This question may fall a little outside this groups scope but it's the only group I monitor and of course it's the best! This falls under the ol' "We've always done it this way" heading. We have a mil spec cable assemble that has a circular, MIL-C-26482, connector on one end. We have always put an empty pin in any unused holes with a plug. We have a new supplier that is not doing this. We rejected the cables and they asked where the criterion was for the plug. We cannot find a directive which mandates that unused pin locations be plugged. We did find a reference in MIL-HDBK-454 which states, "Sealing plugs should be inserted in the grommet holes of unused contacts in environmentally sealed connectors." It's the good old "should" statement and not a "Shall". Any of you mil guys out there know where this requirement lives? Thanks a bunch, KennyB --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------