{"id":5664,"date":"2026-05-14T05:37:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T05:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/knowledge-center\/rj45-connectors-reflow-vs-wave-soldering-explained\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T08:45:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T08:45:41","slug":"rj45-connectors-reflow-vs-wave-soldering-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/knowledge-center\/rj45-connectors-reflow-vs-wave-soldering-explained","title":{"rendered":"RJ45 Connector Reflow vs. Wave Soldering Methods Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/030b77c0f67a4742bc82eb114fd17e45.webp\" alt=\"RJ45 Connector Reflow vs. Wave Soldering\" class=\"wp-image-5659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/030b77c0f67a4742bc82eb114fd17e45.webp 1200w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/030b77c0f67a4742bc82eb114fd17e45-300x178.webp 300w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/030b77c0f67a4742bc82eb114fd17e45-1024x608.webp 1024w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/030b77c0f67a4742bc82eb114fd17e45-768x456.webp 768w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/030b77c0f67a4742bc82eb114fd17e45-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Why Soldering Method Matters for RJ45 Connectors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In modern electronics manufacturing, the choice between <strong>reflow soldering<\/strong> and <strong>wave soldering<\/strong> is critical\u2014especially for components like <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/store-17492-integrated-rj45-connector.htm\"><strong>RJ45 connectors<\/strong><\/a>, which are commonly used in Ethernet networking applications. These two soldering methods require different connector designs (SMT vs. THT) and have varying implications for reliability, production efficiency, and board layout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article outlines the key differences between reflow and wave soldering for RJ45 connectors and helps engineers select the right connector for their design and process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >SMT vs. THT RJ45 Connectors: Basic Definitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16c0099d1eab4cc4ae8dddd254612ee3.webp\" alt=\"SMT vs. THT RJ45 Connectors\" class=\"wp-image-5660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16c0099d1eab4cc4ae8dddd254612ee3.webp 1200w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16c0099d1eab4cc4ae8dddd254612ee3-300x178.webp 300w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16c0099d1eab4cc4ae8dddd254612ee3-1024x608.webp 1024w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16c0099d1eab4cc4ae8dddd254612ee3-768x456.webp 768w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16c0099d1eab4cc4ae8dddd254612ee3-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<colgroup><col style=\"min-width: 25px;\"\/><col style=\"min-width: 25px;\"\/><col style=\"min-width: 25px;\"\/><\/colgroup><tbody><tr><th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Type<\/p><\/th><th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Description<\/p><\/th><th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Mounting Method<\/p><\/th><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>SMT (Surface Mount Technology)<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>RJ45 connector with surface mount terminals<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Reflow soldering<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>THT (Through-Hole Technology)<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>RJ45 connector with insertion pins<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Wave soldering<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/store-17517-smt-rj45-connector.htm\"><strong>SMT RJ45 connectors<\/strong><\/a> are designed for automated placement on surface pads and are ideal for high-density PCBs.<\/p><\/li><li><p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/store-17492-integrated-rj45-connector.htm?ca=190&amp;cv=1116\"><strong>THT RJ45 connectors<\/strong><\/a> use pins that go through holes in the PCB and offer stronger mechanical strength.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Reflow Soldering for SMT RJ45 Connectors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28619a116b8b408ea74e576a31457c11.webp\" alt=\"Reflow Soldering for SMT RJ45 Connectors\" class=\"wp-image-5661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28619a116b8b408ea74e576a31457c11.webp 1200w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28619a116b8b408ea74e576a31457c11-300x178.webp 300w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28619a116b8b408ea74e576a31457c11-1024x608.webp 1024w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28619a116b8b408ea74e576a31457c11-768x456.webp 768w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28619a116b8b408ea74e576a31457c11-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Process Overview:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reflow soldering involves applying solder paste to pads, placing the connector, and heating the assembly in a controlled oven where the solder melts and reflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Key Characteristics:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p><strong>Heating Method:<\/strong> Convection or infrared heating from top-down<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Peak Temperature:<\/strong> Typically up to 240\u2013260\u00b0C<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>PCB Design:<\/strong> Flat surface pads; no plated through-holes<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Material Requirement:<\/strong> High-temperature thermoplastics (e.g., LCP)<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Advantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p>Supports full <strong>SMT assembly line<\/strong> (no manual insertion)<\/p><\/li><li><p>Compatible with <strong>automated pick-and-place<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p>Ideal for <strong>space-saving and multilayer PCBs<\/strong><\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Considerations:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p>The connector housing must withstand high temperatures.<\/p><\/li><li><p>Mechanical strength is lower compared to through-hole types, so <strong>metal pegs or board locks<\/strong> are often used.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Wave Soldering for THT RJ45 Connectors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/71fd904425874776b372de353d901265.webp\" alt=\"Wave Soldering for THT RJ45 Connectors\" class=\"wp-image-5662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/71fd904425874776b372de353d901265.webp 1200w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/71fd904425874776b372de353d901265-300x178.webp 300w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/71fd904425874776b372de353d901265-1024x608.webp 1024w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/71fd904425874776b372de353d901265-768x456.webp 768w, https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/71fd904425874776b372de353d901265-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Process Overview:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In wave soldering, a PCB with inserted connectors passes over a molten solder wave, which bonds the pins to the PCB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Key Characteristics:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p><strong>Heating Method:<\/strong> Bottom-up contact with solder wave<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Peak Temperature:<\/strong> Around 250\u00b0C, short exposure<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>PCB Design:<\/strong> Plated through-holes for pin insertion<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Material Requirement:<\/strong> Sufficient heat resistance for solder contact<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Advantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p><strong>Stronger mechanical fixation<\/strong> due to through-hole pins<\/p><\/li><li><p>Easier to solder <strong>multiple large connectors<\/strong> in one pass<\/p><\/li><li><p>Lower material cost for connector body<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Considerations:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p>May require <strong>manual pre-insertion<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p>Less suitable for high-density boards or double-sided SMT assembly<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Comparison Table: Reflow vs. Wave Soldering for RJ45 Connectors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<colgroup><col style=\"min-width: 25px;\"\/><col style=\"min-width: 25px;\"\/><col style=\"min-width: 25px;\"\/><\/colgroup><tbody><tr><th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Feature<\/p><\/th><th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Reflow Soldering (SMT)<\/p><\/th><th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Wave Soldering (THT)<\/p><\/th><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Automation Level<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>High (Fully automated)<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Medium (Insertion often manual)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Connector Mounting<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Surface mount<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Through-hole<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Mechanical Strength<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Moderate (with support pins)<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>High (pin-through-hole)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Temperature Tolerance<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>High (plastic must resist 260\u00b0C)<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Moderate (localized heating)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Assembly Cost<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Higher for connector; efficient for large volumes<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Lower connector cost; higher labor<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>PCB Density Suitability<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Excellent<\/p><\/td><td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><p>Limited<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Best Practices for Selecting the Right RJ45 Connector<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When choosing between SMT and THT RJ45 connectors, consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p>&#x2705; <strong>Choose <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/store-17517-smt-rj45-connector.htm\"><strong>SMT RJ45<\/strong><\/a> if:<\/p><ul><li><p>You have a high-density PCB layout<\/p><\/li><li><p>The product is mass-produced via SMT lines<\/p><\/li><li><p>Connector height and profile are design constraints<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><p>&#x2705; <strong>Choose <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/store-17492-integrated-rj45-connector.htm?ca=190&amp;cv=1116\"><strong>THT RJ45<\/strong><\/a> if:<\/p><ul><li><p>Your design needs superior mechanical strength<\/p><\/li><li><p>You\u2019re using a hybrid assembly process (SMT + THT)<\/p><\/li><li><p>Cost-sensitive applications tolerate manual insertion<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >&#x1f517; Recommended Products by LINK-PP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/products\/439792.htm\"><strong>LPJG0926HENL<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 THT RJ45 with integrated magnetics, PoE+ support<\/p><\/li><li><p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/products\/471642.htm\"><strong>LPJG4811CNL<\/strong><\/a>\u2013 Single Port RJ45 Connector with 1000Base-T Integrated Magnetics , high-temp plastic for reflow soldering<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" >Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The soldering process greatly influences RJ45 connector selection. <strong>Reflow soldering with SMT connectors<\/strong> supports automated, high-speed assembly lines and space-constrained designs. <strong>Wave soldering with THT connectors<\/strong> provides durability and reliability for industrial or cost-sensitive applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding these differences ensures better design decisions, improved production yields, and long-term product reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><h3>About the Author<\/h3><p>This article was written by the <strong>LINK-PP Technical Engineering Team<\/strong>. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/\">LINK-PP<\/a> is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research and manufacturing of network connectors. With over 20 years of industry experience, LINK-PP serves more than 3,000 global customers.<\/p><p>Our core engineers have backgrounds in electronic engineering and SMT manufacturing processes, and are deeply involved in the structural design and production technology of RJ45 connectors.<\/p><p>If you have questions about the technical details or product selection mentioned in this article, feel free to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.l-p.com\/page\/contactus.htm\"><strong>contact us<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explain reflow vs. wave soldering for RJ45 connectors. Discover when to use SMT or THT Mount and how soldering Methods affects performance and reliability.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[22,25],"class_list":["post-5664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-knowledge-center","tag-integrated-rj45-connectors","tag-modular-jack"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5664"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7501,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5664\/revisions\/7501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lp.szlogic.cn\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}