What This Housing Does in the Harness
The TE Connectivity 172142-7 is a 7-position, single-row receptacle housing from the EI series, designed for wire-to-board or wire-to-wire interconnect in free-hanging (in-line) applications. It accepts female socket contacts terminated via crimp — the contacts themselves are ordered separately. The 2.50 mm pitch keeps the assembly compact while leaving enough room for 20-24 AWG wire routing in a harness. The housing is molded from natural polyamide (PA66) nylon 6/6, rated for continuous operation from -20°C to 95°C — a good fit for under-hood automotive, industrial control cabinets, and consumer appliance harnesses where moderate temperature cycling is expected.
Mating and Contact Selection
This receptacle mates with the corresponding EI series plug header (same 2.50 mm pitch, single row). The mating half uses a latch lock for positive retention — listen for the click during assembly. Because the housing is a free-hanging receptacle, the plug is typically board-mounted or panel-mounted. The female socket contacts are crimp-terminated and must be ordered as a separate line item. TE offers several socket part numbers for this series; the exact contact depends on wire gauge and plating preference (tin vs. gold). Confirm the contact part number with your TE representative or distributor before committing the BOM.
Sourcing and Lifecycle
Sourced through independent distribution — quoted to order against your BOM quantity.