MCOM8M Micro Circular Overmould Connector — Overview

The MCOM8M is a 8-contact Micro Circular Overmould Male subsea connector in which the chloroprene rubber body is moulded directly onto the cable — eliminating mechanical crimp joints and delivering the highest level of strain relief and watertight integrity available in the Micro Circular series. Rated to 300V / 5A per contact and 1,400 Bar design depth, it is the preferred termination for permanent and semi-permanent subsea cable harnesses where connector access for field re-termination is not required.

Gold-plated contacts and an integral cable overmould ensure reliable performance across 500+ wet mating cycles with no maintenance access requirements at the cable entry point.

Key Design Features

• Micro Circular Overmould Male — chloroprene rubber moulded directly onto cable for maximum strain relief and cable entry watertightness
• No field re-termination required — the overmould forms a permanent, maintenance-free cable-to-connector seal rated to full design depth
• 8-contact configuration — 300V / 5A per contact, flexible pin allocation for power and signal circuits
• 1,400 Bar design depth (mated) — qualified to full ocean depth hydrostatic pressure
• 500+ wet mating cycles — overmould connector face rated for repeated in-situ connection/disconnection
• Gold-plated copper alloy contacts — contact resistance < 10 mΩ, corrosion-immune in saltwater
• Integral cable strain relief — eliminates connector pull-out failures in dynamic cable applications
• Compact footprint — Micro Circular series form factor fits AUV, micro-ROV, and compact instrument harnesses

Electrical & Mechanical Specifications

Typical Applications

• Permanent AUV payload harness connector terminations where field re-termination access is not available
• Micro-ROV umbilical and tether end terminations requiring maximum pull-strength and watertightness
• Compact subsea instrument cable permanent factory-terminated connector ends
• Cabled observatory sensor cable ends requiring integral strain relief at the connector
• Underwater vehicle inter-module cable permanent connection points
• Subsea camera, sonar, and acoustic modem cable harness terminations

Why Choose the MCOM8M Over Generic Compact Underwater Connectors

1. Compact Form Factor — Purpose-Built for Miniaturised Instruments

The MCOM8M is specifically engineered for the reduced envelope requirements of modern AUV payloads, micro-ROV chassis, compact sensor housings, and space-constrained instrument frames — without sacrificing depth rating, cycle life, or electrical performance.

2. Gold-Plated Contacts — Corrosion-Free at Full Ocean Salinity

Gold-plated copper alloy contacts maintain contact resistance below 10 mΩ throughout the connector's service life, immune to chloride-induced corrosion even after extended seabed deployments. Tin or nickel contacts corrode within weeks in saltwater; gold does not.

3. 1,400 Bar Design Depth — Massive Pressure Safety Margin

Qualified to 1,400 Bar (20,300 psi) when mated — far exceeding the depth requirements of virtually all commercial and research subsea deployments. This margin ensures seals never operate near their failure point across variable-depth profiles and thermal cycles.

4. 500+ Wet Mating Cycles — Field-Proven Reliability

Qualified for more than 500 wet mate/demate cycles in seawater — essential for ROV tooling, instrument servicing, and observatory maintenance where connectors must be connected and disconnected repeatedly in the field.

5. Multiple Body Materials Including Titanium and PEEK

Available in brass, stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium, and PEEK, allowing system designers to optimise for weight (titanium, aluminium), chemical resistance (PEEK), or cost (brass) depending on mission requirements.

Installation, Mating, and Maintenance Guidelines

Pre-Mating Inspection

• Inspect both connector faces before every mating cycle — remove debris, biofouling, and salt crystal deposits from contact faces and locking surfaces.
• Check the chloroprene body and O-ring surfaces for cuts, compression set, or delamination. Replace immediately if damage is found.
• Verify contacts are fully seated and free of corrosion or bent pins before mating.

Mating Procedure

• Align the keying feature precisely before applying axial load — misalignment is the primary cause of contact damage in compact circular connectors.
• Apply steady axial pressure until the locking sleeve fully engages. Never force a partially engaged connector.
• For underwater mating: mate slowly to prevent hydraulic pressure spikes across the contact face.

Post-Recovery Maintenance

• Flush connector faces with fresh water immediately after recovery — chloride deposits accelerate oxidation if left to dry.
• Apply dielectric grease to contact faces and O-ring surfaces before extended storage unmated.
• Inspect contacts and body integrity after every 50 mate/demate cycles or 12 months, whichever occurs first.