A pin header (or simply header) is a form of

electrical connector Components of an electrical circuit are electrically connected if an electric current can run between them through an electrical conductor. An electrical connector is an electromechanical device used to create an electrical connection betwee ...

. A male pin header consists of one or more rows of metal pins molded into a plastic base, often apart, though available in many spacings. Male pin headers are cost-effective due to their simplicity. The female counterparts are sometimes known as female socket headers, though there are numerous naming variations of male and female connectors. Historically, headers have sometimes been called "

Berg connector Berg connector is a brand of electrical connector used in computer hardware. Berg connectors are manufactured by Berg Electronics Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri, now part of Amphenol. Overview Berg connectors have a pitch, pins are square, ...

s", but headers are manufactured by many companies.

Overview

Normally pin headers are through-hole devices (THD / THT), but surface-mount devices (SMD / SMT) exist too. In the SMD case, the solder side of the pins are bent on a 90 degree angle so as to be soldered to pads on the PCB. On single row SMD headers the pins are bent alternating to one side or the other, on dual row SMD headers the pins are simply bent outwards. If pin headers are optional, the THD variant is often chosen for ease of manual assembly. Headers can be either straight (vertical) or right-angle, the latter form is sometimes used to connect two PCBs together horizontally. Most often, headers are available in one or two rows, though three or more rows are available from some manufacturers. They are often sold as long strips (typically 36 / 40 / 50 pins) which can easily be cut apart to a required number of pins. Many pin lengths are available to minimize labor during PCB assembly. Male pin headers are often associated with ribbon cable connectors. When used alone, they can be recipients of jumpers, which have spacings of and . Header types can be categorized by their pitch (uniform distance between pins measured from center to center). Some common header pitches are: * * * with square pins or precision machined round pins * with square pins * *

Shrouded or box header

Pin headers with a plastic guide box around them are known as a shrouded header or box header and are normally used in combination with insulation-displacement connectors (IDC) for ribbon cables. A square notch (key) in the shroud prevents placing the connector (polarised by a "bump" on one side) the wrong way around. Some are available without the square notch cutout.

Polarizer key

Some systems polarize or key the pin header connection with something that fills and blocks one of the holes in the sockets. One pin of the wrong pin header (or the correct pin header rotated in the wrong orientation) hits that obstruction and prevents an incorrect connection. The correct pin header has one or more pins in the header removed or clipped to indicate a key for correct orientation.

Pin numbering

In absence of a pin 1 designation on the header, if a designation is missing from the header, the PCB may have a marking indicating orientation (historically, the solder pad around the hole of pin 1 of a THD header is often square rather than round). For multi-row pin headers, the pin number is more complex, because knowing the location of pin 1 doesn't automatically ensure how the remaining pins are numbered. Typically for headers attached to ribbon cables, the pins are numbered so they go linearly across the cable. Because of the way the connector attaches to the cable, this means in a two-row header, pins in one row have odd numbers and pins in the other row have even numbers.10 pin IDC male connector diagram and applications pinouts
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Overview

Shrouded or box header

Polarizer key

Pin numbering

See also

References

External links