A cable gland locknut secures the gland in an unthreaded panel hole. A sealing washer or O-ring seals the joint between the gland and enclosure, where required by the gland design and installation. A matching threaded entry may not need a locknut, but its sealing requirements still need to be checked.
Two cable glands may have the same thread size but arrive with different accessories. Before comparing unit prices, check how each gland will be mounted and which parts are included.
Do You Need a Locknut?
For an unthreaded hole in a panel or enclosure, a locknut is commonly fitted on the inside to secure the gland. If the gland screws into a matching threaded entry, a locknut may not be needed.
For a through-hole installation, the entry thread must be long enough to pass through the panel and the specified sealing parts, with enough thread remaining for the locknut to engage correctly. For a threaded entry, check the available thread engagement. Use the product drawing and installation instructions to confirm suitability; panel thickness alone is not enough.
See our cable gland accessories and installation guide when checking the mounting arrangement.
Do You Need a Sealing Washer or O-Ring?
A locknut holds the gland in place; it does not replace an entry seal. The seal around the cable and the seal between the gland and enclosure perform different jobs. Both need to suit the installation where ingress protection is required.
Use the sealing part specified for the gland. A sealing washer and an O-ring are not automatically interchangeable: the gland’s base, any seal groove and the enclosure surface determine which part fits and seals correctly. Do not add or stack sealing parts unless the manufacturer specifies that arrangement.
If the enclosure needs a specified IP rating, confirm the rating for the complete installed arrangement, including the cable size, entry seal and installation conditions. An O-ring included in the package does not establish that rating by itself. Our IP rating guide explains the sealing configurations of our cable gland series.
What Should You Check Before Placing an Order?
Send the supplier the following details:
- Gland model, thread type and thread size.
- Cable outside diameter and required IP rating.
- Threaded entry or through-hole, panel thickness and any relevant drawing.
- Required locknut and sealing parts, with the quantity of each per gland.
Ask the quotation to identify the supplied set. For a bulk order, confirm whether accessories are fitted to each gland or packed separately before shipment. This helps avoid missing parts and extra assembly work on arrival.
Need the mounting parts checked? Send us your gland specification and panel drawing so we can confirm the supplied configuration before quoting.
