BIRNS will custom make connectors, penetrators, and/or cable assemblies for your Special Application.

  • Special Shells. BIRNS will design and/or manufacture shells for custom connectors from nearly any material, e.g. Type 316 stainless steel, titanium, 17-4PH, aluminum, brass, Monel, nitronic, etc.

  • Special Inserts and/or Contacts. BIRNS can provide custom contact configurations to meet your needs. We can also provide reversed-gender, high-voltage or coaxial contacts.

  • Special Configurations. BIRNS performs cable assembly services, including electrical and mechanical terminations, oil-filled cable assembly, splices and breakouts, and molding. We also perform in-house hydrostatic pressure testing to 20,000 psi and electrical tests per MIL-STD-202 and MIL-STD-1344.
BIRNS 4-Port Pneumatic Hull Penetrators (left) each provide four independent pneumatic line penetrations in a deep-ocean research submarine.

BIRNS Custom Hull Penetrator (right) provides a streamlined profile. Note the dual o-ring seals.



BIRNS 100A Bulkhead Receptacle (Hull Penetrator) (left) with one 2AWG conductor for 'Positive' side of 100A current from power battery for Pisces submarine.



BIRNS has connectors to replace all four Burton shell sizes; these replacements allow for easy retrofitting into existing holes with no bulkhead modification. The BIRNS unit's mounting end is dimensionally equivalent to the comparable Burton product, while the connector end offers BIRNS' best features, including: removable GRE inserts with insulated solder pots, Class A rating to 10,000 feet, rugged construction with positive stops to eliminate over-tightening, dual stainless keys and Acme engaging threads, dual o-ring seals throughout and true cable connector oil-fill capability.



BIRNS Communication Hull Penetrator (left) with 8 separate RG303 50Ω coaxial channels.

BIRNS Low-Profile Hull Penetrator (right) transfers high-quality electronic signals in a miniaturized format. Note the electronic braiding throughout. Dual o-rings ("face" and radial) provide excellent sealing.



BIRNS Custom Hull Penetrator (right) provides a streamlined profile. Note the dual o-ring seals.


BIRNS 3P-FR/DGO (left) with MIL-C-24217/4-004 flange. Note the removable GRE insert with insulated solder pots. This custom connector offers the best features of a BIRNS Millennium connector, but may be installed into an existing M24217/4-004 mounting hole without bulkhead modification!


BIRNS 100-amp power system (right) supplies all mission-dependent propulsion power for a manned scientific research submarine. Note the Command Sphere bulkhead receptacle and the combination of connectors and penetrators.


BIRNS produces Type I molded cable plugs per MIL-C-24231D(SH) ("Portsmouth" connectors). BIRNS also produces GPS-frequency coaxial connectors, and "advanced" connector systems to obviate problems often associated with standard M24231 and/or EB 3004 models. Go to the BIRNS M24231 page.




BIRNS Power Penetrators (left & right) provide DC motor power. Note the captivated o-rings.



A Class A 3-pin 4-AWG system made for a swimmer delivery vehicle. Note the low-profile penetrator body, and the high-pressure sealing cap for the cable plug assembly.


A complex molded cable assembly, with a 3R-119-CP-RA (terminated and overmolded onto three cables of different sizes and types!) on one end, leading to a 3P-83-CP-RA, a 3M-31-CP-RA, and an Aquamate connector, all on different lengths of cable. Note the installed low-pressure caps and/or mating "dummy" on all connectors. A BIRNS coffee mug provides scale.




BIRNS Penetrator/Cable Assemblies (left) comprise a set of outboard power cable assemblies for a military swimmer-delivery vehicle.