Molex connector

AMP four-pin Mate-n-Lok
AMP Mate-n-Lok 1-480424-0 Power connector (female pins, male connector)
Type Electrical power connector
Production history
Manufacturer AMP
Produced 1963
General specifications
Width 21 mm (female), 23 mm (male)
Height 6 mm (female), 8 mm (male)
Pins 4
Electrical
Signal Yes
Max. voltage 12 V
Max. current 11 A/pin (18AWG w/30 °C rise)
Pinout
Male pins (female connector)
Pin Color Type
Pin 1 Yellow +12 V
Pin 2 Black Ground
Pin 3 Black Ground
Pin 4 Red +5 V
18 AWG, or 0.823 mm2 wire is typically used.
AMP Mate-n-Lok and Molex 8981 0.093-inch pin and socket power connectors
Molex standard 0.093-inch pin and socket connectors
Molex disk drive power connection system tool and connectors
Molex Mini-Fit Jr. connector as used for ATX power supply

A Molex connector is a two-piece pin-and-socket interconnection which became an early electronic standard. Developed by Molex Connector Company in the late 1950s, the design features cylindrical spring-metal pins that fit into cylindrical spring-metal sockets, both held in a rectangular matrix in a nylon shell.

AMP (now TE Connectivity) introduced the Mate-n-Lok connector in October 1963, which was similar to Molex's patented design but not compatible. It featured improvements such as being keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. The Mate-n-Lok connector design led to several connector types that have become established for connecting power in desktop PCs because of their simplicity, reliability, flexibility, and low cost, and is more widely known as a "Molex connector" despite not being from the Molex company.