Diving Deeper
2. Breaking down the parts that make it work
Alright, let's dissect this little connector! A PCB header, at its core, consists of two main parts: the plastic housing and the metal pins (or contacts). The plastic housing provides insulation and mechanical support, keeping the pins neatly aligned and preventing short circuits. It also offers something to grip onto when plugging or unplugging.
The metal pins, usually made of copper or a copper alloy with a tin or gold plating, are the real workhorses. They provide the electrical connection between the header and the corresponding connector. The plating is important because it prevents corrosion and ensures good conductivity, which is vital for reliable signal transmission.
Now, those pins aren't just sticking straight out. They often have different shapes depending on how they're meant to be attached to the PCB. You'll find straight pins for through-hole mounting, where they poke through holes in the board and are soldered on the other side. There are also surface-mount (SMT) pins, which are soldered directly onto the surface of the board. These SMT pins are fantastic for saving space and are commonly found in smaller electronics.
The spacing between the pins, known as the "pitch," is also a crucial characteristic. Common pitches include 2.54mm (0.1 inch), 2.0mm, 1.27mm, and even smaller. The choice of pitch depends on the application and the density of the circuit. Smaller pitches allow for more connections in a smaller area, but they can be trickier to solder.
