The DIN 41612 Right Angle Plug Type E Solder 160 Position connector is a high-density, five-row male Eurocard connector designed for board-to-board and backplane applications in demanding industrial, telecommunications, and embedded computing systems . This connector fully complies with the DIN 41612 and IEC 60603-2 standards, which define the mechanical and electrical specifications for two-part connectors used in 19-inch Eurocard racking systems and backplane architectures . The "Type E" designation indicates a 5-row contact arrangement with a total of 160 contact positions (32 contacts per row), making it one of the highest-density configurations within the DIN 41612 family . As a Plug (Male) connector, this component features male pin contacts designed to mate with a corresponding Type E female receptacle mounted on a backplane or mating board. The Type E series is complemented by the Type TE (inverted model) series, where the gender roles are reversed for applications requiring different backplane configurations .
The defining mechanical feature of this connector is its Right Angle (90°) orientation, which positions the mating interface parallel to the PCB surface while the solder pins extend perpendicular to the board . This right angle design is ideal for daughter card applications where the mating backplane connector approaches from the side, such as in CompactPCI, VMEbus, and other Eurocard-based systems. The Solder Termination type features traditional solder pins that pass through plated through-holes on the PCB and are secured via wave soldering or manual soldering processes . The standard pitch is 2.54mm (0.100") between contacts and between rows, ensuring broad compatibility with existing backplane designs . The connector housing is molded from PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) with glass fiber reinforcement, rated UL94 V-0 for flame retardancy, providing excellent mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance during soldering processes . The housing color is typically gray, consistent with standard Eurocard connector aesthetics.
The Type E plug features a 160-position contact arrangement across five rows, with standard row loading designated as A, B, C, D, E . This configuration provides 160 signal lines per connector, suitable for 32-bit data buses plus extensive control, address, and power lines in dense backplane architectures. The male contacts are fabricated from copper alloy with gold plating on the mating area, providing low contact resistance, corrosion resistance, and durability through 400 mating cycles . Electrical characteristics include a current rating of 1.5A to 2.0A per contact (with all contacts simultaneously energized), a contact resistance of 20 milliohms maximum, and an operating temperature range spanning from -55°C to +125°C . The wide temperature range ensures reliable performance in harsh industrial environments, outdoor telecom cabinets, and aerospace applications. The 160-position configuration with 5 rows and 2.54mm pitch delivers exceptional signal density while maintaining robust mechanical stability.
The DIN 41612 Right Angle Plug Type E Solder 160 Position connector is widely deployed in applications requiring ultra-high-density, reliable backplane interconnects with right angle daughter card mounting. Primary application areas include telecommunications systems (central office switches, base station controllers, transmission backplanes), industrial control systems (PLC backplanes, industrial computers, high-end I/O modules), embedded computing platforms (VMEbus, CompactPCI, VXI, and other Eurocard-based architectures), medical instrumentation (imaging systems, patient monitors), and test and measurement equipment . Major manufacturers of this connector type include ERNI / TE Connectivity (model 384299/384299-E), HARTING (model 02011602101), and Pickering Interfaces (model 40-963-160-RM) . The connector is typically supplied in tray packaging, with the ERNIPRESS series offering high-quality German engineering and UL/CSA approvals . In summary, the DIN 41612 Right Angle Plug Type E Solder 160 Position connector is a premium, high-density interconnect solution that combines 5-row, 160-pin Eurocard compliance with right angle orientation and reliable solder termination, making it an ideal choice for daughter card applications requiring maximum signal density in industrial, telecom, and embedded systems.