A method for establishing a communication path between connectors on opposite sides of a PCB mounted to a vacuum chamber with an O-ring seal includes the steps (a) providing a plurality of vias through the PCB in the form of a connector pin pattern within the O-ring seal area to enable surface mounting of the type connector to the vacuum side of the PCB, (b) providing a plurality of vias through the PCB in the form of a pin pattern compatible to the pin pattern of step (a) outside of the O-ring seal area to enable plug in of the type connector to the pin pattern on the non-vacuum side of the PCB, and (c) on the non-vacuum side of the PCB, providing a conductive trace leading from each of the exposed vias of step (a) across the face of the PCB to each of the exposed vias of step (b).