Protective Caps

Amphenol RF’s protective caps provide essential protection for unused or exposed RF connector interfaces, helping preserve connector integrity and performance during transport, storage, or downtime. These caps are offered in a wide selection of standard connector types, in both in-series and between-series configurations.

Beyond simple dust covers, our protective caps are engineered to maintain mechanical alignment, shielding continuity, and in some cases environmental sealing. Whether guarding SMA, TNC, N-Type, BNC, or specialty RF interfaces, these caps help prolong connector life and maintain system readiness.

Features and Benefits

• Connector-compatible designs — available in all major RF connector interfaces (e.g. SMA, TNC, N-Type, BNC, UHF) in both in-series and between-series styles
• Secure retention options — many caps include chains, tether features, or captive mounting to prevent loss in field environments
• Environmental protection — certain designs include sealing geometries or gasketing for moisture and dust resistance (IP-rated where specified)
• Shield continuity — conductive cap shells help preserve RF shield continuity and reduce stray coupling of electromagnetic noise
• Simple and cost-effective — a small protective cap can prevent damage or contamination that would otherwise require connector repair or replacement
• Wide material and finish options — brass, plated metals, or other corrosion-resistant materials to match connector environments

Key Technical Details

• Impedance
  Protective caps themselves are passive covers (no intrinsic impedance), but they are designed to not disturb or degrade the RF interface.
• Frequency range
  Not directly applicable, but cap geometries are designed so as not to interfere with the connector’s usable frequency range (actual performance is cable/connector limited)
• Mating cycles
  While caps aren’t “mated” in the sense of RF connectors, the mechanical engagement features (threads, press-fit, snap, chain recoil) are engineered for many cycles of removal and replacement
• Temperature range
  Typical –65 °C to +165 °C (depending on plating, gasket materials, and substrate)
• Special features
  IP-rated sealing options (where listed), captive chains or tethering, EMI continuity, corrosion-resistant finishes, protective geometries (e.g. domed shell to resist impact)

Applications

Protective caps play a critical but often underappreciated role in safeguarding RF systems during all phases of deployment and lifecycle. Common applications include:

• Covering unused connector ports during installation, transport, or maintenance
• Temporarily capping connectors in modular or reconfigurable systems
• Protecting connectors in field or harsh environments (dust, moisture, vibration)
• Ensuring connectors remain clean and undamaged prior to mating
• Use in test benches, assembly lines, or staging areas where connectors are exposed
• Field service kits to temporarily cap connectors while a system is partially disassembled

To explore our full lineup of protective cap products, browse our protecting caps section. If your design requires a custom cap geometry, special tethering, or sealing beyond standard offerings, contact our engineering team to define a custom protective cap that meets your needs.