The connector industry is full of technical jargon that is only understood by the person having complete knowledge about it. The terms are defined to make military standards and specifications easy to understand. The military connectors are designed to meet the demands of various military equipment that are used in various harsh environmental situations.
The Military MIL grade connectors are named using the military standards using codes MIL-STD and MIL-SPEC Connectors. These standards make it easy to identify the specifications and the purpose they are used for.
Various military connectors are available in the market and each one has unique specifications. If you are looking for more information about the connector specifications, you are at the right place. In this article, we will explain about different types of military connectors and their specifications.
- MIL-DTL-5015
The circular electrical connector earlier known as MIL-C-5015 is a heavy-duty connector designed with crimped or soldered contacts. This type of connector is highly reliable and versatile and hence, it is used in various applications which require high electrical and mechanical consistency. Some of the military applications that use MIL-DTL-5015 connector types are aircraft, military vehicles, communications, etc. Other civil applications are oil and gas, petrochemical, telecommunication, generator, rail, etc. These connectors are operated in the temperature range of -55°C to either 125°C, 175°C, or 200°C.
- MIL-DTL-38999
These are the high-performance cylindrical connectors earlier known as MIL-C-38999. The connectors are environment resistant and designed to use in harsh military and aerospace environments. Four series of connectors are used to make these connectors with bayonet, breech lok, and threaded coupling methods. Every connector is operated in a particular range of temperature and this connector type is operated in the range of -65 to +200°C.
- MIL-DTL-24308
It is earlier known as MIL-C-24308. They are efficiently made to work in the temperature range of -55°C to +125°C. The connector is ideally suitable for harsh environmental conditions and hence, used in various aerospace and defense applications. They are also perfectly suitable for the next-generation commercial aircraft systems and are mostly chosen for long-range subsonic cruise missiles, advanced shipboard communications, etc. These connectors are divided into different classes that can be operated in different temperature ranges. The classes are divided into G, N, D, K, M, and H.
- MIL-DTL-26482
Earlier known as MIL-C-26482 are bayonet lock connectors made of two series – solder and crimp. These two series fulfil all the general requirements like environment resistance, quick disconnect, etc., and are intermateable when used with power contacts and not intermateable when used with shielded contacts. This connector type can operate in the temperature range of -55 to +125 °C (-67 to +257 °F). The connector types are also designed to meet all the harsh environmental conditions and work in extreme conditions like high water pressure, extreme heat, extreme cold, dirt, etc.
All these electrical connectors are designed with the materials like beryllium copper (BeCu) or phosphor bronze, etc. which helps in making them corrosion-free. Also, they are equipped with pins and sockets that are also called male and female contacts used for mating.