8-968975-2 21 Pin Female Assembly Wiring Harness Automotive Connector Car Electrical Wire Socket

Product Overview

The TE Connectivity 8-968975-2 is a 21-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 of the housing 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 as typical for this family. 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 female housings. The 8-968975-2 is the female housing that mates with a corresponding MCP 2.8 tab header, such as the 21-position pin header described in product specification 108-94624 (drawing number 966140 series). 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. The product is not serviceable (repairable = No) and does not include terminal position assurance or connector position assurance.

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. The housing color is gray, and the keying code is A, which ensures correct polarization when mating with the corresponding tab header.

Contact System and Wire Termination

The 8-968975-2 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 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 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 test method is according to IEC 60512-2, test 4a, method C. The insulation resistance shall be a minimum of 10 MΩ when measured with 500 V DC according to IEC 60512-2, test 3a, method C. The overall resistance across the mated contact and terminal (through-resistance) shall not exceed 6 mΩ in the new state, measured according to IEC 60512-2, test 2a.

Mechanical Performance

The mechanical performance of the connector system is defined in the tab header specification. 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 a 21-position connector, the maximum mating force would be 315 N, and the maximum unmating force would also be 315 N. The test is performed according to IEC 60512-7, test 13a, with an actuating speed of 25 mm/min. The contact retention force for the tabs in the header (and by extension the retention of the female terminals in the housing) is a minimum of 50 N in the mating direction, tested according to IEC 60512-8, test 15a at a speed of 25 mm/min. The steady state carrying capacity of the connector locking (the latch strength) shall withstand a minimum of 100 N in the pull-off direction, tested according to DIN EN 60512-15-6 at a speed of 25 mm/min. These mechanical requirements ensure reliable mating, unmating, and locking under typical automotive conditions.

Temperature and Environmental Ratings

The operating temperature range for the 8-968975-2 housing is -40 °C to 120 °C. This is 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 contact system is specified as ≤10 cycles for tinned contact surfaces, as per the header specification.

Solderability and Assembly

The housing itself is not soldered. The mating tab header is soldered to the PCB. According to the tab header specification (section 3.5.2), solderability is possible after aging stress simulation (dry heat 16 hours at 155°C), but the header is not suitable for reflow soldering process. For the female housing assembly, the user must crimp the AMP MCP 2.8 female terminals onto wires following application specification 114-18221-3. Then insert the terminals into the housing cavities from the rear (wire side). 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 21-position header) 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; if a contact is damaged, the entire housing should be replaced.

Regulatory Compliance

Based on the information provided for part number 8-968975-2, 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.

Conclusion

The TE Connectivity 8-968975-2 is a 21-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 (28 V DC working), 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. When mated with the corresponding tab header, the connector system meets electrical requirements of 500 V dielectric strength, 10 MΩ insulation resistance, and 6 mΩ contact resistance, as well as mechanical requirements of 15 N per way mating force, 50 N contact retention, and 100 N latch strength. 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.