8550-4500PL 3M Connector (Header, Receptacle - Straight PTH Box) In Stock

3M 8550-4500PL is a polarized straight PTH box receptacle board connector measuring 2.68 inch × 0.425 inch with gold-over-nickel contact finish on both mating and termination surfaces for reliable long-life signal connections. RoHS-compliant Pb-free construction supports through-hole wave solder assembly. From $5.40, in stock, worldwide shipping.

ACTIVEConnectorVerified Jun 2026
Package / Visual Reference
8550-4500PLHeader, Receptacle - Straight PTH Box
Quick Facts
Manufacturer
3M
Package
Header, Receptacle - Straight PTH Box
Pin Count
50
Lifecycle
ACTIVE
Category
Connector
Temp Range
-55.0°C to 105.0°C
RoHS
Compliant
Lead Time
3–7 business days
Shipping
DHL Express · Worldwide

Key Features

  • Polarized box socket design (2.68 in × 0.425 in body) physically prevents reverse mating in high pin-count board connector applications
  • Gold (12 µin) over nickel (79 µin) contact finish on mating and termination surfaces delivers low and stable contact resistance across thousands of mating cycles
  • Straight through-hole (PTH) termination with 9.1-year YTEOL ensures long-term supply availability for industrial and defense board connector assemblies

Applications

The 3M 8550-4500PL is designed for high pin-count board-to-cable and board-to-board signal interconnects in industrial automation, military electronics, and embedded computing platforms requiring mechanically robust, polarized connections. Its gold-plated contact finish and box socket housing make it suitable for test and measurement equipment where consistent low contact resistance across repeated mate/unmate cycles is critical. The straight PTH footprint integrates into standard wave-solder PCB production processes, supporting volume manufacturing of backplane interconnects and I/O interface modules.

Specifications

Pbfree CodeYes
YTEOL9.1
Additional Feature3M, POLARIZED
Body Breadth0.24inch
Body Depth0.425inch
Body Length2.68inch
Body/Shell StyleSOCKET
Connector TypeBOARD CONNECTOR
Contact Finish MatingGOLD (12) OVER NICKEL (79)
Contact Finish TerminationGOLD
Contact GenderFEMALE
Contact MaterialCOPPER ALLOY
Contact PatternRECTANGULAR
Contact StyleSQ PIN-SKT
DIN ConformanceNO
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage1400VAC V
Filter FeatureNO
IEC ConformanceNO
Insulation Resistance1000000000Ω
Insulator ColorGRAY
Insulator MaterialGLASS FILLED POLYBUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
JESD-609 Codee4
MIL ConformanceNO
Mating Contact Pitch0.1inch
Mating Contact Row Spacing0.1inch
Mixed ContactsNO
Mounting Option 1LOCKING
Mounting StyleSTRAIGHT
Mounting TypeBOARD
Number Of ConnectorsONE
Number Of PCB Rows2
Number of Rows Loaded2
OptionGENERAL PURPOSE
PCB Contact PatternRECTANGULAR
PCB Contact Row Spacing2.54mm
Plating Thickness12u inch
Polarization KeyPOLARIZED HOUSING
Rated Current (Signal)1A
Reference StandardUL
Terminal Length0.11inch
Terminal Pitch2.54mm
Termination TypeSOLDER
Total Number of Contacts50
UL Flammability Code94V-0
PackageHeader, Receptacle - Straight PTH Box

Compliance & Regulatory

RoHS StatusCompliant
Lead-FreeYes (Pb-Free)
ECCNEAR99
HTS Code8536.69.40.40

Datasheet

8550-4500PL Datasheet Download

Official datasheet from 3M

Alternate & Equivalent Parts

No known alternates. Submit an RFQ and our team can suggest alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contact plating specification does 3M 8550-4500PL use, and how does this affect insertion cycle life?

The 8550-4500PL uses gold (12 µin) over nickel (79 µin) on both mating and termination contacts; gold plating at 12 microinches thickness is sufficient for several hundred to over 1,000 mating cycles with stable contact resistance below 10 mΩ, making it appropriate for test equipment and field-service boards that require repeated connector disconnection.

How does the polarized housing of 8550-4500PL protect against mismating in multi-connector PCB assemblies?

The 8550-4500PL box socket incorporates a 3M polarization feature that physically blocks insertion of the mating header in any orientation other than the correct one, preventing reversed signal or power pin assignments across the connector's 2.68-inch body—essential protection in multi-connector backplane assemblies where an operator could otherwise swap identical-looking connectors between adjacent positions.

What through-hole assembly process is compatible with 8550-4500PL, and what PCB pad requirements does its 0.425-inch depth impose?

The 8550-4500PL uses straight PTH termination, compatible with standard wave solder processes at typical lead-free temperatures of 255–265°C; the 0.425-inch (10.8 mm) body depth determines the minimum keep-out zone below the connector on the PCB, requiring at least 11 mm of clear board depth beneath the mounting face for the through-hole pins plus solder fillet clearance.

For how many more years is 8550-4500PL expected to remain in production, and is it suitable for a 5-year industrial program?

The 8550-4500PL carries a YTEOL (years to end-of-life) estimate of 9.1 years, meaning it is expected to remain in active production until approximately 2035; this comfortably covers a 5-year industrial automation or defense program without requiring a mid-life connector change, and its Pb-free, RoHS-compliant body ensures regulatory compliance throughout that production window.

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AvailabilityIn Stock
Reference Price (USD)
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Lead Time3-7 business days
MOQFrom 1 piece
ShippingDHL / FedEx / UPS
OriginChina (Authorized)

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Rajesh Patel
Procurement Manager, VoltEdge Energy, India