Wet-mate connector qualified for subsea control systems

TE Connectivity has unveiled a HydraElectric wet-mate connector that features a modular construction and enables multiple configurations to be assembled from a minimum number of components.

The connector design features an industry-standard panel, bulkhead, and stab plate interfaces allowing users to exchange, upgrade, or modify the existing hardware with minimum effort. Moreover, it offers corrosion resistance without cathodic protection.

The Seacon wet-mate connector has been designed, developed, tested, and fully qualified in accordance with the latest industry standards for subsea control system power distribution, including ISO 13628-6 and API 17F SEAFOM. And it’s available in remotely operated vehicle (ROV), stab plate, and manual modes.

The connector’s modular construction comes with four, seven, or 12 electrical circuits, and that enables multiple configurations for use in electrical, signal, and distribution networks in subsea control systems. Bjørn Hallvard Lund, product manager of Aerospace, Defense & Marine at TE Connectivity, says that the Seacon wet-mate connector complements TE’s full product offering for the subsea oil and gas market.

The rugged marine systems require connectors with high-speed communication capabilities and the ability to manage a range of operating currents. TE’s new HydraElectric connector supports copper-based high-speed Ethernet protocols, including CAN bus communications.

They are qualified for both 1,500 Vdc and 1,000 Vac pin to pin. Furthermore, the connector includes oil-filled dual barriers to help maintain pressure balance. And it can be verified for use at 4,000-m water depth.