Looking for old connectors

[Tothwolf]

On Sat, 9 Jul 2016, Mike Stein wrote:
> From: "Tothwolf" <tothwolf at concentric.net>
>> On Sat, 9 Jul 2016, Oliver Lehmann wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> for rebuilding a circuit, I'm in need of 3 old connectors used on the
>>> original board.
>>
>>> ######################
>>>
>>> The next one is also a power plug - but I have no idea about its AMP
>>> number or something:
>>>
>>> http://pics.pofo.de/gallery3/index.php/S8000/S8000_boards/FINCH-Adapter-Board/IMGP9588
>>> http://pics.pofo.de/gallery3/index.php/S8000/S8000_boards/FINCH-Adapter-Board/IMGP9589
>>> http://pics.pofo.de/gallery3/index.php/S8000/S8000_boards/FINCH-Adapter-Board/IMGP9584
>>>
>>> Its counterpart is shown here and labled with AMP, but no number:
>>>
>>> http://pics.pofo.de/gallery3/index.php/S8000/S8000_case/Disk-Tape-Component/Secrets-S8000/DSCF0366
>>
>> The header on the board appears to be a Molex KK 396 series header. The
>> plug on the wiring harness is an AMP MTA-156 series IDC connector. I'm not
>> sure why they mixed and matched connectors, but they both use the same
>> size pins with .156" spacing. The Molex header might retain the plug
>> better than the AMP header due to the friction lock.
>>
>> Molex 26-60-5100 KK 396 Header, Right-Angle with Friction Lock, 10
>> Circuits, Tin (Sn) Plating
>>
>> http://www.molex.com/molex/products/datasheet.jsp?part=active/0026605100_PCB_HEADERS.xml
>> http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/026605100_sd.pdf
>> http://www.molex.com/webdocs/datasheets/pdf/en-us/0026605100_PCB_HEADERS.pdf
>>
>> AMP 640389-0 MTA-156 Friction Lock Headers - Right Angle front bend, .125"
>> solder tail
>>
>> http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-1-640389-0.html
>> http://www.te.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController?Action=showdoc&DocId=Data+Sheet%7F82056_MTA%7F0708%7Fpdf%7FEnglish%7FENG_DS_82056_MTA_0708.pdf%7F1-640389-0
>
>
> The Molex version looks like it has round pins; I'd recommend 
> rectangular pins with your matching connector, they're prone to overheat 
> at the best of times.

Both the Molex and AMP/Tyco headers above have square pins. I use both 
series and have them in my inventory. Round pin .156" (3.96mm) headers 
have been discontinued for years due to that very issue. The flat contacts 
used in the connector shells don't make good contact with round pins since 
it offers less surface area than a square pin. As they age and oxidize, it 
gets even worse. I routinely replace older .156" round pin headers with 
modern square versions as preventative maintenance when I 
service/refurbish boards.