I'm trying to order a batch of headers, the same kind of female headers found on Arduinos and Arduino shields that take male jumper wires as inputs.
When I put in the physical characteristics of the header:
- Female OR Socket
- 2.54mm pitch
- Through Hole
- Vertical OR Straight
- [pin count]
…I still find myself with pages on pages of headers to scroll through, and the kind I'm looking for nowhere to be seen.
Best Answer
They go under a variety of names. These connectors are usually listed in a category called "Rectangular Connectors - Headers, Receptacles, Female Sockets" (205377 items on Digi-Key)" Then you specify number of rows, pitch size (2.54mm or 0.100"), etc. 3M calls them "boardmount sockets". They are also known as "female headers" (Sullins), or "vertical receptacle" by Molex and FCI-Amphenol. Or just simply "0.100" receptacle".
The cost of headers varies depending on complexity of pin receptacle construction (from simple fork-like receptacle, through two-four-sided leaf springs, to CNC machined round ones with multiple tiny springy wires inside). The next level of pricing depends on plating and its thickness, from tin-nickel on cheap side, to gold, from 0.05 um finish to 5 um finish. All this results in different contact current rating.