Pin headers
(54 008)Pin strips and sockets, also known as male and female pin headers, are types of electronic connectors that consist of a row of metal pins mounted on a small plastic or metal body. They are widely used in electronics, particularly for connecting printed circuit boards (PCBs) in electronic devices.
Pin headers are designed to provide easy and reliable connections between different electronic components. They have various numbers of pins and spacing between them, known as "pitch", depending on their intended use. They are available in several versions, the most popular being single-row and double-row connectors.
Pins are made from various metal alloys, often gold-plated, so that they exhibit increased resistance to corrosion and other factors. The pins are usually embedded in a plastic body.
Pin headers can also be categorised based on their pitch (uniform distance between pins, measured from centre to centre). Some common pitches for pin headers are:
- 5.08 mm (0.200 inch)
- 3.96 mm (0.156 inch) ,
- 2.54 mm (0.100 inch) with 0.64 mm (0.025 inch) square pins or precisely machined round pins with a diameter of 0.50 mm (0.020 inch),
- 2.00 mm (0.079 inch) with 0.50 mm (0.020 inch) square pins,
- 1.27 mm (0.050 inch),
- 1.00 mm (0.0394 inch).
Applications of male & female pin headers
Pin headers are widely used in electronics due to their simplicity, reliability, and flexibility. Mounting them is usually straightforward, too. See below to learn about some of the most common examples of applications:
Connecting electronic modules
Male and female pin headers are primarily used for connecting electronic modules.
Creating detachable connections
Pin connectors are particularly useful where it's important for the connections to be easily detachable.
Power plugs and sockets
They are sometimes used as power modules as well.
Prototyping and testing
Pin headers are often used in electronic prototyping and testing environments, where flexible connections are needed. They allow easy connection and disconnection of components, modules, and wires, which is useful for making modifications to a project. They also facilitate easy diagnosis and troubleshooting of any issues, as they provide quick access to individual circuit elements.
What are the types of male pin headers?
Male pin headers can be divided according to various categories, e.g. depending on the type of connector, where you can choose from: IDC pin headers, pin headers, board-to-board pin headers, shrouded (rectangular) pin headers, wire-to-board pin headers.
A different classification of connectors according to which the products can be filtered: socket, pin strip, adapter, contact, plug, jumper.
Standards for pin headers
IEC 60603-13: Applies to pin headers with rectangular sockets and specifies requirements for the dimensions, durability and electrical properties such as insulation resistance and voltage rating.
IEC 603-7: Defines the requirements for multi-field pin connectors and pin sockets used in telecommunications and information technology.
UL 1977: This is a standard used in the USA that specifies safety and performance requirements for connecting components used in electronic and electrical equipment.
DIN 41612: This is a German standard (Deutsches Institut für Normung) that defines the requirements for pin connectors used in the electronics industry.
However, it is crucial to remember that there might be additional standards that apply to the specifications of pin strips and sockets, depending on the application and industry.
Coding pin and polarising key
In some systems, locks are applied in one of the socket's openings, which ensure that only the appropriate plug end with the polarising key can be connected. An incompatible plug end encounters an obstacle and cannot be attached, thus preventing reverse connection. The proper plug end with the polarisation key features extracted or trimmed pins, which makes proper polarisation and connection with the socket possible. This solution facilitates error-free installation of the pin strip on the PCB.
Warehouse:
