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Connector Identification Workflow

The short, shared version of the skill both tracks depend on. Whether the part came off a marketplace LED string or a fielded harness, the sequence is the same — only the stakes and the paperwork change.

  1. Identify the use case and risk level. Bench prototype or fielded hardware? That decides how much of this list is negotiable — and which track you're in.
  2. Count positions — every cavity, loaded or not.
  3. Measure the pitch with calipers, across the full row ÷ (N−1). See Pitch: The Number That Saves You.
  4. Determine the connection type — wire-to-board, wire-to-wire, board-to-board, or panel/feedthrough.
  5. Identify the latch, keying, and polarization — friction vs. positive latch, polarizing features.
  6. Identify the housing and the contacts separately — separate part numbers, independent genders (glossary).
  7. Check the wire gauge and insulation range the contacts actually support.
  8. Check current, voltage, environment, and mating cycles against the application — from a datasheet, not a listing (ratings are system-level).
  9. Find the exact mating part from the family drawing. See Buying the Right Mating Parts.
  10. Verify with the datasheet drawing or standard — dimensions against your calipers, not photos against your memory.
  11. Buy samples or test-fit before committing — before the bulk order on the hobby side, before release on the engineering side.
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