DEC power distribution connectors

Many DEC PDP-11 backplanes use a common system of connectors to the power harness from the power supply.

They were connected to the harness (which usually ended in a power distribution panel) using multi-pin AMP MATE-N-LOK connectors: the connectors on the panel used male shells (housings) with female sockets (i.e. female pins); all the cables from the backplanes had female shells. with male pins.

The female sockets (female pins) are AMP part number 60619-1; the male pins are 60620-1. (There are a large number of different pin options: 30-22, 24-18, and 20-14 gauge; tin and gold plated; and brass and phosphor-bronze material. The part numbers given are for tinned brass, 20-14 gauge.)

The AMP part numbers for the shells (AMP calls the female housings 'caps', and the male housings 'plugs') are below:

Pin count	Male shell	Female shell
6	1-480273-0	1-480276-0
9	1-480274-0	1-480277-0
15	1-480323-0	1-480324-0

Some early machines (e.g. the PDP-11/05) used the 9-pin connectors; all the later machines and mounting boxes used pairs of 6-pin and 15-pin connectors.

AMP has been bought by TE Connectivity, but these MATE-N-LOK connectors are still in production, and available from the usual suppliers.