What this header is and where it sits in the series
The Molex 430451202 is the 12-circuit member of the Micro-Fit 3.0 43045 series — a dual-row, right-angle, through-hole header with a 3.00 mm pitch and a 4-wall shroud. The shroud and the locking ramp are what separate this from a plain friction-fit header: the shroud keys the mating direction and the ramp gives a positive click when the receptacle seats fully.
Plating split — the spec that drives the decision
The mating face carries gold at 30.0 µin (0.76 µm) over the full pin length — that is the wipe surface that seats against the receptacle's tin-plated contacts. The solder tails are tin at 100.0 µin (2.54 µm), which is the heavier plate for solderability and long shelf life. Gold on mating, tin on the post is the standard Micro-Fit split for mixed signal and power duty; it is not a downgrade from all-gold, it is the right grade for the function. The 8 A per circuit rating puts this squarely in low-to-medium power territory — it will carry power rails, fan drives, or actuator feeds across a board-to-wire junction without needing a dedicated power header. The 600 V rating covers most AC and DC distribution buses in industrial and telecom equipment.
What holds it to the board and the receptacle
The board lock feature — integral plastic feet that engage the PCB during wave or hand solder — keeps the header from lifting under vibration or thermal cycling. The locking ramp on the shroud does the same job on the mating side: once the receptacle clicks in, the ramp resists accidental pull-off. This combination matters in any application where the board sees motion or field service — industrial automation enclosures, medical carts, automotive auxiliaries. All 12 positions are populated — there is no reduced position-count option on this specific part number.
Sourcing and compliance
The 430451202 is Active and ROHS3 Compliant — no official successor or cross-reference is listed on this part number, so the BOM line is straightforward if the 12-position count and right-angle orientation match the board layout. The housing is Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP), Glass Filled, rated UL94 V-0 — the flame class covers most industrial and telecom enclosure requirements without a separate flame-barrier step. Operating temperature runs from -40°C to 105°C, which handles both cold-storage and enclosed-equipment thermal environments.