L-823 Connector Kits
L-823 connector kits are the FAA-specified, factory-molded plug and receptacle sets that join L-824 cable to airfield lighting fixtures and isolation transformers, sealed against water ingress at a below-grade or in-pavement splice point. NLS sources L-823 kits matched to cable size and current rating, supplied as part of the same series circuit package as the cable, transformers, and fixtures.
Inside the L-823 Connector Kits
An L-823 kit is a matched plug and receptacle pair, not a splice, molded at the factory around a set of conductive contacts and sealed with an elastomeric compound so a below-grade airfield connection stays watertight for years.
01
Molded Plug Body
The male half of the connector, molded around the cable end at a factory-controlled dimension so it mates correctly with a receptacle from any qualified manufacturer.
02
Molded Receptacle Body
The female half of the connector, sized to the same cable gauge and current rating as its mating plug so the joint carries load without a heat-generating resistance point.
03
Conductive Contact Pins and Sockets
The metal contacts inside the molded bodies that actually carry the series circuit current, crimped or soldered to the cable conductor during field assembly.
04
Elastomeric Sealing Sleeve
The rubber compound that closes around the mated plug and receptacle, keeping ground moisture out of the connection at an in-pavement or below-grade splice point.
05
Cable Entry Strain Relief
Grips the cable jacket where it enters the molded body, keeping mechanical pull on the cable from working loose the seal or the contact termination inside.
FULLY ASSEMBLED
L-823 Connector Kits
| Configuration | Matched plug and receptacle pair, factory-molded |
| Sizing | Matched to L-824 cable conductor gauge and the circuit's series current rating |
| Sealing method | Elastomeric compound rated for below-grade and in-pavement water exposure |
| Compatibility | Mates correctly with L-823 kits from any qualified manufacturer built to the same specification |
| Installation point | Cable to isolation transformer and isolation transformer to fixture connections |
| Field assembly | Requires correct strip length and a clean sealing surface to perform as a watertight joint over years of service |
Every connection point on a series airfield lighting circuit, cable to isolation transformer, isolation transformer to fixture, is made through an L-823 connector kit rather than a taped or heat-shrunk splice, because a below-grade or in-pavement junction on an airfield circuit needs a connection rated to stay watertight and mechanically stable under the flooding, freeze-thaw where relevant, and jet blast vibration a runway or taxiway environment exposes it to over years of service.
An L-823 kit is a matched pair, a factory-molded plug on one cable end and a receptacle on the other, sized to the cable's conductor gauge and rated for the circuit's series current so the connection carries load without a resistance point that generates heat at the joint. The FAA specification defines the physical dimensions, the elastomeric sealing compound the molded body uses, and the electrical rating each size class must meet, which is what allows an L-823 kit from one qualified manufacturer to mate correctly with an L-824 cable end prepared to spec regardless of who terminated it.
Field assembly quality matters as much as kit selection: a connector kit prepared incorrectly, wrong strip length, contaminated sealing surface, incomplete mating, fails as a wet joint months after commissioning rather than immediately, showing up as an intermittent circuit fault that's difficult to diagnose without excavating the connection. NLS supplies L-823 kits matched to the L-824 cable size on the same order and can specify installer training points to the contractor doing field termination, since kit quality alone doesn't guarantee a sound joint without correct assembly.
A project team typically sends cable size and connection count (fixture connections, transformer connections, and any circuit splice points) from the lighting plan, and NLS returns matched L-823 kit counts and a USD quote as part of the broader series circuit cable and transformer package.
Specifications
- ✓Factory-molded plug and receptacle pairs per FAA specification L-823
- ✓Sized to L-824 cable conductor gauge and rated for the circuit's series current
- ✓Elastomeric sealing compound for watertight below-grade and in-pavement junctions
- ✓Rated for freeze-thaw exposure, flooding, and jet blast vibration where relevant
- ✓Supplied matched to cable size in the same order as L-824 cable and isolation transformers
- ✓Field assembly quality (strip length, sealing surface, complete mating) is critical to long-term performance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an L-823 connector kit used for?+
L-823 kits join L-824 cable to airfield lighting fixtures and isolation transformers at a below-grade or in-pavement connection point, sealed watertight to a factory-molded FAA specification rather than a field-taped splice.
Why can't a taped splice replace an L-823 connector?+
A taped or heat-shrunk splice doesn't hold the long-term watertight seal a below-grade airfield connection needs under flooding and vibration exposure, and typically fails as an intermittent fault months after commissioning rather than immediately, which is expensive to diagnose without excavation.
Who supplies L-823 connector kits for airfield circuits in Saudi Arabia?+
NLS sources L-823 kits matched to L-824 cable size and circuit current, supplied within the same order as the cable and isolation transformers, for Saudi airbase and heliport lighting projects.
What is the role of the Molded Plug Body in L-823 Connector Kits?+
The male half of the connector, molded around the cable end at a factory-controlled dimension so it mates correctly with a receptacle from any qualified manufacturer.
What is the role of the Molded Receptacle Body in L-823 Connector Kits?+
The female half of the connector, sized to the same cable gauge and current rating as its mating plug so the joint carries load without a heat-generating resistance point.
What is the role of the Conductive Contact Pins and Sockets in L-823 Connector Kits?+
The metal contacts inside the molded bodies that actually carry the series circuit current, crimped or soldered to the cable conductor during field assembly.
What is the role of the Elastomeric Sealing Sleeve in L-823 Connector Kits?+
The rubber compound that closes around the mated plug and receptacle, keeping ground moisture out of the connection at an in-pavement or below-grade splice point.
What is the role of the Cable Entry Strain Relief in L-823 Connector Kits?+
Grips the cable jacket where it enters the molded body, keeping mechanical pull on the cable from working loose the seal or the contact termination inside.