driplug - anyone know how they come apart?

[Burnham Bob]

My steaming light and tricolour have their power lines up the mast connected through a driplug BD400. It has one negative return and two positive 12 volt supplies. i have 12 volts to the socket, but i'm sure the plug with the pins in that goes on the wires coming down the mast has lost its electrical contacts. neither light would work but waggling the plug produced a working tricolour. i would have thought diassembling the plug would be easy but it seems bulletproof. removing three screws still leaves the plug intact - i can't push it forward and looking hard i can't even see the seam where it comes apart. anyone ever used one? i have a cut away diagram but that doesn't help. driplug are on the web and they sent me the diagram. i tried to ring them for advice but they are off for the holiday and i was hoping to get the job done today.....but tomorow will do if anyone can tell me how it comes apart.

 

[sarabande]

It is quite similar to the Buccaneer types, where the inner 'core ' (the bit which looks like the cross-section of an orange ) needs to be unscrewed - usually there's a tool moulded into one of the other parts.

 

[VicS]

Are you asking about dismantling the plug or the socket?

The plugs that I have come apart by uncrewing the cover and then pushing all the innards up and out.IIRC

I dont remember any screws but I think I know what you mean. Take them out first.
I have the diagram that came with them but its no help!

 

[Burnham Bob]

its the plug - at least its the bit with the pins as opposed to the bit with the sockets.

the whole plug logically should push out to reveal the cable attachements - maybe its been in situ so long its healed over......i'll try a bit more strong arm tactics tomorrow

 

[2Tizwoz]

Mine was really tight, so much so that I phoned driplug to ask how it came apart but it did unscrew as they said it should, although I needed carefully used pliers, but silicone grease on the threads and elsewhere has kept it in good shape for some time now.

Its probably just dried salt.