Connectors, Interconnects

Connectors, Interconnects

Connectors Interconnects covers the parts that join one circuit to another, from the AC inlet on a power supply chassis down to the tiny FFC connector holding a display ribbon in a handheld device. The category is broad. It includes AC power connectors, backplane and card edge types, banana and tip jacks for test benches, barrel power jacks, coaxial RF connectors, D-sub shells, circular connectors for industrial and mil-spec gear, fiber optic termini, board-to-board mezzanine parts, and between-series adapters for mating dissimilar interfaces. Nearly every assembled product contains several of these, and they show up in telecom racks, medical equipment, automotive harnesses, instrumentation, and consumer electronics alike. Buyers sourcing connectors tend to check a few things before anything else: mating cycle rating, contact plating (gold flash versus 30 microinch gold changes both price and life), current and voltage ratings per contact, wire gauge range, and the exact keying or polarization code, since one wrong suffix can mean a housing that looks right but will not mate. Pitch and footprint matter for board-level parts, and RF types add impedance and frequency range to the checklist. The real trade-off in this category is usually lead time against price. Franchised stock on popular TE, Molex, or Amphenol series can carry 12 to 20 week factory lead times when demand spikes, so many buyers turn to independent channels for shortages. That is where counterfeit risk creeps in, especially on high-value circular and mil-spec connectors, and it is worth asking for traceability and photos of labels and date codes before committing. Packaging preference matters too: cut tape versus full reel, or bagged versus tray, affects both price and how the parts run through your assembly process. You can check current stock and get a quote on any part number in this category at icxing.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make sure the connectors I buy from an independent distributor are not counterfeit?

Ask for full traceability paperwork, lot and date codes, and clear photos of the actual parts and labels before payment. Reputable independent distributors will also support third-party testing such as XRF plating analysis and decapsulation on higher-value parts. If a price is far below market on a shortage part, treat that as a warning sign.

The part number I need shows a long factory lead time. What are my options?

First check whether a different suffix of the same series (plating, keying, or packaging variant) is in stock, since those are often interchangeable for your build. Independent distributors frequently hold franchised excess or factory overruns on constrained series, so sending your full BOM for a shortage quote is usually faster than waiting on the standard lead time.

Does gold plating thickness actually matter when I select a connector?

Yes. Gold flash is fine for a few dozen mating cycles in a controlled environment, but connectors rated for hundreds of cycles typically specify 15 to 30 microinches of gold over nickel. Thinner plating saves cost but wears through to the base metal, which raises contact resistance and causes intermittent failures over time, especially in humid or high-vibration environments.

Image Part Manufacturer Description Stock Action
A850496923W Amphenol Interconnect India
SHRINK BOOT, STR,...
7,510
In-stock
Inquiry
A850496921N Amphenol Interconnect India
SHRINK BOOT, STR,...
3,490
In-stock
Inquiry
A850496921A Amphenol Interconnect India
SHRINK BOOT, STR,...
7,960
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495318W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, STR, CAD
7,320
In-stock
Inquiry
A8504947W20 Amphenol Interconnect India
STRAIN RELIEF, 90,...
4,710
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495612W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, STR, CAD
1,910
In-stock
Inquiry
A8504947N14 Amphenol Interconnect India
STRAIN RELIEF, 90,...
6,730
In-stock
Inquiry
M85049/49-2-16W Amphenol Interconnect India
CONN CABLE CLAMP...
5,910
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495320W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, STR, CAD
2,100
In-stock
Inquiry
A8504947W8 Amphenol Interconnect India
STRAIN RELIEF, 90,...
5,400
In-stock
Inquiry
A850496324W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, 90, CAD
5,710
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495518W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, 90, CAD
4,340
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495614W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, STR, CAD
3,930
In-stock
Inquiry
A8504947N16 Amphenol Interconnect India
STRAIN RELIEF, 90,...
7,880
In-stock
Inquiry
A850496316W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, 90, CAD
5,610
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495322W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, STR, CAD
3,430
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495520W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, 90, CAD
6,310
In-stock
Inquiry
A85049602G20W Amphenol Interconnect India
SHRINK BOOT, STR,...
4,410
In-stock
Inquiry
A85049601N20 Amphenol Interconnect India
SHRINK BOOT, STR,...
2,040
In-stock
Inquiry
A850495616W Amphenol Interconnect India
TIE WRAP, STR, CAD
5,530
In-stock
Inquiry