MTA-100 IDC Receptacle, 13 Circuits, 26 AWG
The TE Connectivity MTA-100 4-640442-3 is a 13-position IDC receptacle in the MTA-100 series, designed for mass-termination of 26 AWG discrete or ribbon cable. The 0.100" (2.54mm) pitch matches the standard MTA-100 header pin field, so the board footprint is fixed by the header side. Tin-plated female sockets with 80.0µin (2.03µm) contact finish thickness handle the IDC termination — the heavy tin layer cuts through the wire insulation and holds the conductor without crimping. The locking ramp fastening type gives a positive latch against the mating header, which keeps the connection seated under cable strain or vibration. A closed-end housing blocks wire insertion from the wrong side, forcing the cable to enter only from the intended direction. The blue color is a visual aid on the harness assembly bench when multiple MTA-100 receptacles share the same cable bundle.
Termination and Wire Fit
This receptacle terminates 26 AWG wire only — the IDC slot is sized for that gauge. The free-hanging, right-angle mounting means the cable exits parallel to the board edge after mating, which suits tight enclosures where a straight-out cable exit would hit the wall. The closed-end feature is a practical detail: it prevents the wire from being pushed into the wrong side of the housing during assembly, which would otherwise short the circuit or damage the contact.
Mating and Retention
The locking ramp mates with the corresponding ramp on an MTA-100 header. The latch engages audibly and holds the pair together against cable pulls up to the rated wire retention force of the IDC termination. For applications where the connector will be unmated repeatedly, the tin contact finish is rated for a moderate number of cycles — tin is not a high-cycle finish like gold, but the 80.0µin thickness extends the usable life beyond a standard thin-tin IDC connector.