8-968974-1 18 Pin Female Assembly Wiring Harness Automotive Connector Car Electrical Wire Socket

Product Overview

The TE Connectivity 8-968974-1 is an 18-position, 3-row, unsealed female housing from the AMP MCP 2.8 connector family. This housing is designed for wire-to-wire applications and accepts AMP MCP 2.8 female terminals. The connector is non-sealable and intended for use in environments where fluid ingress protection is not required. The housing is molded in gray glass-filled PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), providing mechanical strength and thermal stability. The nominal voltage architecture supports 12 V and 24 V systems, with a working voltage of 28 V DC. The operating temperature range is from -40 °C to 120 °C. The centreline pitch between circuits is 5 mm [0.197 in], and the row-to-row spacing is 5.5 mm [0.217 in]. The connector is suitable for power circuit applications.

This product is part of the AMP MCP 2.8 unsealed connector system, which includes tab headers (pin headers) for PCB mounting and mating housings. The 8-968974-1 is the female housing that mates with a corresponding MCP 2.8 tab header (such as the 6 to 21 position pin headers described in product specification 108-94624). The housing features an integrated primary locking mechanism on the housing itself, with a keyed mating alignment (code A) to prevent mismating. The connector is designed for cable mounting (free-hanging) with a straight 180° wire exit angle.

Materials and Construction

The housing is made from glass-filled PBT, a thermoplastic material that offers good dimensional stability, heat resistance, and mechanical robustness. The material is low halogen, with Br, Cl, and F each below 900 ppm per homogeneous material, and is also BFR/CFR/PVC-free. The terminal contacts (not supplied with the housing) are made from copper alloy and are tin-plated as standard for the AMP MCP 2.8 system. Since the connector is unsealed, there are no wire seals or peripheral seals. Unused cavities do not require sealing plugs because the connector is not required to be watertight.

Contact System and Wire Termination

The 8-968974-1 accepts AMP MCP 2.8 female terminals (receptacle contacts). These terminals are designed for wire sizes typically ranging from 0.5 mm² to 2.5 mm², depending on the specific contact part number. Detailed termination and application information for AMP MCP 2.8 contacts is provided in application specification 114-18221-3. The contacts are crimped to the wires using approved tooling, and then inserted into the housing cavities. The housing has a primary retention feature that locks the contact in place. A terminal position assurance (TPA) is not provided on this housing; contact retention relies solely on the primary lock. The contact retention force requirement, as defined in the corresponding tab header specification (108-94624) for the mating part, requires a minimum retention of 50 N in the mating direction for the tabs in the header. For the female housing, similar contact retention performance is expected when mated with the correct terminals.

Electrical and Mechanical Performance

Based on the product specification for the mating tab header (108-94624) which shares the same MCP 2.8 contact system, the connector assembly is designed to meet the following electrical and mechanical requirements. The voltage proof test requires no flash-over or breakdown between adjacent contacts and the outer contour when tested with 500 Veff at 50 Hz for 60 seconds. The insulation resistance shall be a minimum of 10 MΩ when measured with 500 V DC. The overall resistance across the mated contact and terminal shall not exceed 6 mΩ in the new state.

Mechanically, the mating and unmating force of the connector assembly (when the female housing is mated with the corresponding tab header) is specified as a maximum of 15 N per number of ways. For an 18-position connector, the maximum mating force would be 270 N. The unmating force also has a maximum of 15 N per way. The steady state carrying capacity of the connector locking (the latch strength) shall withstand a minimum of 100 N in the pull-off direction. While the specification 108-94624 is written for the tab header, the female housing is designed to be fully compatible and thus must operate within these same parameters when mated with the header.

Temperature and Environmental Ratings

The operating temperature range for the 8-968974-1 housing is -40 °C to 120 °C. This is slightly broader than the -30 °C to 100 °C range specified for the standard unsealed MCP 2.8 pin headers in specification 108-94624. The housing material is suitable for this extended range, and the connector is intended for use in automotive underhood and interior applications where temperatures are elevated but environmental sealing is not necessary. The product is not rated for IP protection because it is unsealed. The durability (number of mating cycles) for the mating contact system is specified as ≤10 cycles for tinned contact surfaces.

Regulatory Compliance

Based on the information provided for part number 8-968974-1, the product is compliant with EU RoHS (2011/65/EU) including Delegated Directive 2015/863/EU. It is also compliant with EU ELV Directive 2000/53/EC. Under China RoHS 2, there are no restricted substances above the threshold. Regarding EU REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, the product does not contain any Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) as per the ECHA Candidate List updated February 2026 (253 substances). The halogen content is low: each homogeneous material contains Br, Cl, and F below 900 ppm, and the product is also BFR/CFR/PVC-free. The solder process capability is not suitable for soldering processes, as this is a crimp connector housing.

Assembly and Mating Information

The 8-968974-1 housing is delivered in a box with a packaging quantity of 1000 pieces. To assemble, first crimp the appropriate AMP MCP 2.8 female terminal onto a stripped wire using the tooling and procedures defined in application specification 114-18221-3. Then insert the terminal into the desired cavity from the rear (wire side) of the housing. Push straight until the primary locking lance engages, which can be felt and heard as a click. Verify retention by gently pulling on the wire. Since the connector is unsealed and has no TPA, no secondary locking step is required. For unused cavities, no sealing plugs are necessary. To mate the connector, align the keying features (code A) of the female housing with the corresponding tab header (e.g., 966140 series or similar) and push until the housing latch fully engages. Unmating is accomplished by depressing the latch and pulling the housings apart. The connector is not serviceable (repairable = No), meaning that if a contact is damaged, the entire housing should be replaced.

Conclusion

The TE Connectivity 8-968974-1 is an 18-position, 3-row, unsealed female housing for the AMP MCP 2.8 wire-to-wire connector system. It is molded in gray glass-filled PBT, rated for 12 V and 24 V nominal voltage, and operates from -40 °C to 120 °C. The housing accepts MCP 2.8 female terminals, features a 5 mm pitch, and is free-hanging with a 180° wire exit. It is compliant with RoHS, ELV, REACH SVHC-free, and low halogen requirements. This connector is suitable for automotive power applications where environmental sealing is not required, providing reliable electrical and mechanical performance in accordance with TE specifications.