A connector for use in an environment exposed to liquids or debris comprising: a receptacle having: a body defining a plurality of apertures and having a mating face, and a plurality of socket contacts each defining an opening aligned with one of the plurality of apertures; and a plug having: an outer casing defining a cavity and having a mating end, a plurality of contacts positioned within the cavity and coupled to the outer casing, each having a pin tip, an insulator positioned within the cavity, coupled to the outer casing, and defining a plurality of apertures such that each of the plurality of contacts can extend through one of the plurality of apertures of the insulator, a pin protection plate slidably coupled to the outer casing, enclosing at least a portion of each of the plurality of contacts within the cavity, and defining a plurality of pin guides each aligned with one of the plurality of contacts such that when the mating end of the outer casing is aligned with the mating face of the pin protection plate and force is applied to the outer casing towards the body, the mating face resists movement of the pin protection plate and the pin tip of each of the plurality of contacts extends beyond the pin protection plate and is received by one of the plurality of socket contacts via one of the plurality of apertures of the body, and at least one spring positioned between the pin protection plate and the insulator and configured to exert a separation force between the pin protection plate and the insulator; wherein the pin protection plate includes two T-bars extending towards the insulator and having an elongate portion and a cross portion; and wherein the insulator defines two slots configured to receive the elongate portions of the two T-bars such that the pin protection plate can move relative to the insulator by a distance substantially equal to a distance of the elongate portion. a receptacle having: a body defining a plurality of apertures and having a mating face, and a plurality of socket contacts each defining an opening aligned with one of the plurality of apertures; and a body defining a plurality of apertures and having a mating face, and a plurality of socket contacts each defining an opening aligned with one of the plurality of apertures; and a plug having: an outer casing defining a cavity and having a mating end, a plurality of contacts positioned within the cavity and coupled to the outer casing, each having a pin tip, an insulator positioned within the cavity, coupled to the outer casing, and defining a plurality of apertures such that each of the plurality of contacts can extend through one of the plurality of apertures of the insulator, a pin protection plate slidably coupled to the outer casing, enclosing at least a portion of each of the plurality of contacts within the cavity, and defining a plurality of pin guides each aligned with one of the plurality of contacts such that when the mating end of the outer casing is aligned with the mating face of the pin protection plate and force is applied to the outer casing towards the body, the mating face resists movement of the pin protection plate and the pin tip of each of the plurality of contacts extends beyond the pin protection plate and is received by one of the plurality of socket contacts via one of the plurality of apertures of the body, and at least one spring positioned between the pin protection plate and the insulator and configured to exert a separation force between the pin protection plate and the insulator; wherein the pin protection plate includes two T-bars extending towards the insulator and having an elongate portion and a cross portion; and wherein the insulator defines two slots configured to receive the elongate portions of the two T-bars such that the pin protection plate can move relative to the insulator by a distance substantially equal to a distance of the elongate portion. an outer casing defining a cavity and having a mating end, a plurality of contacts positioned within the cavity and coupled to the outer casing, each having a pin tip, an insulator positioned within the cavity, coupled to the outer casing, and defining a plurality of apertures such that each of the plurality of contacts can extend through one of the plurality of apertures of the insulator, a pin protection plate slidably coupled to the outer casing, enclosing at least a portion of each of the plurality of contacts within the cavity, and defining a plurality of pin guides each aligned with one of the plurality of contacts such that when the mating end of the outer casing is aligned with the mating face of the pin protection plate and force is applied to the outer casing towards the body, the mating face resists movement of the pin protection plate and the pin tip of each of the plurality of contacts extends beyond the pin protection plate and is received by one of the plurality of socket contacts via one of the plurality of apertures of the body, and at least one spring positioned between the pin protection plate and the insulator and configured to exert a separation force between the pin protection plate and the insulator; wherein the pin protection plate includes two T-bars extending towards the insulator and having an elongate portion and a cross portion; and wherein the insulator defines two slots configured to receive the elongate portions of the two T-bars such that the pin protection plate can move relative to the insulator by a distance substantially equal to a distance of the elongate portion.