Recent Advances In Underwater Mateable Electrical Connectors

Over the past several years, a system of wet-mateable connectors has been developed which permits reliable, repeated undersea use. The basic design consists of a fluid filled, pressure compensated chamber, which houses receptacle sockets. Male contacts penetrate the chamber through sealed openings; connections are made within the dielectric fluid, removed from the hostile outside environment. The advantages of such connectors are that they may be mated and unmated repeatedly underwater, at any pressure... even with power on. At present, connectors of this type are available both for impedance matched 50 and 75 ohm coaxial signal transmission cables and for up to 5 contact power connections.