JST PH 2.0mm Connector: Complete Guide to Specs, Pinout, Crimping & Applications
The JST PH connector is one of the most widely used wire-to-board connectors in consumer electronics, LiPo battery packs, Arduino sensor wiring, and hobbyist electronics. If you've ever handled a small LiPo battery, a drone, or an Adafruit breakout board, you've almost certainly used a JST PH connector — even if you didn't know its name.
This guide covers everything: full specifications, pinout diagrams, crimp tool selection, LiPo battery wiring, comparison with JST XH and JST SH, and answers to every common question from engineers and hobbyists. Ready to source? Shop JST PH 2.0mm connectors at Keszoox.
What Is a JST PH Connector?
The JST PH is a wire-to-board connector series manufactured by JST (Japan Solderless Terminal). It features a 2.0mm pitch (center-to-center pin spacing) and is designed for low-voltage signal and power applications up to 2A per contact at 100V.
The PH series is the most popular JST series for small LiPo battery packs and is the standard connector used by Adafruit, SparkFun, and most Arduino-compatible sensor breakout boards worldwide.
The PH series consists of three main components:
- PHR housing (plug) — wire-side connector, 2–16 pin configurations
- B-PH header (receptacle) — PCB-side component, through-hole vertical and right-angle
- SPH-002T crimp terminal — metal contact crimped onto each wire
The housing is polarized and keyed — it can only mate in one orientation, preventing reverse-polarity connections.
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JST PH 2.0mm Connector Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Pitch | 2.0 mm |
| Current rating | 2A per contact |
| Voltage rating | 100V AC/DC |
| Contact resistance | Max 30 mΩ |
| Insulation resistance | Min 1000 MΩ |
| Withstanding voltage | 500V AC/min |
| Operating temperature | −25°C to +85°C |
| Wire gauge | AWG 24–32 |
| Wire insulation OD | 0.9–1.5 mm |
| Pin count | 2–16 positions |
| Housing material | PA66 Nylon, UL94V-0 |
| Contact material | Brass, tin-plated |
| Locking | Friction lock (keyed housing) |
| Mating cycles | 30 minimum |
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JST PH Pinout
JST PH connectors are polarized — the housing is keyed so it can only mate in one orientation. Pin 1 is always at the end of the housing closest to the locking tab. Pins are numbered sequentially from Pin 1 to Pin N.
Common JST PH Pinout Configurations
| Application | Pins | Pin 1 | Pin 2 | Pin 3 | Pin 4+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LiPo battery (1S) | 2 | GND (B−) | B+ | — | — |
| I2C sensor | 4 | GND | VCC 3.3V | SDA | SCL |
| UART module | 4 | GND | VCC | TX | RX |
| Servo signal | 3 | GND | VCC 5V | Signal | — |
| Adafruit breakout | 2 | GND | VCC | — | — |
Important: Always verify pinout against your specific device schematic. Adafruit and SparkFun boards may use different pin ordering. Never assume polarity from wire color alone.
JST PH 2.0mm vs JST XH 2.5mm: Key Differences
JST PH and JST XH are the two most commonly confused JST connector series. They look nearly identical but are not interchangeable.
| Feature | JST PH | JST XH |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | 2.0 mm | 2.5 mm |
| Current rating | 2A per contact | 3A per contact |
| Voltage rating | 100V AC/DC | 250V AC/DC |
| Wire gauge | AWG 24–32 | AWG 22–28 |
| Operating temp | −25°C to +85°C | −25°C to +85°C |
| Housing size | Smaller | Larger |
| Common use | LiPo batteries, Arduino sensors, Adafruit boards | 3D printers, RC balance plugs, higher-current wiring |
| Adafruit standard? | Yes | No |
| Interchangeable? | No — different pitch, will not mate | |
How to Tell JST PH from JST XH Without a Caliper
- JST PH: Smaller housing. Standard on small LiPo packs, Adafruit/SparkFun boards, and drone batteries.
- JST XH: Slightly larger housing. Standard on 3D printer mainboards and RC balance leads.
- Quick test: A 2-pin JST PH housing is approximately 6mm wide. A 2-pin JST XH housing is approximately 7.5mm wide.
- Wire gauge: PH typically uses thinner wire (AWG 26–28). XH uses thicker wire (AWG 22–24).
➡️ JST XH 2.5mm Complete Guide | Shop JST PH 2.0mm | Shop JST XH 2.5mm
JST PH vs JST SH: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | JST PH | JST SH |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | 2.0 mm | 1.0 mm |
| Current rating | 2A per contact | 1A per contact |
| Wire gauge | AWG 24–32 | AWG 28–32 |
| PCB mount | Through-hole | SMD only |
| Common use | LiPo batteries, sensors | FPV drones, Pixhawk, wearables |
| Interchangeable? | No — completely different size | |
JST PH in LiPo Batteries
The JST PH 2.0mm 2-pin connector is the de facto standard for small single-cell (1S) LiPo battery packs used in micro drones, RC cars, portable electronics, and maker projects. It is the connector used by Adafruit on their LiPo batteries and by most 1S LiPo packs in the 100–2000mAh range.
JST PH LiPo Pinout
- Pin 1 (typically red wire): B+ (positive)
- Pin 2 (typically black wire): B− (negative / GND)
⚠️ Warning: Some manufacturers reverse this pinout. Always verify polarity with a multimeter before connecting. Reversing polarity on a LiPo battery can cause permanent damage or fire.
JST PH vs JST SH for LiPo
Micro drones and ultra-compact builds increasingly use JST SH 1.0mm or JST GH 1.25mm connectors instead of JST PH. If your battery uses a smaller connector than expected, check the pitch with a caliper — it may be SH (1.0mm) or GH (1.25mm), not PH (2.0mm).
➡️ Shop JST PH 2.0mm LiPo Battery Connectors & Pre-Crimped Cables
How to Crimp JST PH Connectors
What Crimper Do I Need for JST PH?
The Engineer PA-09 is the most recommended crimper for JST PH. It handles AWG 24–32 and produces consistent crimps on the SPH-002T terminal. The PA-21 also works but is optimized for larger series (XH, VH). For high-volume production, the JST YRS-898 ratchet tool is the professional choice. Avoid generic pliers — they produce unreliable crimps that fail under vibration.
Step-by-Step JST PH Crimping
- Strip 1.5–2.0mm of insulation from the wire end
- Twist conductor strands tightly
- Place the SPH-002T terminal in the PA-09 die (AWG 26–28 position for most sensor wiring)
- Insert wire so conductor reaches the front wings and insulation sits in the rear wings
- Squeeze until the ratchet releases
- Pull-test: tug the wire firmly — it should not move
- Insert terminal into PHR housing from the rear until it clicks
➡️ Full JST Crimping Guide with step-by-step photos | Shop JST PH Pre-Crimped Cables
JST PH Connector Part Numbers
| Part Number | Description |
|---|---|
| PHR-2 | 2-pin plug housing |
| PHR-3 | 3-pin plug housing |
| PHR-4 | 4-pin plug housing |
| B2B-PH-K | 2-pin PCB header (through-hole vertical) |
| B3B-PH-K | 3-pin PCB header (through-hole vertical) |
| B4B-PH-K | 4-pin PCB header (through-hole vertical) |
| B2B-PH-SM4 | 2-pin PCB header (SMD) |
| SPH-002T-P0.5L | Crimp terminal (AWG 28–32) |
| SPH-002T-P0.5S | Crimp terminal (AWG 24–28) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a JST PH connector? The JST PH is a 2.0mm pitch wire-to-board connector made by JST (Japan Solderless Terminal). It is the most common JST series for small LiPo batteries, Arduino sensor wiring, and Adafruit/SparkFun breakout boards. Rated for 2A per contact, AWG 24–32 wire, operating temperature −25°C to +85°C.
What is the difference between JST PH and JST XH? JST PH uses 2.0mm pitch and is rated 2A/100V. JST XH uses 2.5mm pitch and is rated 3A/250V. They are not interchangeable — different pitch means different housing size and PCB footprint. PH is smaller and used for LiPo batteries and sensor wiring; XH is larger and used for 3D printers and RC balance plugs.
What is the difference between JST PH and JST SH? JST PH is 2.0mm pitch, rated 2A, through-hole PCB mount. JST SH is 1.0mm pitch, rated 1A, SMD PCB mount only. SH is much smaller and used in FPV drones, Pixhawk, and wearables. Not interchangeable.
What crimper do I need for JST PH? The Engineer PA-09 is the most recommended crimper for JST PH connectors. It handles AWG 24–32 wire and produces consistent crimps on the SPH-002T terminal.
What wire gauge does JST PH use? JST PH accepts AWG 24–32 wire. For most sensor and signal wiring, AWG 26–28 is ideal. For LiPo battery connections, use AWG 24–26. Avoid wire thicker than AWG 24 — it will not fit the SPH-002T terminal correctly.
What is the Adafruit JST PH connector? Adafruit uses the JST PH 2-pin connector (PHR-2 housing) as the standard battery connector on their LiPo batteries, Feather boards, and most battery-powered breakout boards. It is fully compatible with any standard JST PH 2-pin cable or header.
How do I wire a JST PH LiPo battery? The JST PH 2-pin connector uses Pin 1 = B+ (positive, typically red) and Pin 2 = B− (negative, typically black). Always verify polarity with a multimeter before connecting — some manufacturers reverse this. Reversing polarity on a LiPo can cause permanent damage or fire.
Can JST PH be used for LiPo charging? Yes. JST PH 2-pin is the standard connector for 1S LiPo charging on most hobby chargers and Adafruit-compatible charger boards. The 2A current rating is sufficient for 1C charging of most small LiPo packs up to 2000mAh.
What is a JST PH pigtail? A JST PH pigtail is a pre-crimped cable assembly with a PHR housing on one end and bare wire leads on the other. Used to add a JST PH connector to a device that doesn't have one, or to extend an existing cable. Available in single-head and dual-head configurations at Keszoox.
What are the JST PH 2.0mm connector dimensions? The JST PH 2.0mm connector has a 2.0mm contact pitch. A 2-pin PHR housing is approximately 6.0mm wide × 4.5mm tall × 3.5mm deep. Full dimensional drawings are available on the JST official datasheet.
JST PH 2.0 vs 1.25 — what’s the difference? JST PH is 2.0mm pitch; JST GH is 1.25mm pitch. GH is smaller, rated for 1A, and used in Pixhawk flight controllers and FPV drone peripherals. PH is larger, rated for 2A, and used in LiPo batteries and sensor wiring. Not interchangeable.
What is a JST connector? “JST connector” is a generic term covering many JST series (SH 1.0mm, GH 1.25mm, ZH 1.5mm, PH 2.0mm, XH 2.5mm, VH 3.96mm, etc.). When someone says “JST connector” without specifying a series, they often mean JST PH — but always confirm the pitch before ordering, as the series are not interchangeable.
Shop JST PH 2.0mm Connectors at Keszoox
Keszoox stocks the complete JST PH range — housings, crimp terminals, PCB headers, and pre-crimped cable assemblies in all pin counts from 2 to 16, ready to ship worldwide.
- JST PH 2.0mm Connector Housings, Headers & Terminals
- JST PH 2.0mm Pre-Crimped Cable Assemblies
- JST PH Connector Kits
Related guides: How to Crimp JST Connectors | How to Identify JST Connectors | JST XH 2.5mm Complete Guide | JST PH vs SH | Wire-to-Board Connector Types Guide