Wiring a 6-Position IDC Harness with the MTA-156
Termination — IDC Press, Not a Crimp Tool
The closed-end housing acts as a backstop so the contacts don't push through the back of the body when you apply the press force. It accepts both discrete 18 AWG wire and ribbon cable, so you can run a single wire to each position or gang-terminate a ribbon in one stroke.
Mating — What It Plugs Into
The 3-644860-6 mates with the matching MTA-156 header, which carries the same 0.156" pitch and a locking ramp slot. The free-hanging (in-line) receptacle is meant to be wired into a harness and then plugged onto a board-mounted header. No secondary lock or TPA is listed for this housing, so the ramp alone carries the retention duty.