Tyco Electronics adds wire-to-board capability to LED connector line

The new plug connectors use tin-plated brass crimp-snap contacts for 18 to 22 AWG (0.3 to 0.9 mm²) stranded wire and a 94V-0-rated thermoplastic housing. The plug connector mates with board-mount connectors and features positive latching for a secure connection.

“As LED lighting continues to expand dramatically, manufacturers are looking at solutions to lower the costs of assembling and maintaining lighting systems,” says Alexander Hunt III, product manager. “With the new series of hermaphroditic blade and receptacle connectors adding wire-to-board capabilities, customers now have a complete end-to-end solution for fast, flexible connecting of lighting modules.”

The low-profile surface-mount board connector uses a hermaphroditic blade and receptacle design to allow LED printed circuit board strips to join with more flexibility than traditional post-and-receptacle headers. Connections can be made by sliding the two boards together horizontally or vertically. The unique capability to slide the two boards together vertically makes replacement of a board in mid-strip easier by lifting up the strip to be replaced and lowering in the new one.

The same board-mount connector is used for both board-to-board and wire-to-board connectivity. The hermaphroditic design results in only one board-mount part needing to be inventoried and simplifies design by using the same footprint on both ends of the strip. Contacts are supplied in reeled form for processing by high-speed terminating equipment.

Connectors are available in 2, 4, or 6 positions. They are rated to 6 amps and 125 VAC/VDC, with an operating temperature range from -40°C to +105°C. They are UL/cUL recognized in File No. E28476.