LLT ENGINEERING · Application analysis
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Waterproof Connector Manufacturer RFQ Requirements Checklist
An RFQ that names only a series and a quantity gives a manufacturer no basis to quote the same configuration, so quotes gathered this way cannot be compared until electrical, mechanical, cable, and validation requirements are fixed. This checklist covers what to specify, which documents to request, and which terms still need written confirmation.
Scope and boundaries
Applies to RFQs for waterproof circular connectors and cable assemblies on equipment programs, including panel-mount, flange, and in-line configurations. The pages cited here define what information an RFQ should carry and which conditions ratings depend on; they do not contain prices, MOQs, or lead times, so every commercial term in this article remains an item to confirm with the supplier. Ratings and certification coverage must be verified per part number.
What an incomplete RFQ actually sends out
A request that reads 'M12 4-pin, 500 pieces, please quote' leaves the manufacturer guessing: panel-mount receptacle or in-line plug, contact gender and housing gender, cable termination, and the conditions the connector must survive. Each supplier fills the gaps differently, so the buyer collects prices for possibly different products. When two quotes both name the same series but terminate cable differently and seal different jacket diameters, the lower price is not automatically the cheaper equivalent; it may simply be a different product.
Describe the equipment task before naming a series: what the connector joins, where it sits, who mates it, and what reaches it — rain, washdown, dust, oil, vibration. The selection sequence starts from working voltage, current, pin count, and power-versus-signal use; a series name is the outcome of that analysis, not a substitute for it.
Sources: LLT selection guide
Fix the exact configuration being quoted
Quotes become comparable only when both sides price the same configuration: the full mating pair, with mounting form stated separately — front-panel, rear-panel, flange, or in-line. Panel-mounted parts need the cutout and panel thickness from the part drawing; in-line parts do not. Contact gender and housing gender are separate choices, and pin assignment must be written out, since face-view orientation and keying affect whether two halves mate. A series name alone does not establish intermateability: interface dimensions, locking structure, coding, and the mating model all need to match the drawings.
Termination belongs in the same line. Field-assembly connectors and overmolded harnesses with preset lengths are different products with different cost structures. If a received quote does not state the mating pair, contact termination, and cable outer diameter range, return it for revision before comparing prices; if it does state these, check each line against the part drawing. For combined power-and-signal groups such as '3+2', quote current and voltage per group, because the ratings cannot be added together.
Sources: LLT selection guide · Connection and wiring methods · Technical applicability
State load and cable conditions in the right units
Electrical lines should give working voltage, current per contact, and how many contacts carry load at once, because simultaneous loading, conductor size, and ambient temperature all affect temperature rise. Ratings are marked per contact or per contact group under a defined insulation structure, so a lone current figure in an RFQ says nothing about whether the load is per contact, per group, or a total.
Cable data needs two separate numbers. Conductor cross-sectional area is specified per core in mm², while cable outer diameter is the jacket diameter in mm, and the two cannot be used interchangeably. AWG is a gauge number from a different system; it can be matched to a catalog's corresponding gauge data, but it never replaces the jacket measurement. The jacket diameter must fall inside the sealing range of the chosen rear accessory, not merely below a catalog maximum, because the seal grips the jacket, not the conductors. The table below lists what the engineering team asks for at this stage.
Sources: Technical applicability · LLT selection guide
Request drawings, samples, and acceptance documents
Ask for the part drawing of the exact part number being quoted, plus the evidence behind declared performance. Figures such as 'UV resistance over 1,000 hours' or 'salt spray over 480 hours' are supplier-declared performance information tied to specific materials, coatings, and test conditions; request the corresponding records, and test hours do not convert into years of field life. A UL 94 V-0 yellow card covers a plastic material at defined thicknesses — it does not mean the finished connector holds UL product certification. Coverage under UL 2238, UL 1977, TÜV, or SAA depends on the models, ratings, and structure versions named in each certificate.
The same discipline applies to ingress protection. IP67 denotes dust-tight construction and short-term immersion protection under specified test conditions, and it holds only when the connector is correctly mated and locked, the seals are intact, and the specified cable is properly installed. Long-term immersion and high-pressure washdown are different test regimes; if the equipment sees them, put depth, duration, temperature, and cleaning method in the RFQ so a suitably verified configuration can be offered.
Sources: Technical applicability · LLT selection guide · IEC 60529 — Degrees of protection provided by enclosures
Quantities, delivery scope, and who supplies what
Give sample, pilot-run, and estimated annual quantities as separate lines, and define the scope of supply: connector only, or connector plus cable, assembly, and records. If the mating half comes from elsewhere, say so, because responsibility for the mated interface then needs explicit assignment. Agree on acceptance documents: which electrical, assembly, and sealing checks will be recorded per batch, and against which model and sample version. Prices, minimum order quantities, and lead times depend on the confirmed configuration and scheduling, so request them in writing per configuration instead of accepting one number for a whole series.
Sources: LLT selection guide
RFQ review and submission checklist
Before sending the RFQ, confirm it contains the following, then attach interface drawings, load data, cable specifications, and the certificates you require:
- Interface task: what the connector joins, mounting location, and mating duty
- Exact mating pair and mounting form, with cutout and panel thickness for panel-mounted parts
- Pin count, pin assignment, and power-versus-signal use per contact
- Working voltage and current per contact, including simultaneous loading
- Conductor area in mm² or gauge in AWG, plus jacket outer diameter in mm and cable material
- Cable length, exit direction, and termination method (field assembly or overmolded)
- Environment: temperature range, UV, salt spray, immersion or washdown conditions
- Required certificates, target market, and acceptance records per batch
Sources: LLT selection guide · Technical applicability
Source parameters
| Requirement | Information to confirm |
|---|---|
| Electrical interface | Working voltage, current per contact, pin count and pin assignment |
| Mechanical installation | Panel or cable-end mating, available space and cable exit; add cutout and panel thickness for panel mounting |
| Cable matching | Conductor area (mm²) or wire gauge (AWG), jacket outer diameter, cable material and end preparation |
| Environment and validation | Temperature, vibration, exposure media, ingress protection target and actual test conditions |
Frequently asked questions
Can I compare two quotes that both name the same series, such as M12?
Not directly. A series name does not fix interface dimensions, coding, termination, or the cable being priced. Unify the full configuration — mating pair, mounting form, termination, and cable data — across all bidders first, then compare prices for that single configuration.
Do declared figures like 1,000-hour UV or 480-hour salt spray guarantee service life?
No. They are supplier-declared results under specific test conditions, valid for the materials, coatings, and sample states tested. Request the records for the exact configuration; accelerated hours show behavior under those conditions, not a conversion to field years.
If the housing material carries UL 94 V-0, is the connector UL certified?
No. UL 94 V-0 is a flammability rating for a plastic material. Product-level certification under standards such as UL 2238 or UL 1977 depends on the models and ratings named in the certificate, so ask for the certificate scope for your exact part number.