Waterproof Rubber Seal Washer for RP-SMA & SMA to Seal Connector on Enclosure

Waterproof Rubber Seal Washer for RP-SMA & SMA

Waterproof red silicone O-ring for RP-SMA-female and SMA female connector.

You have the option to include bulkhead nut and washer(s) (one for each silicone O-ring): The bulkhead nut and washer are used to mount an SMA-or RP-SMA female connector on an enclosure, case or Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The Bulkhead nut & washer are rust-proof 100% brass.

• Waterproof Rating: Using this O-ring with the bulkhead nut and washer (100% brass version) on an SMA or RP-SMA-female connector results in the connector having an IP68 rating. We automatically include the 100% brass version of the Bulkhead Nut & Washer set when you order it with the O-ring.
• If you do not need for the Bulkhead Nut & Washer to be rustproof, click here to order the version that is a non-rustproof brass alloy and save $0.03 per set (SKU BHNW).
• For outdoor applications (if using bulkhead nut & washer): Nickel-plated brass is the best option to rustproof / waterproof/ weatherproof RP-SMA and SMA antenna connectors.

We also offer (as a special order), RP-SMA-female and SMA-female connectors with a waterproof O-ring embedded in the flange. We can do this for bulk orders of cables with these connectors. Please inquire with Customer Service.

Waterproof Rating: Using this O-ring on an SMA or RP-SMA-female connector with a bulkhead nut and washer results in the connector having an IP68 rating:

The typical installation involves placing the O-ring on the outside of the enclosure port (and this is the IP68 level of protection). To be extra secure to protect against water ingress in the flat part of the D-ring (many RP-SMA and SMA female connectors have a D-flat), you could put an O-ring inside and outside the enclosure wall.

It is sealed when unmated: The nut, tightened against the o-ring and bulkhead, is what seals it and this remains in place when the connectors are unmated.

Question from Customer: Do we need another regular washer between the O-ring and star washer?  We’re afraid the star washer will destroy the O-ring when torqued to specification.

Answer:  We have never had any comments from customers that indicated that they need a flat washer between the o-ring and the star washer to prevent the o-ring from being destroyed.  For this reason:  We have never stocked flat washers that fit SMA/RP-SMA connectors.  If you see any such problem, with the first few installations:  Let us know and we will provide flat washers.

The inside diameter is 6mm, to clear the threads on the female connector.

OTHER OPTIONS:  O-RING EMBEDDED IN THE BULKHEAD / FLANGE:

Data Alliance offers SMA-female and RP-SMA-female connectors that have an o-ring embedded in the flange.  What follows applies equally to SMA-female and RP-SMA female connectors that we offer as part of our SMA and RP-SMA antenna cable assemblies.

The first photo below shows a version with a wider 11mm bulkhead (aka flange), with an embedded O-ring. We have both versions for cables with either SMA female or RP-SMA-female (including right-angled versions): Data Alliance provides these special connectors that have an O-ring embedded in the bulkhead (flange) in order to make the seal much more tight and secure against the intrusion of dust, dirt and water.  For unique situations, Data Alliance can customize connectors for large orders.

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The photo below is the style with the 11mm flange (bulkhead), and also has an elongated threaded section (14.5mm threaded section vs. 11mm threaded section on the standard version of the connector).  For mounting the female connector in the wall of an outdoor enclosure (or otherwise, a case with a thick wall), often the thickness of the enclosure or case wall requires a longer threaded section.  It is in these cases that the connector below is used: 

Some customers incorrectly assemble the nut, start washer and o-ring in the wrong order with the wrong order:  Incorrect order being to assemble it with bulkhead connector then star washer, then o-ring next to the star washer, the the enclosure wall, with the nut outside of the enclosure wall (nut outside of the enclosure wall is correct).

We understand why they wanted to have the star washer near the bulkhead connector: without the star washer there: The shoulder (bulkhead) on the SMA-female or RP-SMA-female connector (which is just the size of the bulkhead nut) is too small to hold the o-ring under higher bulkhead nut torque.

If the enclosure wall is thick:  The correct assembly provides good water protection, but it does not present enough threads on the outside of the enclosure past the nut for the antenna to fully thread. I haven't tested to see if the waterproofing is compromised, that is, whether the antenna o-ring is sufficiently engaged. But additionally, if an antenna is threaded on, it's easy for the assembly to continue threading it causing the bulkhead nut to turn and tightening the whole assembly. At a high enough torque on that nut, the o-ring moves from under the bulkhead connector to AROUND the bulkhead connector due to being squashed and then stretched. I saw on data-alliance.net website that Data Alliance offers another variant of the bulkhead connector that (a) has the o-ring embedded in the flange (bulkhead), and (b) appears to be designed to have the rigid part of the bulkhead connector bottom out against the enclosure: Thus the embedded o-ring is flush up against the wall of the enclosure or case.