MCIL2F | 2-Contact Micro Circular Female In-Line Connector | SubConn® Compatible | RV POWER

The MCIL2F is a 2-contact Micro Circular Female In-Line subsea connector engineered as a cable-mount in-line connector — terminates a free cable and mates mid-run without a panel or chassis mount. Rated to 300 V / 10 A with a qualified hydrostatic pressure of 1,400 Bar (20,300 psi) when mated, it delivers reliable power and signal performance in compact underwater systems. Gold-plated contacts and chloroprene rubber construction provide 500+ wet mating cycles with insulation resistance above 200 MΩ throughout the service life.

2 Contacts | 300 V DC/AC | 10 A/contact | 1,400 Bar Mated | 500+ Wet Matings | SubConn® Compatible

Key Design Features

• Micro Circular Female In-Line — cable-to-cable mid-run connection, compact Micro Circular form factor
• 2-contact configuration — 300 V / 10 A per contact, max 20 A per connector
• 1,400 Bar mated pressure — qualified to 1,400 Bar / 20,300 psi hydrostatic (14,000 m (exceeds any ocean depth))
• 800 Bar open-face pressure — unmated connector face withstands 800 Bar / 11,600 psi without flooding
• 500+ wet mating cycles — qualified for repeated in-situ mate/demate in full-salinity seawater
• Gold-plated contacts — Female sockets in gold-plated brass UNS-C36000; contact resistance < 10 mΩ, corrosion-immune in ocean salinity
• Chloroprene rubber body — resists seawater, hydraulic oil, and biofouling; −40 °C to +60 °C
• Multi-material body options — brass, 316L stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium, or PEEK
• SubConn® Micro Circular intermatable — identical mating geometry to MacArtney SubConn® standard; 15–20% cost saving

Electrical & Mechanical Specifications

Typical Applications

• ROV / AUV systems — cable-to-cable mid-run connection connections in payload bays, tether terminations, and thruster power harnesses
• Subsea instrument networks — power and data connections for oceanographic CTD, ADCP, sonar, and fluorometer sensors
• Underwater cameras and lighting — compact 2-circuit connections for HD/4K video systems and LED lamp arrays
• Cabled observatories — inter-instrument connections in long-term seabed arrays where compact form factor is critical
• Subsea mooring systems — cable-to-instrument connections in profiling floats and mooring frames
• Oceanographic gliders — inter-module connections where minimum connector mass and OD are essential
• Naval and defence systems — sonar array harnesses and underwater vehicle payload interfaces
• Offshore energy systems — subsea monitoring and control system connections in marine renewable energy installations
• Diving systems — diver communication and life support cable connections rated for operational diving depths

Why Choose the MCIL2F

1. 1,400 Bar Qualified — Exceeds Any Commercial Deployment Depth

Qualified to 1,400 Bar (20,300 psi) when mated — equivalent to approximately 14,000 metres depth, far exceeding the deepest point in the ocean. At typical ROV operating depths of 300–6,000 m, this rating provides a pressure safety factor of 2.3× to 46×, ensuring seals never approach their failure envelope during rapid descent pressure transients and thermal cycling.

2. 500+ Wet Mating Cycles — Built for Field Operations

Qualified for more than 500 wet mate/demate cycles in seawater — sufficient for the full operational service life of most ROV tooling skids, instrument programmes, and observatory maintenance schedules. Gold-plated contacts maintain resistance below 10 mΩ across all 500+ cycles, unlike tin or nickel contacts that degrade after 20–50 seawater cycles due to chloride-induced oxidation.

3. SubConn® Intermatable — 15–20% Cost Saving, Zero Redesign

All mating dimensions, keyway geometry, and contact pin spacing of the MCIL2F conform to the MacArtney SubConn® Micro Circular standard. Existing SubConn® harnesses and mating halves connect directly — no cable modification, re-termination, or redesign required. This typically delivers a 15–20% procurement cost reduction vs. OEM SubConn® pricing while maintaining full dimensional and electrical interchangeability.

4. Multi-Material Body — Mission-Optimised Configuration

Bulkhead body options — brass, 316L stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium, and PEEK — allow system designers to match connector material to hull or chassis material, preventing galvanic corrosion. Titanium for CFRP AUV hulls; PEEK for electrical isolation in carbon-fibre housings; 316L stainless for long-term seabed arrays exceeding 12 months.

5. Compact Micro Circular Form Factor

The Micro Circular series delivers 2-contact electrical performance in the smallest possible subsea connector envelope. The compact body diameter and short mating engagement length make the MCIL2F the preferred choice for space-constrained instrument housings, miniaturised AUV pressure vessels, and compact ROV tooling where larger connectors would add unacceptable mass and volume.

SubConn® Compatibility & Drop-In Replacement Guide

The MCIL2F is engineered as a fully intermatable replacement for the MacArtney SubConn® MCIL2F-SS connector. All mating dimensions, keyway orientation, locking sleeve geometry, and contact pin pitch are identical to the SubConn® Micro Circular standard — direct field substitution without cable modification or system redesign.

Cost advantage: RV POWER GROUP Micro Circular connectors represent a 15–20% cost reduction vs. OEM SubConn® pricing with identical dimensional and electrical interchangeability.

How to Select the Right MCIL2F Configuration

Complete 2-Contact Micro Circular Connector Family

Frequently Asked Questions — MCIL2F Subsea Connector

Q: What is the maximum depth rating for the MCIL2F?
A: The MCIL2F is qualified to 1,400 Bar (20,300 psi) when mated — approximately 14,000 m (exceeds any ocean depth). The open-face (unmated) pressure rating is 800 Bar / 11,600 psi. A PEEK body variant provides a certified depth rating of 300 Bar / 4,350 psi (~3,000 m).

Q: Is the MCIL2F compatible with MacArtney SubConn® Micro Circular connectors?
A: Yes — 100% intermatable. All mating dimensions, keyway orientation, locking sleeve geometry, and contact pin pitch are identical to the MacArtney SubConn® Micro Circular standard. Existing SubConn® harnesses mate directly without cable modification, delivering 15–20% cost saving vs. OEM pricing.

Q: How many times can the MCIL2F be mated and demated underwater?
A: Qualified for more than 500 wet mating cycles in seawater — sufficient for the full operational service life of most ROV tooling, instrument service programmes, and cabled observatory maintenance.

Q: What cable diameter is compatible with the MCIL2F?
A: Standard variants accommodate cables from 2.5 mm to 6.0 mm outer diameter. For larger cables up to 11 mm OD, contact RV POWER GROUP for custom cable entry moulding options.

Q: What body materials are available for the MCIL2F?
A: The connector body is chloroprene rubber (standard). Bulkhead body options include brass, 316L stainless steel, titanium, anodised aluminium, and PEEK. Titanium is recommended for long-term deployments or CFRP hull interfaces. PEEK provides electrical isolation and chemical resistance.

Q: What is the difference between MCIL2F and its Bulkhead counterpart MCBH2F?
A: The MCIL2F is a In-Line connector — used for cable-to-cable mid-run connection. The MCBH2F is a Bulkhead connector — it mounts through an instrument housing panel or chassis wall, creating a watertight feedthrough point. Most subsea systems use both types together.

Q: What is the operating temperature range for the MCIL2F?
A: In water: −4 °C to +60 °C. In air (deck handling): −40 °C to +60 °C. Storage: −40 °C to +60 °C. Chloroprene rubber maintains sealing integrity and flexibility across this full range.

Q: What is the contact resistance specification for the MCIL2F?
A: Contact resistance is less than 10 mΩ per contact (< 0.01 Ω). Gold-plated contacts maintain this spec across 500+ wet mating cycles — unlike tin or nickel contacts that exhibit resistance drift after 20–50 seawater cycles.

Q: Does the MCIL2F require lubrication before mating?
A: Light application of dielectric grease to the O-ring and contact face is recommended before every mating cycle, particularly for in-air (deck-side) mating. After recovery, flush with fresh water and re-apply grease before storage to prevent O-ring compression set.

Installation, Mating & 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 for cuts, compression set, or delamination — replace immediately if damage is found
• Verify all 2 contacts are fully seated and free of corrosion, bent pins, or foreign material
• Apply a thin film of dielectric grease to the O-ring sealing surface before in-air mating operations

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 with a positive click — never force a partially engaged connector
• For underwater mating: approach slowly to allow pressure equalisation across the contact face before final engagement
• Do not apply rotational torque during mating — the push-lock mechanism is damaged by rotation

Post-Recovery Maintenance

• Flush connector faces with fresh water immediately after recovery — chloride deposits accelerate oxidation if allowed to dry on gold contacts
• Apply dielectric grease to contact faces and O-ring surfaces before extended storage in the unmated condition
• Inspect contacts and body integrity after every 50 mate/demate cycles or 12 months of service
• Replace O-rings after 200 wet mating cycles or if visible deformation, cracking, or compression set is observed

For technical datasheets, pressure test certificates, or custom cable entry configurations, contact RV POWER GROUP at [email protected]. Volume pricing and OEM supply programmes available for qualified system integrators and equipment manufacturers.

• Micro_Circular_Series_of_underwaterconn_com.pdf