JST connectors sit at the center of most wire harness work coming out of this factory. PH, XH, SH, VH — the name “JST” gets used casually by engineers to mean “those small rectangular connectors with locking tabs,” even when the actual part is a Molex or Hirose equivalent. We build the real JST parts plus cross-referenced equivalents. About 30% of our wire harness production ships with JST connectors on one or both ends. Standard series (PH, XH, SH, VH) we stock in common pin counts for fast turnaround. MOQ 100 sets, first samples 7–10 days.
JST Connector Series — Which One Do You Need?
JST is Japan Solderless Terminals, a Japanese manufacturer that created many of the connector families now used as industry defaults. Different series exist because different applications need different pitch, current rating, and form factor. Quick reference:
| Series | Pitch | Current Rating | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SH | 1.0 mm | 1 A | Ultra-compact board-to-board, phone internals, wearables |
| GH | 1.25 mm | 1 A | Board-to-wire disconnect, thin devices |
| ZH | 1.5 mm | 1 A | Low-profile harnesses, laptops, IoT devices |
| PH | 2.0 mm | 2 A | Most common general-purpose, consumer electronics, sensors |
| XH | 2.5 mm | 3 A | Mid-power, lithium battery pack wiring, lighting |
| SM | 2.5 mm | 3 A | Locking version of XH, automation, appliance wiring |
| EH | 2.5 mm | 3 A | Balance connectors for lithium battery packs (BMS) |
| VH | 3.96 mm | 10 A | Power supply wiring, white goods, motor connections |
Not sure which one? Tell us the target application, pin count, and current, and we’ll recommend. PH is the safe default for most consumer work at 2 A or below; XH is the step up for small batteries and motors.
Wire Harness vs Cable Assembly — When JST Work Is a Harness
The distinction matters for quoting. A single JST connector on each end of a cable is a cable assembly. A JST connector on one end plus two or three branches to other connectors, fuse holders, or ring terminals is a wire harness. The production setup is different:
- Cable assembly — runs on an automated cut-strip-crimp line. Lower labor per piece, higher volume pricing.
- Wire harness — runs on a jig board. Operator assembles multiple branches by hand against the jig. More labor per piece, more flexibility in branch geometry.
JST connectors appear in both. Whichever your project is, we build it — but the quote and MOQ depend on which production path applies.
JST Wire Harness Specifications We Support
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Supported Series | SH, GH, ZH, PH, XH, SM, EH, VH (others on request) |
| Pin Count | 2 to 24 (higher on request for PH / XH) |
| Wire AWG | 32 AWG to 18 AWG (depending on series) |
| Wire Insulation | PVC (standard), silicone (high-flex), Teflon (high-temp) |
| Cable Length | 50 mm to 2 meters typical |
| Branch Count | 1 (cable assembly) to 12+ (multi-branch harness) |
| Operating Temperature | -25 °C to +85 °C (standard), higher with Teflon wire |
| Compliance | RoHS, REACH, UL 1007 / UL 1061 wire, AEC-Q200 for automotive |
| Workmanship | IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2 default, Class 3 on request |
| Pull Force Testing | Per IPC standard or customer spec |
| MOQ | 100 sets standard, lower for prototypes |
For specialty builds — mixed-series harnesses (PH on one end + VH on the other), integrated fuse holders, ring terminals, or high-count multi-branch architectures — send us the drawing and we’ll quote.
Typical Applications
Our JST harness production splits across these main categories:
Consumer electronics internal wiring. PH and SH series for internal board-to-board or board-to-component connections in routers, set-top boxes, smart speakers, monitors, and small appliances. Usually 2–8 pin counts with 2 A or less current.
Lithium battery packs and BMS. XH and EH series for battery cell balance leads, pack output wiring, and BMS interconnects. When building for drones, e-bikes, or power tools, the balance connector is almost always EH. We build these with proper wire gauge for the cell’s continuous current and include pull-testing on every assembled connector. It doesn’t happen often, but if a pull-test failure occured during incoming sample review, we reject the whole lot and investigate tooling calibration.
Industrial sensor wiring. PH and XH for sensor-to-PLC or sensor-to-controller interconnects in machinery, agriculture, and process automation. Often need specific wire insulation ratings (UL 1007, UL 1061) and occasional Class 3 workmanship.
LED lighting and signage. XH and SM series for power delivery to LED modules. Current rating matters here — high-lumen strips can draw 3 A or more, so proper wire gauge and connector choice prevent heat issues.
Robotics and automation. Multi-branch harnesses combining servo signals, encoder feedback, and power in one assembly. Often mix JST PH/XH with D-sub or M12 circular connectors at the controller end. High-flex wire for moving axes.
Appliance and white goods. VH for motor wiring in washing machines, fans, and pumps. The 3.96 mm pitch and 10 A rating handle the current without derating.
Drone and RC hobby electronics. EH balance connectors are the standard across the hobby industry. We produce balance leads, power distribution harnesses, and ESC-to-motor wiring for drone manufacturers and ODMs.
Why SZFRS for JST Harness Work
JST work looks simple but the failure modes are specific. A marginal crimp passes continuity on day one, then the wire pulls out six months later when thermal cycling fatigues the joint. Our approach:
Authorized distribution sourcing. JST and equivalent connectors come from authorized distribution. Gray-market JST parts are a real problem in this industry — same shape, different crimp tolerance, different gold plating spec. We don’t buy through those channels.
Series-specific crimp tooling. Each JST series has its own crimp specification — crimp height, crimp width, pull force target. We use calibrated tooling matched to the specific series, not generic crimpers. See our capabilities page for equipment details.
Pull force testing on every new program. First article pull force test on each crimp position. Results compared to JST-published targets. If the crimp is marginal, we adjust tooling before running production.
Multi-branch harness experience. For harnesses with 3+ branches, we build on jig boards with documented routing. This eliminates the common problem of harnesses that pass electrical test but won’t physically route correctly in the end product.
Battery pack specialization. Lithium battery harness work runs through dedicated stations with attention to polarity verification, pull-test documentation, and ESD control. See our wire harness overview for the broader battery-harness scope (Page 21 detail coming).
IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2/3 workmanship. Details on our quality and certifications page.
Our JST Wire Harness Manufacturing Process
- Drawing review and BOM validation. Correct series, pin count, wire gauge, length, and branch structure verified. We flag pin count or current-rating mismatches.
- Material sourcing. JST connectors from authorized distribution. Wire from qualified suppliers with UL recognition when specified.
- Cut and strip. Automated cutters set to ± 1 mm tolerance for standard work, tighter on request.
- Crimping. Series-specific tooling, calibrated weekly. Crimp height and width verified on first article and periodically during production runs.
- Housing insertion. Terminal-to-housing insertion with position verification. For locking variants (SM, ZH), lock engagement checked on every connector.
- Harness assembly (if multi-branch). Jig board assembly per drawing. Branch lengths and routing documented.
- Testing. 100% continuity. Pull force sampling per IPC/WHMA-A-620. Hi-pot testing for harnesses with insulation spec.
- Labeling and packaging. Heat-shrink labels, part number marking, ESD bag or bulk packaging per customer spec.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between JST PH and XH?
PH is 2.0 mm pitch, rated 2 A per pin. XH is 2.5 mm pitch, rated 3 A per pin. PH is the default for most consumer electronics at low power; XH is used for small battery packs, LED lighting, and anywhere the current goes above 2 A. They’re not interchangeable — the pin spacing is different, and a PH terminal won’t fit an XH housing.
Can you build JST harnesses with locking connectors?
Yes. SM series is the locking version of XH (same 2.5 mm pitch, adds mechanical lock). ZH has a locking variant too. Locking connectors are standard for automotive, industrial, and any application where vibration or accidental disconnect is a concern. Cost is slightly higher than non-locking versions.
Do you build harnesses for lithium battery packs?
Yes, this is a major category for us. XH for pack output wiring, EH for balance leads. We ESD-control the work area, verify polarity with visual inspection plus electrical check, and pull-test every crimp. For battery work specifically, we recommend locking connectors (SM over XH, GHR over GH) for vibration resistance.
Can you provide AEC-Q200 compliant JST harnesses for automotive?
Yes. Automotive JST work runs through IATF 16949 process with AEC-Q200 compliant wire and connectors. Wider temperature rating (-40 °C to +105 °C), PPAP documentation on request, and dedicated production cells for automotive programs.
What’s your MOQ for JST harness production?
100 sets for most production. Simple 2-pin PH harnesses can sometimes run at 200 pieces for better cost. Prototype batches of 10–50 pieces available with modest NRE. For high-volume programs (5,000+ sets), per-unit pricing drops significantly.
Do you use genuine JST or equivalent parts?
Both, per your spec. Genuine JST for programs that require JST traceability. Equivalent parts from JAE, JST-HK, KET, or Molex MicroClasp when cost is the priority and performance spec allows. Tell us your requirement — we’ll match. Gray-market “JST” parts from unverified channels we don’t use.
How do I know which JST series my design needs?
Start with target current — below 2 A use PH, 2–3 A use XH, above 3 A step up to VH for 10 A. Then check pitch constraints on your PCB or enclosure. For ultra-compact space, SH (1.0 mm) or GH (1.25 mm). Send us your current, pin count, and size constraint, and we’ll recommend.
Do you ship JST harnesses internationally?
Yes. Europe, the US, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East are regular destinations. FedEx, DHL, UPS for samples; ocean freight for production volumes. DDP, DAP, or EXW per preference.
Related Wire Harness Products
If you’re evaluating wire harness options for a specific application:
- Wire Harness — full overview of our wire harness capabilities.
- Molex Connector Harness — Molex MicroFit, MiniFit, and other Molex series for industrial and automotive.
- Automotive Wire Harness — IATF 16949 certified builds for Tier-1 and Tier-2 automotive.
- Battery Pack Harness — specialty lithium battery pack wiring with BMS integration.
- Cable Assembly — for signal-priority applications and precision interconnect.
Ready to Quote Your JST Harness Project?
Send us a drawing or describe what you need: JST series, pin count, wire AWG, branch structure, and approximate length. We’ll come back with a quote, tooling status, and lead time within 24 hours. From 100-piece prototypes to 50,000-unit production programs, JST harness is daily work here.