Waterproof USB-C Bulkhead Cable for Panel Mount Enclosures
A waterproof USB-C bulkhead cable for a port the public can reach and the weather cannot. A sealed shell mounts through the panel, a sealed lead runs to the board inside, and a dust cap covers the unmated state. Give us the cut-out and the internal length.
Last updated: 13 September 2026
Overview
A kiosk, a vending machine or a charge point needs a port that the public can reach and that the weather cannot. The standard answer is a bulkhead fitting: a sealed shell that mounts through the panel, with a sealed lead on the inside going to the equipment and a cap on the outside for the times nobody is plugged in. This waterproof USB-C bulkhead cable is that assembly, with the inside leg built to the length and connector your board actually needs.
Key Specifications
| Product type | Waterproof USB-C bulkhead cable |
|---|---|
| Interface | Quoted USB 3.1 Gen2 at 10 Gbps – to be confirmed |
| Power | Quoted around 60 W – to be confirmed |
| Ingress protection | IP67 / IP68 when mated, dust cap supplied – to be confirmed |
| Panel cut-out | Quoted 12 to 13 mm and 20.8 mm patterns – to be confirmed |
| Shell material | Quoted nickel-plated PBT or PA66 – to be confirmed |
| Temperature range | Quoted -40 to +80 degrees C – to be confirmed |
| Inside leg | Built to your internal routing length and board connector |
What the IP rating actually covers
IP ratings are defined by IEC 60529. The first digit is solid ingress, where 6 means dust-tight. The second covers liquid, and the levels used on panel ports are these:
| Rating | Definition under IEC 60529 | Typical panel port use |
|---|---|---|
| IP65 | Low-pressure water jets from any direction | Sheltered outdoor equipment, wiped or rained on |
| IP67 | 30 minutes immersed at 1 m | Exposed kiosks, vehicle exteriors, deck fittings |
| IP68 | Continuous immersion at a depth agreed with the manufacturer | Marine and below-grade installations |
| IP69K | High-pressure hot washdown, from ISO 20653 | Food and beverage, washdown areas |
Two qualifications matter more than the number. A rating applies to a mated pair or to a capped port, which is why the dust cap is part of the assembly rather than an accessory. And the seal depends on the shell being pulled flat against a clean, flat face – a warped panel or a painted recess will leak regardless of what the fitting is rated to.
Where a sealed bulkhead is required
| Installation | Exposure | What to specify |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor self-service terminal or kiosk | Rain, public use, cleaning | Sealed shell, dust cap, IP67 class when mated |
| Vending and payment machines | Spilled liquid, hose-down at the front | Sealed shell, cap retained on a lanyard |
| Marine navigation displays | Salt spray, continuous wetting | Corrosion resistant shell, IP68 class |
| Recreational vehicle compartments | Road spray, dust, temperature swing | Sealed shell, jacket rated for the band |
| Instrument cases and charge points | Outdoor standing water | Sealed shell plus a drain path in the panel design |
Start from the panel, not from the electrical spec
Two things decide the part number before anything electrical is discussed: the wall thickness and the cut-out you can make. Competitor listings for this class quote panel openings around 12 to 13 mm and a larger 20.8 mm pattern. Measure the panel, note what tooling you have, and confirm the thread or fixing method. Then check three more things:
- Flatness of the mounting face – the seal needs a clean, flat surface to compress against.
- Wall thickness – the thread or the nut has to have something to grip.
- The inside leg – its length and the connector the board expects, so we do not coil a surplus inside a sealed box.
Shell and jacket
The shell is quoted as nickel-plated PBT or PA66. Sealing is to the stated rating when mated, with a dust cap for the unmated state, and the operating band is quoted as -40 to +80 degrees C. Every one of those figures comes from competitor material and is on the confirmation list; the values your assembly is built and verified to are the ones stated on your drawing.
Data and power through a bulkhead
The interface is quoted at USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps, with around 60 W of power. Note what a bulkhead does to that: it adds a connector pair to the path, and that pair is exactly where a marginal link loses margin. If the run is long on either side of the panel, say so at enquiry stage, because the rate and the reach are traded against each other through the feedthrough.
Typical applications for this waterproof USB-C bulkhead cable
- Outdoor self-service terminals and ticketing kiosks, alongside our waterproof USB-C panel pigtail for the inside leg
- Vending and payment machines with a public-facing service port
- Marine navigation displays and deck equipment, with our IP68 deck feedthrough cable for other services
- Recreational vehicle compartments and instrument cases
- Cabinet and enclosure service ports built as a control cabinet service interface
Where the enclosure already uses a keystone frame, our IP67 keystone panel frame and IP67 RJ45 panel coupler cover the Ethernet side of the same wall.
How to specify
- Panel cut-out and wall thickness, measured on the actual enclosure.
- Fixing method – thread, nut or bracket.
- Rating required, and what the enclosure is actually exposed to.
- Inside leg length and connector.
- Data and power class needed at the port.
- Whether the cap needs a lanyard or a retaining chain.
Workmanship and testing
Every build is assembled and inspected to IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 3 workmanship under our ISO 9001 system. We terminate conductors from 32 to 12 AWG. Each unit is checked for continuity and pinout before packing, and where an IP67 or higher rating is specified we can add seal checking on the production run.
Custom builds and ordering
From 5 pcs for a prototype, shipped in 3 working days, to 500 pcs and up for production at 14 working days after approval. Tooling we already hold costs no lead time; a new body adds roughly 10 working days. Private-label shipments carry your part number and labeling, and we can supply material certificates plus a first-article report.
Related assemblies
- Waterproof USB-C Panel Pigtail, 10 Gbps with Dual Screw Lock
- IP67 Keystone Panel Frame for Field-Replaceable RJ45 Modules
- IP67 RJ45 Panel Coupler, Cat6A Shielded Bulkhead
- IP68 Deck Feedthrough Cable with RJ45 Pass-Through
- M12 Bulkhead Panel Connector with Pigtail
- Control Cabinet Service Interface with RJ45 and USB-C
Full range: panel mount cables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the port sealed when nothing is plugged in?
Only with the dust cap fitted. The rating applies to a mated pair or a capped port, which is why the cap ships with the assembly.
Which cut-out do I need?
Measure the panel first. The patterns quoted for this class are around 12 to 13 mm and a larger 20.8 mm; we build to the cut-out you can actually make.
Does the feedthrough cost me data rate?
It adds a connector pair to the path, and that pair is where a marginal link loses margin. Tell us the run length on both sides and we will size the build accordingly.
What is the minimum order?
Sample quantity starts at 5 pcs with 3 working days to ship. Once the sample is approved, production from 500 pcs takes 14 working days.
| Product type | Waterproof USB-C bulkhead cable |
|---|---|
| Interface | Quoted USB 3.1 Gen2 at 10 Gbps – to be confirmed |
| Power | Quoted around 60 W – to be confirmed |
| Ingress protection | IP67 / IP68 when mated, dust cap supplied – to be confirmed |
| Panel cut-out | Quoted 12 to 13 mm and 20.8 mm patterns – to be confirmed |
| Shell material | Quoted nickel-plated PBT or PA66 – to be confirmed |
| Temperature range | Quoted -40 to +80 degrees C – to be confirmed |
| Inside leg | Built to your internal routing length and board connector |
