3M 3408-5203 Rectangular Connector Header - Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The 3M 3408-5203 is a through-hole, right-angle rectangular connector header with 16 positions at 2.54mm pitch, designed for board-to-board or cable interconnection applications. This part operates across the -55°C to 105°C temperature range with a 1.75A current rating per contact and features shrouded 4-wall construction with gold-plated mating contacts.

The 3408-5203 carries an obsolete product status. Identifying equivalent and substitute parts is necessary to maintain design continuity, ensure supply chain availability, and support ongoing production or repair requirements.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Connector Type	Header
Contact Type	Male Pin
Number of Positions	16
Number of Rows	2
Pitch - Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)
Row Spacing - Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)
Mounting Type	Through Hole, Right Angle
Shrouding	Shrouded - 4 Wall
Contact Finish - Mating	Gold
Current Rating	1.75A
Operating Temperature	-55°C ~ 105°C
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution eligibility for the 3408-5203 is determined by strict alignment with the following critical parameters:

Connector Type & Contact Configuration: Header with male pins, 16 positions in 2-row configuration
Pitch Specification: 0.100" (2.54mm) mating pitch and row spacing
Mounting & Orientation: Through-hole, right-angle mounting
Electrical Performance: 1.75A current rating and gold-plated mating contacts
Environmental Compliance: Operating temperature range -55°C to 105°C, UL94 V-0 flammability rating

The following parts meet these substitution criteria:

N3408-5203RB (3M, Active) - Direct electrical and mechanical equivalent with RoHS compliance
D3408-5002-AR (3M, Active) - Functionally equivalent with different fastening type and contact post material
N3408-5002RB (3M, Active) - Functionally equivalent with different fastening type and contact post material
102160-3 (TE Connectivity, Active) - Cross-manufacturer equivalent with minor parameter variations

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	3408-5203	N3408-5203RB	D3408-5002-AR	N3408-5002RB	102160-3
Manufacturer	3M	3M	3M	3M	TE Connectivity
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active
Series	3000	3000	D3000	3000	AMP-Latch
Number of Positions	16	16	16	16	16
Number of Rows	2	2	2	2	2
Pitch - Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)
Row Spacing - Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)
Mounting Type	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle
Shrouding	Shrouded - 4 Wall	Shrouded - 4 Wall	Shrouded - 4 Wall	Shrouded - 4 Wall	Shrouded - 4 Wall
Fastening Type	Latch Lock/Eject Hooks, Short	Latch Lock/Eject Hooks, Short	Push-Pull	Push-Pull	Push-Pull
Contact Length - Mating	0.240" (6.10mm)	0.240" (6.10mm)	0.240" (6.10mm)	0.240" (6.10mm)	0.240" (6.10mm)
Contact Length - Post	0.155" (3.94mm)	0.155" (3.94mm)	0.112" (2.84mm)	0.112" (2.84mm)	0.110" (2.79mm)
Insulation Height	0.340" (8.64mm)	0.340" (8.64mm)	0.340" (8.64mm)	0.340" (8.64mm)	0.315" (8.00mm)
Contact Shape	Square	Square	Square	Square	Square
Contact Finish - Mating	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold or Gold-Palladium
Contact Finish Thickness - Mating	30.0µin (0.76µm)	30.0µin (0.76µm)	10.0µin (0.25µm)	30.0µin (0.76µm)	30.0µin (0.76µm)
Contact Finish - Post	Tin-Lead	Tin	Tin	Tin	Tin-Lead
Contact Material	Copper Alloy	Copper Alloy	Brass	Copper Alloy	Brass
Operating Temperature	-55°C ~ 105°C	-55°C ~ 105°C	-55°C ~ 105°C	-55°C ~ 105°C	-65°C ~ 105°C
Current Rating	1.75A	1.75A	1.75A	1.75A	1A per Contact
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0
RoHS Status	Non-compliant	Compliant	Compliant	Compliant	Non-compliant
Moisture Sensitivity Level	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Primary Substitute: N3408-5203RB

The N3408-5203RB is the direct equivalent to the obsolete 3408-5203. Both parts share identical electrical and mechanical specifications, including fastening type, contact post length, and contact material. The N3408-5203RB is active in production and carries RoHS compliance certification, making it the preferred choice for new designs and ongoing production support.

Secondary Substitutes: D3408-5002-AR and N3408-5002RB

Both D3408-5002-AR and N3408-5002RB are functionally equivalent alternatives with the following differences:

Fastening mechanism changed from Latch Lock/Eject Hooks (Short) to Push-Pull
Contact post length reduced from 0.155" (3.94mm) to 0.112" (2.84mm)
D3408-5002-AR uses brass contact material; N3408-5002RB uses copper alloy

These parts maintain full electrical compatibility and are suitable for applications where the fastening type and post length modifications are acceptable. Both carry RoHS compliance.

Cross-Manufacturer Alternative: 102160-3 (TE Connectivity)

The TE Connectivity 102160-3 provides cross-manufacturer compatibility with the following considerations:

Insulation height is 0.315" (8.00mm) versus 0.340" (8.64mm) on the 3M parts
Current rating is 1A per contact versus 1.75A on the 3M parts
Operating temperature range extends to -65°C (lower minimum than 3M parts)
RoHS non-compliant status matches the original 3408-5203
Fastening type is Push-Pull

The 102160-3 is suitable for applications where cross-manufacturer sourcing is required, provided the reduced current rating and dimensional variations are acceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can N3408-5203RB be used as a direct replacement for 3408-5203?

A: Yes. The N3408-5203RB is electrically and mechanically identical to the 3408-5203. Both parts feature the same 16-position, 2-row configuration at 2.54mm pitch, identical contact post length (0.155"), and matching fastening type (Latch Lock/Eject Hooks, Short). The primary difference is product status (Active vs. Obsolete) and RoHS compliance.

Q: What is the difference between the fastening types on these connectors?

A: The 3408-5203 and N3408-5203RB use Latch Lock/Eject Hooks (Short) fastening, which provides mechanical retention through hook engagement. The D3408-5002-AR, N3408-5002RB, and 102160-3 use Push-Pull fastening, which requires manual insertion and withdrawal. Fastening type affects mating/unmating force and mechanical retention characteristics but does not impact electrical performance.

Q: Are there packaging differences between these parts?

A: Yes. The 3408-5203 is packaged in standard format (packaging not specified). N3408-5203RB and N3408-5002RB are supplied in Bulk packaging. D3408-5002-AR is supplied in Tray packaging. 102160-3 is supplied in Bulk packaging. Packaging affects handling, storage, and ordering quantities but does not affect connector performance.

Q: Can I use 102160-3 if my application requires 1.75A per contact?

A: No. The 102160-3 is rated for 1A per contact, which is below the 1.75A requirement of the original 3408-5203. Using the 102160-3 in a 1.75A application would exceed its current rating and create a reliability risk.

Q: What is the impact of the reduced contact post length on D3408-5002-AR and N3408-5002RB?

A: The contact post length is reduced from 0.155" (3.94mm) to 0.112" (2.84mm). This affects the solder joint geometry and PCB stack-up clearance. Verify that your PCB thickness and solder joint design accommodate the shorter post length before substitution.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: No. The original 3408-5203 and the TE Connectivity 102160-3 are RoHS non-compliant. The 3M substitutes N3408-5203RB, D3408-5002-AR, and N3408-5002RB are all RoHS compliant. Select based on your regulatory requirements.

Q: What is the operating temperature range difference with 102160-3?

A: The 102160-3 extends the lower operating temperature to -65°C, compared to -55°C on the 3M parts. The upper temperature limit remains 105°C across all parts. This difference is not significant for most applications but should be verified if your design operates at extreme low temperatures.

Request Quote (Ships tomorrow)

Part Number

Quantity

Company

Contact Name

E-mail

Message