Molex 4-pin motherboard SMD - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Darlington
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 09:40:24 am
content: Hello Everyone,I 'm making the new pcb motherboard for special 4-pin fan control. I found the standard 47053-1000 Molex connector but I need a connector with SMD pads. I would like to mount a total of 8 connectors 4 on the top part of the pcb and 4 on the bottom part of the pcb so as to save space, which is essential for my application.Does anyone know of connectors that may be compatible with my application?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 10:03:50 am
content: QuoteIt's a wrong connector, fan connectors although very similar to KK254 are not compatible with it due to non obvious lock differences. Look for 2510 connector, some manufacturers name them differently, A2542, A2543, LHA-04, NS25 for example.QuoteThese connectors are not compatible with SMD process. They require flexible plastic on PCB side that won't survive reflow temperature, also PCB pads would be ripped off way too easily with such construction.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 11:20:21 am
content: Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2024, 10:03:50 amUmmm no, you’re wrong. This is what theofficial specs from Intelsay:“The intended mating header for this connector housing, is Wieson part number 2366C888-007,Molex 47053-1000, Foxconn HF27040-M1, Tyco 1470947-1 or equivalent See Figure 8 for reference drawing.”Whether theothermembers of the KK254 family are compatible or not is irrelevant, becausethisMolex part is designed specifically to Intel specifications.KF2510/2540 are the Chinese clones thatdon’talways adhere closely to the KK254 originals. (Bear in mind that this connector design almost certainly originated with Molex, based on quite a bit of research on my part.) Take a look at e.g.https://everconn.com/Uploads/2022-03-16/6231af3b8f931.pdfto see how many subtle variations there are, just from one manufacturer. I’m quite aware of the compatibility issues between subtly different variants, both amongst clones and between clone and Molex, having experienced them myself. But in this case, since Intel publishes a specification the manufacturers need to adhere to, this isn’t an issue here.No drawings of the Wieson or TE parts seem to exist online, FWIW. The Molex, Foxconn, and Everconn drawings lack certain dimensions to verify that they comply with Intel’s specs. But given that that is their reason for existing, they should fit.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 11:29:18 am
content: Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2024, 10:03:50 amTE makes SMD headers (within the MTA-100 series) that almost certainly would work with modification. See 1744382-4.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 12:02:56 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on June 22, 2024, 11:20:21 amOK, I looked on its drawing, and it's not a normal KK 254. Also I've looked on several motherboards and they use this special type of connector with lock made in a way it probably may fit both 2510 and standard KK254 plug (I don't have 3/4 pin KK254 on hand to check it, only 2 pin).QuoteI don't know what was first, and original is not necessarily molex but they are simply not the same. As to what happens when you mate 2510 used on all of the fans I've seen with normal KK 254:

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 12:22:36 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on June 22, 2024, 11:29:18 amMTA100 uses much thinner pins

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 12:52:43 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2024, 12:02:56 pmAll fine and dandy, but irrelevant, because the fan connector isn’t a normal KK254 nor a normal 2510. It has dedicated specs which you’ve now seen the specs for.Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2024, 12:22:36 pmLOL no. I have the drawings open in front of me. They all use standard 0.025” square pins.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:04:22 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on June 22, 2024, 12:52:43 pmYou're right. I have some female MTA-100 on hand (but no male) and they couldn't be put on KK-254 or 2510 without quite a bit of force, so a looked into datasheets but somehow screwed up when comparing numbers between mm and inches.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:12:36 pm
content: A loooong time ago I remember fan connectors and suchlike were very similar to KK254, but red/brown in colour and I think had slightly different locking mechanism. Were they early KK or a predecessor from Molex?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:20:31 pm
content: Quote from: nali on June 22, 2024, 01:12:36 pmKK has been around way longer than the PC, and numerous similar connector families had been introduced by competitors (like AMP CST-100/MTA-100, and likely many more, including no-name Asian manufacturers). So I expect that Intel worked with one of them — I suspect Molex but can’t be certain — to design a custom-keyed version with a unified design for every connector manufacturer to follow.If you’re talking about fan connectors in general, notspecificallythe 4-pin PWM-controlled PC fan standard, then it could be any number of things.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:28:39 pm
content: No it wasn't just fan connectors, they were a fairly standard single-row wire-to-board offering from 2 way to maybe 12 way? I'm talking about 1980s vintage onwards I suppose.[Edit: found an image at last]

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:42:29 pm
content: Quote from: nali on June 22, 2024, 01:28:39 pmAh ok. I know there’s also a brown connector thatlookslike KK254 or 2510/2540, but is actually 2.50mm pitch instead of 2.54mm. I just did a quick search and it looks like those are probably the JAE IL-G series:https://www.jae.com/en/connectors/series/detail/id=64296&type_code=T1040

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:46:43 pm
content: I found a female counterpart 47054-1000 connector molex makes for this, and it's a 2510 style connector unlike the rest of their KK 254 line. Also 2510 datasheet for comparison, particular 4-pin fan variant with 3 pin compatible lock drawing on page 9.https://www.lhecn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/a25432510.pdf

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 01:49:02 pm
content: Quote from: nali on June 22, 2024, 01:12:36 pmI remember similar looking brown connectors in Japanese electronic typewriters from early 80's.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 02:03:23 pm
content: Quote from: nali on June 22, 2024, 01:28:39 pmYep. I’ve seen those.I also just remembered that there is a Molex KK250 series, and looking at it, I suspectthatis what the 2510 design is based on…

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 02:05:26 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2024, 01:46:43 pmWell yeah, it’s listed in the Intel spec. And on Molex’s page for the header.Quote from: wraper on June 22, 2024, 01:46:43 pmWhat exactly does “2510 style” mean to you exactly? Because if you look carefully at the PDF you just linked, or the one from everconn that I linked earlier, you’ll see that they have many different variants within the “2510” series, some looking more like KK254, some looking more like MTA-100, some looking more like KK250. I feel like you’ve concluded that “2510” means a very specific thing, but it doesn’t!

author: Darlington
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2024, 09:10:12 am
content: Thank you for your responses.I was thinking of using the Molex connectors mentioned above i as they are more readily available. Unfortunately, however, these connectors do not exist at right angles.In your opinion, is it a good thing to make a breakout board with the vertical molex connectors to be inserted then on the motherboard so that they are rotated 90 degrees?What "secure" interconnect connectors between the motherboard and the breakout board?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 23, 2024, 09:34:46 am
content: Quote from: KKK on June 23, 2024, 09:10:12 amAngled connectors do exist, here for examplehttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004775361874.htmlhttps://www.moddiy.com/products/4-Pin-3-Pin-2.54mm-Pitch-2510-Fan-Male-Angled-Connector-Black.html