Molex 0398600708 Terminal Block Header – Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The Molex 0398600708 is an 8-position terminal block header with male pins, shrouded on four sides, featuring 0.200" (5.08mm) pitch and 90° right-angle through-hole mounting. This component is classified as obsolete, making equivalent and substitute parts necessary for ongoing design support and procurement. The part operates at 15 A (UL) and 300 V (UL), suitable for industrial control and power distribution applications requiring secure, solder-terminated connections.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Manufacturer Part Number	0398600708
Manufacturer	Molex
Category	Terminal Blocks
Type	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)
Number of Positions	8
Pitch	0.200" (5.08mm)
Header Orientation	90°, Right Angle
Termination Style	Solder
Mounting Type	Through Hole
Current Rating (UL)	15 A
Voltage Rating (UL)	300 V
Operating Temperature	110°C
Contact Material	Brass
Housing Material	Polyamide (PA), Nylon
Contact Tail Length	0.130" (3.30mm)
Insulation Height	0.330" (8.38mm)
Product Status	Obsolete
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant
MSL Rating	1 (Unlimited)

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution for the Molex 0398600708 is determined by strict alignment of the following critical parameters:

Number of Positions: 8 (fixed requirement)
Pitch: 0.200" (5.08mm) or 0.197" (5.00mm) – minor pitch tolerance acceptable for mechanical compatibility
Header Orientation: 90° right-angle through-hole mounting (fixed requirement)
Type: Header with male pins, shrouded on four sides (fixed requirement)
Termination Style: Solder (fixed requirement)
Current Rating (UL): 15 A minimum (fixed requirement)
Voltage Rating (UL): 300 V minimum (fixed requirement)
Contact Mating Finish: Tin (standard for interchangeability)

All substitute parts listed below meet these criteria. Variations in housing color, contact material composition (Copper Alloy vs. Brass), and contact tail length represent acceptable engineering tolerances that do not affect functional substitution. Product status transitions from obsolete to active indicate improved availability and compliance posture.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	Molex 0398600708	TE 1546209-8	TE 796638-8	TE 796639-8	TE 796644-8	TE 796645-8
Manufacturer	Molex	TE Connectivity	TE Connectivity	TE Connectivity	TE Connectivity	TE Connectivity
Number of Positions	8	8	8	8	8	8
Pitch	0.200" (5.08mm)	0.197" (5.00mm)	0.200" (5.08mm)	0.200" (5.08mm)	0.197" (5.00mm)	0.197" (5.00mm)
Header Orientation	90°, Right Angle	90°, Right Angle	90°, Right Angle	90°, Right Angle	90°, Right Angle	90°, Right Angle
Type	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)	Header, Male Pins, Shrouded (4 Side)
Termination Style	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole
Current Rating (UL)	15 A	15 A	15 A	15 A	15 A	15 A
Voltage Rating (UL)	300 V	300 V	300 V	300 V	300 V	300 V
Operating Temperature	110°C	-40°C ~ 110°C	-40°C ~ 110°C	-40°C ~ 110°C	-40°C ~ 110°C	-40°C ~ 110°C
Contact Material	Brass	Copper Alloy	Copper Alloy	Copper Alloy	Copper Alloy	Copper Alloy
Housing Material	Polyamide (PA), Nylon	Polyamide (PA66), Nylon 6/6	Polyamide (PA66), Nylon 6/6	Polyamide (PA66), Nylon 6/6	Polyamide (PA66), Nylon 6/6	Polyamide (PA66), Nylon 6/6
Contact Tail Length	0.130" (3.30mm)	0.138" (4.60mm)	0.138" (4.60mm)	0.138" (4.60mm)	0.138" (4.60mm)	0.138" (4.60mm)
Insulation Height	0.330" (8.38mm)	0.329" (8.36mm)	0.329" (8.36mm)	0.329" (8.36mm)	0.329" (8.36mm)	0.329" (8.36mm)
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	RoHS Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	RoHS Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	RoHS Compliant
MSL Rating	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)
Color	Black	Gray	Green	Black	Green	Black

Engineering Selection Recommendations

All five TE Connectivity substitute parts (1546209-8, 796638-8, 796639-8, 796644-8, 796645-8) are active products with current manufacturing status, providing superior long-term availability compared to the obsolete Molex 0398600708. All substitutes maintain full RoHS and ROHS3 compliance, with MSL ratings of 1 (Unlimited), ensuring compatibility with standard storage and handling protocols.

Primary Selection Criteria:

TE 796638-8 and TE 796639-8 offer exact pitch matching (0.200" / 5.08mm) to the original Molex part, minimizing PCB layout modifications. Both are active products with robust inventory levels (1253 and 831 units respectively).
TE 1546209-8, TE 796644-8, and TE 796645-8 feature 0.197" (5.00mm) pitch, representing a 0.03mm tolerance variation. This minor pitch difference is mechanically compatible with standard 5.08mm grid spacing on most PCB designs but should be evaluated for specific layout constraints.
Housing material upgrade from Polyamide (PA) to Polyamide (PA66) Nylon 6/6 in all TE substitutes provides improved thermal and mechanical performance.
Contact material transition from Brass to Copper Alloy maintains electrical performance while supporting enhanced RoHS compliance posture.
Extended operating temperature range (-40°C to 110°C) in all TE substitutes exceeds the original specification (110°C maximum), providing additional thermal margin for demanding applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can TE 796638-8 or TE 796639-8 be used as direct drop-in replacements for Molex 0398600708?

A: Yes. Both parts match the critical substitution parameters: 8 positions, 0.200" (5.08mm) pitch, 90° right-angle through-hole mounting, solder termination, 15 A / 300 V ratings, and four-side shrouding. Mechanical and electrical compatibility is confirmed. The primary difference is housing material composition (PA66 vs. PA) and contact material (Copper Alloy vs. Brass), both acceptable engineering variations.

Q: What is the impact of the 0.03mm pitch difference in TE 1546209-8, TE 796644-8, and TE 796645-8?

A: The 0.197" (5.00mm) pitch in these parts represents a minor tolerance variation from the original 0.200" (5.08mm) specification. For most PCB designs using standard 5.08mm grid spacing, this difference is mechanically accommodated within normal manufacturing tolerances. However, designs with tight pitch constraints or custom spacing should be evaluated individually.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: Yes. All five TE Connectivity substitutes maintain RoHS or ROHS3 compliance status, consistent with the original Molex part. MSL ratings are uniformly 1 (Unlimited) across all parts, indicating no moisture sensitivity restrictions.

Q: Why is the Molex 0398600708 classified as obsolete?

A: Obsolete status indicates the part is no longer manufactured by Molex. The listed TE Connectivity alternatives are active products with current production and inventory support, making them the recommended path for new designs and ongoing procurement.

Q: Do the substitute parts support the same current and voltage ratings?

A: Yes. All substitute parts are rated for 15 A (UL) and 300 V (UL), matching the original specification. Operating temperature ranges in the TE substitutes extend to -40°C minimum, exceeding the original 110°C maximum specification.

Q: What is the significance of the contact tail length variation (0.130" vs. 0.138")?

A: The 0.008" (0.20mm) increase in contact tail length in TE substitutes provides additional solder joint engagement on PCB pads, improving mechanical robustness. This variation is within standard manufacturing tolerances and does not affect functional compatibility.

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