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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 10:07:55 GMT
Discovered last night that my tunnel light wasn't working after its winter 12 week rest.
This morning I disconnected the external bow connector (3 pin plug in type) and cleaned the pins ... no change.
I then did the same on the connector inside the cratch ... let there be light ... and it was good.
So what is it that causes this type of interuption ?
The brass plugs are very secure and locked in place with a threaded cover which was fully tightened and secure.
Is it condensation breaking the contacts ?
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 10:17:18 GMT
Discovered last night that my tunnel light wasn't working after its winter 12 week rest. This morning I disconnected the external bow connector (3 pin plug in type) and cleaned the pins ... no change. I then did the same on the connector inside the cratch ... let there be light ... and it was good. So what is it that causes this type of interuption ? The brass plugs are very secure and locked in place with a threaded cover which was fully tightened and secure. Is it condensation breaking the contacts ? Rog Probably and the damp may cause a fine layer of corrosion.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 10:17:21 GMT
Maybe that or oxidisation. Perhaps it would be a good idea to apply a film of vaseline or grease, or perhaps just a quick blast of WD 40.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 10:28:11 GMT
Maybe that or oxidisation. Perhaps it would be a good idea to apply a film of vaseline or grease, or perhaps just a quick blast of WD 40. WD40 contact cleaner (or any contact cleaner) maybe but perhaps not the regular WD40. Google is your friend but I made that mistake a long time ago.
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Post by bodger on Jan 25, 2020 13:17:42 GMT
12v connections are notoriously sensitive to damp.
11.5v is OK, as is 14.8v. ................... or 230v.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 14:21:47 GMT
In the past I've used a nail file to just lightly clean up the pins. But on this occasion I simply rubbed the pins with my fingers and the contact was made. If it is simply condensation breaking the contact, is there some kind of spray sealant that would prevent this or is it simply inevitable ? I still find the idea of it being condensation slightly odd, as it was the internal connection that was 'severed'. Where's Telemachus or JohnV when you need electrical wizardry ? Rog
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Post by ianali on Jan 25, 2020 16:00:53 GMT
Probably just condensation. Not a problem I’ve had on boat but indays gone by, when I rode motorbikes through winters I always used WD40. It’s what it was made for.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 16:01:58 GMT
WD stands for water dispersant.
Like WC but with a D.
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Post by JohnV on Jan 25, 2020 17:11:01 GMT
Gold contacts are the best for good connection so is platinum or even silver at a pinch be a cheapskate and use brass and you will get oxidation ..... simples (brass is considered to be good enough for the hoi polloi)
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Post by Telemachus on Jan 25, 2020 17:54:43 GMT
We take our Francis lamp and vintage horn in every night unless somewhere safe. One is connected via a 2 pin and one a 3 pin bulkhead connector. They are not particularly reliable - bad /intermittent connections. I think the problems are a combination of some corrosion on the contacts, and the “spring” in the male contacts being lost. I had previously cleaned the contact surfaces and put on something like WD40, that lasted a while but not long. In the end I splayed the pins a bit more (they have a cross cut into the end, splayed slightly to make them grip in the female connector). This has helped a lot and they have been much better for the last couple of years.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 18:41:33 GMT
We take our Francis lamp and vintage horn in every night unless somewhere safe. I like this line.
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Post by naughtyfox on Jan 25, 2020 20:07:42 GMT
But on this occasion I simply rubbed the pins with my fingers and the contact was made. A better bet could have been kitchen towel (it has a rougher surface than toilet paper) and alcohol, rather than your greasy fingers? Vodka would probably do, although it may leave a residue as it is not pure ethanol, but I doubt that would be a hindrance to the current.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 20:23:40 GMT
The point I was trying to make was that , whatever was preventing the connection was insignificant, unnoticeable, invisible ... I will probably (at some convenient moment) clean up the plugs again with the nail file and spray with WD40 as recommended. It is very striking how tenuous the line between working and buggered is Rog
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Post by JohnV on Jan 25, 2020 20:40:20 GMT
The point I was trying to make was that , whatever was preventing the connection was insignificant, unnoticeable, invisible ... I will probably (at some convenient moment) clean up the plugs again with the nail file and spray with WD40 as recommended. It is very striking how tenuous the line between working and buggered is Rog this was almost exactly the panic job I got yesterday .... the navigation lights had packed in on the George Dyson 1 dodgy bulb, 2 dodgy plug/sockets and three knackered switches. ........ all the switches were just corroded contacts ..... they were proper old fashioned "wiping contact" switches so cleaning/WD40 worked the magic
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Post by naughtyfox on Jan 25, 2020 21:31:06 GMT
The point I was trying to make was that , whatever was preventing the connection was insignificant, unnoticeable, invisible ... I will probably (at some convenient moment) clean up the plugs again with the nail file and spray with WD40 as recommended. It is very striking how tenuous the line between working and buggered is Rog .... the navigation lights had packed in on the George Dyson and we all know how hard it is to spot the crumbs under the sofa without the driving lights.
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