Document No: IOM-002
Issue Date:
24/09/2020
Revision:
6
Page:
35 of 42
Unrestricted
9.4
Product protection; caps and dummy connectors
There are five types of caps and dummy connectors available to protect the product in use. The
following gives the use case for each type.
Topside caps
•
Transport cap: Supplied with the connector to protect it against damage during transport
•
Protective cap: Provides greater degree of mechanical protection to the connector than the
transport cap. Recommended for when connectors are exposed to higher risk of damage
outside of transportation (Figure 21)
Topside caps can simply be pushed on or removed by hand
Topside caps should not be deployed subsea.
Caution.
Risk of material damage. If storage is carried out in saline conditions, e.g. on a
ship’s deck or hold, then a Subsea Environment Cap or Dummy Plug connector should be
used to protect the receptacle pins from corrosion.
Figure 21
ROV-type Transport Caps (left) and Protective Caps
Subsea caps
•
Subsea Protective Caps: Provides mechanical protection to the plug or receptacle connector
(Figure 22). It is a
non-electrical
cap. The cap for the plug connector (female sockets, oil-
filled) can be used for long-term mechanical protection. The cap for the receptacle (exposed
male pins)
does not
protect the exposed male pins in the receptacle from corrosion. It should
only be used for very short-term subsea use, e.g. the cap is removed within a few days after
deployment and the flying lead connected to receptacle (noting that the 28 days maximum in
section 9.3)
•
Subsea Environment Cap: Provides mechanical protection to the receptacle connector (male
pins)
including
corrosion protection of the exposed pins. This is a
non-electrica
l cap.
(Figure 23). To be used where the receptacle connector will be left un-mated for any length
of time.
•
Dummy Connectors. Provides mechanical and electrical protection to the plug or receptacle,
including
corrosion protection of the exposed pins in the receptacle (Figure 23). These
connectors have full electrical rating. They can be configured at time of order to be open-
circuit or looped with wire or resistors. These connectors should be used everywhere the
system will be electrically energised or for electrical testing.