Ratings that drive the selection decision
The 87052-138HLF: At 5 A per contact and 110 V, this header sits squarely in the signal/moderate-power range for its pitch class — the 2.54mm pitch and 5 A rating together make it a credible choice for low-level power distribution on a board stack, not just pure signal. The 30.0µin (0.76µm) gold plating is meaningfully thicker than the flash-gold contacts common on commodity headers, which directly translates to lower contact resistance over repeated mating cycles and better resistance to fretting in vibration environments — a practical advantage for any application where the header sees field service or production-level test cycles. UL94 V-0 flammability is the relevant compliance flag for industrial equipment enclosures — confirm your equipment-level cert requirement is satisfied by the connector material rating, not just the board-level rating.
Board-to-board fit and the mating half
This is an unshrouded push-pull header — the board layout engineer needs to confirm the mating receptacle provides positive retention, because the header itself offers only friction-fit. The square pin cross-section accepts a matching square socket or round socket depending on the receptacle design. The 38-position count is the primary BOM match parameter — confirm the receptacle or IDC connector on the mating board carries the same position count and 2.54mm pitch before committing.
Where it is used
The BERGSTIK II series is a staple in board-to-board stacking applications — board-to-board headers at 2.54mm pitch appear in PLC modules, industrial sensors, instrumentation backplanes, and legacy equipment upgrades where the dual-row footprint is already established on the board. The 110 V rating is adequate for signal and low-voltage power within enclosed industrial equipment; it is not a power-distribution connector at higher mains voltages. The push-pull fastening is suited to applications where the mated pair is static after assembly — not for repeated field mating without an additional locking feature on the receptacle side.