What This Coding Key Does in a Z-PACK Backplane
The TE Connectivity 100525-3 is a male coding key from the Z-PACK series, designed to prevent mismating of backplane connector modules in the 2mm HM (Hard Metric) format. It installs into the keying slot of a Z-PACK receptacle or header, physically blocking the insertion of a connector that carries the wrong key combination. The brown color identifies this specific key position — in a multi-connector backplane, the color lets a technician confirm at a glance that the correct keying pattern is in place before the card cage is closed. This is a passive accessory; it carries no electrical contacts and does not affect signal integrity.