What are Deutsch connectors?
Deutsch connectors are environmentally sealed and waterproof electrical connectors commonly used in automotive, marine and industrial applications. Rugged and reliable, they are designed to withstand the harshest environments and conditions. Therefore, Deutsch connectors are the perfect electrical connectors for driving lights and light bars, work lights, marine lighting and other aftermarket lighting products that are installed on the exterior of the vehicle and exposed to the elements.
What are the main features and benefits of Deutsch connectors?
When you inspect a Deutsch connector, you'll immediately notice its high-quality engineering. Deutsch connectors feature a rugged thermoplastic housing that operates in temperatures ranging from -55° C to 125° C, and feature corrosion and oxidation resistant nickel or gold plated copper alloy terminals. Silicone rubber seals keep the connectors dust, water, and mud-proof (and anything else you can throw at them), and they're water-resistant to 3 feet.
Deutsch connectors come in many shapes and sizes, but they all use one common type of terminal (called a "contact" or "pin"). Deutsch connector terminals are available in five main sizes (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20) to accommodate a variety of wire sizes (from 0.25 to 16 mm) and current ratings (from 7.5 amps to 100 amps). With a variety of mounting options, Deutsch connectors are a versatile family of connectors.
What are the different types of Deutsch connectors?
You may have heard of DT, DTM or DTP connectors - these are different types or "family" of Deutsch connectors. The different series are based on the size of pins and wires they accommodate, the amperage rating of the pins, their housing design and mounting options. See the table below for a summary of Deutsch connector specifications.
Elecbee DEUTSCH CONNECTOR SPECIFICATIONS
| Series | No. of Pin cavities | Current Rating | Wire Size | Pin Size |
| DTM | 3-12 pins | 7.5 amps | 0.5-1.5mm | Size 20 |
| DT | 2-12 pins | 13 amps | 0.75-4mm | Size 16 |
| DTP | 2-4 pins | 25 amps | 2.5-6mm | Size 12 |
Which Deutsch connector is right for my application?
Elecbee offers the DT, DTM and DTP series of Deutsch connectors in a range of pin configurations from 2 to 12. To select the correct Deutsch connector for your application, you need to know the number of wires that must be connected and the current draw of the attached accessory, which is usually listed in the accessory's installation instructions. If you're not sure, check out Elecbee's other blogs and videos, including Good Wiring Practices and Automotive Wiring 101, for tips and tricks on sizing correct wires and amperage ratings for components.
It's worth noting that if you need more current through the connector than its individual pins are rated for, you can split the incoming and outgoing cables into two or more separate wires to spread the load over multiple pins superior. For example, the DTM series pins are rated at 7.5 amps each. If you were going to use a DTM connector to connect 12 volts to a 120 watt spotlight (drawing 10 amps), you would use two separate wires and two separate pins. Here each pin will carry half of the total load (ie 5 amps each), which is less than the 7.5 amp rating for each pin. This type of configuration is convenient when you want to minimize the total number of connectors used.
