It features two bayonet lugs on the female connector; mating is fully achieved with a quarter turn of the coupling nut.

The MHV connector is typically rated for 1500 VRMS continuous and 5000 V peak, and 3 amperes.

[2][3][4][1] It was commonly used in laboratory settings for voltages beyond the rating of BNC connectors.

Other applications include: MHV connectors are a safety hazard because the central pin is close enough to the end to allow accidental contact with it when the connector is not plugged in,[5][6][3] and because the ground connection is broken before the power connection when demating.

[4] An additional problem is that MHV connectors are easily mistaken for BNC connectors by users who are unaware of the difference, and MHV and BNC plugs and jacks can be made to mate by brute force.