Skip to main content

Leading Advancements in Washing Machines

With each model update, washing machines integrate new user interface (UI) features and more advanced sensors. Design engineers need to fit greater functionality into the same compact spaces, while ensuring durable connections in high-vibration conditions and meeting increasing benchmarks for energy efficiency. Innovative, miniaturized, high-density connectors from Molex help address these challenges, offering efficient reliability during demanding wash cycles while enabling greater design flexibility and faster assembly.

Designing Washing Machines – Constraints in Connectivity

When integrating new UI features, precise sensors or energy-efficient smart dispensers into washing machine designs, engineers encounter a multitude of challenges. 

More electronic features often result in a congestion of cabling and controls within limited space. Additional connections may also take up real estate on printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are costly to expand. Throughout the machine, reliable and durable interconnects are needed to withstand demanding wash cycles over a lifetime of use. 

Molex provides appliance designers with a comprehensive set of robust sub-assembly connectors that maximize design flexibility while minimizing space. These compact components are proven to persevere in high-vibration environments with design features like positive locks and terminal position assurance (TPA) to maintain precise alignment and connection integrity.  

These innovative solutions go further than making washing machines better products — they help accelerate production processes to support faster time to market. Easy-to-assemble Molex solutions that help prevent mis-mating are the right choice for short design cycles in a constantly evolving appliance marketplace.   

Featured Products

Control Board Connectors

With the rising demand for advanced washing machine features, design engineers are tasked with adding more signal connections while keeping PCB size in check to minimize costs. Leveraging connectors that take up less PCB real estate and offer a variety of options can help engineers achieve greater design flexibility.

 

Configuration

Pitch

Circuits

Orientation

Max. Current Rating
RAST Connectors Wire-to-board 2.50mm
5.00mm		 2 to 20 Right-angle
Vertical		 16.0A
Micro-One Connectors Wire-to-board 2.00mm 2 to 8 Right-angle
Vertical		 4.0A
DuraClik Connectors Wire-to-board 2.00mm 2 to 15 Right-angle
Vertical		 3.0A
KK Plus Connectors Wire-to-board 2.50mm
3.00mm
3.96mm		 2 to 8 Vertical 11.0A
Nano-Fit Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 2.50mm 2 to 16 Right-angle
Vertical		 8.0A
Mini-Lock Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 2.50mm 2 to 15 Right-angle
Vertical		 3.5A
Micro-Fit+ Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 3.00mm 2 to 24 Right-angle
Vertical		 13.0A
Mini-Fit Connectors Board-to-board
Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 4.20mm 2 to 40 Right-angle
Vertical		 20.5A
CP 6.5 Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 6.50mm 2 to 6 Right-angle
Vertical		 12.5A
Mega-Fit Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 5.70mm 2 to 12 Right-angle
Vertical		 30.0A

Control Panel and User Interface Connectors

Today's washing machines have an increasing number of modes, features and settings. Creating a UI that handles all these functions without overcrowding the control panel or presenting too much complexity to the user remains an ongoing challenge. UI components with intuitive haptic touch controls give users clear multi-screen options, while their compact footprint supports higher PCB design density.

  Configuration Pitch Actuator Style Circuits
FFC/FPC Connectors Wire-to-board 0.20 to 2.00mm Front flip, back flip, non-ZIF, slider, flexi-latch, one-touch 2 to 120
Premo-Flex Flat-Flexible Cable (FFC) Cable 0.25 to 2.54mm   3 to 120
  Configuration Pitch Circuits Max. Current Rating
Micro-Lock Plus Connectors Wire-to-board 1.25mm
2.00mm		 2 to 42
2 to 16		 3.6A
4.7A
DuraClik Connectors Wire-to-board 2.00mm 2 to 15 3.0A
Micro-One Connectors Wire-to-board 2.00mm 2 to 8 4.0A
Mini-Lock Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 2.50mm 2 to 15 3.5A
KK Plus Connectors Wire-to-board 2.50mm
3.00mm
3.96mm		 2 to 8 11.0A
Micro-Fit+ Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 3.00mm 2 to 24 13.0A

User Interface Solutions

User interface solutions offer a variety of options for washing machine applications. 

Explore Custom UI Solutions

Wire Harnesses

Consumer expectations for frequent model changes and upgrades pose a challenge for OEMs, as rapid market delivery is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. Using pre-assembled cable harnesses that are compatible with a range of models can streamline the design process and accelerate time to market.

  Pitch Circuits Max. Current Rating 
Mini-Fit Cable Assemblies 4.20mm 2 to 40 20.5A
Micro-One Cable Assemblies 2.00mm 2 to 8 4.0A
Nano-Fit Cable Assemblies 2.50mm 2 to 16 8.0A
Mini-Lock Cable Assemblies 2.50mm 2 to 15 3.5A
KK Plus Cable Assemblies 2.50mm
3.00mm
3.96mm		 2 to 8 11.0A
Micro-Fit+ Cable Assemblies 3.00mm
 2 to 24 13.0A
Mega-Fit Cable Assemblies 5.70mm 2 to 12 30.0A

Custom Cable Assembly Solutions

Custom cable assemblies and wire harnesses offer a variety of configuration options to support complex washing machine component design.

Explore Custom Cable Assemblies

Connectors for Drum and Tub Systems

High vibration washing machine cycles can cause connections to loosen over time. To mitigate this risk, design engineers look to select connectors with positive locks, TPA, and enhanced wire termination and retention. These features help ensure that connection points stay securely mated under high-vibration conditions.

  Configuration Pitch Circuits Max. Current Rating
RAST Connectors Wire-to-board 2.50mm
5.00mm		 2 to 20 16.0A
Sabre Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 7.50mm 2 to 8 18.0A
VersaBlade Connectors Wire-to-wire 6.20mm
2.00mm		 1 to 9 (standard version)
2 to 4 (high-temperature version)		 15.0A
4.7A
Micro-Fit+ Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 3.00mm 2 to 24 13.0A
Mini-Fit Connectors Board-to-board
Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire
 4.20mm 2 to 40 20.5A

Sensor Connectors

Sensors are instrumental in many washing machine features that consumers have come to expect, like smart dispensing, load detection, temperature and water level control. Their ability to enable these functions requires reliability, precision and compact size. Molex offers sensor connectors with compact PCB footprints and polarization features to avoid mis-mating during assembly. Additionally, these versatile Molex solutions can be mounted throughout the sub-assembly to provide diverse beta values for precise sensitivity.

  Operating Temperature Beta Range  Resistance Range  
NTC Ring Temperature Sensor Cable Assemblies -40 to +105°C (with connector)
-40 to +150°C (with leads)		 3K to 5K 1K to 100K Ohms
  Configuration Pitch Circuits Max. Current Rating
Micro-Fit+ Connectors Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire		 3.00mm 2 to 24 13.0A
Mini-Fit Connectors Board-to-board
Wire-to-board
Wire-to-wire
 4.20mm 2 to 40 20.5A