DIL13F | 13-Contact Power Ethernet Circular Connector | 600V + 1 Gbit/s | 600 Bar | RV POWER

The DIL13F is a 13-contact SubConn® Power Ethernet Circular Female In-Line connector — a cable-mount in-line connector for mid-run cable-to-cable connections. Rated for 1 Gbit/s Ethernet data transmission at up to 75 m cable length with a qualified open-face pressure of 600 Bar (8,700 psi), it delivers simultaneous high-speed data and high-power supply through a single subsea-rated connector. Gold-plated brass contacts and chloroprene rubber construction support 500+ wet mating cycles with insulation resistance exceeding 200 MΩ throughout the rated service life.

13 Contacts | 600 V (power) / 250 V (data) | 1 Gbit/s Ethernet | 600 Bar Open Face | 500+ Wet Matings | SubConn® Ethernet Standard

Key Design Features

• 1 Gbit/s Ethernet — underwater-rated — transmits IEEE 802.3 Gigabit Ethernet to 75 m over 4 twisted pairs (Brown, Blue, Orange, Green) using a reconfigured SubConn® contact geometry that eliminates cross-talk and noise in subsea environments
• Dual voltage architecture — 600 V DC/AC rms on 4 power contacts; 250 V DC/AC rms on 9 data contacts; 4 A per power contact (max 16 A connector) — single connector replaces separate power and data connectors
• Circular form factor — SubConn® Circular shell geometry with DLSA snap ring retention and POM/SS locking sleeve; compatible with all existing SubConn® Ethernet Circular field hardware and spanner tooling
• 600 Bar open-face pressure — unmated connector face qualified to 600 Bar / 8,700 psi; a PEEK body variant extends certification to 300 Bar / 4,350 psi (~3,000 m) with full electrical isolation
• 500+ wet mating cycles — qualified for repeated in-situ mate/demate in full-salinity seawater; gold-plated brass contacts maintain contact resistance below 10 mΩ across all cycles
• Gold-plated brass contacts — female sockets (UNS-C36000) and male contacts (gold-plated beryllium copper); corrosion-immune in seawater across 500+ mating cycles
• Chloroprene rubber body — chemically resistant to seawater, hydraulic fluid, and biofouling; −4 °C to +60 °C operating range in water
• Multi-material bulkhead body — Brass, stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium or PEEK — material-matched to any hull, chassis, or pressure vessel specification
• CAT 5E integrated cable — factory-terminated with 4-pair 24 AWG 0.20 mm² PUR cable; RJ45 Phoenix connector or equivalent required for surface-side termination (standard RJ45 not mountable on inline cable)

Electrical & Mechanical Specifications

Typical Applications

• ROV / AUV Ethernet backbone — 13-contact Power Ethernet Circular connections for 1 Gbit/s data links between ROV tether management systems, vehicle control computers, and subsea camera/sensor payloads
• Subsea 4K/8K video systems — high-bandwidth connections for multi-camera HD and 4K underwater imaging arrays; 1 Gbit/s capacity handles uncompressed 4K video streaming at depth
• Oceanographic instrument arrays — real-time data links for CTD, ADCP, hydrophone, and multi-parameter sensor suites in cabled observatory networks
• Subsea junction boxes — network-connected junction box ports in ROV tooling frames, instrument landers, and multi-node seabed observatory systems (OOI, NEPTUNE, EMSO)
• Combined power + data distribution — single 13-contact connector delivers 600 V / 16 A power supply simultaneously with 1 Gbit/s Ethernet, eliminating the need for separate power and data connector pairs on ROV umbilical termination panels
• Underwater control systems — real-time command and telemetry links for subsea actuators, valve controllers, and remotely operated tooling systems
• Naval and defence UUV systems — Ethernet backbone connections in unmanned underwater vehicles, sonar processing systems, and subsea communication arrays
• Marine renewable energy — subsea monitoring and SCADA communication links in tidal turbine arrays and offshore wind substation infrastructure
• Subsea cameras and lighting control — IP-networked camera and lighting system connections for real-time visual inspection and survey operations

Why Choose the DIL13F

1. True 1 Gbit/s Ethernet — Not an Adapter, a Native Subsea Connector

The DIL13F uses a reconfigured SubConn® contact geometry optimised for Gigabit Ethernet transmission — 4 twisted pairs routed through precision-toleranced contacts that maintain controlled impedance and eliminate cross-talk at depth. Unlike simple circular connectors with Ethernet adapters spliced in, the DIL13F is designed from the contact interface outward for 1000BASE-T compliance at 75 m cable reach. This makes it the correct choice for any ROV, AUV, or observatory system requiring reliable Gbit/s data at depth.

2. 600 Bar Open Face — Deploy Unmated Without Flooding Risk

The DIL13F is qualified to 600 Bar / 8,700 psi open face — the unmated connector face withstands full hydrostatic pressure at depth without flooding the contact cavity. This is critical for ROV tooling operations where connectors may be deployed unmated during a dive, and for observatory installations where ports remain open between instrument deployments. The PEEK body variant adds certified electrical isolation to 300 Bar / 4,350 psi.

3. 500+ Wet Mating Cycles — Full ROV Programme Life

Qualified for over 500 wet mate/demate cycles in full-salinity seawater. Gold-plated contacts maintain contact resistance below 10 mΩ and insulation resistance above 200 MΩ across the full qualification cycle count — eliminating the connection degradation and intermittent link failures caused by corroded or worn contacts in non-qualified connectors after 20–50 seawater cycles.

4. SubConn® Ethernet Standard — Direct OEM-Compatible Geometry

RV POWER GROUP manufactures the DIL13F to the SubConn® Ethernet Circular standard geometry, with all mating dimensions, keyway orientation, and locking mechanism geometry conforming to the published SubConn® Ethernet series standard. This enables direct integration with existing SubConn® Ethernet harnesses, junction boxes, and tooling skids at competitive pricing, with OEM-grade quality control and pressure test certification available on request.

5. Multi-Material Body — Application-Optimised Configuration

Bulkhead body options spanning brass, 316L stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium, and PEEK allow system designers to match connector material to instrument housing material. Titanium is specified for CFRP AUV hulls and long-term observatory deployments; PEEK provides full electrical isolation for electrochemical sensing; 316L SS for general subsea deployment. All variants share the same chloroprene rubber connector body and nitrile O-ring sealing.

SubConn® Power Ethernet Circular — Complete 13-Contact Family

How to Select the Right DIL13F Configuration

Frequently Asked Questions — DIL13F

Q: What is the maximum data rate of the DIL13F?
A: The DIL13F supports 1 Gbit/s (Gigabit Ethernet / 1000BASE-T) at cable lengths up to 75 m. This is achieved using a reconfigured SubConn® contact geometry with 4 twisted pairs routed through precision contacts optimised for controlled impedance, cross-talk elimination, and noise immunity in subsea environments.

Q: What pressure depth can the DIL13F withstand?
A: The DIL13F is qualified to 600 Bar / 8,700 psi open face (unmated). A PEEK body variant is certified to 300 Bar / 4,350 psi (~3,000 m depth). Note: this connector is primarily specified by open-face (unmated) pressure rating, as mating is typically performed topside or in ROV wet-mate operations.

Q: Is the DIL13F compatible with standard RJ45 connectors?
A: Not directly. Standard RJ45 connectors cannot be mounted on the inline cable. A RJ45 Phoenix connector or equivalent is required for the surface-side cable termination. The bulkhead variant ships with a CAT 5E patch cable with an RJ45 connector pre-installed (not installed on the bulkhead itself).

Q: What is the voltage rating of the DIL13F?
A: The DIL13F has a dual voltage rating: 600 V DC/AC rms on the 4 power contacts and 250 V DC/AC rms on the 9 Ethernet data contacts. Power contacts are rated at 4 A per contact (max 16 A total), allowing simultaneous Gigabit Ethernet data transmission and high-current power delivery through a single connector.

Q: How many wet mating cycles can the DIL13F withstand?
A: Qualified for more than 500 wet mate/demate cycles in full-salinity seawater. Gold-plated brass contacts (UNS-C36000 female / beryllium copper male) maintain contact resistance below 10 mΩ and insulation resistance above 200 MΩ across all 500+ cycles.

Q: What is the difference between DIL13F and its Bulkhead counterpart DBH13F?
A: The DIL13F is a In-Line connector — used for cable-mount in-line connector for mid-run cable-to-cable connections. The DBH13F is a Bulkhead connector — it mounts through an instrument housing panel, creating a permanent watertight feedthrough point. Most subsea systems use both types together as a mated pair.

Q: What body materials are available for the DIL13F?
A: Bulkhead body options include Brass, stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium or PEEK. Titanium for CFRP hull interfaces and long-term corrosion resistance; PEEK for full electrical isolation; 316L SS for general subsea deployment. All variants use a chloroprene rubber connector body and nitrile O-rings.

Q: What cable is used with the DIL13F?
A: The inline cable is 4-pair 24 AWG, 0.20 mm² PUR + 4 × 18 AWG, 0.82 mm² power + tinned Cu braid screen. The bulkhead/PBOF lead is: CAT 5E patch cable, 5 × 20 AWG, 0.52 mm² coloured PTFE; RJ45 incl. (not installed). For alternative cable ODs or custom conductor configurations, contact RV POWER GROUP for custom cable assembly options.

Q: Can the DIL13F transmit power and Ethernet simultaneously?
A: Yes — the DIL13F is specifically designed for simultaneous power and Ethernet transmission. The 4 power contacts handle up to 600 V / 4 A per contact (max 16 A), while the 9 Ethernet contacts carry 1 Gbit/s data at 250 V rated — eliminating the need for separate power and Ethernet connectors.

Q: Is pressure test certification available for the DIL13F?
A: Yes. RV POWER GROUP provides certified pressure testing to specific ocean depths on request, with full test certificates, material traceability documentation, and calibration records. Available for defence, offshore energy, and classification-critical applications. Contact [email protected].

Installation, Mating & Maintenance Guidelines

Pre-Mating Inspection

• Inspect all 13 contacts and the CAT 5E twisted pair geometry before every mating cycle — bent or displaced data contacts cause Ethernet link errors, not just increased contact resistance
• Verify O-rings and connector body sealing surfaces are clean, intact, and free of salt crystal deposits, biofouling, or mechanical damage
• Apply a thin film of dielectric grease to O-ring sealing surfaces before deck-side (in-air) mating — dielectric grease does not affect Ethernet signal transmission through the contacts
• Verify the cable outer jacket is undamaged and no conductor pairs are exposed between the cable entry and the connector body

Mating Procedure

• Circular snap ring engagement — align the keyway, apply axial pressure until the DLSA snap ring engages audibly; verify locking sleeve is flush before deployment
• Apply steady axial pressure — do not rotate the cable body during mating, as twisting can damage the internal 4-pair twist geometry and cause Ethernet link errors
• For underwater mating: approach slowly to allow pressure equalisation across the contact face; verify engagement before releasing
• After mating, confirm Ethernet link establishment at the system level — a confirmed link verifies both mechanical seating and contact integrity simultaneously

Post-Recovery Maintenance

• Flush connector faces with fresh water immediately after recovery — salt deposits in data contact cavities cause galvanic corrosion that degrades Ethernet signal integrity
• Inspect the 4 twisted-pair contact alignment after every 50 wet mating cycles — data contacts are more susceptible to alignment drift than power contacts
• Apply dielectric grease to contact faces and O-ring surfaces before extended unmated storage
• Replace O-rings at 200-cycle intervals or if any deformation, cracking, or compression set is observed

For technical datasheets, pressure test certificates, custom cable assemblies, or volume pricing on SubConn® Ethernet connectors, contact RV POWER GROUP at [email protected]. OEM supply and consignment stock programmes available for qualified system integrators.

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