Wire-to-Board Connector Types: Complete Guide to Choosing the Right One
Whether you're designing a PCB, building a prototype, or repairing electronics, choosing the right wire-to-board connector is one of the most critical decisions you'll make. The wrong connector means poor signal integrity, mechanical failure, or hours of rework.
This guide covers every major wire-to-board connector type — with specs, pitch sizes, current ratings, and real-world applications — so you can make the right choice the first time. Shop all connector types at Keszoox.
What Is a Wire-to-Board Connector?
A wire-to-board (WTB) connector creates a removable electrical connection between a wire harness or cable and a printed circuit board (PCB). Unlike soldered connections, WTB connectors allow for easy assembly, maintenance, and replacement.
They consist of two mating parts: a housing (plug) attached to the wire/cable side, and a header (receptacle) soldered onto the PCB. The key parameters that define a WTB connector are pitch (distance between pin centers), current rating, pin count, and locking mechanism.
Wire-to-Board vs Wire-to-Wire vs Board-to-Board
- Wire-to-Board (WTB): Connects a cable/wire to a PCB. Most common in consumer electronics, robotics, and prototyping.
- Wire-to-Wire (WTW): Connects two cable ends together. Common in automotive and industrial wiring harnesses.
- Board-to-Board (BTB): Connects two PCBs directly. Common in smartphones and compact modules.
The 7 Most Common Wire-to-Board Connector Types
1. JST SH — 1.0mm Pitch (Ultra-Compact)
Pitch: 1.0mm | Current: 1A per contact | AWG: 28–32 | Mount: SMD
The JST SH is the go-to connector for ultra-miniaturized electronics. Its 1.0mm pitch makes it ideal where space is the primary constraint. It is the industry standard for the Qwiic and STEMMA QT ecosystems — plug-and-play I²C connectivity across hundreds of sensor boards from SparkFun, Adafruit, and compatible manufacturers.
Best for: FPV drones and Pixhawk flight controllers, wearable electronics and IoT sensors, compact robotics modules (Qwiic / STEMMA QT), miniature LiPo battery packs.
➡️ Shop JST SH 1.0mm Connectors — Housings, Pins & Pre-Crimped Cables | JST SH Complete Guide
2. JST GH — 1.25mm Pitch (Pixhawk Standard)
Pitch: 1.25mm | Current: 1A per contact | AWG: 26–30 | Mount: SMD
The JST GH is the official Pixhawk / ArduPilot connector standard adopted by Dronecode. All Pixhawk-compatible GPS modules, telemetry radios, rangefinders, and peripherals use JST GH connectors. The most common pin counts are 4-pin (I2C, CAN), 6-pin (GPS, TELEM, POWER), and 8-pin (POWER on Pixhawk 6X).
Best for: Pixhawk and ArduPilot telemetry ports, GPS and compass modules, compact sensor arrays, Raspberry Pi HAT connections.
➡️ Shop JST GH 1.25mm Connectors — Housings, Pins & Pre-Crimped Cables | JST GH Pixhawk Guide
3. JST ZH — 1.5mm Pitch (Compact Mid-Range)
Pitch: 1.5mm | Current: 1A per contact | AWG: 26–30 | Mount: SMD / Through-hole
The JST ZH fills the gap between SH (1.0mm) and PH (2.0mm). Commonly found in compact consumer electronics and portable devices.
Best for: Portable consumer electronics, compact sensor modules, small display connections, handheld device internals.
➡️ Shop JST ZH 1.5mm Connectors
4. JST PH — 2.0mm Pitch (Most Popular for LiPo)
Pitch: 2.0mm | Current: 2A per contact | AWG: 24–32 | Mount: Through-hole
The JST PH is arguably the most widely used small connector in hobby electronics. You'll find it on virtually every LiPo battery pack for RC vehicles, drones, and portable devices. Its massive ecosystem means compatible housings, pre-crimped cables, and PCB headers are universally available.
Best for: LiPo battery connections (2S–4S packs), Arduino and Raspberry Pi sensor wiring, RC receivers and ESCs, portable consumer electronics.
➡️ Shop JST PH 2.0mm Connectors — Housings, Pins & Pre-Crimped Cables | JST PH Complete Guide
5. JST XH — 2.5mm Pitch (3D Printing Standard)
Pitch: 2.5mm | Current: 3A per contact | AWG: 22–28 | Mount: Through-hole
The JST XH has become the de facto standard for 3D printer wiring. Its 2.5mm pitch offers a good balance between compact size and current-carrying capacity, with a higher 3A rating than JST PH.
Best for: 3D printer endstops, thermistors, and fans; RC battery balance connectors (2S–6S); DIY electronics requiring moderate current; stepper motor wiring.
➡️ Shop JST XH 2.5mm Connectors — Housings, Pins & Pre-Crimped Cables | JST XH Complete Guide
6. Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 — 3.0mm Pitch (Industrial Power Standard)
Pitch: 3.0mm | Current: 5A per circuit | AWG: 18–24 | Mount: Through-hole / SMD
The Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 (43020/43025) is the industrial-grade choice for compact high-density power distribution. Rated 5A per circuit at 20°C, 600V (UL), with four PCB header orientations and optional panel mount. Low-Halogen since inception per IEC 61249-2-21.
Best for: Server and data center power distribution, industrial automation, medical devices, automotive electronics, PC power supplies.
➡️ Shop Molex Micro-Fit 3.0mm Connectors | Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 Complete Guide
7. DuPont / 2.54mm Generic Headers (Prototyping Standard)
Pitch: 2.54mm | Current: 1–3A per contact | AWG: 22–28 | Mount: Through-hole
The ubiquitous 2.54mm DuPont-style connector is the universal language of prototyping. Compatible with virtually every development board, breadboard, and Arduino shield. Uses a friction-lock mechanism — ideal for static prototyping, less suitable for vibration-prone applications.
Best for: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32 GPIO connections; breadboard prototyping; jumper wire connections; development board headers.
➡️ Shop DuPont 2.54mm Connectors & Cables | DuPont Connector Complete Guide
Wire-to-Board Connector Comparison Chart
| Connector | Pitch | Current/Contact | AWG Range | Mount Type | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JST SH | 1.0 mm | 1A | 28–32 | SMD | FPV drones, wearables, Qwiic |
| JST GH | 1.25 mm | 1A | 26–30 | SMD | Pixhawk telemetry, GPS |
| JST ZH | 1.5 mm | 1A | 26–30 | SMD/TH | Compact consumer electronics |
| JST PH | 2.0 mm | 2A | 24–32 | Through-hole | LiPo batteries, Arduino sensors |
| JST XH | 2.5 mm | 3A | 22–28 | Through-hole | 3D printers, RC balance leads |
| DuPont 2.54mm | 2.54 mm | 1–3A | 22–28 | Through-hole | Prototyping, Arduino GPIO |
| Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 | 3.0 mm | 5A | 18–24 | TH/SMD | Power electronics, industrial, server |
| Molex Mini-Fit Jr. | 4.2 mm | 13A | 16–24 | Through-hole | ATX power, high-current industrial |
How to Choose the Right Wire-to-Board Connector
Step 1 — Determine Your Current Requirements: Signal only (<1A) → JST SH, GH, or ZH. Low power (1–3A) → JST PH or XH. High power (3–5A) → Molex Micro-Fit 3.0. Very high power (>5A) → Molex Mini-Fit Jr.
Step 2 — Consider Your Space Constraints: Ultra-compact (wearables, drones) → JST SH (1.0mm) or GH (1.25mm). Compact (hobby electronics) → JST PH (2.0mm) or XH (2.5mm). Standard (prototyping, industrial) → DuPont 2.54mm or Molex.
Step 3 — Check Your Wire Gauge: Connector pitch and wire AWG are closely related. Finer pitch connectors require thinner wire. Using wire that's too thick will prevent proper crimping and cause connection failures.
Step 4 — Consider the Locking Mechanism: Friction lock → adequate for low-vibration environments (DuPont, some JST series). Positive lock → required for vibration-prone applications like drones and automotive (JST XH, Molex Micro-Fit).
Step 5 — Ecosystem Compatibility: If you're working within an established ecosystem (Qwiic → JST SH; Pixhawk → JST GH; 3D printing → JST XH; ATX power → Molex Mini-Fit Jr.), match the connector standard used by that ecosystem.
Common Wire-to-Board Connector Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up JST series: JST SH, PH, XH, and GH are NOT interchangeable despite looking similar. Always verify pitch before ordering.
- Wrong wire gauge: Using AWG 22 wire with a JST SH connector will result in a failed crimp. Match wire gauge to connector spec.
- Ignoring polarity: Many JST connectors are polarized — the housing only fits one way. Double-check pinout before powering up.
- Underrating current: A JST PH rated at 2A per contact will overheat if you push 5A through it. Always derate by 20–30% for safety.
- Confusing JST PH with JST XH: These look nearly identical but have different pitches (2.0mm vs 2.5mm). Measure with calipers if unsure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common wire-to-board connector? The JST PH (2.0mm) and JST XH (2.5mm) are the most widely used in hobby and consumer electronics. For industrial applications, Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 dominates. For ATX power supplies, Molex Mini-Fit Jr. is the standard.
Are JST connectors polarized? Yes. All JST connector housings are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. However, the polarity (which pin is positive/negative) varies by application — always verify the pinout for your specific device.
Can I use a JST PH connector instead of JST XH? No — they have different pitches (2.0mm vs 2.5mm) and are not mechanically compatible. Forcing mismatched connectors can damage the housing and cause electrical shorts.
What wire gauge should I use with JST connectors? JST SH: AWG 28–32 | JST GH: AWG 26–30 | JST ZH: AWG 26–30 | JST PH: AWG 24–32 | JST XH: AWG 22–28. Always use the thinnest wire that meets your current requirements.
What's the difference between wire-to-board and board-to-board connectors? Wire-to-board connectors join a cable to a PCB. Board-to-board connectors join two PCBs directly without any cable. BTB connectors are common in smartphones and compact modules where space is critical.
What is the difference between JST GH and JST SH? JST GH is 1.25mm pitch (Pixhawk standard); JST SH is 1.0mm pitch (Qwiic/STEMMA QT standard). Both are SMD mount, rated 1A per contact. Not interchangeable.
What connector does Pixhawk use? Pixhawk uses JST GH 1.25mm connectors as the official Pixhawk Connector Standard. GPS ports use 6-pin GH; I2C and CAN ports use 4-pin GH; TELEM ports use 6-pin GH.
What connector does Arduino use? Arduino boards use standard 2.54mm (0.1") pin headers, compatible with DuPont-style connectors. Female DuPont connectors plug directly onto Arduino pin headers.
What is the difference between Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 and Mini-Fit Jr.? Micro-Fit 3.0 is 3.0mm pitch, rated 5A per circuit. Mini-Fit Jr. is 4.2mm pitch, rated 13A per circuit. Mini-Fit Jr. is the ATX power supply standard. Choose Micro-Fit 3.0 for compact power; Mini-Fit Jr. for high-current applications.
Shop All Wire-to-Board Connectors at Keszoox
Keszoox stocks the full range of JST and Molex wire-to-board connectors — housings, crimp pins, PCB headers, and pre-crimped cable assemblies — ready to ship worldwide.