The Molex 1718500300 is a 3-circuit receptacle housing from the Micro-Fit 3.0 171850 series, designed for wire-to-board power interconnects in harness assemblies. The single-row layout keeps the connector narrow, suited for tight spots inside power supplies, appliances, or automotive junction boxes where three power or signal wires need a clean disconnect point. This is a free-hanging (in-line) housing — no PCB footprint needed. It accepts female socket crimp terminals, which are ordered separately (contacts not included).
Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) Lock
The housing includes a Terminal Position Lock (TPA) feature — a secondary retainer that locks each crimped terminal into its cavity after insertion. This prevents back-out under vibration or wire pull, a common failure point in unkeyed housings. The fastening type is a latch holder, meaning the mated pair clicks together with a positive lock and releases by squeezing the latch. No tools needed for mating or unmating in the field.
Sourcing and Lifecycle
Because contacts are not included, the BOM line must also specify the matching female crimp terminal (Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 terminal, e.g. 430300001 for 20-24 AWG). Stock both halves or neither — an orphan housing with no terminals on the shelf is dead stock.