2 Pin 12v power outlet

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stranded

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Hi

Hopefully a simple one for one who knows...

I have in the cockpit a 12v power outlet - not cigar lighter but a female socket for 2 round pins with a screw on cap attached by a short chain. The only thing on board with a plug that fits is an Aqua Signal 12v torch. That is very useful but I would like to use for other things e.g. a usb outlet for a tablet, cockpit lighting. I have found a couple of things that look similar but I am not at the boat and can't tell if they are the same and would like to order some more male plugs/adapters today if poss. Had the bright (ha!) idea of searching on the Aqua Signal but no good because they come without a plug. Any suggestion? Or would I anyway be better switching to some other form of outlet?

Mark
 
I know it would - but then I'd probably be able to just look behind and read off what it is! Was hoping to find out before I go down but if it is not so simple as I thought (which does make me feel a bit better!) then I'll get a pic if i cant read anything.
 
ohmaggie said:
Hi

Hopefully a simple one for one who knows...

I have in the cockpit a 12v power outlet - not cigar lighter but a female socket for 2 round pins with a screw on cap attached by a short chain. The only thing on board with a plug that fits is an Aqua Signal 12v torch. That is very useful but I would like to use for other things e.g. a usb outlet for a tablet, cockpit lighting. I have found a couple of things that look similar but I am not at the boat and can't tell if they are the same and would like to order some more male plugs/adapters today if poss. Had the bright (ha!) idea of searching on the Aqua Signal but no good because they come without a plug. Any suggestion? Or would I anyway be better switching to some other form of outlet?

Mark
Click to expand...

This sort of thing

http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/deck-plugs-and-sockets

common 30/40 years ago. At least two size ranges

Driplugs (q.v.) were better and maybe tended to replace them, Seem to still be available but cannot find the DriPlug website anymore


More recently other (better) types have gained in popularity eg Bulgin http://www.bulgin.co.uk/Products/Buccaneer/Buccaneer.html
 
Last edited:
Everything 12V seems to come with a cigarette-lighter plug these days (VHF radios, torches, inverters, PC & tablet power supplies etc) so I would be inclined to buy a good quality socket and fit that with an inline fuse if there isn't one already. Go for an 8 - 10 amp socket and wiring as that should cover everything.

Richard
 
Thanks all - yes, similar to Bedouin's Newline, Vic's ASAP and EU's kok...

But not quite enough for me to lay out cash on so I'll look and measure when down then think about updating - especially as there don't seem to be such things as usb adapters for these and that would be a very nice indeed (well protected under sprayhood so dry in most conditions).

Thanks again.
 
RichardS said:
Everything 12V seems to come with a cigarette-lighter plug these days (VHF radios, torches, inverters, PC & tablet power supplies etc) so I would be inclined to buy a good quality socket and fit that with an inline fuse if there isn't one already. Go for an 8 - 10 amp socket and wiring as that should cover everything.

Richard
Click to expand...

Ordinary bog standard push in types make unreliable contact ...... they are OK for cigar lighters because they clip in until hot then pop up

There are cigar lighter type plugs and sockets that latch in.

Nor sure if they are water proof though. The traditional deck sockets are also Driplugs. Bulgin Buccaneer range are IP68
 
I have found the Newline type is not very good because the 'sprung female socket' is not very springy. I have one in the cockpit for my Tillerpilot and every now and then I have to dismantle the thing and compress the sockets a bit.
 
The trouble with the two pin sockets like that is that you can plug them in the wrong way round. I've gone for 3 pin on Jissel because my tiller pilot didn't like (terminally) reversed polarity.

VicS's ASAP link plugs are water resistant, rather than water proof, but a bit of silicone in the cable entry and some ACF 50 on the pins and in the socket holes helps keep the rain out.
 
RichardS said:
Everything 12V seems to come with a cigarette-lighter plug these days (VHF radios, torches, inverters, PC & tablet power supplies etc) so I would be inclined to buy a good quality socket and fit that with an inline fuse if there isn't one already. Go for an 8 - 10 amp socket and wiring as that should cover everything.

Richard
Click to expand...

Cigar lighter sockets are pretty poor IMO. I almost started a fire on board using a Halfords cooler with a cigar plug, became so hot that it burned me when I removed it on realising how hot the panel was. Despite having an appropriately sized breaker. Whereas I use a Dri-plug, rated at 10 amps, for my dinghy inflator that is said to consume 25 amps. Only briefly, admittedly, but it doesn't get even warm.
 
Stemar said:
The trouble with the two pin sockets like that is that you can plug them in the wrong way round. I've gone for 3 pin on Jissel because my tiller pilot didn't like (terminally) reversed polarity.
Click to expand...

A couple of years ago I mailed the driplug people to ask what the standard way round was to wire them up: I had a disconnected socket above the companionway that I wanted to make use of. They replied saying there wasn't a standard. I went with +ve on the right (looking at the socket) for consistency with mains wiring.

As vic says, driplug.com web site currently not working although products still in stock everywhere and domain still registered so maybe just a hosting glitch?
 
Stemar said:
The trouble with the two pin sockets like that is that you can plug them in the wrong way round. I've gone for 3 pin on Jissel because my tiller pilot didn't like (terminally) reversed polarity.

VicS's ASAP link plugs are water resistant, rather than water proof, but a bit of silicone in the cable entry and some ACF 50 on the pins and in the socket holes helps keep the rain out.
Click to expand...

The two pin plug and sockets of the traditional type, which I think the Op describes, usually, if not always, have unequal sized pins to make them non reversible. ( I still have one in use)

Dri-plugs are not reversible and the pins in the 2 pin version are offset from the centre line. ( I have one on my Autohelm)


However be aware that with the traditional metal bodied plugs one of the pins ( certainly in the 3 pin , if not the two pin, version) may be connected to the outer casing .
 
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JumbleDuck said:
There's a hyphen! Googling "ECS Dri-Plug" (I know they are ECS because I need to buy one and have been investigating) gives

http://www.ecs-marine-equipment.co....ri-plug-2-pin-plug-and-socket-item-23500.html
Click to expand...

or may be not:

http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/en/gb/DriPlug/b-71.aspx

Actually you are right. I have found an original fitting instruction leaflet, where it is hyphenated.

My old link to Dri-Plugs' website though does not work, nor does Google find one .... maybe the makers have been taken over ... ?? .... the plugs still seem to be avaialble
 
VicS said:
My old link to Dri-Plugs' website though does not work, nor does Google find one .... maybe the makers have been taken over ... ?? .... the plugs still seem to be avaialble
Click to expand...

Just googling "Dri-Plugs" finds the ECS website. They don't seem to be as common as once they were, though ... Bulgin seem to have moved in on that market.
 
VicS said:
My old link to Dri-Plugs' website though does not work, nor does Google find one .... maybe the makers have been taken over ... ?? .... the plugs still seem to be avaialble
Click to expand...

I've looked back through my mails from when I asked them about plug wiring (side note: yes you can't plug them in the wrong way round but without standard wiring conventions you can't plug a driplug into a driplug socket on another boat...) and it was indeed driplug.com (no hyphen) which I contacted them at. The reply was from "needsplastics.co.uk". Looking at their website they have a link to driplug.com which goes to the hosting company, so maybe this is a simple hosting error rather than company closure.
http://www.needsplastics.co.uk/page3584/home.aspx
 
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