46-Position Minitek127 Header
The FCI 20021121-00046T4LF is the 46-circuit member of the Minitek127 1.27mm pitch series — a dual-row board-to-board header designed for high-density signal interconnects where routing density and board footprint govern the choice. All 46 positions are loaded with square male pins; the push-pull fastening type indicates the mating half carries a corresponding locking feature rather than a separate hardware screw. The 1.27mm pitch sits at the dense end of the 0.050-inch family, so the 46-circuit count in a dual-row layout is the primary fit decision — it covers mid-density signal buses and board-level power distribution where multiple rails share a single connector footprint rather than stacking several smaller headers.
Plating Split and What It Means for the Application
The contact finish splits across the connector: gold at 10.0 µin (0.25 µm) on the mating side and tin at 50.0 µin (1.27 µm) on the solder post. The gold plating on the mating interface delivers the low contact resistance and wipe action needed for repeated mating cycles — tin-only contacts in this series would wear faster under reconnection duty. The tin post finish is optimised for solderability and long-term solder joint integrity on the board side, where repeated insertion cycles are not a factor. The 1 A per contact current rating is consistent with the copper alloy contact material and the 0.25 µm gold thickness — at this plating grade the current ceiling is set by the contact beam geometry, not the finish.
Board-to-Board Placement and Thermal Envelope
Surface-mount termination with a 0.120 inch (3.05 mm) contact engagement length means the mated pair sits in a board-stacking configuration — the header mounts flush on one board and receives the matching receptacle on the adjacent board. The dual-row layout at 1.27mm pitch requires controlled impedance routing for any high-speed signal paths; at this density crosstalk management between adjacent pairs matters more than it does at 2.00mm or 2.54mm pitch. Operating range of -55 °C to 125 °C covers industrial and automotive thermal environments, and the UL94 V-0 flammability rating means the housing material is self-extinguishing — critical for enclosed equipment where connector outgassing is a failure mode.
Where the 46-Circuit Count Fits the BOM
At 46 positions in a dual-row layout this header covers the mid-to-high circuit-count range of the Minitek127 series. The 1.27mm pitch keeps the board footprint compact relative to a 2.00mm or 2.54mm pitch header with the same position count — for boards with tight routing channels this pitch-to-position ratio is the primary reason to specify this series over a coarser pitch alternative. If the application needs fewer circuits, the same family carries lower-position variants at identical pitch, row spacing, and mounting footprint, so the board layout carries across the series without a re-route.