RF coaxial connectors are one of the most common RF port types used in virtually every industry, from military/defense, aerospace, industrial, scientific research, automated testing, production etc. it is very common for the ports for RF devices to be female coaxial connectors of various types, though some are male coaxial connectors. The most common coax connector types used for equipment ports are likely N-type, SMA, and BNC. However, there are a wide variety of other coax connector standards, such as those used for communications: 2.4 mm, 7/16 DIN, HN, SMB, SMC, SSMA, SSMC, and TNC. What is common amongst these RF coaxial connector ports is that during shipping, maintenance, or storage, these RF ports are susceptible to intrusion of debris and environmental exposure. As RF equipment can be found on platforms from oil rigs and naval vessels to cell towers and aircraft, it is necessary to ensure that the RF ports of the equipment remain undamaged and clean. Ensuring the RF female, and the less common male, coaxial ports are pristine is what RF Connector Dust Caps are designed to do.
Common RF Coax Connector Dust Caps
- 2.4 mm Dust Caps
- 7/16 DIN Dust Caps
- BNC Dust Caps
- HN Dust Caps
- N Dust Caps
- SMA Dust Caps
- SMB Dust Caps
- SMC Dust Caps
- SSMA Dust Caps
- SSMC Dust Caps
- TNC Dust Caps
There are RF connector dust caps available for every common type of RF coaxial connector standard used as equipment ports. There are also some key variations in RF connector caps worth remembering. Firstly, these dust caps could be non-shorting or shorting. Shorting dust caps, or terminations (not necessarily impedance matched), short the center pin to the ground and should only be used with RF ports that are not energized. The non-shorting dust caps are still not impedance matched terminations and shouldn’t be used for energized ports, but this variation doesn’t directly short the center pin to the outer conductor.
RF connector dust caps are typically constructed of a body made of conductive metal, a coupler nut made of conductive metal, an insulating gasket, and may include an optional chain to secure the dust cap to the equipment or equipment shelving. Passivated stainless steel and brass are common conductive materials used for the body and coupling nut for dust caps. Brass body, coupling nut, and chain material may be nickel plated to ensure a corrosion resistant finish. The gasket material is often silicone or other insulating flexible materials that handle compression well and are resistant to environmental degradation.