SMT connectors are just as reliable as leaded connectors. If your former leaded connector did the job without cracking it's most likely that a similar SMT connector also will do the job. Flexing a PCB will most certainly stress the solder joints regardles of lead or SMT. Lots of books and articles exist concerning this matter but be sure that it might take some time to get an overview of this. Just try searching at the web ... I think there must be a kind of mechanically support to the connector in order to avoid any load to the solder joints - regardles of connector type. In this way stress will never arise at the solder joints. Testing this could e.g. be by means of plugging/unplugging many times to simulate life cycle - most likely the connector wears out and thus the press-in force reduces. Best regards Svend ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################