ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
I need to fit two deck plugs (waterproof). One co ax for the vhf and one five pin for the wind mhu. What should I get?
Deck plugs
- Thread starter ghostlymoron
- Start date
pvb
Well-Known Member
I'd fit glands to get the cables safely below deck, then join them in the nice dry inside.
West Coast
Well-Known Member
+ 1 Always works for me
VicS
Well-Known Member
Vtronix has proved perfectly satisfactory for the VHF for me. http://www.force4.co.uk/department/...re-coaxial-deck-plug-socket.html#.Vu8cDuKLSHs
I have used Driplugs for power supplies ( lights autopilot etc) . No complaints but they are not so popular/ readily available as they were . Not sure whats available in multipin configuration. I'd look at Bulgin now I think.
Could not be fiddled with disconnecting and pulling cable in and out of glands every time the mast comes down. OK for fixed stuff eg solar panel.
Last edited:
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Swannecks are pretty much fit and forget, providing it's dry below deck.
Driplugs work well but have to be checked and maintained as they can get verdigris on the connections.
Driplugs work well but have to be checked and maintained as they can get verdigris on the connections.
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
MarcJ
Well-Known Member
I would go with a swan neck. I fitted dri plugs on the last boat, ended up doing away with them and fitting a swan neck. On the current boat I spent an hour or 2 last week trying to make a gland water tight. I think the problem was it having 3 wires going through it...
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Ok for what they are, but not as good as using the glands or swan neck already suggested which get the electrical connections down below in the dry. You can get glands from the same supplier.
Len Ingalls
Well-Known Member
Thru Dex are terrific-don't know if they are available in UK.
http://www.newmarpower.com/Waterpro...ries/Waterproof_Fittings_Thru-Dex_Series.html
http://www.newmarpower.com/Waterpro...ries/Waterproof_Fittings_Thru-Dex_Series.html
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
I had some very expensive plug/sockets supplied and fitted a few years ago.
I had to take the electrician to task as they were meant to be totally waterproof and they had failed miserably after one season.
He refitted with an agreed discount, all my cables via a deck gland and connected inside with large terminal blocks where they terminated on crimped connectors .
A steep learning curve for us both.
S.
Len Ingalls
Well-Known Member
I used a 6"x6"x6" common pvc electrical junction box painted white to look yachty. Cut most of the bottom out & screwed it in bedding over the wiring hole in deck just behind the mast tabernacle.
I then mounted several Thru Dex packing glands in the front wall of box. My mast cables run in thru the packings & are joined by a combo of plugs & term block inside it.
I put the totally waterproof cover on with 4 brass screws. No problems in 9yrs.
Note: The existing cables were too short to go direct thru deck be joined inside easily.
If this link works,you can see the box just behind base of mast. Just another way to "skin the cat"
https://www.dropbox.com/s/42tmdpzaq6mdp7b/Puffin II.JPG?dl=0
I then mounted several Thru Dex packing glands in the front wall of box. My mast cables run in thru the packings & are joined by a combo of plugs & term block inside it.
I put the totally waterproof cover on with 4 brass screws. No problems in 9yrs.
Note: The existing cables were too short to go direct thru deck be joined inside easily.
If this link works,you can see the box just behind base of mast. Just another way to "skin the cat"
https://www.dropbox.com/s/42tmdpzaq6mdp7b/Puffin II.JPG?dl=0
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
I replaced the vhf deck connector with a through gland and connector behind the headlining - 100% more reliable. The lights still have deck connectors but they need regular cleaning.
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
For convenience, I'm going with the plugs. They're awfully expensive tho! Looking round boatyards most boats seem to have them despite their drawbacks.
Minchsailor
Well-Known Member
That is Bulgin Buccaneer. Readily available from Farnell.
Personally, I would go for swannecks, I don't like the idea of electrical connections in exposed locations.
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
They are Bulgin.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Difficult to see how they could possibly be more convenient. You still have to drill a hole in the deck for the cable. The reason why many boats have plugs is that glands are relatively recent, so old boats will have old fittings. Just about all new boats use glands or swan necks and have done for many years.
Cannot see any advantage in using expensive plugs in this sort of application.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Yes. They are actually made in the UK i believe. Other type with a different design are those from Index Marine which I have used since they first came out over 20 years ago. The original manufacturer was a friend.
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
Fed up with snapping off deck connectors and stubbing toes against them, I designed a very low profile deck gland that accepts as many cables as you can find use for. The connectors are below deck. The gland penetrates the deck through a single round hole via a standard through-hull. The deck seal is at that point. Removing the mast involves disconnecting the connectors and the through-hull nut and breaking the deck seal. The actual weather seals are left intact. Re-connection is a doddle.
I have never tripped over it, it is almost impossible to destroy and it has never leaked a drop.
Enormously proud, we made a batch and took them to the boat shows.
I think it is best described as a commercial flop!
You can have one if you like!
I have never tripped over it, it is almost impossible to destroy and it has never leaked a drop.
Enormously proud, we made a batch and took them to the boat shows.
I think it is best described as a commercial flop!
You can have one if you like!
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
Unplugging 3 plugs will take >a minute, disconnecting 7 cores plus a co-ax would take considerably longer not to mention slackening the gland and wiggling them through.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
I am right in thinking you are trailer sailing and regularly taking the mast up and down? Then I can understand the reason for using plugs. If that is the case then it would have been helpful for you to have said so then all the people on here urging you not to use them would have understood. However in a "normal" situation when removing the mast even once a year then glands (or swan neck) with connections inside are still the best solution.
