#CRIMPING MOLEX CONNECTORS SERIES#

The mating connector for this four-pin Molex receptacle is a 5557 series four-pin plug connector of a similar capacity, which utilizes crimp pins to connect to your wires. It boasts a 2x2 receptacle matrix that allows for a small footprint, making it an ideal option for the primary power source in a small PCB. One of the most popular Molex connectors is a right angle wire-to-board 5569 series connector that can provide 13A of power by accommodating 16 AWG wire at a 4.20mm pitch.

Depending on the industry and application, a Molex four-pin connector can take many shapes, like TE Connectivity's four-pin straight MATE-N-LOK connector. The most famous of all 'Molex' connector configurations may be the four-pin connector, a versatile component that suits many power and IO connector applications. For example, TE Connectivity (previously AMP) carries a MATE-N-LOK connector with nearly identical functionality to the original Molex connector. Their popularity still reigns supreme, but many non-Molex manufacturers have embraced a similar pin-and-socket methodology for a range of connector types.

The Molex connector's wire-configuration flexibility and receptacle sides made these components an overnight success in the 20th century. If during assembly, you need to switch out the socket, you can use a pin removal tool to remove and relocate the wire/pin assembly to a new socket. The connector assembly's plug and receptacle rely on unique pins and socket designs, so keep that in mind when you're ordering components. The nylon connector consists of two individual interlocking components―the plug and receptacle―that combine to make up the entire connector. The pin, which features a metal spring, locks into the nylon connector to prevent it from falling out of the socket. The pin is then inserted into a socket that is a part of the larger nylon connector.Ī typical Molex connector is a rectangular matrix of sockets comprised of between one and several hundred individual socket locations.The pin features two separate crimps: one that holds the wire's conductor and a second that crimps to the wire's insulation to provide strain relief for the wire conductor.The pin―a metal clamp of sorts―is crimped to the wire of choice using a specialized crimping tool.Four independent pieces join a single wire to another wire.Molex connectors come in thousands of sizes and shapes, but the most common style utilizes a pin-and-socket interconnect:

Crimping molex connectors