
M12 bulkhead connectors
straight PG type male cable plug, 90° angled PG type female cable plug, molded female plug.
View productSelecting an underwater connector begins with numbers rather than adjectives: working depth, contact count, current per contact and thread standard decide which body can actually carry your signal through salt water. Where the installation envelope is tight — inside a sensor housing, a small ROV junction box or a confined diving-equipment manifold — engineers look for a micro electrical underwater connector that preserves the same sealing architecture while shrinking the coupling. Everything below compares the documented figures for the IL16F BH16M wet-mate line, the BH multi-contact series and the standard circular IP69 family, so you can eliminate options on one screen instead of opening eight product pages.
This is the only table that puts different families side by side. Cells show published figures only; work down the contact, current and thread columns to see which family survives your requirement list.
| Family | Model | Mate type | Working depth | Current per contact | Contacts | Thread | Body & seal | Item No. | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsea wet-mate power & signal | IL16F BH16M | Threaded wet-mate, male & female | 7000 m | 5 A (single core) | 1 | 1/2-20UNF | 316L stainless base, glass-sintered socket, fluoro O-ring 12.5 × 1.8 | 00946 | Open |
| BH multi-contact series | BH 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 | Threaded circular | — | 10 A | 6, 8, 10, 12 | 5/8-18UNF | — | — | Open |
| Standard circular underwater, IP69 | IL4M BH4F | Threaded circular | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | Open |
A dash means the value is not published for that family on its detail page. Open the family before you commit, because an unpublished figure cannot be assumed from a neighbouring row.
This is the wet-mate body the whole page is anchored to. Its plug end is rubber injection moulded and the socket is built from stainless steel glass sintering, which the listing describes as delivering good airtightness. The threaded coupling is there to be operated by hand, which is why the family is recommended for places where space is limited.
| Model | IL16F BH16M |
|---|---|
| Item No. | 00946 |
| Working depth | 7000 m |
| Withstand voltage | 800 AC |
| Current | 5 A on a single core |
| Resistance | 200 MΩ |
| Installation thread | 1/2-20UNF |
| Base material | Standard 316L stainless steel |
| Ingress protection | IP69 |
| Gender | Male and female |
| Supplied parts | Base, cable plug (1 m), nut, gasket, fluoro rubber O-ring (inner diameter 12.5 × 1.8) |
Buyer decision: a single 5 A core at 7000 m covers one power feed or one signal channel. If your run needs more than one channel, compare the multi-contact grid below before ordering two separate bodies and two panel cutouts.
The BH series table is the only place where wire gauge is the entry point. Pick the row whose wire size matches the cable you already buy, then confirm the contact count against your channel list.
| Number of contacts | Rated current | Contact diameter | Rated voltage (AC/DC) | Test voltage, 1 min | Contact resistance | Wire size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 10 A | Φ2.8 × 6 | 12 V – 220 V | 800 V | 200 mΩ | 1 / 17 AWG |
| 8 | 10 A | Φ2.8 × 8 | 12 V – 220 V | 800 V | 200 mΩ | 1 / 17 AWG |
| 10 | 10 A | Φ2.8 × 10 | 12 V – 220 V | 600 V | 200 mΩ | 0.5 / 20 AWG |
| 12 | 10 A | Φ2.8 × 12 | 12 V – 220 V | 600 V | 200 mΩ | 0.5 / 20 AWG |
The BH series grid is headed by a 5/8-18UNF thread. Going from 8 to 10 contacts drops the one-minute test voltage from 800 V to 600 V and moves the accepted wire size from 1 mm² (17 AWG) to 0.5 mm² (20 AWG) — that is the trade a denser pin field costs you.
Corrosion resistance in this family comes from a 316L stainless steel base, while the seal is produced by a glass-sintered stainless socket against a rubber injection moulded plug. That combination is what keeps a saltwater, pressure and temperature-exposed joint airtight over a long service life.
A moulded plug end bonds the cable entry and the contact block into one flexible, sealed unit, which is why the line also fits modular and moulded custom harness builds.
The stainless socket is glass-sintered for airtightness and the supplied fluoro rubber O-ring (12.5 × 1.8 mm) completes the seal at the mounting face.
Buyer decision: if your installation cannot guarantee a straight pull-out path or bulkhead support, specify a longer cable and plan the strain relief before you order — not after the first mating cycle.
Mate type and thread standard are the two choices that cannot be corrected later. The wet-mate body is designed to be coupled and uncoupled in wet conditions, which is why the handling rules above insist on silicone oil and a straight pull. The standard circular family trades that behaviour for a simpler IP69 interface.
| Interface | Model | Coupling behaviour | Thread | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet-mate subsea | IL16F BH16M | Threaded, handled in wet surroundings | 1/2-20UNF | 1 × 5 A |
| Multi-contact circular | BH 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 | Threaded circular | 5/8-18UNF | 6 – 12 × 10 A |
| Standard circular, IP69 | IL4M BH4F | Threaded circular | — | 4 |
Buyer decision: 1/2-20UNF and 5/8-18UNF are not interchangeable at the mounting point. Confirm the bulkhead thread and the panel cutout against the connector you select, then machine the plate once.
Each card pairs a real subsea deployment with the number that decides it, then names the buying move. No scenario is listed without a figure behind it.
A single core rated at 5 A with a 7000 m working depth and 800 AC withstand covers one feed or one channel on an ROV or subsea sensor array.
Buying move: count your channels first. Two or more channels favour the BH multi-contact body at 10 A per contact instead of paralleling single-core units.
The 1/2-20UNF installation thread and IP69 rating suit a connector that has to pass through a small pressure housing wall without losing airtightness.
Buying move: measure the existing bulkhead thread and panel thickness before ordering, and add the gasket and O-ring to the same purchase line.
The listing places this wet-mate family in the communication systems of diving equipment and ships, where stable signal transmission in salt water matters more than high current.
Buying move: where the run is signal-only, prioritise the 200 MΩ resistance figure and the sealing method over a higher current rating you will never use.
The connector is designed for confined or wet environments and is compatible with both moulded and modular custom wiring harness builds.
Buying move: specify cable length, harness style and core size in the RFQ rather than ordering a stock body and re-terminating it later.
The number of cores and their sizes are selected according to customer requirements, so a useful enquiry is a filled-in spec sheet. Include the following and the assembly can be quoted against your application rather than a catalogue default.
the product page lists a 7000 m working depth, 800 vac withstand voltage, 200 mω resistance, 5 a on a single core, a 1/2-20unf installation thread, a standard 316l stainless steel base and a fluoro rubber o-ring with a 12.5 × 1.8 mm inner diameter. the item number is 00946 and the connector is supplied as male and female with an ip69 rating.
il16f bh16m carries one core at 5 a with a 1/2-20unf installation thread. the bh series table lists 6, 8, 10 and 12 contacts at 10 a each with a 5/8-18unf thread, 12 v – 220 v rated voltage, 800 v or 600 v one-minute test voltage, 200 mω contact resistance and 1/17 to 0.5/20 awg wire sizes.
il16f bh16m uses a 1/2-20unf installation thread, while the bh series table is headed by a 5/8-18unf thread. match the bulkhead and panel cutout to the connector's own thread before ordering, because the two families are not interchangeable at the mounting point.
the listing describes a plug end made by rubber injection molding and a socket built from stainless steel glass sintering, which the page says gives good airtightness. the base material is standard 316l stainless steel and the supplied o-ring is fluoro rubber, 12.5 × 1.8 mm.
apply conductive silicone oil before plugging or unplugging, pull the connector straight out without twisting left or right, and never pull on the cable itself. route cable away from sharp bends, support it with bulkheads, and keep joints free of inclined external force, excessive heat and direct sunlight.
the page states that the number of cores and their sizes are selected according to customer requirements, and invites buyers to contact the team to place a bulk order. send your working depth, contact count, current per contact, thread, cable length and harness style so the assembly can be built to your specification.