172-015-281-021 D-Sub Receptacle 15 Position Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The NorComp Inc. 172-015-281-021 is a 15 Position D-Sub Receptacle connector with female sockets, designed for panel mount solder termination applications. This connector is an active product with 818 units in current stock inventory. D-Sub connectors of this configuration are widely used in industrial control, telecommunications, and legacy computer interface applications. Substitute parts are identified based on matching electrical and mechanical parameters including connector type, position count, mounting configuration, and termination method.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Manufacturer Part Number	172-015-281-021
Manufacturer	NorComp Inc.
Category	D-Sub, D-Shaped Connectors
Connector Type	Receptacle, Female Sockets
Number of Positions	15
Number of Rows	2
Shell Size, Connector Layout	2 (DA, A)
Mounting Type	Panel Mount, Through Hole
Termination	Solder
Current Rating (Amps)	5A
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0
Operating Temperature	-50°C ~ 125°C
Inventory Status	818 Pcs New Original In Stock

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the 172-015-281-021 are qualified based on the following critical parameters that determine functional and mechanical compatibility:

Core Compatibility Criteria:

Connector Type: Receptacle, Female Sockets (mandatory match)
Number of Positions: 15 (mandatory match)
Number of Rows: 2 (mandatory match)
Shell Size, Connector Layout: 2 (DA, A) (mandatory match)
Termination: Solder (mandatory match)
Contact Type: Signal (mandatory match)
Material Flammability Rating: UL94 V-0 (mandatory match)

Allowable Variations:

Mounting Type: Panel Mount variations (Board Side flange vs. Housing/Shell flange) are acceptable as they accommodate different PCB mounting configurations
Manufacturer: Different manufacturers (NorComp Inc., TE Connectivity, Amphenol ICC) are acceptable provided all core parameters match
Shell Material Finish: Variations in plating (Nickel, Yellow Chromate, Tin) are acceptable
Contact Finish: Variations in gold plating thickness and material (Brass vs. Phosphor Bronze) are acceptable
Dielectric Material: Variations (PBT, Polyamide, Thermoplastic) are acceptable
Current Rating: Variations at or above 5A are acceptable
Operating Temperature: Variations that encompass or exceed the -50°C ~ 125°C range are acceptable
RoHS Status: Both compliant and non-compliant parts are listed; selection depends on application requirements

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	172-015-281-021 (Main)	172-015-283L021	172-E15-213R011	205736-7	FCE17A15SN280	FCE17A15SN2E0	FCE17A15SN480	FCE17A15SN4D0
Manufacturer	NorComp Inc.	NorComp Inc.	NorComp Inc.	TE Connectivity	Amphenol ICC	Amphenol ICC	Amphenol ICC	Amphenol ICC
Connector Type	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets	Receptacle, Female Sockets
Number of Positions	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Number of Rows	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Shell Size, Connector Layout	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)	2 (DA, A)
Mounting Type	Panel Mount, Through Hole	Panel Mount, Through Hole	Panel Mount, Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole
Flange Feature	Board Side (4-40)	Board Side (4-40)	Board Side (4-40)	Housing/Shell (Unthreaded)	Housing/Shell (Unthreaded)	Housing/Shell (Unthreaded)	Board Side (4-40)	Board Side (4-40)
Termination	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder
Contact Type	Signal	Signal	Signal	Signal	Signal	Signal	Signal	Signal
Current Rating (Amps)	5A	5A	5A	6A	5A	5A	5A	5A
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0
Operating Temperature Range	-50°C ~ 125°C	-50°C ~ 125°C	-50°C ~ 100°C	-55°C ~ 105°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C
Shell Material, Finish	Steel, Nickel Plated	Steel, Nickel Plated	Steel, Nickel Plated	Steel, Yellow Chromate Plated Zinc	Steel, Tin Plated	Steel, Tin Plated	Steel, Tin Plated	Steel, Tin Plated
Contact Finish	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold
Contact Material	Brass	Brass	Brass	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze
Dielectric Material	Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)	Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)	Polyamide (PA6T), Nylon 6T	Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Glass Filled	Thermoplastic, Glass Filled	Thermoplastic, Glass Filled	Thermoplastic, Glass Filled	Thermoplastic, Glass Filled
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	RoHS non-compliant	RoHS Compliant	RoHS Compliant	RoHS Compliant	RoHS Compliant
Product Status	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active
Inventory	818 Pcs	930 Pcs	1509 Pcs	770 Pcs	1036 Pcs	1092 Pcs	921 Pcs	938 Pcs

Engineering Selection Recommendations

NorComp Inc. Series (172-015-283L021, 172-E15-213R011): These parts maintain identical core specifications to the 172-015-281-021 and are manufactured by the same supplier. The 172-015-283L021 is a direct equivalent with matching operating temperature range (-50°C ~ 125°C) and ROHS3 compliance. The 172-E15-213R011 offers higher inventory availability (1509 units) but operates at a reduced maximum temperature of 100°C and uses Polyamide dielectric material instead of PBT. Selection between these NorComp variants depends on thermal environment requirements and dielectric material compatibility.

TE Connectivity 205736-7: This part meets all core compatibility criteria with a higher current rating (6A vs. 5A) and extended low-temperature capability (-55°C vs. -50°C). However, it is RoHS non-compliant and uses Phosphor Bronze contacts instead of Brass. This part is suitable for applications where RoHS compliance is not required and the extended temperature range is beneficial.

Amphenol ICC FCE17 Series (FCE17A15SN280, FCE17A15SN2E0, FCE17A15SN480, FCE17A15SN4D0): All four Amphenol variants meet core compatibility requirements and are RoHS compliant. These parts feature Phosphor Bronze contacts and glass-filled thermoplastic dielectric material. Operating temperature range is reduced to -40°C ~ 85°C compared to the main part. Variants differ in flange configuration: FCE17A15SN280 and FCE17A15SN2E0 use Housing/Shell (Unthreaded) flanges, while FCE17A15SN480 and FCE17A15SN4D0 use Board Side (4-40) flanges. Selection among these variants depends on PCB mounting configuration requirements and whether the reduced temperature range is acceptable for the application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use 172-E15-213R011 as a direct replacement for 172-015-281-021?

A: The 172-E15-213R011 is functionally compatible for most applications. Both are 15-position D-Sub receptacles with identical connector geometry, solder termination, and panel mount configuration. However, the 172-E15-213R011 has a maximum operating temperature of 100°C compared to 125°C for the 172-015-281-021, and uses Polyamide dielectric material instead of PBT. Verify that your application does not require operation above 100°C before substitution.

Q: What is the difference between the Amphenol FCE17 variants?

A: The four Amphenol FCE17 variants (FCE17A15SN280, FCE17A15SN2E0, FCE17A15SN480, FCE17A15SN4D0) are electrically identical. The primary difference is the flange configuration: FCE17A15SN280 and FCE17A15SN2E0 feature Housing/Shell (Unthreaded) flanges suitable for direct PCB mounting, while FCE17A15SN480 and FCE17A15SN4D0 feature Board Side (4-40) flanges with threaded mounting holes. Select the variant that matches your PCB mounting hole pattern.

Q: Is the TE Connectivity 205736-7 suitable for RoHS-regulated applications?

A: No. The 205736-7 is RoHS non-compliant. If your application requires RoHS compliance, select from the NorComp ROHS3 compliant variants (172-015-283L021, 172-E15-213R011) or the Amphenol RoHS compliant FCE17 series.

Q: What is the impact of using Phosphor Bronze contacts instead of Brass?

A: Both Brass and Phosphor Bronze are acceptable contact materials for D-Sub connectors. Phosphor Bronze offers higher spring force and wear resistance, while Brass provides good electrical conductivity. The choice between them does not affect electrical compatibility; selection depends on application-specific contact force and durability requirements.

Q: Can I substitute a part with a higher current rating?

A: Yes. Parts with current ratings of 6A (such as the TE Connectivity 205736-7) are acceptable substitutes for the 5A-rated 172-015-281-021. A higher current rating indicates the part can safely handle equal or greater current levels. Verify that all other parameters match before substitution.

Q: What are the packaging differences among these parts?

A: The 172-015-283L021 is supplied in Tray packaging, while the 172-E15-213R011 is also supplied in Tray packaging. The TE Connectivity 205736-7 is supplied in Bulk packaging. The Amphenol FCE17 variants do not specify packaging in the provided data. Confirm packaging requirements with your procurement process, as this may affect handling, storage, and delivery logistics.

Q: Are there temperature range limitations I should consider?

A: Yes. The main part 172-015-281-021 operates from -50°C to 125°C. The 172-E15-213R011 is limited to -50°C to 100°C, and the Amphenol FCE17 series is limited to -40°C to 85°C. If your application requires operation above 85°C or below -40°C, verify that the substitute part's temperature range is acceptable before selection.

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