MIL-C-26482 Miniature Circular
A miniature circular connector specification that fits twice the contacts into half the size of a standard connector. As an Amphenol authorized distributor, ADMTEC supplies Series 1 (PT bayonet · PC threaded) and Series 2 (Matrix) in Korea.
Standard
What MIL-C-26482 is
MIL-C-26482 is the specification for miniature circular connectors. Fitting twice the contacts into half the size of a standard connector, it is widely used for signal wiring in aerospace and defense equipment where space and weight are constrained.
Environmental sealing is built from a grommet and clamp construction, at general duty grade. Pin and socket contacts are machined from low-loss copper alloy and gold plated to keep the contact surfaces from corroding. The insert is a resilient material that provides high dielectric strength and a moisture barrier.
The Amphenol family includes styles MS-approved and qualified to MIL-C-26482 Series 1 alongside other proprietary styles.
- Specification
- MIL-C-26482, Series 1
- Product line
- Amphenol Miniature Cylindrical (PT · PC families)
- Operating temperature
- −55 °C to +125 °C
- Service voltage
- 1000 VAC (RMS) at sea level
- Shell styles · inserts
- 7 shell styles · 60 insert patterns
- Contacts
- Machined low-loss copper alloy, gold plated
PT vs PC
PT bayonet · PC threaded
Different coupling methods do not mate with each other. The prefix on the drawing tells them apart.
Coupling and termination by family6 rows · tap to expand
| Family | Coupling | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PT · SP · MS/PT | Bayonet | Solder | Includes MS-approved styles |
| PT-SE · SP-SE · MS/PT-SE | Three-point bayonet · 5 key/keyway | Crimp | Rear insertion, front release. MS/PT-SE meets MIL-C-26482 Series 1 |
| PT-CE · SP-CE | Bayonet | Crimp | Uses a one-piece insert |
| PC | Double stub thread · single-hole polarization | Solder | Factory-installed solder contacts |
| PC-SE | Threaded | Crimp | Spring tower retention |
| PC-CE | Threaded | Crimp | Nylon wafer dielectric retention |
The PT-SE family offers 47 insert patterns across 6 shell styles, and the PC (solder) family offers 60 insert patterns across 5 shell styles. PT-SE intermates with the miniature series PC family.
Cross Reference
MS drawing number cross reference (PT bayonet · solder)
Drawings often carry the MS number. The correspondence to Amphenol model designations is below.
Amphenol ↔ MS number · shell style10 rows · tap to expand
| Amphenol | MS number | Shell style |
|---|---|---|
| PT00 · SP00 | MS3110 | Wall mounting receptacle |
| PT01 | MS3111 | Cable connecting receptacle |
| PT02 · SP02 | MS3112 | Box mounting receptacle |
| PT06 · SP06 | MS3116 | Straight plug |
| PT07 · SP07 | MS3114 | Jam nut receptacle |
| PT08E · SP08E | — | 90° plug |
| PTB · SPB | — | Through-bulkhead receptacle |
| PTIH | MS3113H | Hermetic solder mounting receptacle |
| PT02H | — | Hermetic box mounting receptacle |
| PT07H | MS3114H | Hermetic jam nut receptacle |
The crimp families use separate numbers (for example PT00SE = MS3120). Send us the MS number exactly as it appears on the drawing and we will confirm the matching part.
Options
Available options
Hermetic seal (glass fused)Details · tap to expand
An insert fused and sealed with compression glass gives moisture resistance. There are three hermetic styles in the PT bayonet family and three in the PC threaded family.
Pressurized through-bulkheadDetails · tap to expand
A receptacle style for positions that have to pass through a bulkhead while holding a pressure seal.
Breakaway quick disconnectDetails · tap to expand
A twist-pull plug that separates under axial pull. Applied where emergency release is required.
EMI filterDetails · tap to expand
A filtered style that suppresses conducted noise.
Coaxial and thermocouple contactsDetails · tap to expand
Coaxial and thermocouple contacts can be mixed in alongside the standard signal contacts.
PCB contactsDetails · tap to expand
Box mount and jam nut receptacles are available with contacts for direct board termination.
A range of shell finishes including non-cadmium, plus back-end accessories, can be selected.
Series 2
Series 2 is a different part under the same specification
Everything above is on the basis of Series 1 (PT · PC). If your drawing calls out Series 2, the contacts are crimp, rear insertion, rear release, and the part numbering is different too. Amphenol supplies this family as the Matrix product group, in two branches: military (MS) numbers and commercial (MB1) numbers.
- Coupling
- Three-point bayonet (full mating confirmed visually)
- Contacts
- Crimp · rear insertion · rear release
- Contact sizes
- 20 · 16 · 12
- Shell sizes
- 8 to 24
- Insert arrangements
- 34 arrangements · 3 to 55 circuits
- Operating temperature
- −65 to +200 °C
Reading a military part number (MS family)6 segments · tap to expand
- MS3470W12-10PW① Connector type — MS = Military Standard
- MS3470W12-10PW② Shell style — Four receptacles (wall mounting narrow and wide flange, cable connecting, jam nut) and two plugs (straight, RFI grounding fingers). Pick the code from the shell style table below
- MS3470W12-10PW③ Service class — Shell material and finish. Three classes on the military side and more on the commercial side — pick from the service class table below
- MS3470W12-10PW④ Shell size - insert arrangement — Shell size first, insert arrangement second. Pick from the insert arrangement table below
- MS3470W12-10PW⑤ Contact type — P pin · S socket · A less pins · B less sockets
- MS3470W12-10PW⑥ Insert rotation — The normal position carries no letter. W · X · Y · Z are rotated positions of the insert within the shell
Contact types A and B (less pins / less sockets) are used only when power contacts are not supplied as a complete set.
Military part numbers carry no modification number (the catalog marks it NA) — options such as strain relief appear at the end of the commercial (MB1) part number.
Shell styles — military (MS) ↔ commercial (MB1) codes6 rows · tap to expand
| Shell style | Military MS | Commercial MB1 |
|---|---|---|
| Wall mounting receptacle (narrow flange) | 3470 | 0 |
| Wall mounting receptacle (wide flange) | 3472 | 1 |
| Cable connecting receptacle | 3471 | 3 |
| Jam nut receptacle | 3474 | 4 |
| Straight plug | 3476 | 6 |
| RFI grounding finger plug | 3475 | 8 |
Commercial part numbers start with MB1 and carry a single digit in the same position — for example, the commercial style code corresponding to MS3470 is 0.
Service class (shell material and finish)9 rows · tap to expand
| Military | Commercial MB1 | Shell material · finish |
|---|---|---|
| L | R | Aluminum · electroless nickel · fluid resistant |
| A | A | Aluminum · black anodize (non-conductive) · fluid resistant |
| W | W | Aluminum · olive drab cadmium · corrosion and fluid resistant |
| — | G | Stainless steel · passivated · fluid resistant |
| — | B | Black zinc conductive plating — the modification (A15) has to be written with it |
| — | C | Green zinc cobalt plating — the modification (981) has to be written with it |
| — | DZ | Black zinc nickel |
| — | DT | Durmalon |
| E · R | — | Inactive — superseded by Class L (Ref. MIL-DTL-26482) |
The same letter points to different things on the military and commercial sides. Military Class R is inactive (withdrawn), while commercial Class R is electroless nickel. Copying the letter across brings a different part — electroless nickel is Class L on a military drawing and Class R in a commercial part number. Stainless shells do not exist in the military classes, so they are ordered as commercial Class G.
Modification numbers (end of a commercial part number)5 rows · tap to expand
| Number | What it adds |
|---|---|
| (189) | E-nut — M85049/31 configuration |
| (190) | Straight strain relief — M85049/52 configuration |
| (191) | 90° strain relief — M85049/51 configuration |
| (A15) | Used with service class B (black zinc conductive plating) |
| (981) | Used with service class C (green zinc cobalt) |
Service rating — test voltage (AC RMS · 60 cps)2 rows · tap to expand
| Service rating | Recommended service voltage (sea level) | Sea level | 50,000 | 70,000 | 110,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 600 V | 1,500 V | 500 V | 375 V | 200 V |
| II | 1,000 V | 2,300 V | 750 V | 500 V | 200 V |
The altitude columns are in feet. Per the catalog footnote, service rating I corresponds to MS rating A with a minimum sea-level flashover of 2,000 V (AC RMS), and rating II corresponds to MS service rating D at 2,800 V.
The catalog states that these values do not establish an electrical safety factor — peak voltage, switching surges, and transients are the designer's judgment.
Insert arrangements — contact count by size34 rows · tap to expand
| Insert arrangement | Service rating | Total contacts | #12 | #16 | #20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-33 | I | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| 8-98 | I | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| 10-6 | I | 6 | — | — | 6 |
| 12-3 | II | 3 | — | 3 | — |
| 12-8 | I | 8 | — | — | 8 |
| 12-10 | I | 10 | — | — | 10 |
| 14-4 | I | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| 14-5 | II | 5 | — | 5 | — |
| 14-9 | I | 9 | 4 | — | 5 |
| 14-12 | I | 12 | — | 4 | 8 |
| 14-15 | I | 15 | — | 1 | 14 |
| 14-18 | I | 18 | — | — | 18 |
| 14-19 | I | 19 | — | — | 19 |
| 16-8 | II | 8 | — | 8 | — |
| 16-23S | I | 23 | — | 1 | 22 |
| 16-26 | I | 26 | — | — | 26 |
| 18-8 | I | 8 | 8 | — | — |
| 18-11 | II | 11 | — | 11 | — |
| 18-30 | I | 30 | — | 1 | 29 |
| 18-32 | I | 32 | — | — | 32 |
| 20-16 | II | 16 | — | 16 | — |
| 20-24S | I | 24 | — | — | 24 |
| 20-39 | I | 39 | — | 2 | 37 |
| 20-41 | I | 41 | — | — | 41 |
| 22-12 | I | 12 | 12 | — | — |
| 22-19S | I | 19 | 19 | — | — |
| 22-21 | II | 21 | — | 21 | — |
| 22-32S | I | 32 | — | — | 32 |
| 22-41 | I | 41 | — | 14 | 27 |
| 22-55 | I | 55 | — | — | 55 |
| 22-95 | I | 32 | 6 | — | 26 |
| 24-19S | II | 19 | 19 | — | — |
| 24-31 | I | 31 | — | 31 | — |
| 24-61 | I | 61 | — | — | 61 |
Arrangements ending in S (16-23S · 20-24S · 22-19S · 22-32S · 24-19S) are, per the catalog footnote, tooled for sockets only.
In 22-95 the arrangement number and the total contact count (32) do not match — reproduced as printed.
Alternate insert rotations — angle by position34 rows · tap to expand
| Insert arrangement | W | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-33 | 90 | - | - | - |
| 8-98 | - | - | - | - |
| 10-6 | 90 | - | - | - |
| 12-3 | - | - | 180 | - |
| 12-8 | 90 | 112 | 203 | 292 |
| 12-10 | 60 | 155 | 270 | 295 |
| 14-4 | 45 | - | - | - |
| 14-5 | 40 | 92 | 184 | 273 |
| 14-9 | 15 | 90 | 180 | 270 |
| 14-12 | 43 | 90 | - | - |
| 14-15 | 17 | 110 | 155 | 234 |
| 14-18 | 15 | 90 | 180 | 270 |
| 14-19 | 30 | 165 | 315 | - |
| 16-8 | 54 | 152 | 180 | 331 |
| 16-23 | 158 | 270 | - | - |
| 16-26 | 60 | - | 275 | 338 |
| 18-8 | 180 | - | - | - |
| 18-11 | 62 | 119 | 241 | 340 |
| 18-30 | 180 | 193 | 285 | 350 |
| 18-32 | 85 | 138 | 222 | 265 |
| 20-16 | 238 | 318 | 333 | 347 |
| 20-24 | 70 | 145 | 215 | 290 |
| 20-39 | 63 | 144 | 252 | 333 |
| 20-41 | 45 | 126 | 225 | - |
| 22-12 | - | - | - | - |
| 22-19 | 15 | 90 | 225 | 308 |
| 22-21 | 16 | 135 | 175 | 349 |
| 22-32 | 72 | 145 | 215 | 288 |
| 22-41 | 39 | 135 | 264 | - |
| 22-55 | 30 | 142 | 226 | 314 |
| 22-95 | 26 | 180 | 266 | - |
| 24-19 | 30 | 165 | 315 | - |
| 24-31 | 90 | 225 | 255 | - |
| 24-61 | 90 | 180 | 270 | 324 |
Rotating the insert is how mismating is prevented when several connectors of the same size and arrangement are used on one piece of equipment. Angles are clockwise viewed from the front of the pin insert, and the socket insert rotates counterclockwise by the same angle. A dash means that position does not exist.
In this table the socket-only arrangements are printed without the S (16-23S appears as 16-23). Reproduced as printed.
Crimp contact P/N — military ↔ Amphenol/Matrix3 rows · tap to expand
| Contact size | Wire (AWG) | Wire (cross section) | Socket military | Socket Matrix | Pin military | Pin Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 24 ~ 20 | 0.2 ~ 0.6 | M39029/5-115 | M5100-001-0020L | M39029/4-110 | M5000-054-0020L |
| 16 | 20 ~ 16 | 0.5 ~ 1.4 | M39029/5-116 | M5100-001-0016L | M39029/4-111 | M5000-054-0016L |
| 12 | 14 ~ 12 | 2 ~ 3 | M39029/5-118 | M5100-001-0012L | M39029/4-113 | M5000-054-0012L |
Wire cross section is in square millimeters (mm²). The catalog states that contacts in this family are qualified to the SAE AS39029 requirements (BIN three-color band marking, MIL-DTL-22520 standard crimp tooling). Contacts come with the connector — inserts up to 26 contacts include one spare, above 26 contacts two spares, and sealing plugs are supplied up to 15% of the contact count with a minimum of one.
Contact rating · retention · sealing plugs3 rows · tap to expand
| Contact size | DC test current | Axial retention | Sealing plug (military) | Sealing plug (Matrix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 7.5 A | 20 lb (89.0 N) | MS27488-20-2 | 10-405996-202 |
| 16 | 13.0 A | 25 lb (111.2 N) | MS27488-16-2 | 10-405996-162 |
| 12 | 23.0 A | 30 lb (133.4 N) | MS27488-12-2 | 10-405996-122 |
Per the catalog footnote, individual circuits have to be laid out so that the temperature rise stays within the operating temperature range.
Crimping, insertion, and removal tools3 rows · tap to expand
| Contact size | Finished wire diameter | Crimping tool | Turret · positioner | Insertion/removal (military) | Insertion/removal (Matrix) | Color code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1.02 ~ 2.11 | M22520/1-01 or M22520/2-01 | M22520/1-02 or M22520/2-02 | M81969/14-11 | 10-538988-201 | Red · white |
| 16 | 1.34 ~ 2.62 | M22520/1-01 | M22520/1-02 | M81969/14-03 | 10-538988-016 | Blue · white |
| 12 | 2.46 ~ 4.01 | M22520/1-01 | M22520/1-02 | M81969/14-04 | 10-538988-012 | Yellow · white |
Finished wire diameter is in millimeters (mm). The catalog carries both inches and millimeters — size 20 is .040 to .083 inch, size 16 is .053 to .103 inch, and size 12 is .097 to .158 inch.
Performance specifications5 rows · tap to expand
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature | −65 to +200 °C (−85 to 392 °F) |
| Environmental sealing | Wired and mated with the specified accessory fitted, meets the altitude immersion test of MIL-DTL-26482 |
| Durability | 500 matings minimum |
| Shock | 300 g half sine · 3 ms · 3 axes |
| Vibration | Random 50 to 2,000 Hz · 41.7 G peak · 16 hours |
Under the shock and vibration test conditions there must be no physical damage and no electrical discontinuity longer than one microsecond.
Five keys and keyways that prevent mismatingDetails · tap to expand
The shell carries five keys and keyways, so connectors of the same size will not mate if the arrangement differs. When several of the same arrangement are used, the alternate insert rotation table above separates them one step further.
- Contacts go in from the rear and come out from the rearCAUTION
The assembly method and tooling differ from the solder families of Series 1. A standard rear-release plastic tool is used.
Details · tap to expand
Because the front (sealing) face is never disturbed, the sealing performance is not compromised. The rear grommet is a tear-resistant elastomer with a three-web construction, so the seal holds even as wire diameters vary somewhat.
Closed entry socketDetails · tap to expand
The socket-side insert entry has a lead-in chamfer and a hard face, so a pin contact bent within the specified range will not spread the socket. On the pin side an elastomer interfacial seal stands proud around each pin, and mating presses it into the socket chamfer to form a moisture seal.
On designations: MIL-DTL-26482 superseded MIL-C-26482 and SAE AS39029 superseded MIL-C-39029 (catalog p.2 footnote). Whichever appears on the drawing, it is the same specification family — but Series 1 and Series 2 are different parts, so the series called out on the drawing has to be followed. The catalog refers non-cadmium zinc alloy plating to a separate enquiry, so it needs P/N confirmation.
Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
My drawing only says MS3116 — can you quote it?
Yes. MS3116 corresponds to the Amphenol PT06 · SP06 straight plug. Send us the MS number exactly as written and we will confirm the matching part and insert arrangement.
What is the difference between MIL-C-26482 and MIL-DTL-38999?
Both are circular connector specifications, but they differ in class and size. MIL-C-26482 is a miniature, general duty grade, while MIL-DTL-38999 is the higher specification aimed at harsher environments. They do not mate with each other, so the specification called out on the drawing has to be followed.
Do PT and PC mate with each other?
No. PT is bayonet and PC is threaded, so they do not fit. The crimp family PT-SE does, however, intermate with the miniature series PC family. Send us the P/N of the connector on the other side and we will confirm.
Are hermetic versions available?
Yes. There are three hermetic receptacles with compression glass fused inserts in the PT bayonet family and three in the PC threaded family. A pressurized through-bulkhead style is also available.
I have to avoid cadmium plating — is there an alternative?
There are several shell finishes including non-cadmium. Tell us the applicable specification and environmental conditions and we will point you to the right finish code.
Can I get a C of C with the order?
Yes. We issue one for every order — what it covers and the original certificate are on the Authorized Distributor certification page.
Specification sources4 documents · tap to expand
MIL-C-26482 Series 1: Amphenol catalog 12-070-15 · MIL-DTL-26482 Series 2 (Matrix): Amphenol Aerospace catalog 16617 (15 pages) · Manufacturing: Amphenol Aerospace (Sidney, New York) · Distribution: Amphenol Daeshin (amphenol.co.kr). We confirm the latest revision and the exact applicable specification with you when we quote.