Through-Hole Slip Rings for Armored Vehicle Turret Systems
ByTune BTH series through-hole slip rings provide continuous power, control, video and high-speed data transmission between the stationary vehicle chassis and rotating turret, sensor mast or remote weapon station.
BTH2586, BTH3899 and BTH50120 platforms cover 25.4 mm, 38.1 mm and 50 mm through-bore sizes, allowing the rotary electrical interface to be selected around the available shaft diameter, circuit quantity, high-current load and communication architecture.
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Core BTH Bore Range
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Custom High-Current Design
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Gigabit Ethernet
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Armored Vehicle Configuration
Power and Data Transmission Across a Rotating Turret
Armored vehicle turrets combine high-current electrical loads with an increasing number of communication, sensor and video circuits. The slip ring keeps these systems continuously connected while the turret rotates through 360°.
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Power circuits supply turret drives, actuators, stabilized platforms, surveillance equipment and other rotating electrical loads.
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Ethernet, CAN bus, RS485 and RS422 channels maintain communication between vehicle electronics and rotating equipment.
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HD-SDI and other dedicated signal channels can carry video, sensor feedback and electro-optical system data.
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Sealing, vibration resistance, shielding and temperature capability are engineered for mobile defense platforms.
Electrical and Environmental Design Targets
| Requirement | Available Design Direction |
| Continuous Rotation | 360° unrestricted turret or sensor-platform rotation |
| High-Current Power | 20A, 30A and 40A circuits on BTH platforms; 50A+ power paths configured through combined rings or dedicated high-current design |
| Ethernet | 100M / 1000M Ethernet, with application-specific configurations |
| Serial Communication | RS232 / RS485 / RS422 |
| Vehicle Network | CAN bus integration available |
| Digital Communication | ISDN and application-specific digital channels |
| Video | HD-SDI and dedicated coaxial/video transmission options |
| Protection | IP65 armored-vehicle configurations; higher sealing available by custom design |
| Temperature | -40°C to +80°C vehicle requirement; BTH platform capability up to +100°C |
| Shock / Vibration | Mechanical design adapted to vehicle shock and vibration requirements |
| EMI / EMC | Shielded signal layout and project-specific electromagnetic compatibility design |
Select the BTH Platform by Bore, Circuits and Power
All three core models can be engineered for armored vehicle rotary systems. The main difference is the mechanical envelope and the electrical capacity available inside each platform.
BTH2586
25.4 mm Bore · 86 mm OD
6 / 12 / 18 / 24 standard circuits
5A / 10A / 15A / 20A standard channels
Higher-current configurations available
Up to 1000 rpm
-40°C to +100°C platform range
Ethernet, CAN, RS and other signal options
BTH2586 is suited to compact rotating sensor platforms, remote weapon stations, surveillance assemblies and installations where the available shaft and radial space are limited.
BTH3899
38.1 mm Bore · 99 mm OD
6 / 12 / 18 / 24 / 36 / 48+ circuits
5A / 10A / 20A / 40A channels
Gigabit Ethernet
ISDN / RS485 / RS232
HD-SDI video transmission
IP65 armored configuration available
BTH3899 provides a strong balance between through-bore size, high-current transmission and multiple high-speed signal interfaces, making it well suited to mixed-power turret architectures.
BTH50120
50 mm Bore · 120 mm OD
6 / 12 / 18 / 24 / 48 / 64 circuits
5A / 10A / 15A / 20A / 30A standard options
40A and higher-current custom configurations
RS485 / RS232 / Ethernet
HD-SDI / CAN bus integration
Up to 1000 rpm
BTH50120 provides additional center clearance and internal space for larger turret shafts, more circuits and more complex combinations of power, control and communication channels.
BTH2586 vs BTH3899 vs BTH50120
| Model | Bore | OD | Circuit Capacity | Current Capability | Typical Armored Vehicle Fit |
| BTH2586 | 25.4 mm | 86 mm | 6–24 standard, more by custom design | 5–20A standard; higher-current custom design | Compact sensor turret, remote weapon station, EO/IR platform |
| BTH3899 | 38.1 mm | 99 mm | 6–48+ circuits | Up to 40A per configured channel; higher by combined design | Mixed power + Ethernet + video + vehicle communication |
| BTH50120 | 50 mm | 120 mm | Up to 64 standard platform channels; higher custom layouts available | 5–30A standard options; 40A and higher-current custom configurations | Large turret shaft and high-channel-count vehicle systems |
Power, Gigabit Ethernet and Control Signals in One Rotary Assembly
BTH3899 Mixed Power and Data Configuration
A BTH3899 armored vehicle configuration combines high-current power circuits with digital communication and auxiliary signal channels inside a 38 mm through-bore assembly.
| Through Bore | 38 mm |
| Outer Diameter | 99 mm |
| High-Current Power | 4 × 40A circuits |
| Ethernet | 1 × Gigabit Ethernet |
| Digital Communication | 1 × ISDN |
| Auxiliary Signals | 10 signal lines |
| Protection | IP65 |
High-Current Turret Loads Are Defined by Duty Cycle, Not One Fixed Amp Rating
Turret drives, stabilization systems and auxiliary equipment can require substantially more power than sensor and communication circuits. The slip ring should therefore use separate conductor sizes and contact arrangements for each electrical load.
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5A, 10A, 15A, 20A, 30A and 40A circuit options cover a wide range of auxiliary loads across BTH platforms.
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Higher-current requirements are configured using combined conductive rings or dedicated high-current paths sized for continuous and peak load.
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Power architecture can reserve capacity for additional electronics, sensors and future turret upgrades without assigning oversized conductors to every low-current signal circuit.
Ethernet, CAN, Serial Data and Video Through the Same Turret Interface
Power and data circuits require different conductor geometry, shielding and isolation. ByTune configures each signal group according to its bandwidth, impedance and interference sensitivity.
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Gigabit Ethernet channels support high-speed data between turret electronics and the vehicle network.
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Dedicated CAN channels can carry vehicle control and status information across the rotating interface.
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Differential serial channels support robust control, sensor and equipment communication.
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Dedicated coaxial or controlled-impedance channels can be incorporated for rotating surveillance and imaging systems.
Low-Noise Power and Signal Transmission
| Electrical Parameter | BTH Platform Capability |
| Voltage | Up to 380VAC/DC; 600V optional |
| Dielectric Strength | ≥1000V @ 50Hz between circuits |
| Insulation Resistance | 1000 MΩ @ 500VDC |
| Electrical Noise | ≤7 mΩ |
| Contact Material | Precious-metal contact system |
| Operating Speed | Up to 1000 rpm on the three core BTH platforms |
| Platform Temperature Range | -40°C to +100°C |
Designed Around Shock, Vibration, Dust and Electromagnetic Interference
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Rotor support, bearings, housing and cable exits can be reinforced for repeated shock and vibration generated during vehicle movement and turret operation.
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IP65 configurations protect the internal contact system against dust, mud and water exposure in mobile outdoor environments.
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The BTH platform supports operation from -40°C to +100°C, covering the -40°C to +80°C requirement used in armored vehicle projects.
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Shielded wiring, differential signal pairs, grounding strategy and physical separation help protect data channels from adjacent high-current circuits.
Defense Project Requirements Can Be Built Into the Slip Ring Specification
Environmental and electromagnetic requirements should be defined together with the vehicle integrator so the mechanical structure, sealing, cable system and signal architecture can be configured before production.
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Humidity, shock, vibration and temperature conditions can be incorporated into the mechanical and environmental design specification.
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Signal separation, shielding and grounding can be developed around project electromagnetic interference and susceptibility requirements.
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For military ground vehicles using 28VDC electrical systems, input power characteristics can be considered during circuit design.
Through-Bore Installation Around the Turret Axis
The hollow-shaft structure allows the slip ring to install around the turret shaft, rotary column or other central components instead of occupying the entire rotation axis.
25.4 mm, 38.1 mm and 50 mm core bore options
Rotor connected to rotating turret structure
Stator restrained to vehicle chassis
Mechanical bearings carry turret structural loads
Power and signal wiring separated inside the rotary interface
Custom cable length and connector arrangement
Additional pneumatic, hydraulic or optical rotary interfaces available
Configure the Slip Ring Around the Vehicle Electrical Architecture
| Design Item | Customization Direction |
| Through Bore | 25.4 mm / 38.1 mm / 50 mm core models; larger custom bore available |
| Power Circuits | Mixed 5A–40A circuits and 50A+ high-current paths |
| Signal Circuits | Low-current sensor, control and auxiliary circuits |
| High-Speed Data | 100M / 1000M Ethernet |
| Vehicle Communication | CAN, RS485, RS422, RS232, ISDN |
| Video | HD-SDI and application-specific coaxial channels |
| Environmental Protection | IP54 standard platforms; IP65 and higher custom sealing |
| Temperature | Platform capability from -40°C to +100°C |
| Cable / Connector | Flying leads, protected cable, specified connectors and cable lengths |
| Hybrid Integration | Electrical + pneumatic / hydraulic / fiber-optic rotary interfaces |
Send Your Turret Electrical and Mechanical Requirements
ByTune can evaluate BTH2586, BTH3899 or BTH50120 according to the turret shaft size, power load, signal architecture, environmental conditions and available installation envelope.
| Through-bore / shaft diameter | Maximum OD and axial length | Number of power circuits |
| Continuous and peak current | Voltage and vehicle power system | Ethernet speed |
| CAN / RS485 / RS422 requirements | Video / coaxial signal type | Rotation speed and duty cycle |
| Temperature range | IP protection requirement | Shock / vibration / EMC requirements |
Request a Custom Configuration
Related Through-Hole Slip Ring Resources
25.4 mm compact through-hole platform.
38.1 mm mixed power and signal platform.
50 mm high-channel-count through-hole platform.
Explore additional defense rotary transmission solutions.