Why does the 34938A D-SUB connector have two sets of connection paths?

Why does the 34938A D-SUB connector have two sets of connection paths?

Troubleshooting (FAQ)

Summary

Two pins on the D sub connector are used to share the current load.

Question

Why does the 34938A D-SUB connector have two sets of connection paths?

Answer

The two pins on the D sub connector are connected together on the 34938A PCA.  The reason that two pins are used is because the 34938A can switch 5A of current which is a lot so two pins on the D sub connector are used to share the current load.    This keeps the resistance in the current path to a minimum and keeps the pin heating to a minimum. Thus if you are using the card at the full current level then it is important to use both pins,  however, if you are only switching a small amount of current then only connecting to one is OK.