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Importing Connectors from TE Connectivity

Wiringly features direct on-demand integration with the TE Connectivity Catalog. Instead of manually typing technical specifications, downloading datasheets, and transcribing terminal contact tables, you can search and import complete automotive and motorsport connectors with a single click.

Instant Bill of Materials (BOM) Automation

Importing from the TE Connectivity catalog automatically links compatible terminals, wedgelocks (TPA), wire cavity seals, and cavity plugs. When you route wires on the canvas, Wiringly cross-references wire gauges to populate the exact terminal part numbers in your project BOM.

Why Use the TE Catalog Import?​

Building accurate harness designs requires precise mechanical dimensions and exact procurement data. The TE Connectivity Import eliminates common manual errors by auto-extracting:

  1. Exact 3D Physical Dimensions: Width, height, and length in millimeters for 1:1 scale formboard printing and bundle length calculation.
  2. High-Resolution Photography: Multi-angle studio images (front face, 3/4 isometric, side view) directly from the manufacturer.
  3. Mating Wedgelocks & Secondary Locks: Automatic association of Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) part numbers (e.g., W2S for DT06-2S).
  4. Contact Family Grouping: Terminals are automatically categorized into industry-standard contact families (e.g., DEUTSCH Size 16/20/12, AMP MCP 1.5K / 2.8, Superseal 1.5, MQS).
  5. Contact Plating & Style Recognition: Auto-detection of Gold (Au), Nickel (Ni), Tin (Sn), or Silver (Ag) platings, as well as Solid Machined vs. Stamped & Formed construction.
  6. Cavity Seals & Blind Plugs: Associated wire seals matched to insulation outer diameters (OD) and cavity plugs to preserve IP67/IP68 environmental ratings.

Step-by-Step Import Workflow​

  1. Navigate to the Component Library from the main navigation sidebar.
  2. Click the Search TE Catalog button located in the library header bar.
  3. The catalog modal opens, connected to the live TE on-demand database.

2. Search by Part Number, Series, or Keyword​

Enter your query in the top search field:

  • Manufacturer Part Numbers (MPN): e.g., DT06-2S, DT04-4P, 284703-1, 776164-1, 1-967616-2.
  • Series Names: e.g., DEUTSCH DT, AMPSEAL 16, AMP MCP 2.8, Superseal 1.5, Junior Power Timer.
  • Key Specs: e.g., 2-pin plug, 12-way receptacle.

The search runs in real time, querying the live TE catalog and displaying matching results in a responsive grid.

3. Review Component Specifications​

Each card in the search results displays a comprehensive engineering summary:

FieldDescriptionExample
Part NumberOrderable MPN & TE internal part number (TCPN)DT06-2S (DT06-2S-E004)
SeriesProduct family nameDEUTSCH DT, AMP MCP
Pin CountTotal number of terminal cavities / positions2-Pin, 6-Pin, 12-Pin
DimensionsMeasured Width × Length × Height in millimeters15.0 × 28.5 × 16.0 mm
IP RatingIngress environmental sealing standardIP67, IP68, IP69K
Accessories BadgeNumber of auto-detected compatible parts+14 accessories

4. Click "Import Part"​

Click the orange Import Part button on the desired connector card.

Wiringly immediately converts the manufacturer data into the 6-step connector creation wizard (UserConnectorEditor):

  • Basic Info: Pre-fills Part Number, Name, Manufacturer, Gender, Pin Count, 3D Dimensions, and Wedgelock.
  • Picture: Pre-loads manufacturer photography and displays thumbnail view selectors for all available camera angles.
  • Pin Info: Initializes the cavity list with matching position numbers.
  • Terminals: Populates all compatible contacts grouped by family, with wire gauge ranges (min/max mm²) and auto-selected preferred contacts.
  • Seals: Populates matching cavity wire seals with insulation outer diameter ranges (min/max mm).
  • Cavity Plugs: Populates matching blind sealing plugs.

5. Calibrate the Visual Crop & Wire Exit Line (Mandatory)​

Calibration Required Before Saving

Although manufacturer CAD dimensions are exact, catalog photographs contain varying camera borders, background padding, and perspective angles. To guarantee that the connector displays at a true 1:1 scale on your workbench formboard, you must calibrate the image crop before saving.

  1. In the connector editor, click on the Picture tab.
  2. If multiple camera views were imported from TE, click on your preferred viewing angle thumbnail (e.g., face view or top view).
  3. Click the pulsing Edit Crop (Required) button.
  4. Step 1 — Crop & Calibrate Physical Scale (ImageCropper):
    • Trace the connector body using the polygon tool, or use the automatic high-contrast edge-detection contour finder.
    • Verify the dimension lines match the imported millimeter dimensions (Width, Length, Height).
    • Click Next / Save Crop.
  5. Step 2 — Set Wire Exit Line & Bundle Vector (ConnectionSurfaceEditor):
    • Connection Line: Click and drag across the connector face where the wire bundle physically connects to the housing.
    • Bundle Vector: Set the directional arrow indicating wire exit trajectory (e.g., straight backward or 90° elbow bend).
    • Click Save Surface.

A green badge ✓ Crop & Wire Exit Line calibrated will appear, indicating your connector is ready for production.

6. Save to Library & Place on Canvas​

Click Create Connector in the bottom-right corner.

The connector is permanently saved to your Component Library and is ready to use:

  • Drag and drop the connector directly onto the Harness Canvas.
  • Connect wires of any gauge (e.g., 0.5 mm² to 1.5 mm²).
  • Wiringly automatically assigns the matching terminal contact part number and cavity seal in your project Bill of Materials (BOM).

Contact Families & Terminal Grouping​

Connectors often accept multiple contact sizes or contact families depending on the cavity position. When importing from TE Connectivity, Wiringly groups compatible contacts into intelligent families:

[Imported TE Connector]
    ├── Basic Info (MPN, Wedgelock, 3D Dimensions)
    ├── Terminal Groups (Organized by Contact Family)
    │     ├── DEUTSCH Size 16 (0.5 - 1.5 mm²) ── Preferred: Ni / Solid
    │     ├── DEUTSCH Size 16 Gold (0.5 - 1.5 mm²) ── Telemetry / CAN
    │     └── AMP MCP 2.8 (1.5 - 2.5 mm²) ── Power Feed
    ├── Cavity Wire Seals (Organized by Wire OD)
    │     ├── Wire OD 1.4 - 2.1 mm (Standard TXL / FLRY)
    │     └── Wire OD 2.2 - 3.0 mm (Heavy Wall / Raychem Spec 55)
    └── Cavity Sealing Plugs (Blind Plugs for Unused Cavities)

Overriding Preferred Terminals​

Wiringly automatically marks the most common terminal in each family as Preferred (⭐). If your shop standardizes on a specific plating (e.g. Gold for motorsport reliability) or construction style:

  1. Open the Terminals tab in the wizard.
  2. Select your preferred plating filter (Au, Ni, Sn, Ag).
  3. Click the star icon next to the specific terminal contact you wish to set as default for that wire size.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Can I import splices and ring terminals?​

Yes. If you search for splice crimps or ring terminals in the TE Catalog, Wiringly recognizes the category and sets the component kind to splice or ring_terminal accordingly.

What if TE lists multiple camera angles for a connector?​

All available camera angles from the TE product documentation are imported. In the Picture tab, you can click any thumbnail to preview and switch angles before performing the final crop calibration.

Does the TE import overwrite existing parts in my library?​

No. Imported parts are created as new items in your personal library. If you already have a part with the same MPN, you can update it or create a new variation.

Next Steps​