current rating by wire gauge.
a connector contact's current rating isn't one number. it depends on the wire gauge, on how many circuits in the housing carry current at once, and on how much temperature rise the maker allows. Molex rates at a 30 °C rise over ambient[1]; TE rates DTM with every circuit energized[4].
below is each maker's own table for the families we build, with the conditions it states. rows we build have a configure link at that gauge.
updated 2026-09-14 · every figure is cited: 6 sources · priced builds
Mini-Fit Jr.
molex mini-fit jr.
| wire | 2–3 circuits | 4–6 circuits | 7–10 circuits | 12–24 circuits[1] | we build it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 AWG | 9 A | 8 A | 7 A | 6 A | configure · $14.50 at qty 10 |
| 20 AWG | 7 A | 6 A | 5 A | 5 A | configure · $14.04 at qty 10 |
| 22 AWG | 5 A | 4 A | 4 A | 4 A | configure · $13.13 at qty 10 |
| 24 AWG | 4 A | 3 A | 3 A | 3 A | configure · $13.13 at qty 10 |
amps per circuit. conditions: brass terminals, wire to wire and wire to board, a 30 °C maximum temperature rise over ambient. configure opens a 4-pin molex mini-fit jr. cable at that gauge.
that's the brass column of Molex's table; the terminals we crimp are brass[2]. phosphor bronze terminals rate lower: 8 A on 18 AWG with 2–3 circuits, 6 A on 20 AWG with 2–3 circuits[1].
we build molex mini-fit jr. at 18–24 AWG. the 4-pin page has its parts and prices; every size is on the molex mini-fit jr. page.
Micro-Fit 3.0
molex micro-fit 3.0.
| wire | 2 circuits | 6 circuits | 12 circuits | 24 circuits[3] | we build it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 AWG | 7 A | 6 A | 5.5 A | 5 A | no |
| 20 AWG | 6.5 A | 5 A | 4.5 A | 4 A* | configure · $14.23 at qty 10 |
| 22 AWG | 5.5 A | 4 A* | 3.5 A* | 3 A* | configure · $13.32 at qty 10 |
| 24 AWG | 5 A | 4 A | 3 A | 2 A* | configure · $13.32 at qty 10 |
amps per circuit. conditions: wire to wire, all circuits powered, not exceeding a 30 °C temperature rise, tinned stranded copper wire and tin-plated terminals. Molex gives these as reference values and marks some as interpolated (*); its wire-to-board figures are the same or higher. configure opens a 4-pin molex micro-fit 3.0 cable at that gauge.
we build molex micro-fit 3.0 at 20–24 AWG. the 4-pin page has its parts and prices; every size is on the molex micro-fit 3.0 page.
Deutsch DTM
deutsch DTM.
| wire | all circuits[4] | we build it |
|---|---|---|
| 16 AWG | 7.5 A | no |
| 18 AWG | 7.5 A | no |
| 20 AWG | 7.5 A | configure · $26.35 at qty 10 |
| 22 AWG | 5 A | no |
amps per circuit. conditions: all circuits energized. configure opens a 4-pin deutsch DTM cable at that gauge.
TE doesn't split DTM by circuit count: its figure holds with every circuit energized. we build DTM at 20 AWG only; the DT vs DTM vs DTP guide says why.
we build deutsch DTM at 20 AWG. the 4-pin page has its parts and prices; every size is on the deutsch DTM page.
Molex SL
molex SL.
| wire | single circuit[5] | we build it |
|---|---|---|
| 22 AWG | 3 A | configure · $13.40 at qty 10 |
| 24 AWG | 3 A | configure · $13.40 at qty 10 |
amps per circuit. conditions: a single circuit, a 30 °C temperature rise. configure opens a 4-pin molex SL cable at that gauge.
we build molex SL at 22–24 AWG. the 4-pin page has its parts and prices; every size is on the molex SL page.
D-sub
D-sub, solder cup.
conditions: per contact; the drawing states no wire gauge, circuit count or temperature rise.
we build D-sub at 20–24 AWG. the DB9 page has its parts and prices; every size is on the D-sub page.
Reading the numbers
what a rating does and doesn't cover.
these are the connector's ratings. Molex notes that the rating is application dependent, may be limited by the wire's own rating, and needs further derating for ambient temperature, PCB copper and heat from nearby parts[1][3].
more circuits in one housing means less current each: on 18 AWG, Molex rates mini-fit jr. at 9 A per circuit with 2–3 circuits and 6 A with 12–24 circuits[1]. a rating is also per contact: it isn't the cable's total.
choosing between families rather than gauges? see micro-fit 3.0 vs mini-fit jr. vs DTM.
Build one
a cable at each gauge we build, priced.
one row per family and gauge. each opens the configurator with that gauge already chosen.
| build | ships in | qty 1, each | qty 10, each | qty 50, each | configure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| molex mini-fit jr. 4-pin cable, 18 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $14.50 | $13.73 | configure |
| molex mini-fit jr. 4-pin cable, 20 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $14.04 | $13.30 | configure |
| molex mini-fit jr. 4-pin cable, 22 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $13.13 | $12.44 | configure |
| molex mini-fit jr. 4-pin cable, 24 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $13.13 | $12.44 | configure |
| molex micro-fit 3.0 4-pin cable, 20 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $14.23 | $13.48 | configure |
| molex micro-fit 3.0 4-pin cable, 22 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $13.32 | $12.62 | configure |
| molex micro-fit 3.0 4-pin cable, 24 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $13.32 | $12.62 | configure |
| deutsch DTM 4-pin cable, 20 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 12 days | $40.00order minimum | $26.35 | $24.97 | configure |
| molex SL 4-pin cable, 22 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $13.40 | $12.69 | configure |
| molex SL 4-pin cable, 24 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 8 days | $40.00order minimum | $13.40 | $12.69 | configure |
| D-sub DB9 cable, 20 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 10 days | $41.00 | $38.95 | $36.90 | configure |
| D-sub DB9 cable, 22 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 10 days | $40.00order minimum | $36.90 | $34.96 | configure |
| D-sub DB9 cable, 24 AWG, 12 in (305 mm) | 10 days | $40.00order minimum | $36.90 | $34.96 | configure |
each · free UPS 2-day shipping · $40 order minimum (a smaller order is charged $40) · lead times are business days. these are example builds, priced the way checkout prices them: change anything in the configurator and it reprices the result the same way.
Questions
short answers.
- how many amps can a mini-fit jr. contact carry?
- with brass terminals, Molex rates 9 A with 2–3 circuits down to 6 A with 12–24 circuits on 18 AWG, and 7 A with 2–3 circuits down to 5 A with 12–24 circuits on 20 AWG, at a 30 °C temperature rise. its phosphor bronze terminals rate 1 A lower at every circuit count from 18 to 24 AWG; the terminals we crimp are brass.
- how many amps can a micro-fit 3.0 contact carry?
- wire to wire with all circuits powered, Molex gives 6.5 A with 2 circuits down to 4 A with 24 circuits on 20 AWG, and 5 A with 2 circuits down to 2 A with 24 circuits on 24 AWG, not exceeding a 30 °C temperature rise. Molex calls these reference values and marks some of them interpolated.
- what's the deutsch DTM current rating?
- 7.5 A on 16 AWG, 7.5 A on 18 AWG, 7.5 A on 20 AWG, 5 A on 22 AWG, with all circuits energized (TE 108-151010).
- what's the molex SL current rating?
- 3.0 A on 22 AWG and 3.0 A on 24 AWG, for a single circuit at a 30 °C temperature rise (Molex PS-70400-001).
- what's a D-sub contact rated for?
- the FCI drawing for the solder-cup D-subs we use gives 5 A per contact and 0.6 mm² (20 AWG) max wire, with no test conditions stated.
- why does the rating drop as circuits are added?
- every powered contact heats the housing, and the rating is the current that keeps the temperature rise under a limit (30 °C for Molex). more powered circuits in one housing means less current each. Molex also says to derate further for ambient temperature, PCB copper and nearby heat sources.
Sources
where every figure comes from.
ratings are the manufacturer's, under the conditions each document states; check the current revision before you design to a number. what we build (gauges, sizes, lead times, prices) comes from our own catalog.
- PS-5556-001 Rev H2 (2026-06-22), Mini-Fit Jr. Connector System product specification, §1.0 scope, §4.1 voltage, table 3 maximum current rating, §4.4 temperature · Molex
- 55560000-SD, Mini-Fit Jr. female crimp terminal sales drawing (39-00-0038): material and plating chart · Molex
- PS-43045 Rev R (2025-11-14), Micro-Fit (3.0) Dual Row Connectors product specification, §1.0 scope, §4.1 voltage, §4.3 current derating · Molex
- 108-151010 Rev F, DTM Series Connector System (product specification), §3.2 ratings · TE Connectivity
- PS-70400-001 Rev R2 (2020-08-26), SL Single Row Stackable Linear connector system product specification, §4.1 voltage, §4.2 maximum current · Molex
- C-DSUB-0064 Rev N (2011), D-sub solder cup product customer drawing, covers DE09S064TLF, DE09P064TXLF, DA15S064TLF · FCI (now Amphenol ICC), copy hosted by Mouseran older revision; Amphenol's own site wasn't readable. it states the current with no test conditions.
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