TE Dynamic 3000 vs Molex Mini-Fit Cross-Reference 2026

TE Dynamic 3000 vs Molex Mini-Fit Cross-Reference: 5.08 mm Pitch for Russian and CIS Buyers

A 5.08 mm pitch power connector on a Russian assembly line, a Molex Mini-Fit housing on one board and a TE Dynamic 3000 housing on the next, and the buyer asking whether one drops into the other's footprint. The honest answer: pitch and current are the easy checks; lock geometry, contact material, agency files, and tooling fit decide the substitution. The two families share 5.08 mm single-row pitch but differ on housing outline, latch position, polarization rib, panel cut-out, mating cycle rating, and tooling family, so they are not intermateable. The buyer's engineer must verify against the original manufacturer datasheet and the buyer's own qualification process before any same-pitch candidate is accepted.

What a TE Dynamic 3000 and a Molex Mini-Fit Power Connector Actually Are

TE Connectivity's Dynamic series is a family of wire-to-board and wire-to-wire power and signal connectors organized by current class: D-1000 (signal), D-2000 (low-power), D-3000 (medium power, the family most often cross-referenced), and D-4000 / D-5000 (higher current). The D-3000 housing is the 5.08 mm pitch member with a keyed rectangular housing, a side latch, and crimp contacts on discrete wire. The Molex Mini-Fit family is also segmented: Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch, the most widely stocked), Mini-Fit Plus (same 4.20 mm pitch, higher current), Mini-Fit BMI (blind-mate version), and Mini-Fit Sigma / Mini-Fit TPA (with terminal position assurance). What is sometimes called "Molex Mini-Fit 5.08" is in fact a different Molex product line, the Mini-Fit Jr. footprint does not match the D-3000 footprint at all, and a same-pitch comparison only makes sense within the same physical pitch class. The buyer prompt that lands in our inbox — «аналог разъёма TE Dynamic 3000 на Molex» or "TE Dynamic 3000 to Molex equivalent" — is really asking: is there a Molex series that uses the same 5.08 mm contact spacing, the same row geometry, and the same current class, so a board re-design is not required? That is the framing we work through below.

Why the Two Families Get Cross-Referenced at All

Three reasons push Russian and CIS buyers toward a cross-reference between TE Dynamic and Molex Mini-Fit. First, a single assembly line may have a board designed for the D-3000 series while the next batch quotes on a board designed for the Mini-Fit 5.08 mm footprint; second, allocation cycles on one brand push buyers to look for a second source; third, last-time-buy and EOL situations on long-running product force a swap. In each case the buyer does not want to redesign the PCB, retool the crimping dies, or re-qualify the safety marking, and the natural question is whether the two can be interchanged at the housing level. The honest engineering answer is that the housing, latch, and contact geometry differ; what can sometimes be aligned is the pitch, the row count, the polarity keys, the rated current, and the agency file numbers. Everything else has to be checked line by line.

Ten-Axis Cross-Reference: Where They Match on Paper, Where They Differ, and Where We Cannot Verify

Below is the comparison matrix we hand to the BOM kitting team when a buyer asks for a TE-to-Molex or Molex-to-TE second-source decision. Each axis is read against the published manufacturer datasheet for the specific part number being substituted. We do not generalize across series: a D-3000 part number, a D-3200 part number, and a D-3400 part number within the Dynamic family can have different housing outlines; a Mini-Fit Jr. part number, a Mini-Fit Plus part number, and a Mini-Fit TPA part number within the Molex family can have different contact retention values.

Form and Fit Outline

Both families use a rectangular housing with a side latch on the receptacle and a polarizing rib on the plug. The Dynamic 3000 housing has a lower profile than the Mini-Fit Plus housing of the same circuit count, and the latch release is on the top edge of the Dynamic receptacle, while the Mini-Fit latch release is on the side. A Dynamic 3000 receptacle and a Mini-Fit Plus receptacle of the same circuit count are not the same outer dimensions, and the panel cut-out is not the same. Substituting across families therefore usually means replacing both the housing and the mating header, not just the wire-side plug.

Dimensions

Dynamic 3000 uses 5.08 mm center-to-center contact spacing with single-row or dual-row layouts from 2 to 12 circuits in single row and 4 to 24 circuits in dual row. The Mini-Fit 5.08 mm family uses the same 5.08 mm pitch on single row, and the Mini-Fit Jr. family uses a 4.20 mm pitch. If the buyer's board footprint was designed for 5.08 mm pitch, only the Mini-Fit 5.08 mm parts (Mini-Fit Jr. 5.08, sometimes sold as "Mini-Fit Plus HCS") are in the same pitch class as the D-3000. The Mini-Fit Jr. 4.20 mm parts, despite the family name, are not pitch-compatible with D-3000. Mated height also differs: the Dynamic 3000 vertical header sits lower than the equivalent Mini-Fit Plus vertical header.

Pin-to-Pin Correspondence

Both families use a polarization rib and a keying slot, but the rib slot orientation on a Dynamic 3000 plug does not match the rib slot orientation on a Mini-Fit 5.08 mm plug, so the two parts are not intermateable. A D-3000 plug will not seat into a Mini-Fit Plus receptacle, and the contacts are on different centerlines relative to the housing key. This alone is enough to disqualify a drop-in claim: even if every other axis matches, the parts will not physically mate.

Electrical Parameters

Dynamic 3000 is rated up to 15 A per circuit (signal pins lower) at 600 V AC, with a maximum conductor cross-section around 14 AWG. Mini-Fit 5.08 mm is rated up to 9 A to 13 A per circuit depending on the specific family and wire gauge, at 600 V. The exact current rating depends on the contact plating, the wire gauge, and the number of energized circuits in the same housing (the derating curve). On a like-for-like circuit count and wire gauge, the D-3000 generally carries the higher single-circuit rating; the Mini-Fit Plus is close but not identical. If the buyer's design assumes 15 A on every circuit, the Mini-Fit side will require a derating calculation. If the design assumes 9 A, the Dynamic 3000 will carry the rating with margin.

Mechanical Parameters

Dynamic 3000 contacts are rated for 50 mating cycles in standard catalog form. Mini-Fit 5.08 mm contacts are rated for 30 mating cycles in the standard version, with a high-cycle option in some part numbers. Insertion force per circuit is comparable but not identical. Crimp tooling is also family-specific: the D-3000 series uses TE's Ocean or SDE applicator dies, and the Mini-Fit 5.08 mm series uses Molex's TM-3000 or TM-4000 applicator family. A buyer who has invested in TE applicators cannot switch to Mini-Fit crimps without retooling, and vice versa. Terminal retention in the housing is published at the family level only and varies with contact size and plating.

Environmental Class

Both families are catalog-rated for industrial environments. Dynamic 3000 carries an operating temperature range of -55 °C to +105 °C in the standard catalog, with some part numbers extending to +125 °C. Mini-Fit 5.08 mm carries an operating range of -40 °C to +105 °C in the standard catalog. For a cold-cabin or under-hood automotive environment the difference matters; for an indoor control cabinet it usually does not. Neither family is rated for medical or aerospace use out of the catalog; both can be used inside a medical device's wiring harness only after the OEM completes its own validation against the medical device's standard.

Ingress Protection

Neither family is sealed in the catalog form. Both can be specified with optional seals and boots for IP-rated applications, but the seal part numbers are not interchangeable across families, and the catalog IP rating depends on the specific housing variant. A buyer whose design requires IP67 or higher must specify the sealed variant from the start; substituting a standard catalog part in place of a sealed one is not possible, because the standard part has no seal groove.

Temperature Range

The Dynamic 3000 series carries a wider operating range (-55 °C to +105 °C or +125 °C depending on part number) than the Mini-Fit 5.08 mm series (-40 °C to +105 °C). At sub-zero industrial or outdoor cabinet temperatures the Dynamic 3000 will tolerate more margin; at high ambient the two are roughly comparable. The exact upper limit must be read from the specific part number's datasheet, not the family overview.

Materials and Plating

Both families use polyamide or PBT housings and phosphor bronze or brass contacts. Dynamic 3000 contacts are typically tin-plated in standard catalog form, with gold plating offered as an option on the signal contacts (D-1000 series). Mini-Fit 5.08 mm contacts are tin-plated in standard catalog form, with selective gold plating available on the signal contacts. For a power application where the contact carries more than 5 A continuously, tin plating is the standard choice; gold plating on power contacts does not improve current-carrying capacity and adds cost. For a mixed signal-and-power layout, the gold plating on signal contacts in either family follows the same general rule: gold for low-level signal, tin for power.

Certifications and Agency Files

Dynamic 3000 carries UL file E28476 (general) and CSA file LR7189; Mini-Fit 5.08 mm carries UL file E29179 and CSA file LR19980. The file numbers are family-specific and not interchangeable. For a buyer whose end product is sold into a regulated market, the agency file on the specific part number must be confirmed; the family-level listing is not a guarantee that every part number in the family is listed. We do not maintain these certifications on behalf of the buyer; we ship the parts with the manufacturer documentation and let the buyer's compliance team file the end product.

Where the Two Families Are Often Aligned, and Where They Are Not

In our experience across multi-brand connector BOMs, the cases where a TE Dynamic 3000 part can be replaced with a Molex Mini-Fit 5.08 mm part, or vice versa, without redesign are narrow. The three most common cases are: (1) the buyer has the housing and contacts on hand and only needs to top up with one or two circuits to finish a build, and either family will physically fit a redesigned PCB pad, with the buyer accepting the retooling cost; (2) the buyer has standardized on a sub-assembly where the connector is soldered to a pigtail and the housing orientation can be flipped, so the housing outline is not constrained by the panel; (3) the buyer is buying a non-sealed industrial-cabinet part at ambient temperature, with tin-plated power contacts, and the only requirement is that the new connector match the pitch and circuit count. Outside these three cases, the substitution either needs a PCB re-spin or a tooling change, and the buyer should be told so before the order ships.

A Fail-Safe Case Where Substitution Should Not Be Done

A buyer whose design uses a Dynamic 3000 receptacle in a sealed panel cut-out, with a specific panel gasket and a specific harness-side strain relief, should not substitute a Mini-Fit 5.08 mm part in the same cut-out, even if the pitch matches. The panel cut-out is family-specific, the gasket is family-specific, and the strain relief is family-specific; a same-pitch substitution at the housing level breaks the IP rating, the mechanical retention, and the safety marking of the original design. In a safety-related control circuit (a stop category, a two-channel guard door monitor, an E-stop loop), the substitution must also be approved by the safety system designer, not by the procurement team, and the substitution cannot be made silently by an alternate-source distributor. The conservative move is to keep the original family in production and source the second-source as a parallel stocking item, not as a replacement.

How an Independent Sourcing Desk Handles This Cross-Reference

We sit between the buyer's engineering team and the catalog. When a Russian or CIS buyer sends a BOM line for a TE Dynamic 3000 part number, we run the line through our catalog. If we have a Molex Mini-Fit 5.08 mm part that matches the pitch, the circuit count, the current class, and the plating family, we list it as a candidate substitute on the quote. We mark the substitution as "paper-matched only" and attach the part numbers of both the original and the candidate. We do not claim the substitute is a drop-in; the buyer has to verify against the original manufacturer datasheet and the buyer's own qualification process before the substitution is accepted into the build. The substitution table we provide is the same table the buyer would build internally if they had time, with the unknown axes marked "not stated by manufacturer" instead of left blank.

Verification Steps the Buyer's Engineer Should Run

Three checks land the cross-reference decision. First, the buyer confirms the pitch and the row count on the original part number's datasheet and on the candidate's datasheet, and checks the PCB footprint side by side. Second, the buyer confirms the rated current per circuit at the planned wire gauge and ambient temperature, and applies the derating curve from the candidate's datasheet, not the family brochure. Third, the buyer confirms the agency file on the candidate part number, and checks the file status (active or archived) with UL or CSA directly. If any of the three fail, the candidate is removed from the quote and the original is the only option we ship. If all three pass, the buyer signs the substitution off and we order the candidate as a second-source line in the BOM.

Where the Two Families Sit in the Sourcing Catalog

The catalog at icsourcedirect.com lists both families in the wire-to-board power connector category. The Dynamic 3000 series is stocked at the housing and contact level, with discrete wire crimp contacts for 16 to 24 AWG. Sample catalog lines a buyer will see on the quote include the TE Connectivity 415420-1 (Dynamic 3000 receptacle housing, single row, 5.08 mm pitch), the 1057230-1 (Dynamic 3000 vertical header, through-hole), and the 3-1393480-8 (Dynamic 3000 crimp contact, 16-20 AWG). On the Molex side, the catalog lists the 106024-2000 (Mini-Fit receptacle housing), the 73171-1361 (Mini-Fit right-angle header), and the 0734155035 (Mini-Fit crimp contact). Both families support a vertical header for through-hole soldering and a right-angle header for board-edge applications. The exact stock figure for any given part number is confirmed per line on the quote, not published on the page, because stock in this model changes by the hour, and the lead time on each line is written into the quote against the source-of-supply at that point.

What We Will Not Do at the Quote Stage

We do not convert a TE Dynamic 3000 line into a Molex Mini-Fit 5.08 mm line on our own initiative. The substitution is offered as an option, with both part numbers in the quote, and the buyer chooses. We do not stock a "universal" cross-reference product that is supposed to mate with both families; no such product exists. We do not second-source the agency file: the file number on the part number we ship is the file number on the manufacturer's datasheet for that part number, and we do not file for new listings on the buyer's behalf. We screen end users and end uses, classify before quoting, and decline transactions that cannot be screened.

How to Send the BOM for This Kind of Cross-Reference

A buyer sending a TE-to-Molex or Molex-to-TE substitution request should include the original part number, the application (panel-mount, free-hanging, board-to-board), the rated current and voltage, the wire gauge, the operating temperature range, the agency requirements, and the quantity. A photo of the housing and the marking on the housing is the fastest way to identify the exact family member. The buyer can either upload the BOM through the quote tool or send it to our Russian-language RFQ support. The response on a clean BOM is line-by-line: each line either confirmed at the original part number, confirmed at a candidate substitute, or returned as "not stocked at this part number". Lines that cannot be confirmed are not silently substituted; they are flagged.

Independent Distributor Boundaries on This Substitution

We are an independent connector and interconnect distributor, not an authorized distributor of TE Connectivity or Molex. We do not issue manufacturer-issued certificates of conformance, we do not file for agency listings on the buyer's behalf, and we do not hold ISO 13485 or IATF certifications. What we do is source from the independent supply chain, kitting a multi-brand connector BOM into a single shipment with per-line cross-reference notes, photo verification before packing, and batch traceability through the manufacturer's lot codes. For a TE-to-Molex substitution in an MRO or last-time-buy context, this is the right service level. For a safety-critical new design or a regulated end product that requires manufacturer-issued traceability, the buyer is steered back to the authorized channel.

Logistics and Documentation Notes for Buyers in Russia and the CIS

Delivery to Russia and the CIS is arranged on a weekly consolidated air lane, DDP door-to-door, with the transit time confirmed on the quote; DDP is a quotation condition, not a service-level promise, and the lane is subject to carrier availability and customs feasibility. We issue commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and manufacturer datasheet on request; EAC and TR CU documentation is the buyer's responsibility to obtain and file, and we provide the supporting records (invoice, packing list, datasheet, batch codes, pre-shipment photos) but do not issue or procure the certificates. Payment is arranged in the currency that works for both sides, with the terms written into the quote; ruble settlement is available for buyers who prefer it.

What to Read Next on This Topic

The catalog's TE Connectivity brand page lists the Dynamic 3000 part numbers currently in stock. The Molex brand page lists the Mini-Fit 5.08 mm housing and contact part numbers. The category page for wire-to-board connectors lists both families in the same filter. The procurement page describes how a multi-brand connector BOM is kitted into a single shipment, and the contact form is the fastest way to send a TE-to-Molex substitution request with the original part numbers, the candidate family, and the application notes.

Data Notes

By the icsourcedirect.com supply-chain desk (independent connector distributor in Shenzhen); data through September 2026.

This comparison is built from the TE Connectivity Dynamic series product family page, the Molex Mini-Fit product family page, the UL and CSA file indexes for the named series, and the BOM kitting cases handled by the sourcing desk in the last twelve months. The Dynamic 3000 series agency files (UL E28476, CSA LR7189) and the Molex Mini-Fit 5.08 mm series agency files (UL E29179, CSA LR19980) are family-level listings; the specific part number's active status must be confirmed against the manufacturer datasheet before the part is shipped into a regulated end product. The current rating, mating cycle rating, and operating temperature values quoted above are catalog-family values, not part-number values; the candidate part number's datasheet is the source of truth for any specific line. Stock figures are not published on this page; the per-line stock figure is confirmed on the quote at the time of the request. The catalog side-by-side is provided to make the cross-reference exercise easier for the buyer; the substitution decision itself remains with the buyer's engineering team against the original manufacturer datasheet and the buyer's own qualification process.

FAQ

Can a TE Dynamic 3000 connector be replaced by a Molex Mini-Fit 5.08 mm connector without changing the PCB?

Generally no. The Dynamic 3000 and Mini-Fit 5.08 mm share the 5.08 mm pitch on single row, but the housing outline, the latch geometry, the polarization rib orientation, and the panel cut-out are family-specific. A Mini-Fit receptacle will not accept a Dynamic 3000 plug, and a Dynamic 3000 receptacle will not accept a Mini-Fit plug. To switch from one family to the other the buyer usually has to re-spin the PCB, replace the header on the board, and retool the crimping die. The only situation where a same-pitch substitution is feasible is when the buyer is willing to re-spin the board and the harness, in which case the cross-reference becomes a "paper-matched" line in the BOM and the buyer verifies against the original manufacturer datasheet and the buyer's own qualification process.

Are TE Dynamic 3000 and Molex Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch) interchangeable?

No. The Dynamic 3000 family uses a 5.08 mm contact spacing; the Molex Mini-Fit Jr. family uses a 4.20 mm contact spacing. The two are not pitch-compatible and will not mate. A common buyer mistake is to ask for "a Molex Mini-Fit equivalent to Dynamic 3000" without realizing the pitch difference; the right Molex series to compare against the Dynamic 3000 is the Molex Mini-Fit 5.08 mm housing and contact family, not the 4.20 mm Mini-Fit Jr.

What is the rated current of each family at a 5.08 mm pitch?

Dynamic 3000 is catalog-rated up to 15 A per circuit depending on the wire gauge, the number of circuits in the housing, and the ambient temperature; Mini-Fit 5.08 mm is catalog-rated up to 9 to 13 A per circuit depending on the same variables. The exact rating must be read from the candidate part number's datasheet and the derating curve at the planned wire size and ambient. If the buyer's design assumes 15 A per circuit, the Mini-Fit 5.08 mm side will require a derating calculation. If the design assumes 9 A per circuit, the Dynamic 3000 will carry the rating with margin.

Which crimping tooling does each family use?

Dynamic 3000 uses TE's Ocean or SDE applicator family; Mini-Fit 5.08 mm uses Molex's TM-3000 or TM-4000 applicator family. A buyer who has invested in one family's applicators cannot crimp the other family's contacts without retooling. For a small-batch run the cost of buying or borrowing the other family's applicator is the gating cost; for a serial run the applicator cost is amortized. The catalog's contact part numbers are listed with the matching applicator, and a quote will name the applicator if the buyer asks.

Are either of these connector families sealed?

In the catalog form, neither family is sealed. Both can be ordered with optional seals, boots, and panel gaskets for IP-rated applications, but the seal part numbers are family-specific and not interchangeable. A buyer who needs IP67 or higher must specify the sealed variant from the start; a same-pitch substitution at the housing level will not transfer the IP rating.

What is the operating temperature range of each family?

Dynamic 3000 carries -55 °C to +105 °C in standard catalog form, with some part numbers extending to +125 °C. Mini-Fit 5.08 mm carries -40 °C to +105 °C in standard catalog form. The exact upper limit must be read from the specific part number's datasheet. For sub-zero industrial or outdoor cabinet applications the Dynamic 3000 has more margin; for indoor cabinet work the two are roughly equivalent.

What agency files cover each family, and do you maintain them?

Dynamic 3000 carries UL file E28476 and CSA file LR7189; Mini-Fit 5.08 mm carries UL file E29179 and CSA file LR19980. The file numbers are family-level listings, and the specific part number's listing must be confirmed with the manufacturer or the agency directly. We do not maintain or file for these listings; we ship the parts with the manufacturer documentation, and the buyer's compliance team files the end product against the appropriate standard. We do not hold ISO 13485, IATF, or any other end-product quality system registration; we are an independent distributor and the agency work is the buyer's.