A request for “two-pin DEUTSCH connectors” does not define a purchasable sealed connection. A complete interface can include two mating housings, different pin and socket contacts, a wedgelock for each housing, the correct wire-seal construction, sealing plugs for unused cavities, optional caps or backshells, and controlled tooling. The cavity count can be right while the contact gender, key, seal range or mating half is wrong.
This guide uses current TE Connectivity records for the DEUTSCH DT family and a standard gray two-position example to show how to build an evidence-based RFQ. It does not treat DTM, DTP, HD or visually similar products as interchangeable. It also does not establish suitability for a vehicle, current, environment or regulatory market. The responsible designer must approve the electrical architecture, connector configuration, validation plan and applicable requirements.
The emphasis is the complete BOM and sealed mating interface. For detailed contact-latch and secondary-lock inspection, use the separate terminal retention, TPA and secondary-lock guide. For cavity numbering and viewpoint control, use the harness pinout and cavity-view guide. Those topics remain important, but neither one replaces the part-by-part compatibility evidence developed here.
Translate the circuit interface into two controlled connector sides
Name the sides by function in the equipment, such as controller side J1 and pump-harness side P1. Then list the TE housing description and contact type on each side. Words such as male, female, plug and receptacle can refer to the housing, contact or mating interface in different organizations. Part numbers and manufacturer descriptions remove that ambiguity.
For a standard two-position example, TE’s current DT04-2P product record describes a gray, sealable, two-position wire-to-wire housing for male terminals. TE’s current DT06-2S record describes a gray, sealable, two-position wire-to-wire housing for female terminals. The records identify them as DEUTSCH DT products and link the current drawings and application specification 114-151009.
Do not shorten that pair to “male and female DT.” A drawing or RFQ row should say, for example:
- J1 housing: TE DT04-2P, housing for male terminals, standard gray two-position configuration;
- J1 contact in each populated cavity: approved size 16 pin contact for the exact wire;
- J1 secondary lock: TE W2P, if the standard housing/document combination calls for that part;
- P1 housing: TE DT06-2S, housing for female terminals, standard gray two-position configuration;
- P1 contact in each populated cavity: approved size 16 socket contact for the exact wire;
- P1 secondary lock: TE W2S for the base standard DT06-2S, as mapped in TE's current connector selector, subject to the exact housing drawing and compatible-parts check.
This is an illustrative decomposition, not an authorization to order. The latest product drawing, application specification, compatible-parts data and project requirements control. TE’s product pages also tell users to use the product drawing for design activity, so the buyer should retain that drawing with the approved BOM rather than relying only on a sales description.
Build the BOM by function, not by one kit name
Kits can be convenient, but a kit name can hide its contents. Ask the supplier to explode every offered set into manufacturer part numbers, quantities and packaging state. Use a table like this for each connection:
On small screens, swipe or scroll sideways to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table and use the arrow keys.
| BOM function | Side J1 required field | Side P1 required field | Evidence needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | Complete order code, position count, key/color, seal construction | Complete order code, matching position count, key/color, seal construction | Current product page and drawing for both halves |
| Contacts | Pin part number, plating, wire and insulation range, quantity | Socket part number, matching interface/plating, wire and insulation range, quantity | Contact drawing and application specification |
| Secondary locks | Exact wedgelock code and quantity | Exact wedgelock code and quantity | Housing/wedgelock compatibility table or drawing |
| Rear sealing | Standard or reduced-diameter/E-seal housing variant and wire OD band | Same fields for the other wire | Exact housing suffix and seal-range source |
| Empty cavities | Approved sealing-plug code and quantity | Approved sealing-plug code and quantity | Current DT catalogue row for the seal variant |
| Interface seal | Included housing feature or service part, as applicable | Included housing feature or service part, as applicable | Housing drawing; do not assume it is loose or separately ordered |
| Routing accessories | Backshell, boot, cap, mounting clip or none | Same, with direction and tube size if used | Accessory table tied to position count and housing style |
| Process | Crimp tooling, insertion/removal tools and work instruction | Same | Contact and housing application specifications |
If a distributor sells a “DT04-2P kit,” require a packing list that distinguishes genuine manufacturer parts, distributor-added contacts, seals and tools. A price comparison is meaningful only when bidders quote the same controlled BOM. Product authenticity and authorized distribution, when required, need separate commercial evidence.
TE’s current DEUTSCH DT family page says the family accepts size 16 contacts, lists 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12 cavity arrangements, and identifies wedgelocks as the parts that assure contact alignment and retention. It also lists optional backshells, boots, dust caps, gaskets and mounting clips. This family overview helps identify BOM categories. It does not show that every accessory fits every housing suffix.
Match each contact to conductor and insulation geometry
“Size 16 contact” identifies an interface size, not one universal crimp barrel. Wire gauge, conductor construction, insulation diameter, contact fabrication, plating and packaging can change the part number. The selected pin and socket also need compatible mating-interface materials and the application tooling defined for those contacts.
As a model-scoped example, TE’s current 1060-16-0122 pin-terminal page identifies a stamped-and-formed size 16 pin terminal for 18–14 AWG, 0.75–2 mm² copper wire, with nickel interface plating. Its product drawing title identifies a 0.075–0.140 inch insulation range. The corresponding current 1062-16-0122 socket-terminal page identifies a stamped-and-formed size 16 socket terminal for the same 18–14 AWG and 0.75–2 mm² range, nickel interface plating and a compatible insulation-diameter range of about 1.9–3.6 mm.
Those part numbers are examples of a defined pin/socket pair. They are not a default for all DT assemblies. TE’s current stamped-and-formed contact datasheet lists several size 16 contact rows with different wire and insulation ranges and several interface finishes. It also distinguishes product specification 108-151000 from application specifications for particular contact groups. A buyer must select the row that covers the actual wire and then approve its tooling.
Record at least these contact fields:
- manufacturer and full pin or socket order code;
- contact size and fabrication type, such as stamped-and-formed or solid;
- conductor material, cross-sectional area, strand construction and finished conductor tolerance;
- insulation material and minimum/maximum outside diameter;
- contact interface and termination-area plating;
- strip length, crimp heights or other process values from the current application specification;
- applicator, die, hand tool and locator identities, including revision where controlled;
- lot traceability and any project-defined crimp inspection or test.
The cable-lug crimp tooling, pull-test and cross-section guide explains why tooling identity and test acceptance need a controlled technical source. It addresses a broader crimp-procurement method; it does not supply acceptance values for these DT contacts. Use TE’s exact contact application specification and the project quality plan for those values.
Current capacity must also remain a system calculation. The DT family page describes size 16 contacts as rated to 13 A, and the cited example contact pages state a typical 13 A rating. That does not authorize 13 A in every cavity, bundle, ambient, wire size or duty. Ask the designer to document circuit current, temperature, grouping, voltage drop, protective coordination and any derating. Do not use the family headline as a harness-level ampacity guarantee.
Check rear-grommet range against finished wire diameter
The rear seal contacts the wire insulation, so conductor gauge alone is insufficient. TE’s official DEUTSCH product catalogue gives reference rear-grommet sealing ranges for DT, DTM and DTP. For size 16, it lists 2.23–3.68 mm for a standard seal and 1.35–3.05 mm for an extra-thin E-seal, while directing users to drawings 0425-016-0000 and 0425-021-0000 for full specifications. Treat those catalogue values as a screening reference, then use the exact housing drawing and controlled wire tolerance for release.
The current DT inline connector catalogue, revision 08-25 distinguishes N-seal and E-seal housing order codes. For example, its two-position plug table lists DT06-2S-C015 among E-seal variants, while the standard DT06-2S page describes the base standard part. A suffix is therefore functional BOM data, not an optional purchasing abbreviation.
For every wire, compare the full finished insulation diameter band to the seal band. Then compare the same wire to the chosen contact’s insulation range. These are two different checks:
- Contact-barrel fit: can the contact and crimp process accommodate the conductor and insulation geometry?
- Rear-grommet seal: does the housing’s seal construction cover the finished wire outside diameter under its stated conditions?
A thin-wall wire can fit the conductor barrel but fall below a standard grommet range. A thick-wall wire can fit a conductor-gauge description yet exceed the contact’s insulation support or rear seal. Choose a documented contact/housing combination; do not add tape, heat-shrink or an improvised sleeve at the seal unless TE explicitly approves that construction for the exact configuration.
The battery-cable insulation and jacket environment guide provides a method for defining insulation material and environment. For DT procurement, add the exact finished wire outside-diameter tolerance and compatibility with the connector’s silicone seal. Chemical resistance and temperature suitability need application-specific review.
Pair the correct wedgelock with each housing
The standard two-position housings do not use one shared wedgelock. TE's current W2P product record describes W2P as a green, two-position secondary lock for a DT receptacle/pin housing. TE's current W2S product record describes W2S as an orange, standard two-position secondary lock for a DT plug, and TE's current ICT connector selector maps the base DT06-2S to W2S. The selector maps W2S-P012 only to named plug suffixes that it explicitly describes as enhanced seal retention, including DT06-2S-P012; TE's current W2S-P012 product record identifies that item as the green two-position plug secondary lock for that seal-retention configuration. A reduced-diameter seal alone does not trigger the P012 lock: the same selector maps DT06-2S-C015 to W2S. These records show why a wedgelock code from another housing suffix should not be copied without checking the current selector, drawing and compatible-parts data.
The RFQ should ask whether the wedgelock is included with the housing, packed separately or omitted from the quoted line. It should also require its manufacturer code and quantity. Color can help visual control after the code is established, but color alone is not identity. Modified keys and enhanced-seal-retention versions can use other wedgelock suffixes.
This guide does not repeat the full terminal-seating inspection process. At minimum, the work instruction should cover correct cavity orientation, insertion until the primary feature engages, the manufacturer-defined pull-back or seating check, and wedgelock installation to its final position. The linked retention guide explains how to separate the primary terminal latch from the secondary lock so an inspector does not mistake an installed wedgelock for proof that every terminal is seated.
Seal every deliberately unused cavity with the approved plug
A multi-position housing may contain spare circuits. “No terminal” is not the same as “sealed cavity.” The current DT inline catalogue explicitly states that open cavities provide paths for contaminants and that every unused cavity must receive the appropriate size sealing plug to maintain seal integrity. Its table lists plug choices by N-seal or E-seal use, including 114017-ZZ for N-seal and E-seal configurations and other variant-specific codes.
The current 114017-ZZ product page identifies that item as a white PBT GF30 size 12/16 sealing plug. Its broader family labels on the page are a reminder to use the DT catalogue and exact housing documents together; the product page alone does not prove placement in every DT variant. Quote the plug because the current DT catalogue maps it to the intended seal construction, then verify the drawing and assembly instruction.
Create a cavity population table for both halves:
On small screens, swipe or scroll sideways to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table and use the arrow keys.
| Cavity | J1 content | P1 content | Circuit status | Required record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pin contact part number and wire ID | Socket contact part number and wire ID | Active | Pinout, crimp lot and insertion inspection |
| 2 | Approved sealing plug code or contact | Matching approved plug or contact as design requires | Spare or active | Plug code and insertion inspection, or full circuit data |
Do not assume a plug is needed in the same cavity on both halves without reviewing how each half is used. A header, potted device, service cap or other interface can change the BOM. Define every cavity on every separate connector item.
A protective dust cap serves another purpose. The DT catalogue lists caps intended to protect unmated interfaces from contamination, but a dust cap is not an unused-cavity plug. Similarly, a boot or backshell does not fill an open rear grommet hole. Put these items on separate BOM rows with separate functions.
Control mating key, color and modified suffixes
Two housings with the same position count may still have different keys or feature variants. The current DT inline catalogue lists standard and A, B, C or D key/color configurations for several cavity counts and also distinguishes enhanced keys. A buyer should define the exact mating pair through drawings or TE compatibility data, not by matching colors from photographs.
Key control belongs in both the electrical architecture and service plan. If a machine has several two-position DT interfaces nearby, use the approved mechanical coding and labels to prevent cross-mating. Do not claim a key is unique across a whole facility without checking every interface. A color can fade, be obscured or be reproduced by another component; the molded mechanical geometry and part code are the controlling evidence.
Modified housing suffixes can indicate reduced-diameter seals, caps, enhanced seal retention, shrink-boot adapters, special materials, keys or integrated components. They can also change the correct wedgelock or accessory. Require the supplier to decode every suffix using a current manufacturer document. “Equivalent to DT06-2S” is an unresolved statement until the complete offered code is mapped to the mating housing, contacts, seals and accessories.
Keep environmental ratings inside their documented configuration
TE’s DT family page says silicone rear wire and interface seals provide protection up to IP68 and emphasizes that proper parts, procedures and tooling must be used. The current DT inline catalogue also promotes specific IP67, IP68 and IP6K9K sealing levels with a backshell. Those are manufacturer statements for defined product configurations. They do not make every assembled kit or unmated connector suitable for every washdown, immersion or chemical exposure.
Ask for the exact test or product-document scope that applies to the offered housing suffix, wire range, cavity plugs, backshell and mating condition. The IP67 versus IP68 procurement guide explains why test depth, duration, pressure and configuration matter. Also define what protects the interface while it is unmated in storage, assembly and service.
Environmental approval should cover wire insulation and seal compatibility, temperature, fluids, UV exposure if relevant, pressure washing, vibration, strain relief, mounting and service cycles. A backshell may add routing or protection, but its presence does not relieve the harness design from controlling cable load. Use the cable assembly strain-relief guide to specify support and bend geometry outside the connector.
Use a bounded hypothetical BOM comparison
Consider a hypothetical purchasing screen, not a design recommendation. A two-circuit 24 V harness uses two identical 16 AWG copper wires. The controlled wire drawing gives a finished insulation diameter of 2.05–2.20 mm. Both circuits are populated. The approved interface calls for standard gray DT04-2P and DT06-2S housings, nickel-plated stamped-and-formed contacts suitable for the wire, and the standard matching keys.
Bid A offers base DT04-2P and DT06-2S housings, the selector-mapped W2P and W2S wedgelocks, and contact codes 1060-16-0122 and 1062-16-0122. The cited contact insulation range of about 1.9–3.6 mm contains the full 2.05–2.20 mm wire band. The contact wire range also includes 16 AWG. These comparisons close only the paper geometry screen. Crimp tooling, strip length, current/temperature design and assembly validation remain open.
The standard size 16 rear-grommet reference begins at 2.23 mm. The hypothetical wire maximum is 2.20 mm, which is 0.03 mm below that reference lower limit. That very small numerical difference is still outside the stated reference band; tolerance does not become optional because the miss looks small. The E-seal reference of 1.35–3.05 mm contains the wire band, so the buyer asks Bid A to revise to an exact documented E-seal housing suffix and the wedgelock mapped to that suffix. The selector maps reduced-diameter DT06-2S-C015 to W2S, while explicitly enhanced-seal-retention DT06-2S-P012 maps to W2S-P012; this hypothetical does not choose between them. The buyer does not insert tape or approve the standard seal by judgment.
Bid B quotes “DT two-way kit, fits 14–20 AWG” without housing suffixes, contact part numbers, wedgelocks or seal construction. Its gauge statement cannot answer the 2.05–2.20 mm rear-seal check. Bid B remains on hold even if its unit price is lower.
Bid C provides E-seal housings and compatible contact codes but supplies only one wedgelock per mating pair. A complete connection requires the correct retention accessory for each applicable housing. Bid C also omits a cavity table. Because both hypothetical circuits are populated, cavity plugs are not required for this particular two-position pair, but that conclusion must appear in the BOM rather than being guessed during assembly.
No bid is approved by this example. Bid A has the clearest path after revising the housing configuration and confirming compatible parts. The final selection still needs the current drawings, crimp application specification, electrical design review, samples and project validation.
Compare bids with a release table
On small screens, swipe or scroll sideways to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table and use the arrow keys.
| RFQ decision | Evidence to request | Release condition | Reason to hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mating housings | Both complete codes, drawings, position count, key and seal variant | Manufacturer evidence shows an intended mating interface | “Two-way DT pair” without exact halves |
| Contacts | Pin/socket codes, wire and insulation ranges, plating and drawings | Both contacts cover controlled wires and form an approved interface | Gauge only, mixed plating unexplained or one contact code |
| Wedgelocks | Code and quantity for each housing | Correct variant appears on BOM and assembly instruction | Color only, shared lock assumption or omitted half |
| Rear seals | Housing suffix and full wire OD tolerance | Entire tolerance band lies within exact seal configuration | Nominal OD or conductor gauge substituted |
| Empty cavities | Population table and approved plug code | Every unused cavity receives documented treatment | Open cavity or generic rubber plug |
| Keying | Mechanical key, color and mating confirmation | Architecture prevents intended cross-mates and pair is documented | Photograph or color name alone |
| Accessories | Backshell, boot, cap, clip and their functions | Each accessory is compatible with exact housing variant | Optional accessory assumed included or used as a seal substitute |
| Process | Tooling, crimp instruction, insertion and lock steps | Current manufacturer process is translated into controlled work instruction | Universal crimper or verbal assembly method |
| Verification | First article, pinout, dimensional and test records | Acceptance plan covers specified features without inventing ratings | Visual check claimed as IP or electrical validation |
| Change control | Controlled BOM and deviation notice | Every substitution receives interface review | Unannounced “DT compatible” kit substitution |
Build the purchase and verification sequence
1. Issue the interface-control drawing
Show both connector faces with viewpoint labels, cavity numbers, circuit IDs, wire codes, contact gender and housing part numbers. State the mating key, latch orientation, mounting and unmated protection. A photograph can support the drawing but should not replace it.
2. Request the full manufacturer BOM
Require separate rows for housings, pin contacts, socket contacts, wedgelocks, cavity plugs and accessories. Ask whether each item arrives loose, installed or in bulk packaging. Require current product drawings and the applicable housing and contact application specifications.
3. Approve wire, contact, seal and tool as one process
Compare conductor and insulation tolerances to the exact contact. Compare finished wire OD to the exact rear-seal construction. Approve crimp tooling and process parameters through the current manufacturer specification. Record any splices, labels, boots or tubing that could load the connector.
4. Build a representative mated pair
Inspect markings, keys, seal variant, cavity population, contact crimps, insertion, wedgelock position, mating latch and routing. Use the harness continuity, insulation-resistance and hipot guide to define electrical tests carefully; do not apply a hipot value or method unless the approved product and end-equipment procedure supports it.
5. Control production and service parts
At receiving and assembly, verify all order codes and lot records under the agreed sampling plan. Keep replacement contacts, wedgelocks, sealing plugs and removal tools identified. Require notice before changing housing suffix, key, color, resin, seal, contact fabrication or plating, wire, cavity population, tool, backshell or supplier source.
Send a complete DEUTSCH DT connector RFQ
Provide the interface drawing, circuit and current schedule, both mating housing codes or required configuration, cavity count and population, pin/socket contact requirements, wire conductor and insulation tolerances, rear-seal variant, wedgelocks, unused-cavity treatment, keying, accessories, environment, tooling and validation requirements. Ask for the exploded manufacturer BOM, current drawings and application specifications, exact deviations, sample plan, packaging, traceability, price, MOQ, lead time and change-notice terms. Authenticity, availability, compliance scope, price, MOQ, lead time and production capability require written supplier confirmation for the quoted parts; this article makes no such claim for SINAWATTS.
Send a DEUTSCH DT connector RFQ
Buyer FAQ
Are DT04-2P and DT06-2S complete connectors by themselves?
No. They identify housing halves in the example. A usable wire-to-wire pair also needs the correct pin and socket contacts, compatible wedgelocks and a controlled seal/cavity configuration. Accessories and cavity plugs depend on the application.
Can one wedgelock be used for both halves?
No for the standard example. TE's current connector selector maps W2P to the base DT04-2P receptacle/pin housing and W2S to the base DT06-2S plug/socket housing. It maps W2S-P012 only to named enhanced-seal-retention plug suffixes. Modified housing versions and keys can use other codes, so verify the exact pair against the current documents.
Is 16 AWG enough information to choose a contact and housing seal?
No. Select the contact using conductor and insulation geometry plus the manufacturer specification. Select the rear seal using the full finished wire outside-diameter tolerance and exact housing variant. Gauge cannot replace either check.
Must an unused cavity contain a terminal?
Not necessarily. The current DT catalogue instructs users to install the appropriate sealing plug in unused cavities to preserve seal integrity. Use the plug listed for the exact N-seal or E-seal configuration; do not insert an unconnected terminal as an undocumented substitute.
Is a dust cap the same as a cavity sealing plug?
No. A dust cap protects an unmated connector interface. A cavity plug closes an unused wire-entry cavity. They appear as different BOM items and have different placement and evidence.
Does an IP68 family claim cover a connector assembled with any wire?
No. Verify the exact housing, wire-diameter range, contacts, cavity plugs, backshell if required, mating state and assembly procedure covered by the manufacturer evidence. Then apply the project’s environmental validation plan.
Can solid and stamped-and-formed contacts be substituted freely?
Do not assume so. They can have different part numbers, wire ranges, plating and tooling. Use the exact contact drawing and application specification, then obtain approval for any change in fabrication type.
When must the connector BOM be reviewed again?
Review it after a change to circuit count, current, wire gauge or insulation diameter, housing suffix, key, color, contact part or plating, seal construction, cavity population, wedgelock, cavity plug, accessory, crimp tooling, environment or mating device. Recheck both sides of the interface even if only one harness drawing changed.