprising: a first connector having a first insulating housing; a first electrical contact supported within the first insulating housing, the first electrical contact having a connecting surface that is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the insulating housing and terminates in a leading end of the first electrical contact, the connecting surface including a transitional section at the leading end and an operating section adjacent to the transitional section, the transitional section having a higher resistance than the operating section; a second connector having a second insulating housing; a second electrical contact supported within the second insulating housing, the second electrical contact being configured to laterally engage with the operating section of the connecting surface of the first electrical contact when the first connector is fully mated with the second connector, the second electrical contact being configured to engage exclusively with the transitional section of the connecting surface of the first electrical contact during an initial phase of mating and a final stage of un-mating of the connectors, characterized by a first insulating barrier within the first connector extending beyond and covering the leading end of the first electrical contact; and a second insulating barrier extending beyond the second electrical contact within the second connector, the second insulating barrier being configured so as to be in close proximity with the first insulating barrier when the first and second connectors are partially disconnected and the first and second electrical contacts are separated by a short distance, thereby blocking substantially all through-air arcing paths between the first and second electrical contacts. a first connector having a first insulating housing; a first electrical contact supported within the first insulating housing, the first electrical contact having a connecting surface that is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the insulating housing and terminates in a leading end of the first electrical contact, the connecting surface including a transitional section at the leading end and an operating section adjacent to the transitional section, the transitional section having a higher resistance than the operating section; a second connector having a second insulating housing; a second electrical contact supported within the second insulating housing, the second electrical contact being configured to laterally engage with the operating section of the connecting surface of the first electrical contact when the first connector is fully mated with the second connector, the second electrical contact being configured to engage exclusively with the transitional section of the connecting surface of the first electrical contact during an initial phase of mating and a final stage of un-mating of the connectors, characterized by a first insulating barrier within the first connector extending beyond and covering the leading end of the first electrical contact; and a second insulating barrier extending beyond the second electrical contact within the second connector, the second insulating barrier being configured so as to be in close proximity with the first insulating barrier when the first and second connectors are partially disconnected and the first and second electrical contacts are separated by a short distance, thereby blocking substantially all through-air arcing paths between the first and second electrical contacts.