ANSI/EIA-364-13C-2006 
      Approved:  June 12, 2006             
EIA 
STANDARD 
 
TP-13C 
 
 
 
 MATING AND UNMATING FORCE TEST 
PROCEDURE FOR ELECTRICAL 
CONNECTORS 
 
 
 
 
 
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(Revision of EIA-364-13B) 
 EIA/ECA-364-13C 
 
 
 
JUNE  2006 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS SECTOR OF THE ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES ALLIANCE 
 
 
  
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regulatory limitations before its use. 
 
(From  Standards  Proposal  No.  5136  formulated  under  the  cognizance  of  the  CE-2.0 
National Connector Standards Committee. 
Published by 
©ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES ALLIANCE 2006 
Technology Strategy & Standards Department 
2500 Wilson Boulevard 
Arlington, VA 22201 
 
 
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i 
 
 
 
  
CONTENTS 
 
 
 
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 
Test resources  ........................................................................................................... 
Test specimen ............................................................................................................ 
Equipment ................................................................................................................. 
Scope ......................................................................................................................... 
Clause  
 
1 
 
1.1 
 
2 
 
2.1 
 
3 
 
3.1  Method A  .................................................................................................................. 
3.2  Method B  .................................................................................................................. 
 
4 
 
4.1  Method A  .................................................................................................................. 
4.2  Method B  .................................................................................................................. 
 
5 
 
6 
Test documentation ................................................................................................... 
Details to be specified ............................................................................................... 
Test procedure ........................................................................................................... 
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iii 
TEST PROCEDURE No. 13C 
MATING AND UNMATING FORCE TEST PROCEDURE 
EIA-364-13C 
Page 1 
 
FOR 
ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 
 
 
(From EIA Standards Proposal No. 5136, formulated under the cognizance EIA CE-2.0 Committee 
on National Connector Standards, and previously published in EIA-364-13B.) 
 
1  Introduction 
 
1.1  Scope 
 
This standard establishes a method to determine the forces required to mate and unmate electrical 
connectors or protective caps with connectors, connectors/sockets with gages or devices.  Unless 
otherwise specified in the referencing document, method A shall be used. 
 
2  Test resources 
 
2.1  Equipment 
 
The test equipment shall consist of: 
 
2.1.1  Mounting fixtures that allow the specimens to be mounted in their normal manner. 
 
2.1.2  Force or torque gages, of suitable range for the connector size under test, so that readings will 
be in the middle 50% of the scale, where practicable, with a nominal full scale accuracy of +2%. 
 
2.1.3  Attachments and accessory type equipment as required to mate the test specimens and attach 
the force or torque gages (arbor press, etc.). 
 
2.1.4  Gage(s) or device(s) to mate the connector/socket with (applicable to method B only). 
 
3  Test specimen 
 
3.1  Method A 
 
The specimen shall consist of a plug and a receptacle with all applicable contacts in place.  All 
applicable hardware shall be assembled to the specimen including skirts, hoods, cable clamps, 
jackscrews, guide pins or sockets unless otherwise specified.  The specimen shall not be lubricated 
or cleaned in any manner unless otherwise specified in the referencing document.  If applicable the 
specimen shall be terminated as specified in the referencing document. 
 
EIA-364-13C 
Page 2 
 
3.2  Method B 
 
The specimen shall consist of the connector/socket and the gage(s) or device(s) as specified in 
the referencing document.  Unless otherwise specified in the referencing document, all 
applicable contacts and hardware shall be installed including skirts, hoods, cable clamps, guide 
pins, etc.  The specimen shall not be lubricated or cleaned and active latches are to be 
deactivated unless otherwise specified in the referencing document.  If applicable, the specimen 
shall be terminated as specified in the referencing document. 
 
4  Test procedure 
 
4.1  Method A 
 
Unless otherwise specified, the specimen shall be mounted to mounting fixtures by the normal 
mounting means. 
 
4.1.1  Mating force 
 
4.1.1.1  The two mating connectors shall be brought to a position where mechanical mating begins 
and the force or torque gage is at zero indication. 
 
4.1.1.2  The connectors shall then be fully mated or coupled at a rate of 25.4 millimeters/minute, 
unless otherwise specified in the referencing document, and the peak force or torque required for 
mating shall be recorded. 
 
4.1.2  Unmating force 
 
The mated connectors shall be fully unmated at a  rate of 25.4 millimeters/minute, unless otherwise 
specified in the referencing document, and the peak force or torque required shall be recorded. 
 
4.2  Method B 
 
The fixtures required to hold the specimen and the specimen shall be attached to the force measuring 
system then the system shall be zeroed. 
 
4.2.1  Mating force  
 
4.2.1.1  The two mating components shall be brought to a position just before mechanical mating 
begins and the force measuring system is indicating zero. 
 
4.2.1.2    The  gage/device  shall  then  be  fully  mated  to  the  connector/socket  at  a  rate  of 
25.4 millimeters/minute, unless otherwise specified in the referencing document.  The peak force 
required for mating prior to bottoming shall be recorded. 
 
EIA-364-13C 
Page 3 
 
4.2.2  Unmating forces  
 
The  gage/device  shall  then  be  fully  unmated  from  the  connector/socket  at  a  rate  of 
25.4 millimeters/minute unless otherwise specified in the referencing document.  The peak force 
required for unmating shall be recorded. 
 
5  Details to be specified 
 
The following details shall be specified in the referencing document: 
 
5.1  Number of specimens to be tested 
 
5.2  Measurements to be made; mating force, unmating force, or both 
 
5.3  Rates of mating and unmating, if other than specified in 4.1.1.2, 4.1.2, 4.2.1.2 and 4.2.2 
 
5.4  Depth of mating if applicable 
 
5.5  Lubrication or cleaning, if required 
 
5.6  Wire type, gage, and length if applicable 
 
5.7  Applicable hardware 
 
5.8  Force or torque requirements 
 
5.9  Test conditions, if other than standard atmospheric 
 
5.10   Applicable  to  method  B  only:   Details  of  the  device(s)  or  gage(s)  to  be  used  for 
mating/unmating  to  the  connector/socket,  as  well  as  the method  and  frequency  of  cleaning,  if 
required 
 
6  Test documentation 
 
Documentation  shall  contain  the  details  specified  in  clause  5,  with  any  exceptions,  and  the 
following: 
 
6.1  Title of test 
 
6.2  Specimen 
 
6.3  If applicable, fixturing,  gage details and gage part number 
 
6.4  Test equipment used, and date of last and next calibration 
 
6.5  Test procedure and method, if other than method A 
 
6.6  Values and observation 
 
6.7  Name of operator and date of test 
description 
applicable 
if 
including 
part 
number