Tin vs Gold: Plating Choice for the BOM
The 68602-408HLF uses a 100 µinch tin mating finish. For higher mating-cycle requirements, the same 8-position dual-row footprint is available with gold plating: the 68602-108HLF carries 30 µinch gold, and the 68602-208HLF carries 15 µinch gold. Gold is the choice for corrosive environments or applications requiring hundreds of mating cycles; tin is adequate for low-cycle, cost-sensitive builds.
It is RoHS compliant and available for new designs and ongoing production.
In vibration-prone environments, a secondary retention method (e.g., a wire-to-board latch on the receptacle side) is recommended.
