- Can FTR-108-55-L-D-P be used to connect two parallel PCBs in a compact board-to-board design?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P is intended for surface-mount board-to-board interconnection and uses two rows with 1.27 mm mating pitch and 2.54 mm row spacing. The exact PCB separation cannot be determined from the available specifications because no mated stacking height is listed. The mating connector, board thickness, component keep-out areas, and required mechanical clearance should be evaluated together before layout release.
- What mating connector should I select for Samtec FTR-108-55-L-D-P?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P has an unshrouded 16-position male pin header with a 0.050 inch pitch, so it requires a mechanically compatible female mating connector with matching two-row geometry, contact length, and engagement depth. The mating part should be selected from the Samtec FTR-compatible range or verified through the manufacturer’s mating documentation. A connector with the same pitch but a different row spacing, contact style, or stack height may not mate correctly.
- Is FTR-108-55-L-D-P suitable for applications that require keyed or polarity-protected insertion?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P is unshrouded and does not provide an integral shroud or visible keying feature in the listed configuration. In systems where reversed insertion could damage power or signal circuits, the design should use external mechanical keying, asymmetric PCB features, connector placement constraints, labeling, or a keyed mating connector if a compatible option exists. Software or pinout conventions alone do not prevent an incorrect physical connection.
- Can FTR-108-55-L-D-P carry 3.1 A on every contact simultaneously?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P is specified at 3.1 A per contact, but applying that value to all 16 contacts simultaneously requires thermal validation. Total connector heating depends on the number of energized contacts, conductor size, PCB copper area, ambient temperature, airflow, adjacent components, and the mating connector’s rating. For high-current designs, calculate temperature rise and verify the complete mated pair rather than summing the individual contact ratings without derating.
- How should I route power and ground through FTR-108-55-L-D-P?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P can support compact power and signal interconnects, but the two-row 1.27 mm pitch leaves limited space for wide traces and isolation. Assign multiple contacts to power or ground when current, voltage drop, return-path impedance, or electromagnetic compatibility requirements exceed the capability of a single contact. Place ground contacts adjacent to fast signals where possible and check the resulting pin assignment against the mating connector orientation before fabrication.
- Does FTR-108-55-L-D-P have a specified voltage rating for mains or high-voltage use?
- No voltage rating is provided for FTR-108-55-L-D-P in the supplied product data. Its 1.27 mm contact pitch should not be treated as evidence that it is suitable for a particular working voltage. Creepage, clearance, insulation system requirements, pollution degree, transient voltage, PCB geometry, and applicable safety standards must be reviewed with Samtec before using FTR-108-55-L-D-P in high-voltage, mains, or safety-isolated circuits.
- Can FTR-108-55-L-D-P be used for high-speed differential signals?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P may be usable for differential signals when the electrical performance of the complete connector pair is acceptable, but the supplied data does not specify impedance, insertion loss, return loss, crosstalk, or bandwidth. A high-speed design should model or measure the FTR-108-55-L-D-P mating interface, maintain controlled-impedance routing into the surface-mount pads, provide a continuous return path, and validate the assembled channel at the target data rate.
- Is FTR-108-55-L-D-P compatible with automated PCB assembly and reflow soldering?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P includes a pick-and-place feature and uses surface-mount solder termination, which supports automated assembly. The PCB footprint, paste volume, component placement accuracy, solder-joint inspection method, and reflow profile should be validated with the assembly supplier. The LCP insulator and contact geometry can be affected by excessive thermal exposure or uneven board heating, so the supplier’s recommended profile should be followed.
- What storage and handling conditions apply to FTR-108-55-L-D-P before assembly?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P has an MSL 1 classification, allowing unlimited floor life under the applicable moisture-control conditions. The parts should still remain in their original tube packaging until placement, and the terminals should be protected from contamination, oxidation, solderability damage, and mechanical impact. Storage temperature, humidity, and package handling should follow the manufacturer’s shipping and assembly instructions.
- Is FTR-108-55-L-D-P appropriate for industrial equipment operating from -40°C to 85°C?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P has a listed operating temperature range of -55°C to 125°C, so a -40°C to 85°C ambient range falls within the stated connector temperature range. The system-level assessment must also include self-heating from contact current, PCB thermal gradients, vibration, mating retention, solder-joint fatigue, and the temperature capability of the selected mating connector and surrounding materials.
- How does the unshrouded design of FTR-108-55-L-D-P affect vibration and service use?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P uses a push-pull fastening style and an unshrouded male-pin structure. The actual resistance to vibration, shock, and repeated service depends on the mating connector, insertion depth, board support, contact normal force, and cable or board loads. For equipment exposed to continuous vibration, provide mechanical support that prevents the connector from carrying bending loads and verify the complete mated assembly under the intended test profile.
- Can FTR-108-55-L-D-P replace a 2.54 mm or 2.00 mm pitch header?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P cannot be treated as a drop-in replacement for a 2.54 mm or 2.00 mm pitch header because its mating pitch is 1.27 mm and its row spacing is 2.54 mm. A replacement would require a new PCB footprint, compatible mating connector, revised pin numbering review, and mechanical clearance validation. Electrical similarity alone does not establish interchangeability.
- Can FTR-108-55-L-D-P replace a Samtec FTR-108 part with a different suffix?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P should only replace another Samtec FTR-108 variant after comparing the complete suffix configuration. Differences in contact length, mounting style, termination, plating, shrouding, orientation, mating height, or pin loading can change board fit, engagement, soldering, and electrical behavior. The replacement review should include the mating connector and PCB land pattern, not only the shared FTR-108 base number.
- What should I check before replacing FTR-108-55-L-D-P with an unshrouded header from another brand?
- Before replacing FTR-108-55-L-D-P with another manufacturer’s header, compare the 16-position two-row layout, 1.27 mm mating pitch, 2.54 mm row spacing, male contact geometry, mating contact length, SMT footprint, terminal coplanarity, contact plating, insulation material, temperature rating, and retention method. A part that appears dimensionally similar may have incompatible pin numbering or insufficient mating engagement. Prototype mating and inspect solder joints before approving the alternate.
- Is FTR-108-55-L-D-P suitable for repeated manual mating and unmating?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P is a push-pull, board-to-board header, but the supplied data does not state a mating-cycle rating. Repeated service use can wear the gold-plated mating surfaces, deform pins, or apply stress to the SMT solder joints if boards are misaligned. A design requiring frequent disconnection should verify the specified cycle life, use alignment features, control insertion force, and confirm that the selected mating receptacle has a matching service rating.
- Can FTR-108-55-L-D-P be used in environments exposed to condensation or dust?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P has no listed ingress-protection rating and is unshrouded, so the connector should not be assumed to provide protection against dust, moisture, condensation, or liquid exposure. Enclosures, conformal coating boundaries, board orientation, drainage, and environmental sealing must be designed at the equipment level. Corrosion and leakage testing should be performed when FTR-108-55-L-D-P is used outside a controlled indoor environment.
- Does the gold-plated contact of FTR-108-55-L-D-P eliminate fretting or corrosion concerns?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P uses a 10 microinch gold finish on the mating contacts over phosphor bronze, which supports stable contact performance under suitable conditions. Gold plating does not eliminate fretting, contamination, sulfur exposure, or corrosion risks in harsh environments. Vibration control, clean assembly, compatible mating materials, environmental qualification, and connector sealing strategy remain part of the system design.
- Is FTR-108-55-L-D-P RoHS compliant for a new commercial or industrial product?
- FTR-108-55-L-D-P is listed as RoHS3 compliant, making it suitable for designs that require the stated RoHS compliance status. The finished product still needs its own material and regulatory review because solder, cable assemblies, board finishes, and other components may introduce separate compliance obligations. Procurement should also confirm the current manufacturer declaration for the specific production lot or revision.
