IP68 need not be expensive
Original article date: November 1999
Sealed connectors have traditionally been too expensive or too bulky. But Tommy Miller finds a range that breaks the mould
When specifying sealed connectors for use in industrial or harsh external environments, equipment manufacturers have always been faced with the question of whether to choose costly circular connectors approved for hazardous areas or even more expensive military specification connectors with their inherent complexity and servicing problems.
A lower-cost option has been to use BS4343/IEC 309 type connectors, of which there are many on the market, but these cannot provide the level of sealing required for more demanding applications and are bulky and complex in construction.
The gap in the market between the two types of connector has now been filled, however, by Bulgin with the introduction of its new 900 Series Buccaneer heavy duty sealed connectors. This new range offers high performance, rugged construction and reliable environmental sealing but at a much lower cost than rival connectors of similar specification.
Being rated for high power applications of up to 32A per pole at 600V AC/DC, the robust connectors are available in 2, 3, 4 and 5-pole variants. The 3, 4 and 5-pole versions incorporate leading earth contacts, making them suitable for single or three-phase applications. All offer specifications and approvals to match even the highest priced connectors in their field.
Typical applications for the 900 series Buccaneer include industrial pumps, motors and fans, gas and petrochemical plants, and marine and underground environments. With the high-end specification at a low price, coupled with ease of assembly and servicing, Bulgin is confident that entirely new applications will be created by this type of environmentally sealed heavy duty connector where safety and connection integrity is vital.
The 900 series Buccaneer range includes a number of body styles: flex cable, in-line flex cable, chassis mounting, flange mounting and bulkhead mounting. Moulded in a new UL94V-O rated polyamide material, the connectors are strong and impact-resistant, as well as possessing flame retardant properties.
Environmental sealing to IP68 is achieved by simply tightening a locking ring on the connector body, with no supplementary sealing being required. Screw fixing terminal contacts, designed to accommodate conductors up to 4mm?, make termination and maintenance in the field a simple matter due to no special tools or skills being required.
Positive locating keyways eliminate mis-connection, and two connectors with the same number of poles are able to be safely used on the same piece of equipment by utilising alternative keyway polarisations.
- Bulgin
November 1999