DLPBH9M | 9-Contact Ethernet Low Profile Connector | 250V | 1 Gbit/s | 600 Bar | RV POWER

The DLPBH9M is a 9-contact SubConn® Ethernet Low Profile Male Bulkhead connector — a panel-mount bulkhead feedthrough for instrument housings, chassis panels, and pressure vessel walls. 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 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.

9 Contacts | 250 V DC/AC rms | 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
• 250 V rated data contacts — dedicated Ethernet signal path with 4 twisted pairs, Brown/Blue/Orange/Green colour-coded per T568B; power-isolated data circuit eliminates cross-talk from adjacent power cabling
• Low Profile form factor — compact rectangular housing with chloroprene rubber locking straps; significantly reduced envelope vs. circular body for space-constrained instrument housings, AUV hulls, and tightly packed junction frames
• 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 — male contacts (gold-plated beryllium copper) and female sockets (UNS-C36000); 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 — 9-contact Ethernet Low Profile 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)
• Data-only instrument connections — pure Ethernet signal path without power contact interference; ideal for precision measurement instruments where power supply routing is handled separately
• 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 DLPBH9M

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

The DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M to the SubConn® Ethernet Low Profile 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® Ethernet Low Profile — Complete 9-Contact Family

How to Select the Right DLPBH9M Configuration

Frequently Asked Questions — DLPBH9M

Q: What is the maximum data rate of the DLPBH9M?
A: The DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M withstand?
A: The DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M?
A: The DLPBH9M is rated at 250 V DC/AC rms on all 9 Ethernet contacts. This is a dedicated data connector — if simultaneous power and Ethernet is required, use the Power Ethernet variant (DBH13F/M, DIL13F/M for Circular; DLPBH13F/M, DLPIL13F/M for Low Profile).

Q: How many wet mating cycles can the DLPBH9M 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 DLPBH9M and its In-Line counterpart DLPIL9M?
A: The DLPBH9M is a Bulkhead connector — used for panel-mount bulkhead feedthrough for instrument housings, chassis panels, and pressure vessel walls. The DLPIL9M is a In-Line connector — it terminates a free cable and connects mid-run without requiring a panel or chassis mount. Most subsea systems use both types together as a mated pair.

Q: What body materials are available for the DLPBH9M?
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 DLPBH9M?
A: The inline cable is 4-pair 24 AWG, 0.20 mm² PUR + tinned Cu braid screen. The bulkhead/PBOF lead is: CAT 5E patch cable incl. RJ45 (not installed). For alternative cable ODs or custom conductor configurations, contact RV POWER GROUP for custom cable assembly options.

Q: Can the DLPBH9M transmit power and Ethernet simultaneously?
A: No — the DLPBH9M is a dedicated Ethernet data connector rated at 250 V. For simultaneous power and Ethernet in a single connector, use the Power Ethernet variant: DBH13F/M or DIL13F/M (Circular), or DLPBH13F/M or DLPIL13F/M (Low Profile).

Q: Is pressure test certification available for the DLPBH9M?
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 9 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

• Low Profile rectangular locking strap engagement — align the housing, press firmly until the locking straps click over the retention ridge; verify all four strap corners are seated 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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