Gold-on-gold contacts and 3 A current ceiling
The 87230-4: Gold-to-gold interface resists oxidation and maintains stable contact resistance across repeated mating cycles, which matters for field-service connectors that see periodic disconnect. The current rating is 3 A per contact, typical for signal-level interconnects at this pitch.
Position count contrast within the 87230 family
Within the same 87230 base number, the 87230-1 is a 2-position variant — same pitch, same gold finish, same right-angle through-hole footprint. The 87230-4 gives you 8 positions in the same dual-row layout, which is the practical minimum for a 2x4 grid.