Sealed connector with triggered mating and method of using same

A scaled connector has a sealed plug and a sealed receptacle, each including a housing, support, bladder assembly, tagger assembly, and contacts coupled to the equipment. The bladder assembly includes an expandable bladder, and a seal plate earned by the expandable bladder between an expanded position about an opening in the housing and a contracted position a distance from the opening. The trigger assembly includes rod(s) extendable through the bladder and the seal plate. When the housing of the sealed receptacle is matingly connected to the housing of the sealed plug, the trigger assemblies extends through the seal plates and into triggered engagement with each oilier, a passageway through the seal plates are open, and the contacts of the sealed plug extend through the passageways and into engagement with the contact of the sealed receptacle.