Exploring the Benefits of Waterproof Connectors in Harsh Environments

Standard electrical connectors are typically designed with factors such as the pin-count, power ratings, dimensions, and locking mechanisms in mind. 

However, when it comes to manufacturing electrical connectors for use in challenging environments, appropriate protection against harsh elements is required to maintain these features.

Many industrial environments that rely on electrical connectors come with an increased risk of moisture exposure, whether from rain and snow, humidity, or pressurised water for cleaning. In more rugged environments, equipment may also need to withstand high temperatures and pressures.

To cater to the ever more extreme demands of technological advancements, waterproof connectors are specifically engineered to endure harsh operating conditions and prevent water ingress from causing performance issues.

Here’s what you should know about the advantages of waterproof electrical connectors for harsh industrial applications.

Benefits of Waterproof Connectors

The primary benefit of waterproof connectors is that their construction forms a watertight seal that protects internal components, allowing electrical systems to perform as intended without damage from liquid ingress. 

Many connectors are splashproof to an extent, but when the application requires submerging cables or subjecting connection points to significant impacts, this won’t be enough. A waterproof connector is needed to provide the highest possible level of protection.

The highly durable design of waterproof connectors means you’ll benefit from:

• Fast assembly – often featuring integrated seals and gaskets required to achieve watertightness.
• Rugged locking mechanisms - increased resistance to vibrations, shocks, and various pressures to prevent accidental uncoupling.
• Temperature resistance – insulating materials for waterproofing can also protect against extreme temperatures (high or low).
• Corrosion resistance – often designed to withstand industrial fluids and other corrosive elements.
• Hygienic – high waterproofing usually allows cleaning with pressurised jets.

The materials and design used to make a connector waterproof comes with these additional advantages, ensuring that your electrical connection stays secure and performs optimally even under extreme conditions – whether indoors or outside.

Order Waterproof Connectors Online

The benefits mentioned above make waterproof connectors versatile and robust enough to deliver the required mechanical and electrical performance in a variety of difficult environments. 

From outdoor lighting to agriculture, food processing to medical devices, marine technology to military equipment – waterproof connectors are essential in many industries. These components are crucial to avoid severe consequences when water, dust, or pressure could disrupt a connection.

While connectors are available with varying levels of water ingress protection (IP), if your application requires the highest level of watertightness, then you’ll need waterproof connectors with an IP67, IP68 or IP69K rating – the highest IP ratings on the market. 

Here at Northern Connectors, we supply a wide selection of watertight connectors from industry-leading brands, including binder, HARTING, HUMMEL, Lumberg, and Souriau. Browse our website by connector type, IP rating, brand, or industry to find the ideal connector for your application. 

If you need more information or advice on the most suitable waterproof connector, call us on 01744 815001, or complete our online contact form and we will be in touch at the nearest opportunity.