DTAT3 military connectors
DTAT3 range
In brief. The DTAT3 range brings together single-pole military power connectors with a cadmium-plated metal shell, steel or aluminium, as well as service sockets, made by CKB/Deutsch and by Gabriel. Rated current from 73 to 800 A, operating voltage 50 V DC, polyphenylene sulphide insulator, −65 °C to +155 °C. We locate the original part or design a Form-Fit-Function alternative, and reply within 48 working hours.
Nobody looks for a DTAT3 by chance: you look for one because equipment in service needs it and the part number no longer turns up anywhere. This page covers what the range includes, its types and specifications, what sets it apart from MIL-DTL connectors, and what we need to reply to you.
What does the DTAT3 range include?
DTAT3 refers to products made by CKB/Deutsch (now TE Connectivity) and by Gabriel. The Deutsch/CKB catalogue describes a "connector compliant with the DTAT3 standard, which can be ordered using the DTAT part-numbering system". There are three product families, distinguished first by their shell:
| Family | Shell | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Connectors | Steel | Cadmium-plated, bichromate finish |
| Connectors | Aluminium | Olive green cadmium-plated |
| Service sockets | Aluminium | Black cadmium-plated |
When the marking has worn off, the finish is a clue: a black shell points to a service socket, an olive green or bichromate one to a connector.
Which types does the Deutsch/CKB catalogue offer?
Four single-pole types, all at 50 V DC. Only types 20758 and 20754 carry the DTAT3 marking in the catalogue.
| Type | DTAT3 marking | Rated current | Accepted cable | Special versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20750 | No | 100 A | AWG 6 / 13.4 mm² | 73 A on AWG 8 / 9 mm² |
| 20758 | Yes | 200 A | AWG 00 / 67.2 mm² | AWG 8 / 9 mm²; 3 × AWG 12 / 3.5 mm² |
| 20754 | Yes | 400 A | AWG 0000 / 107 mm² | — |
| 20759 | No | 800 A | 250 mm² | — |
A special version is ordered by adding the code "01" or "02" to the product reference. This is a classic trap when replacing a part: the base reference and the special version do not take the same cable. The rating is therefore read from the full part number, or deduced from the cross-section of the connected cable.
What are the specifications of DTAT3 connectors?
A power profile: very high current, low DC voltage. Nothing like a signal connector. The values below are those in the Deutsch/CKB catalogue, based on in-house qualification to the DTAT3 standard.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated current | 73 to 800 A depending on the type |
| Operating voltage | 50 V DC |
| Breakdown voltage | 2,300 V |
| Insulating material | Polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) |
| Salt spray resistance | 48 hours |
| Operating temperature | −65 °C to +155 °C |
| Shells | Steel or aluminium, cadmium-plated |
The spread between 73 and 800 A tells you one simple thing: the range covers several ratings, and you cannot tell the rating of your part by eye. That is why we ask for the part number and the cable cross-section before any quotation.
DTAT3, MIL-DTL-26482 or DTAT8: which do you need?
Current decides. For signal and low power, the MIL-DTL-26482 Series I is enough. For power at 50 V DC up to 800 A, that is DTAT3 territory. For 100 to 800 A at 500 V AC, see the DTAT8 power connectors.
| Criterion | DTAT3 | DTAT8 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated current | 73 to 800 A | 100 to 800 A single-pin |
| Operating voltage | 50 V DC | 500 V at 50 Hz |
| Dielectric strength | 2,300 V (breakdown) | 2,500 V at 50 Hz (withstand) |
| Salt spray | 48 h | 96 h |
| Temperature | −65 °C to +155 °C | −65 °C to +155 °C |
The two ranges cannot be substituted for one another without an engineering study: ratings, voltages and corrosion resistance differ.
Which standards apply?
DTAT3 connectors are designated by the manufacturer's type, and some can be ordered using the DTAT part-numbering system.
| Reference | Status |
|---|---|
| DTAT3 standard | Standard to which the types marked DTAT3 conform |
| Types 20758 and 20754 | Marked DTAT3 in the Deutsch/CKB catalogue, can be ordered using the DTAT part-numbering system |
| Types 20750 and 20759 | Same catalogue, without the DTAT3 marking |
Your DTAT3 connector is obsolete: what do we do?
First lead: the original part, in the dormant stock across our network in Europe and Asia. Second lead, if it no longer exists: a Form-Fit-Function alternative designed by reverse engineering, with the same interface dimensions and the same current rating. Patrick Roseleur, founder of Explorea, worked at Deutsch/CKB (TE Connectivity) and was rapporteur to CENELEC for EN 50467, the standard on connectors for rolling stock. A power alternative may need approval from your design office; we state this in the quotation.
For a DTAT3, the minimum to send us:
- the full part number engraved on the shell, with the special version code if there is one;
- the family: connector or service socket, and the shell colour;
- the current rating or the cross-section of the connected cable;
- photos of the front, side and rear;
- the quantity and the deadline.
Part number worn off? Use the connector search by part number or photo.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DTAT3 service socket?
In the DTAT3 range, it is the family with a black cadmium-plated aluminium shell, distinct from the connectors with a bichromate steel or olive green aluminium shell. If your part is black, say so in your request: it points us straight to the right family and avoids searching all three.
Is there a cadmium-free version?
Not with equal performance. To date, there is no cadmium-free alternative with the same performance that has been qualified by customers. For a replacement, we therefore look for the same cadmium-plated finish as the original: bichromate steel, olive green or black aluminium, depending on your part's family.
Do all DTAT3 connectors carry the DTAT3 marking?
No. In the Deutsch/CKB catalogue, only types 20758 (200 A) and 20754 (400 A) carry the DTAT3 marking and can be ordered using the DTAT part-numbering system. Types 20750 (100 A) and 20759 (800 A) appear in the same table, without this marking. Give us the engraved type.
How quickly will you get a reply?
We reply within 48 working hours. Lead time for supply then depends on the route chosen, original part or alternative, and is stated in the quotation. A legible part number, the current rating and sharp photos make our answer more precise from the very first exchange.
Get a quote for your connector
The full range is on our defence connectivity page.
Request a quote for a DTAT3 connector
Reply within 48 working hours.