Thru hull wire connectors

[Vertcnc]

Anybody have a good source for wire connectors and bulkhead fittings. Looking for something good to 150' or so in 3 pin configuration for thruster motors and maybe 8 -10 pin for umbilical.

[KR2_Diving]

Anybody have a good source for wire connectors and bulkhead fittings. Looking for something good to 150' or so in 3 pin configuration for thruster motors and maybe 8 -10 pin for umbilical.

Hello Vertcnc!
I think you have asked the million dollar questions! There are some professional (read commercial grade) fittings and connectors out there, but they are not cheap. Despite what it says on the tin, IP69 will not work either, as the deepest that IP69 is "technically" rated for is 10 meters.

There have been a few guys on here that have made their own bulkhead fittings was some pretty good results. It takes a bit of time and patience, but the results are quite impressive. Have a look at the build pages.
Especially Rover viewtopic.php?f=18&t=757, BikerBones1968 (viewtopic.php?f=18&t=815&start=30), and Steve Thones page http://www.homebuiltrovs.com/howtosealingwireexits.html. Turtle just used some standard bulkhead glands with silicone and epoxy to complete the seal which seems to do the trick as well. viewtopic.php?f=18&t=562&start=20

Earlier this week I was at an Automation trade show in Germany and spoke with quite a few of the cable manufacturers used in the Automation industry. Most of them only provide IP68 fittings. (and at a premium at that...) All of the manufacturers I spoke with said that the undersea connectors (especially for use in Salt water) are a breed of their own and are supplied by specialist firms...

Hope this assists.

Ryan
"KR2_Diving"

[fluxno]

at work we use connectors from:
www.subconn.com
http://seaconworldwide.com/products/ele ... er-molded/
http://www.souriau.com/underwater/page1.html

i think the cheapest are the seacon connectors here in norway, but you should check prices locally.
cable connectors come often as "pig-tail" that need to be moulded to your umbilical, that should have a PUR(polyurethan) or Neoprene outer-jacket for "mouldability"

moulding is done with 3M scotchcast 2131 http://www.cablejoints.co.uk/sub-produc ... 31d-resins
shrinktube with glue can be used as moulding "frame" (uncertain of the right english word here)

[KR2_Diving]

at work we use connectors from:
http://www.subconn.com
http://seaconworldwide.com/products/ele ... er-molded/
http://www.souriau.com/underwater/page1.html

Funny you should mention these! I was just looking at their site myself!

Fluxno, do you have any "ball park" prices for these plugs? Are we talking under €100? under €50? More? Less?

Just curious...

[fluxno]

at work we use connectors from:
http://www.subconn.com
http://seaconworldwide.com/products/ele ... er-molded/
http://www.souriau.com/underwater/page1.html

Funny you should mention these! I was just looking at their site myself!

Fluxno, do you have any "ball park" prices for these plugs? Are we talking under €100? under €50? More? Less?

Just curious...

we work mosty with subconn, so i only got prices for those.

4 to 8pin subconn microconn bulkhead in stainless steel (a bit more expensive than in standard brass) 75-150€

7/16-20UNF washer and nut for bulkhead connector: 4€

4 to 8pin subconn pigtail 2ft/60cm: 50- 100€

prices vary with amount and from where you buy(buy as close to manufacturer as possible

pigtails also come in 5meter versions as standard, but can be delivered with any cable or configuration needed.
prices vary with amount and from where you buy(buy as close to manufacturer as possible


ah, i forgot to mention LEMO, they got subsea connectors for up to 120Bar.
prices depend on type, depthrating, pinnumber, and how "common" they are
03 series: about 35€
0W series: 35-50€
1W series: 40-50€

[Vertcnc]

I did look at the Seacon brand connectors on there site and do look nice. I am sure out of price range for hobby stuff. I am in the US, so will try some local companies. I would be a little worried just potting the outside jacket on a multi-wire cable as some have done. Other potting methods look good, buta lot of work.

[fluxno]

getting a cable inside a pressure container is a big thing, and could have potentialy many points of leakage.
the guide by Steven is really good(http://www.homebuiltrovs.com/howtosealingwireexits.html), but i would probably use different types of moulding compound. and choose a wire with a rubber outer jacket. Rubber is far more easy to seal than PVC thats common as outer jacket on Cat5 cables and other normal indoor cables.
Both Helukabel and Lapp kabel has twisted pair cables with PUR jacket (polyurethan) thats a great jacket for mould sealing. you will see this material beeing used on most small commercial rovs.
both helu and lapp has often PE(polyethylene) jacket on the inner conductors, there will not the rubber mould be ideal, but would need a something like 3M DP8010.
so in a case like this, i would then first mould with 2131 on the outer jacket, and then a layer of DP8010 for the inner conductors(using Stevens guide as a reference)

for moulding rubber (PUR, Neoprene) 3M scotch-cast 2131
for moulding PE(polyethylene) 3M Scotch-weld DP8010 http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/e ... 8HT14PGTgl

The best tip i can give, either way or solution you do; do a pressure test to the depth youre aiming for before mounting the electronics.

EDIT: just a note with reference to Steven's guide: he does not mention any sealing on the pvc plug itself. on threaded pluggs like these, one can use threadsealant from loctite, that comes in several diffrent types for fine and coarse threads. http://www.useloctite.com/products/prod ... ng4c67.php http://www.useloctite.com/products/prod ... ng7f59.php

[Vertcnc]

Looks like I will be trying Steve's potting method. I would to make some plugs for the thruster leads also.

[bikerbones1968]

I used an adaptation on Steves method and a what Rover used in his build. KR2 mention it a few posts above. It works flawlessly and I have not had leaks with pressure tests and submersion tests.

[amarillo_rocket]

Bikerbones, what is the adaptation you use?