Samtec TSW 2.54mm Through-Hole Pin Header

The TSW is Samtec's standard 0.100" (2.54 mm) pitch unshrouded pin header — the through-hole workhorse you reach for when you need a stackable, breakaway connector strip that handles both prototype and production environments without surprises. It mates with Samtec's SSW, SSQ, and BCS socket strips, as well as industry-standard IDC ribbon-cable sockets.

These headers bridge PCBs in mezzanine and daughter-card configurations, carry low-speed digital signals and modest power rails in embedded systems, and serve as the programming/debug interface on countless development boards. The through-hole termination gives you stronger mechanical anchoring than the surface-mount TSM counterpart — important when the connector sees repeated mate/unmate cycles in test fixtures or field-serviceable modules.

Typical Applications

• Test and measurement: ATE load boards and DUT interface fixtures where breakaway strips let you populate only the pins you need
• Industrial automation: PLC I/O modules that connect to backplane signal buses; the through-hole joint survives vibration better than SMT in DIN-rail enclosures
• Automotive ECUs: Non-safety-critical body-control modules, especially where wave soldering is already part of the assembly process
• Prototyping and low-volume production: The breakaway format means you stock one SKU and snap off the position count you need — no custom cut lengths or minimum-order friction
• Embedded systems: JTAG/SWD programming headers, UART bring-up headers, and Raspberry Pi HAT stacking connectors

Key Specifications

Variant Selection Guide

When you spec a TSW, four dimensions matter most:

1. Number of positions: Breakaway format means part numbers like TSW-110-07-G-S map to 10 positions, but you can snap it down. If your BOM typically calls for 6-pin, 8-pin, and 10-pin headers, buy a stick of TSW-36 and break what you need.

2. Single vs. dual row: The TSW-1xx prefix is single-row; TSW-2xx is dual-row. Dual-row gives you polarization (the socket can only mate one way if you omit one pin) and better resistance to rocking, at the cost of about 40% more board real estate.

3. Pin length: The "-07" in TSW-110-07-G-S refers to a 0.230" (5.84 mm) post height above the insulator. If you're stacking boards with a 0.250" standoff, you need the -08 variant (0.330" post). Always check that the post protrudes enough to fully seat the socket but not so much that it bottoms out against the mating board.

4. Plating: Gold flash (0.25 µ") is good for one-time assembly; 10 µ" Au handles 100+ cycles in test fixtures; 30 µ" Au is for mil/aero where you need guaranteed contact after decades of storage. Tin is cheaper but only for low-cycle, clean-environment applications — tin whiskers are real in high-humidity enclosures.

TSW vs. TSM (SMT version): The TSM is the surface-mount equivalent — same pitch, same mating face, same socket compatibility. Choose TSM when your board has no through-hole process or you need to place headers on the bottom side without wave soldering. Choose TSW when mechanical retention matters (the through-hole joint gives roughly 3× the pull-force of an SMT pad of equivalent area) or when you are hand-soldering prototypes. The TSW also costs about 15–20% less per pin at mid-volume because through-hole tooling amortization is lower.

Procurement

Samtec ships the TSW from stock for most standard configurations — the TSW-1xx-07-x-S and TSW-1xx-08-x-S families in gold and tin are typically available same-day through their Sudden Service program (no MOQ, no minimum line-item charge). Non-standard post heights and selective plating add 3–5 working days. Custom position counts beyond 50 pins require a tooling consultation but Samtec will do single-digit custom runs without NRE for many configurations.

Tube packaging is standard for automated pick-and-place (though through-hole parts usually land in the board before SMT reflow). Tape-and-reel is available on request for positions ≤ 20 if you are running a mixed-technology line. Bulk bags are cheaper for hand-assembly shops.

Samtec part-number decoder: TSW-110-07-G-S breaks down as: TSW = series (0.100" through-hole header), 110 = 10 pins (1 = single row, 10 = positions), 07 = 0.230" post height, G = 10 µ" gold, S = single row. A dual-row 20-pin with the same specs would be TSW-210-07-G-D.