Amphenol ICC 78208-203 Rectangular Connector Header — Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The Amphenol ICC 78208-203 is a through-hole, right-angle rectangular connector header with 3 positions at 0.100" (2.54mm) pitch. Designed for board-to-cable/wire applications, this shrouded header features male pins with solder termination and friction lock fastening. The part is classified as obsolete, making identification of functionally equivalent active alternatives essential for ongoing production and design updates.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Connector Type	Header
Contact Type	Male Pin
Pitch - Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)
Number of Positions	3
Number of Rows	1
Mounting Type	Through Hole, Right Angle
Shrouding	Shrouded - 2 Wall
Termination	Solder
Fastening Type	Friction Lock
Contact Material	Phosphor Bronze
Insulation Material	Polycyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate (PCT), Glass Filled
Operating Temperature Range	-40°C ~ 105°C
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution eligibility is determined by strict alignment of the following core parameters:

Connector type (Header)
Contact type (Male Pin)
Pitch - mating (0.100" / 2.54mm)
Number of positions (3)
Number of rows (1)
Mounting type (Through Hole, Right Angle)
Shrouding configuration (Shrouded - 2 Wall)
Termination method (Solder)
Fastening type (Friction Lock)
Contact material (Phosphor Bronze)
Material flammability rating (UL94 V-0)

All identified substitutes meet these core electrical and mechanical requirements. Variations in contact finish, insulation material, operating temperature ceiling, and compliance status are secondary parameters that may influence selection based on application-specific requirements.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	78208-203 (Main)	78208-203HLF	281698-3	281699-3
Manufacturer	Amphenol ICC (FCI)	Amphenol ICC (FCI)	TE Connectivity AMP	TE Connectivity AMP
Series	Mini-PV™, Basics+	Mini-PV™, Basics+	HE13/HE14	HE13/HE14
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active
Connector Type	Header	Header	Header	Header
Contact Type	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin
Pitch - Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)
Number of Positions	3	3	3	3
Number of Rows	1	1	1	1
Mounting Type	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle	Through Hole, Right Angle
Shrouding	Shrouded - 2 Wall	Shrouded - 2 Wall	Shrouded - 2 Wall	Shrouded - 2 Wall
Termination	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder
Fastening Type	Friction Lock	Friction Lock	Friction Lock	Friction Lock
Contact Length - Mating	0.230" (5.84mm)	0.230" (5.84mm)	0.276" (7.00mm)	0.276" (7.00mm)
Contact Length - Post	0.120" (3.05mm)	0.120" (3.05mm)	0.114" (2.90mm)	0.114" (2.90mm)
Insulation Height	0.203" (5.16mm)	0.203" (5.16mm)	0.200" (5.08mm)	0.200" (5.08mm)
Contact Shape	Square	Square	Square	Square
Contact Finish - Mating	Gold or Gold, GXT™	Gold or Gold, GXT™	Tin	Gold
Contact Material	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze
Insulation Material	PCT, Glass Filled	PCT, Glass Filled	Thermoplastic	Thermoplastic
Operating Temperature	-40°C ~ 105°C	-40°C ~ 105°C	-40°C ~ 100°C	-40°C ~ 100°C
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0
Insulation Color	Black	Black	Blue	Blue
RoHS Status	RoHS non-compliant	RoHS Compliant	RoHS Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)

Engineering Selection Recommendations

78208-203HLF — Direct Amphenol ICC equivalent with identical mechanical and electrical specifications. Active product status with RoHS compliance. Recommended as the primary substitute for direct replacement in new designs or production continuity. Maintains the same series designation (Mini-PV™, Basics+) and contact geometry.

281698-3 — TE Connectivity AMP Connectors alternative from the HE13/HE14 series. Meets all core substitution criteria with active product status and RoHS compliance. Contact length variations (0.276" mating vs. 0.230" for main part) and insulation material change (thermoplastic vs. PCT glass-filled) require mechanical fit verification in existing PCB layouts. Operating temperature maximum reduced to 100°C. Tin contact finish differs from gold specification.

281699-3 — TE Connectivity AMP Connectors alternative with gold contact finish on mating surface, closer alignment to original contact finish specification. Active product status with ROHS3 compliance. Same mechanical and thermal considerations as 281698-3 apply. Tin post finish specified.

Selection between TE Connectivity alternatives depends on thermal environment requirements (105°C vs. 100°C ceiling), contact finish criticality, and mechanical clearance validation in the target application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can 78208-203HLF be used as a direct drop-in replacement for 78208-203?

A: Yes. The 78208-203HLF maintains identical pitch (2.54mm), position count (3), mounting type (through-hole right-angle), contact geometry, and operating temperature range (-40°C to 105°C). It is the recommended substitute for production continuity.

Q: What are the key differences between Amphenol ICC and TE Connectivity alternatives?

A: The TE Connectivity 281698-3 and 281699-3 headers differ in contact length (0.276" vs. 0.230"), insulation material (thermoplastic vs. PCT glass-filled), operating temperature ceiling (100°C vs. 105°C), and insulation color (blue vs. black). These differences require mechanical fit validation in existing designs before substitution.

Q: Does the contact finish difference between 281698-3 (tin) and 281699-3 (gold) affect substitution eligibility?

A: Both parts meet core substitution criteria. Contact finish selection depends on application requirements for corrosion resistance, signal integrity, and mating cycle durability. Gold finish (281699-3) provides enhanced corrosion resistance; tin finish (281698-3) is suitable for general-purpose applications.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: The main part 78208-203 is RoHS non-compliant. All substitutes (78208-203HLF, 281698-3, 281699-3) are RoHS compliant or ROHS3 compliant, meeting current regulatory requirements.

Q: What is the impact of the 5°C reduction in maximum operating temperature for TE Connectivity alternatives?

A: The TE Connectivity parts are rated to 100°C maximum versus 105°C for the Amphenol ICC parts. Applications operating continuously above 100°C require the 78208-203HLF. For applications with maximum sustained temperatures at or below 100°C, TE Connectivity alternatives are suitable.

Q: Can these headers be used interchangeably in the same PCB layout?

A: Contact length and insulation height variations between Amphenol ICC (0.230" mating, 0.203" insulation height) and TE Connectivity (0.276" mating, 0.200" insulation height) may affect mating depth and clearance. PCB layout and mating connector specifications must be verified before substitution.

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