- Gold: low-level signals, many mating cycles, corrosion-free.
- Tin: economical, good for power and few mating cycles.
- Do not mate gold with tin — fretting corrosion follows.
| Plating | Best for | Mating cycles | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold over nickel | Signals, RF, data | High (500+) | High |
| Tin | Power, low-cost terminals | Low (≈10–50) | Low |
| Silver | High-current contacts | Medium | Medium |
| Nickel | Shells, underplate | — | Low |
Never mix gold and tin
Dissimilar platings on mating contacts cause fretting corrosion and rising resistance. Order both halves with the same finish.
Where plating shows up in our catalog
Look for “gold-flash”, “selective gold” or “tin” in the specification table of pin headers, contacts and RF connectors. Further reading: fretting on Wikipedia.
Examples from our pin headers, female headers & jumpers range — see all 1,767 →
ZWG ZH 1.5mm Pcb Connector JST Connector 1.5mm Pitch 2-15Pin Header Smd Refrigerator Electronics Connector
250V
US$0.012 – 0.12MOQ 1,000 pieces
Zif IC Socket Single Row Straight SMT Round Female Header 28 Pin DIP IC Socket Connector
Pin Header · Male
US$0.012 – 0.96MOQ 5,000 pieces
Zhg 1.5mm Pitch Connector Manufacturer, Wire to Board Crimp Terminal Housing Header, Custom Available, RoHS
AC/DC · Female
US$0.012 – 0.024MOQ 1,000 pieces
Ze05-2p-2h 2.0mm 2 Pin Header SMT Male Female Connector
HDR · Male Female
US$0.0012 – 0.012MOQ 1 piece
YZ 2.54mm Pitch 1*40pin 2*40pin Single Row Double Rows SMD Type Gold Plating Pin Header for Pcb Connector
Rectangle · 3A
US$0.072 – 0.34MOQ 10 pieces
Yugan Sheet Metal Processing Contact Spring Automobile Electric Pin Header Connectors
DC/DC · Female
US$0.24 – 1.44MOQ 1,000 pieces
Frequently asked questions
How thick should gold plating be?
Flash gold is fine for few cycles; 0.76 µm (30 µin) or more is common for high-reliability, high-cycle contacts.
Why is silver used on power contacts?
Silver has the lowest resistance and handles high current well; it tarnishes but the tarnish stays conductive.
Find these products in our catalog
Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers · Connector Contacts & Mating Pins · SMA, SMB, SMC & Miniature RF Connectors
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