25-Position D-Sub Plug for Standard-Density Signal Interconnects
The TE Connectivity AMPLIMITE HD-20 5745968-4 is a 25-position D-Sub plug with male pins arranged in two rows, designed for through-hole solder termination to a PCB. Rated at 6A per contact and 125V, it handles standard signal-level and moderate power duty within a DB-25 shell size (3, DB, B layout). The contacts are gold flash over brass — sufficient for routine mating cycles in equipment that stays assembled, though not specified for frequent field reconnection. A tin-plated steel shell with grounding indents provides EMI shield continuity, bleeding chassis current before the signal pins engage.
What the 6A and Gold Flash Ratings Mean for Your Assembly
For a 25-position plug carrying signal-level loads, the margin is generous. The gold flash provides a corrosion-resistant mating surface for moderate cycle counts — think a few dozen mates over the equipment life, not a daily-cycled panel interface. If your application requires frequent reconnection or operates in a corrosive environment, a connector with thicker gold plating would be a better fit.
Grounding Indents and Shell Construction
The tin-plated steel shell includes grounding indents — these are dimples on the shell face that make electrical contact with the mating receptacle's shell before the signal pins engage. This provides a low-impedance path for shield current and helps manage EMI in assemblies where the D-sub is the cable entry point. The shell uses unthreaded mounting holes (housing/shell flange feature), so you will need a separate nut or a threaded receptacle for panel mounting.
The through-hole solder tails are designed for PCB mounting; the contact spacing and row pitch match the standard 0.108-inch (2.74 mm) between rows and 0.090-inch (2.29 mm) between contacts. For a complete mated pair, order the matching AMPLIMITE HD-20 receptacle (e.g., 5745968-4's counterpart in the same series). The unthreaded flange means the plug is typically secured with 4-40 jack-screws on the receptacle side or a separate nut.