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MIL-DTL-5015, a military specification, covers electrical circular connectors with solder or removable crimp contacts (both front and rear release). These connectors are for use in electronic, electrical power, and control circuits and are used in large numbers for defense, civil, and industrial applications due to their versatility, reliability, and ease of supply.
Contents
Origins and Evolution
In the early 1930s, Cannon (now ITT Interconnect Solutions) was contracted by Douglas Aircraft Company to develop electrical circular connectors for use on the DC-1 and on the subsequent DC-2 and DC-3 aircraft platforms. During the late 1930s—with World War II on the horizon—Cannon began volume production of multi-contact circular connectors that were used by virtually every aircraft builder in the United States. Cannon's Type "AN" (Army-Navy) series set the standard for modern circular connectors procured under MIL-C-5015—now MIL-DTL-5015—military specifications.
The military specification MIL-DTL-5015 was superseded by SAE-AS50151 in December 2009 pursuant to the general United States Department of Defense goal to reduce the number of military standards in favor of industry technical standards supported by Standards Developing Organizations (SDO) such as the ISO 9000 series for quality assurance and the SAE for technical specifications.
Form Factor and Selection Criteria
MIL-DTL-5015 circular connectors are used primarily for their ease of engagement and disengagement, ability to house different types of contacts, a wide range of allowable contact voltages and currents, and their rugged mechanical performance under a variety of environmental conditions. Their primary disadvantage is loss of panel space when used in arrays when compared to rectangular connector housings.
There are 19 shell sizes—from size-8 to size-40—with about 160 approved insert arrangements incorporating 1-to-85 contacts. The circular connectors are available with a choice of wall mount, box mount, cable connecting and jam-nut receptacles, as well as standard or self-locking plugs.
Similar connectors with different contact arrangements and bayonet coupling rings are also available to military specifications. Supplemental military specifications (e.g., MS Drawings, Detail Specifications, and Performance Specifications) are available to assist users with the proper selection of connectors and related components.
Commercial Alternative Connectors
Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) derivative circular connectors exist that intermate with the military versions designed to MIL-C-5015/MIL-DTL-5015. Both COTS and military-style connectors are sometimes called "Type AN" connectors, "MS connectors" "Cannon connectors", or "Amphenol connectors". Amphenol Corporation, Glenair Inc., and ITT Interconnect Solutions (Cannon) are notable manufacturers of this type of connectors. Amphenol Corporation (Industrial Global Operations) provides a "5015 series". 5015 series connectors are medium to heavy weight cylindrical connectors with 5 shell styles, 19 shell sizes and 5 service classes. The 5015 offers 305 contact arrangements from 1-to-104 circuits. ITT Corporation (ITT Interconnect Solutions) business portfolio includes the brands Cannon, VEAM, and BIW, and is the foremost manufacturer of Type "AN", MS and MS-type connectors.