Wire-to-Board Connector Types

A connector in electronics is a component that connects two (or more) conductors, thus enabling power or/and singals goes through one conductor to the other.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

What is wire to board connector?

The wire-to-board connector is a type of connector that connects a group of discrete wires to a printed circuit board. They vary in circuit sizes (number of contacts), number of rows, pitch (pin-to-pin distance), current rating, applicable wires, etc.

Wire-to-board connector (also known as cable to board connector) is a type of connector that connects a group of discrete wires (or cable) to a printed circuit board. They vary in circuit sizes (number of contacts), number of rows, pitch (pin-to-pin distance), current rating, applicable wires, etc.

molex micro-fit 3.0 mm connectors

Circuit size is the number of contacts or pins a connector has. 

Number or row(s):

single row

dual row

Common circuit size of wire to board connector is 2 to 30 (2*15). 

Pitch of a connector, is the pin to pin distance of two neighbouring contacts.

There are board connectors, wire connectors, and terminals in a wire-to-board connection system.

A board connector (also known as PCB header or PCB connector) is a connector that is soldered onto a printed circuit board, which connects with a wire connector.

Wire connector (also called housing) holds the crimped wires for mating with the PCB header.

wire to board connection system

Wire-to-board connectors are often categorized by the soldering technology and wire termination technology as follows.

• SMT (Surface Mount Technology) Type &#; PCB Connector
• Through-Hole Type &#; PCB Connector
• Crimping Style &#; Wire Connector
• IDC (also known as IDT) Connectors &#; Wire Connector

SMT (Surface Mount) Type - Board Connector

An SMT connector is mounted directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board. There are side entry (right angle) type and top entry (vertical or straight) type.

top entry

side entry

SMT connectors are usually packaged in reels for automatic processing, which reduces cost and improves quality.

But the processing equipment is expensive.

The good news is that there are EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Service) providers worldwide who offer the processing service.

Through-Hole Type - Board Connector

A through-hole connector is soldered after the contacts are placed into drilled holes on the PCB. It creates a stronger bond between connectors and the PCB.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website RHT.

straight

right angle

The advantage of a though-hole connector is that it is perfect for larger components that will undergo high power, high voltage, and mechanical stress.

The Disadvantage of the through-hole type is that you have to drill multiple holes in the PCB. Which increases production costs and limits available space on the PCB.

Note that nowadays, for some through-hole connectors, you can also have them in a reel package for manufacturing automation.

Crimping Style - Wire Connector

A crimping-style wire connector is a connector housing (often made of plastic) that holds the crimped wires for mating with a PCB header.

female wire connector

male wire connector

Crimping is a simple and fast process that forms a solid connection by squeezing contact terminal and wire together, with a hand crimping tool or a crimping machine.

Good crimping creates an air-tight seal between the terminal and the wire. Which results in long-lasting, reliable connections.

To understand the crimping process, please view how to crimp Molex micro-fit.

IDC (as known as IDT) Connectors - Wire Connector

An IDC connector (Insulation Displacement Connector) is a wire connector in which the terminals (contacts) are pre-installed into the plastic housing.

After wires are connected to an IDC connector, it mates with a PCB connector.

There are two main types of IDC connectors in wire to board category.

One type is used with discrete wires. The other type is used with ribbon cable (this type of IDC connector is also known as ribbon cable connector).

IDC with discrete wires

IDC with flat ribbon cable

A ribbon cable is pretty simple and fast to assemble. When you have all materials prepared, a simple press with a simple tool is enough to complete the assembly.

The disadvantage of ribbon cable is the connection is inflexible, as it is just multiple discrete wires in parallel.

Zeakka offers a wide range of wire to board connectors from 0.8 mm pitch to 6.2 mm pitch.

If you have any questions, or you would like to choose a wire-to-board connector for your project, please contact us!

I'm not exactly a stranger to PCB design, but I've never been confident about the long term reliability of my wire to board connections. In the past, I've used Euro-style terminal blocks such as

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TE-Connectivity-AMP/-2/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvZTcaMAxB2AJ%2F79sE4hFAYo1Yb6cyIxXA%3D (Mouser p/n: -2)

and locking Molex headers such as

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Molex/22-23-/?qs=%2Fha2pyFaduje7iG0C5h0Bwc2MnVY%252bdOP0IGCbXacgQBRITVQnDjzHA%3D%3D (Mouser p/n: 538-22-23-).

It's no coincidence that both have a 0.1"/2.54mm pitch--I didn't want to have to redesign and reorder my PCB in the event that one connection wasn't that great. I found out about the former through building a JLM Audio kit and thinking the terminal blocks were pretty clever and simple, but I'm worried about oxidation and mechanical stress possibly being issues (although the latter really shouldn't be given that everything's going to be in a sealed box). The Molex headers seem to pull out too easily and don't seem to make very solid contact. Worse still, the crimp terminals are kind of annoying to crimp even with the proper tool.

What I'm looking for is something that will allow me to connect a few wires (say, from a panel mounted XLR jack for audio signals or a switch for digital inputs or something) to a particular place on the circuit board in a non-permanent but still stable way. I'm under the impression that it would probably be better to use PCB-mounted components for everything but still support the PCB in the enclosure through other means, but I'm just a guy with a center punch and a hand drill (and no 3D CAD software), so it would be tough for me to get everything to line up. What's the best I can do?

For more Wire to Board Connector Manufacturersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.