Designators
Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: General
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: general topics not related to other forums
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1622
Printed Date: 03 Nov 2025 at 8:20pm
Topic: Designators
Posted By: JJonas
Subject: Designators
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 2:27pm
Could anyone please specify what are the correct designators for the following parts? Some would use J? for all those parts, because they are the least-movable parts of a connector. However, some use, for example, JP? for [1], X? for [2], P? for [3], XP? for [5] and TB? for [7].
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Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 3:10pm
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J = Jack (Female) P = Plug (Male) Standard Reference Designators (download) - http://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/reference-designators_topic728.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/reference-designators_topic728.html
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Posted By: JJonas
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 3:27pm
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Tom, I know that, but it does not make thing very clear to me. Also, X = Socket and hence XP - Female socket Tom, so you would use J? for [1], [2] and [8] and P? for all the rest? You would not use X? designator? I have checked PCB designs from well know companies as TI and Analog, I have also checked provided libraries by connector manufacturers and they all were using different designators for the same type of components. If such big players cannot get it right it is likely not that obvious.
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Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 3:31pm
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You are correct. J = 1, 2 & 8 P = all the rest X = Socket and 99.9% of all sockets are female. I don't know of any socket plugs but there might be one, so I didn't put 100%. ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: JJonas
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 3:58pm
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Ok, thank you. Can you please provide any examples (part numbers) where you would use X? designator? For example, Wago and Phoenix is using X? designator for all their terminal blocks. So they are doing it wrong then...
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Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 6:15pm
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I perfect example of the ref des "X" is a https://www.google.com/search?q=dip+socket&biw=2065&bih=1004&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OVEXVbuPJIyyogTVmYHYBA&sqi=2&ved=0CD4QsAQ&dpr=0.93" rel="nofollow - DIP Socket ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: JJonas
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2015 at 4:28am
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What about this connector, would you suggest using J? or P? designator?  Also, I took a look at what designators are Agilent and Keithley using in their hi-end products. As you can see, they avoid P? and use J? instead. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7606/16584505777_201128fea6_o_d.jpg" rel="nofollow - https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7606/16584505777_201128fea6_o_d.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8606/16622193546_90f17c3032_o_d.jpg" rel="nofollow - https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8606/16622193546_90f17c3032_o_d.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/16217307836_a92ef747d9_o_d.jpg" rel="nofollow - https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/16217307836_a92ef747d9_o_d.jpg |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2015 at 4:41am
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In the case where the connector has a dual sex, J is used more often. I've seen EE engineers use J for every connector whether it's Male or Female. J is far more popular than P. ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Matthew Lamkin
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2015 at 3:49pm
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If its got pins sticking out its a plug so 1 & 2 are P##\PL##. The rest are sockets S##\SK## (with possibly the exception of #6) as something is inserted into the pins. IMO calling things a "jack" is misguided, its historical and does not match the plug. You have a plug and a socket that the plug - plugs into. Jack is a little lad that went up a hill with his girlfriend Jill. :) That multi connector is awkward so I'd go off what the majority is - socket. |