Rectangular Connectors - Headers, Male Pins

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
5-146280-3 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 3POS 2.54MM	24887
2-640502-2 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 12POS 4.2MM	140
5-102202-7 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 10POS 2.54MM	942
6-103168-8 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 40POS 2.54MM	1102
5-103166-7 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER R/A 18POS 2.54MM	826
826925-3 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 6POS 2.54MM	11750
640503-1 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 15POS 4.2MM	50
826467-6 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 6POS 2.54MM	2120
5-146256-4 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 8POS 2.54MM	0
5-104068-2 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 10POS 1.27MM	6134
207444-9 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 18POS 5MM	21
5-104074-7 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER R/A 4POS 1.27MM	1911
87227-2 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 4POS 2.54MM	0
6-104071-1 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 12POS 1.27MM	0
5-102619-8 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 20POS 2.54MM	1137
5-146130-9 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER SMD 20POS 2.54MM	791
5-146274-3 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 3POS 2.54MM	8719
103169-3 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 10POS 2.54MM	1234
9-146257-0 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 80POS 2.54MM	336
2-640501-2 Tyco Electronics	CONN HEADER VERT 9POS 4.2MM	1240

Rectangular Connectors - Headers, Male Pins

1. Overview

Rectangular connectors with male pins, commonly referred to as pin headers, are modular electrical interfaces featuring parallel rows of conductive prongs enclosed in a dielectric housing. These components enable reliable signal and power transmission between PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards), cables, and subsystems. Their standardized design, ease of assembly, and scalability make them critical in modern electronics, from consumer devices to industrial machinery.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Single-Row Headers	Linear arrangement, 0.1" pitch standard, low-cost solution	Prototyping boards, Arduino shields
Double-Row Headers	Parallel dual-row configuration, higher contact density	Industrial control systems, PLC modules
High-Density Headers	Sub-0.05" pitch, optimized for miniaturization	Smartphones, medical sensors
Right-Angle Headers	90 oriented pins for vertical space optimization	Automotive ECUs, server motherboards

3. Structure and Composition

Typical male pin headers consist of:

Contact System: Phosphor bronze or beryllium copper pins with gold-plated contact areas
Insulation Housing: High-temperature resistant LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) or nylon material
Mechanical Features: Polarization keying, anti-wobble design, and retention latches
Mounting Options: Through-hole, SMT (Surface Mount Technology), or press-fit terminations

The contacts are arranged in standardized grids (commonly 2.54mm/0.1" pitch) with polarization features to prevent mis-mating.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance
Current Rating (Amps/contact)	0.5-10A determines power handling capability
Contact Resistance (m )	10-30m affects signal integrity and power efficiency
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage	100-1000V defines insulation reliability
Operating Temperature Range	-55 C to +125 C ensures environmental durability
Insertion Force (N)	0.5-5N impacts mating cycle longevity

5. Application Fields

Consumer Electronics: Laptops, gaming consoles, smart home devices
Automotive: ECU interconnects, sensor harnesses, infotainment systems
Industrial: CNC machine controllers, robotics interfaces
Medical: Diagnostic equipment, patient monitoring systems
Telecom: Base station hardware, fiber optic transceivers

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product
TE Connectivity	AMPMODU 205796-1 (0.05" micro pitch header)
Molex	PicoBlade 0510210400 (ultra-compact wire-to-board connector)
Amphenol ICC	10118801-01 (high-speed differential pair header)
JAE Electronics	DF11 Series (0.5mm pitch FPC-to-PCB connector)

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Electrical requirements (current/voltage rating)
Space constraints (pitch size and profile height)
Environmental conditions (temperature, vibration, moisture)
Termination method compatibility (through-hole vs SMT)
Expected mating cycles (durability requirements)
Cost vs performance trade-offs

Example: For automotive applications, select headers with AEC-Q200 certification and 3 m gold plating for vibration resistance.

8. Industry Trends

Miniaturization: Development of 0.3mm pitch connectors for wearable devices
High-Speed Performance: Optimization for 10+ Gbps data rates in 5G infrastructure
Modular Design: Integration with hybrid power/signal transmission capabilities
Sustainability: Adoption of halogen-free materials and RoHS compliance
Smart Manufacturing: Embedded RFID tags for connector lifecycle tracking