Board-edge blade power header for backplane bus distribution
The TE Connectivity 2169797-4 is a 4-position blade power header from the Impact series, designed to deliver bulk DC power directly onto a backplane. It carries four male power blades arranged in two columns, each blade rated for the Impact power contact current — the exact per-blade rating is in the full Impact product specification, but the connector style and column count tell you this is a power-only interconnect, not a signal or mixed-layout header. The right-angle orientation means the header sits at the board edge and routes power perpendicular to the PCB plane, typical in server, switch, and telecom chassis where a power supply feeds a midplane or backplane bus. Termination is press-fit, which avoids solder and the associated thermal stress on the backplane. Press-fit is the standard for high-reliability backplane connectors because it allows field replacement of a damaged header without desoldering and holds up better under the vibration of rack-mount equipment. The housing is rated UL94 V-0, the minimum flame class for connectors inside powered enclosures, and the operating temperature range of -55°C to 85°C covers typical indoor telecom and industrial cabinet environments.
Gold contacts and press-fit termination — what they mean for the build
Contact finish is gold. Gold does not oxidise like tin, so a backplane header that may be mated and unmated during system integration or field service keeps a clean, low-resistance interface. The 4-position count in a 2-column layout means the header occupies a compact footprint at the board edge. Each column carries two power blades, so the connector is physically small — about the width of a standard 2-row header but with heavier contacts. There is no keying or shrouding on this header; it is a bare blade array that mates with the corresponding Impact power receptacle housing, which provides the polarisation. Confirm the mating half part number from the Impact series receptacle listing before committing the BOM.