Continued Long-Term Support Of Molex 200-pin LFH Connector Series

The Molex 200-way LFH series connector has been in use for decades, initially in the computing / IT sector, then migrating to test & measurement products where the high pin count in a compact footprint was ideally suited to PXI and other platforms. Pickering Interfaces widely use this connector interface in addition to many other large T&M PXI module suppliers.

The primary market for the LFH series has dwindled in recent years with the evolution of computing products requiring physically smaller & lower pin count connector interfaces. As a result, Molex discontinued the LFH series several years ago.

With Pickering’s commitment to supporting products for 15+ years, the continued supply of the LFH connector was deemed mission-critical, and two activities were performed:

1. Short term, a significant quantity of Molex stock was secured as part of the “last time buy” process.
2. Medium to long term, Pickering commissioned the design and manufacture of a form, fit, and function equivalent to the LFH connector.
   
   

Compatibility between the Molex and Pickering equivalent connector series was a critical prerequisite of the new connector that was fully realized in the design. The result is that both connector series are 100% intermateable. For example, a module with a Molex connector can mate with a cable using the Pickering connector and vice versa.

The new connector also increases the maximum voltage from 40V to 150V compared to the Molex parts.

The quality and specification of the Pickering connectors were verified by approval from Underwriters Laboratories (UL). 

To assist with connector recognition, the plastic connector insert varies in color between the two series, and the Molex parts use black plastic and the Pickering version blue; please see the following:

Molex (Original) Series
Module mount, mating side view
Module mount, termination side view
Cable mount, mating side view
Cable mount, termination side view
Pickering (New) Series
Module mount, mating side view
Module mount, termination side view
Cable mount, mating side view
Cable mount, termination side view

To ensure continuity of supply, Pickering owns all the tooling related to the new connectors allowing connectors to be manufactured indefinitely to support our products, customers, and 3rd party connectivity / mass Interconnect providers.

Please contact us with questions here