Connector Selection Guide: JST, Molex, TE — Pin Pitch, Current Rating & When to Choose Which

Connector Selection Guide

The wrong connector is a silent killer — it works on the bench and dies in the field. We see it on sourcing projects every week. With hundreds of series from JST, Molex, TE, and Chinese brands, this is the shortlist we actually order from.

JST Connector Series (Most Common)

JST XH (2.5mm pitch)

Pitch: 2.5mm
Current: 3A max
Wires: 20-30 AWG
Circuits: 2-16 positions
Best for: Battery packs, PCB-to-wire, hobby electronics, RC
Locking: Yes (friction lock)
Price: $0.03-0.08 per circuit

JST PH (2.0mm pitch)

Pitch: 2.0mm
Current: 2A max
Wires: 24-30 AWG
Circuits: 2-16 positions
Best for: Compact designs, sensor connectors
Locking: Yes (friction lock)
Price: $0.02-0.06 per circuit

JST GH (1.25mm pitch)

Pitch: 1.25mm
Current: 1A max
Wires: 28-32 AWG
Circuits: 2-15 positions
Best for: Ultra-compact devices, laptops, handheld
Locking: Yes (smooth latch)
Price: $0.04-0.10 per circuit

JST SM / VH (3.96mm pitch)

Pitch: 3.96mm
Current: 10A / 7A
Wires: 16-22 AWG
Best for: Power supply connectors, AC-DC modules
Price: $0.05-0.15 per circuit

Dupont (2.54mm pitch)

Pitch: 2.54mm
Current: 3A max
Connections: Breadboard friendly
Best for: Prototyping, Arduino cables, jumper wires
Locking: None (friction fit only)

How to Choose

Work the table top-down; if you remember one row, make it the first — XH is the default battery-to-PCB pick and our most reordered series.

Application	Best Choice	Why
Battery to PCB	JST XH 2.5mm	Locking, 3A capacity, cheap
Signal wires, sensors	JST PH 2.0mm	Good balance of size and current
Compact consumer device	JST GH 1.25mm	Smallest common JST pitch
Power input (AC-DC)	JST VH 3.96mm	10A rating, secure locking
Prototyping	Dupont 2.54mm	Breadboard standard
Wire-to-wire	Molex Mini-Fit Jr	High reliability, 9A
High-vibration	TE MATE-N-LOK	Positive locking, industrial
Board-to-board	Pin header 2.54mm	Cheapest option

Chinese Connector Brands

Brand	Comparable To	Savings
BOOMELE (深圳市博美)	JST XH/PH	40-60% cheaper
KH (凯和电子)	Dupont	50% cheaper
CJT (长江连接器)	JST/Molex	30-50% cheaper
HYP (华宇精密)	TE	40% cheaper

These Chinese brands run in mass production and hold up fine for most consumer and industrial work — we've built boards around them when the budget mattered. BOOMELE's XH series is a direct drop-in for JST XH at half the price.

Availability & Minimum Order Quantities

Brand	MOQ at Distributor	Stock Situation
JST	500-1000 pcs	Widely available, lead time 4-8 weeks
Molex	250-500 pcs	Good stock, shorter lead time
TE	500-1000 pcs	Industrial focus, longer lead
Chinese brands	50-100 pcs	In stock at Huaqiangbei, ship next day

Where to Buy

PartsCube Global stocks JST XH/PH/GH/SM series, Dupont connectors, and Chinese alternatives. [

Connector Selection Guide: JST, Molex, TE — Pin Pitch, Current Rating & When to Choose Which