Rectangular Connectors - Headers, Male Pins

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
M20-9991846 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 18POS 2.54MM	0
M80-5T14242MC Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 42POS 2MM	0
M40-3011446 Harwin	CONN HEADER SMD 14POS 1MM	0
M20-9970745 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 14POS 2.54MM	0
M80-8690422 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 4POS 2MM	0
M52-040023V0445 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 4POS 1.27MM	0
G125-MV20605L0P Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 6POS 1.25MM	102
M80-MV312M3-02 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 2POS 4MM	60
M20-9991446 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 14POS 2.54MM	0
M50-4911045R Harwin	CONN HEADER SMD 20POS 1.27MM	0
M80-5201042 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 10POS 2MM	191
M20-9763646 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 72POS 2.54MM	132
M20-9990446 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 4POS 2.54MM	12217
M20-9760846 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 16POS 2.54MM	1306
M20-8760846 Harwin	CONN HEADER SMD 16POS 2.54MM	82
M80-5L12642MC Harwin	CONN HEADER R/A 26POS 2MM	0
M20-8770746P Harwin	CONN HEADER SMD 7POS 2.54MM	0
M22-5300205R Harwin	CONN HEADER SMD 4POS 2MM	500
M40-4010546 Harwin	CONN HEADER SMD R/A 5POS 1MM	0
M22-2010805 Harwin	CONN HEADER VERT 8POS 2MM	1966

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