Tag-Connect Plug-of-Nails Cables and Adapters

More about Tag-Connect Plug-of-Nails Cables and Adapters

Tag-Connect ist eine kompakte, kostengünstige Programmier- und Debugging-Schnittstelle für Leiterplatten (PCBs). Sie macht herkömmliche Steckverbinder überflüssig, indem sie federbelastete Pogo-Pins für temporäre Verbindungen verwendet. Diese platzsparende Lösung ermöglicht ein einfacheres Platinendesign, reduzierte Herstellungskosten und verbesserte Zuverlässigkeit. Tag-Connect unterstützt verschiedene Protokolle und ist mit vielen Mikrocontrollern und Entwicklungstools kompatibel.

Which Tag-Connect Cable Do You Need?

Choose a Tag-Connect cable by the connector on the debugger you already own, then by the footprint on your board: 6 pads (TC2030), 10 pads (TC2050) or 14 pads (TC2070), legged or no-legs. For an Arm Cortex debugger with the 10-pin 0.05″ header, the TC2030-CTX plugs straight in. For a J-Link with the 20-pin header, use the TC2030-IDC with the ARM20-CTX adapter. For an STLINK-V3, the TC2030-CTX-STDC14. For a PICkit, the TC2030-PKT. The table below covers the rest.

Which Cable for Your Debugger

Debugger or Connector	6-Pad Cable (TC2030)	10- or 14-Pad Cable	Adapter
Arm Cortex 10-pin 0.05″ debug header (SEGGER J-Link EDU Mini, Keil ULINK2, PEmicro Multilink, most on-board debuggers)	TC2030-CTX / -NL	TC2050-IDC-050-ALL	None
Arm Cortex 20-pin 0.05″ Cortex Debug+ETM (Keil ULINKpro, IAR I-jet)	TC2030-CTX-20 / -NL	TC2050-IDC-050-ALL-20 / -NL	None. For 4-bit ETM trace: TC2030-CTX-ETM
SEGGER J-Link, J-Trace or Flasher with the 20-pin 0.1″ header; ST-LINK/V2	TC2030-IDC / -NL	TC2050-IDC / -NL	6-pin: ARM20-CTX. 10-pin: TC2050-ARM2010
ST STLINK-V3 family (14-pin STDC14)	TC2030-CTX-STDC14 / -NL	14-pin: TC2070-IDC-050 / -NL	None
ST-LINK for STM8 (SWIM)	TC2030-SWIM / -NL	-	None
Microchip Atmel-ICE, SAM port (SWD)	TC2030-CTX-LEMTA / -NL-LEMTA	TC2050-IDC-050-ALL-LEMTA	None. The Atmel-ICE header is numbered in reverse, so order the LEMTA version, or use a reversed 10-pin Cortex cable
Microchip Atmel-ICE, AVR port (ISP)	TC2030-ICESPI-LEMTA / -NL-LEMTA	-	None
Microchip PICkit 3, 4 and 5, MPLAB Snap	PIC: TC2030-PKT / -NL. AVR: TC2030-PKT-ICESPI-NL. SAM (SWD): TC2030-PKT-SWD / -NL	-	None
Microchip MPLAB ICD 3 and ICD 4 (RJ12)	TC2030-MCP / -NL; 10″ long: TC2030-MCP-10 / -NL-10	-	None. PIC, dsPIC and PIC32
TI XDS110 (CTI-20)	TC2030-CTX-CTI20 / -NL (made to order)	-	None
TI MSP-FET (MSP430)	Spy-Bi-Wire: TC2030-MCP	JTAG: TC2050-IDC-430 / -NL	Spy-Bi-Wire: SPY-BI-TAG
TI C2000 and other XDS 14-pin JTAG	-	TC2050-IDC-NL	TC-C2000-M, TC-C2000-F-90 or TC-C2000-F-180
AMD Xilinx Platform Cable USB (2 mm 14-pin)	TC2030-IDC	TC2050-IDC / -NL	6-pin: TC-XILINX6 or TC-XILINX6-M. 10-pin: TC2050-XILINX
Intel (Altera) USB-Blaster	TC2030-ALT / -NL	TC2050-IDC / -NL	None
Lattice HW-USBN-2B	TC2030-IDC	TC2050-IDC / -NL	6-pin: TC-LATTICE. 10-pin: TC-LATTICE-10
Renesas E1, E2, E2 Lite, E20 (14-pin)	-	TC2050 family	TC-RENESAS
Analog Devices 14-pin JTAG emulators	-	TC2050 family	TC-ADI or TC-ADI-M
USB device programming; UART console	TC2030-USB / -NL; serial: TC2030-FTDI-TTL-232R-3V3	TC2050-PGUSB / -NL	None

From Tag-Connect's debugger cable selection guide, matched to the cables we list. "-NL" is the no-legs version of the cable before it. Not listed? Send us the debugger model and target MCU.

How Plug-of-Nails Works

Plug-of-Nails replaces the board-mounted header with the PCB itself. The cable end carries spring-loaded pins and the board carries a matching footprint of pads, the smallest about the size of an 0805 resistor, with no special surface finish. Tag-Connect rates the spring pins for well over 100,000 operations, and the footprint can sit on a board edge or on the back of the board.

The header is replaced by a footprint of pads, so the cost and size of the connector disappear from the bill of materials.

6, 10 or 14 Pads

Footprint	Family	Typical Use
6 pads	TC2030	SWD with SWO and reset (Arm Cortex-M), Microchip ICSP, AVR ISP, STM8 SWIM, Spy-Bi-Wire, UART and USB. Smallest footprint.
10 pads	TC2050	Full JTAG, or the complete 10-pin Cortex Debug pinout.
14 pads	TC2070	STLINK-V3 STDC14 with the virtual COM port, and 14-pin JTAG.

If SWD is all you need, the 6-pad TC2030 saves the most board area. Choose 10 pads for JTAG boundary scan, a JTAG-only core, or the full Cortex Debug pinout.

Legged or No-Legs

A legged plug has four legs that clip into holes in the PCB: squeeze to fit, squeeze to release, and the cable stays put while you work with both hands. Best for development on the bench. A no-legs (NL) plug needs only the pads and alignment holes, so the footprint is smaller; hold it by hand, with a retaining clip, or in a fixture. Best for production programming and dense boards. A board laid out for legged cables also accepts NL cables; a board laid out for NL accepts only NL.

From Debugger to PCB Footprint

A Tag-Connect cable is a short adapter between your debugger or programmer and the footprint on the board: spring pins at one end, the debugger's own connector at the other.

The cable takes the debugger's usual connector to the pads on the board.

Holding a No-Legs Cable in Place

6 pads: TC2030-CLIP or GRIP-6 retainers.
10 pads: TC2050-CLIP or GRIP-10 retainers.
14 pads: GRIP-14 retainers.
Production fixtures: TC2030-MOUNT, TC2050-MOUNT and TC2070-MOUNT.

Laying Out the Footprint

Choose legged or no-legs before layout. Drawings (PDF): TC2030 legged, TC2030 no-legs, TC2050 legged and TC2050 no-legs.
Pads are 0.79 mm (0.031″) on a 1.27 mm (0.050″) pitch. Keep solder paste off them.
Keep other tracks at least 0.5 mm (0.020″) from the pads, and keep the shaded keep-out area clear of tracks and vias.
Mark the footprint "do not fit" on the BOM, so nobody orders a part for it.
Try a cable on a real footprint first with the TC-FOOTPRINT demo PCB.

Buying From Debug Store

Stock, lead time and warranty are shown on each product page. Some versions (SOFT, LEMTA and CTI20 cables) are made to order by Tag-Connect.
For several cables, or a formal quotation to raise a purchase order against, ask us for a quote.
Not sure which cable fits? Send us your debugger model and target MCU.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Tag-Connect Cable Do I Need for a J-Link?

For SWD on the 6-pad footprint, a TC2030-IDC cable with the ARM20-CTX adapter on the J-Link's 20-pin 0.1″ header. For full JTAG on the 10-pad footprint, a TC2050-IDC with the TC2050-ARM2010 adapter. The J-Link EDU Mini has the 10-pin Cortex header, so it takes the TC2030-CTX directly.

Which Cable Fits an STLINK-V3?

The TC2030-CTX-STDC14 (or the no-legs TC2030-CTX-NL-STDC14) plugs straight into the STLINK-V3's 14-pin STDC14 connector for SWD, SWO and reset. For the 14-pad footprint, which also carries the virtual COM port, use the TC2070-IDC-050.

Can I Use a Standard Cortex Cable on the Atmel-ICE?

No. The Atmel-ICE's 10-pin headers are numbered in reverse, so a standard cable puts the wrong signals on your board and can short the supply. Order the LEMTA version of the cable, which has the ribbon connector fitted the other way round.

What Is the Difference Between Legged and No-Legs?

A legged plug clips into four holes in the PCB and stays put. A no-legs (NL) plug needs only the pads and alignment holes, so the footprint is smaller; hold it by hand, with a clip, or in a fixture. A board laid out for the legged cable also takes the NL cable.

Should I Use the 6-, 10- or 14-Pad Footprint?

Use the 6-pad TC2030 for SWD with SWO, ICSP, AVR ISP, SWIM, Spy-Bi-Wire or a serial console. Use the 10-pad TC2050 for full JTAG or the complete 10-pin Cortex Debug pinout. Use the 14-pad TC2070 for the STLINK-V3's full STDC14 set or 14-pin JTAG.

Does the PCB Need a Special Finish?

No. Tag-Connect states that no special finish is needed. Keep solder paste off the pads and keep other tracks at least 0.5 mm away.

By John Legg CEng, Director, Debug Store. Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Sources: Tag-Connect debugger cable selection guide, product pages and footprint drawings. Tag-Connect and Plug-of-Nails are trademarks of Tag-Connect LLC. Debug Store is a UK specialist distributor of embedded debug, programming and test equipment, supplying engineers worldwide since 1990.

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