Electrical connectors.

[doug748]

What's the best/easiest way to put new connectors on a mast light whilst perched on top of it? Anyone sussed out a simple way?

 

[MikeCC]

What type of connection? Wire-to-wire or blade terminals, or something else?

 

[Praxinoscope]

Get someone else to do it for you.

 

[Refueler]

Crimp. No need for power or anything except connectors and crimp tool.

 

[doug748]

Get someone else to do it for you.

If you have nowt to say, best be silent.

.

 

[doug748]

Crimp. No need for power or anything except connectors and crimp tool.

Yep, I think it may come to this, just wondered if anyone had any genius, one handed, ideas.

.

 

[Refueler]

Yep, I think it may come to this, just wondered if anyone had any genius, one handed, ideas.

.

One handed .... everyones wish !!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I think crimping is just about the only option. A ratchet crimping tool will make life easier; it's not quite one-handed, but you can do things like securing the crimp in the crimper with just enough pressure to hold it so that you aren't trying to manipulate three things at once.

Glue-filled crimps and/or heat shrink crimps are probably a good idea at the top of a mast.

 

[northwind]

Wago connectors can easily be done one handed

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Wago connectors can easily be done one handed

I've never used them, but are they suitable for a location extremely exposed to the elements, with a lot of motion? I ask for information, not as a put-down. The motion at the top of a mast is greatly amplified from that at deck level, and the acceleration forces correspondingly greater.

 

[doug748]

Wago connectors can easily be done one handed

I did think a bit about this. After snipping off the old connectors at the masthead, I then have to bare the two wires which will not be straightforward but then I will probably have to do this anyway so it's a possible.

As I am fitting a new light I can put whatever I like on two wires from the lamp, on the bench........with only the two at the top of the mast to make match.

.

 

[LadyInBed]

I don't know if you have done much top of mast work, but I find putting all tools and bits in a bucket on a drop line rather than trying to put them in pockets helps. If you need another tool the bucket can be lowered on the drop line to collect it.
Also wedging the bucket under the job will catch bits that you might loose control of!

 

[northwind]

I've never used them, but are they suitable for a location extremely exposed to the elements, with a lot of motion? I ask for information, not as a put-down. The motion at the top of a mast is greatly amplified from that at deck level, and the acceleration forces correspondingly greater.

add a gel box and you are golden.. Gelbox Provides Protection from Moisture

 

[Daydream believer]

I have been up the mast many times over the years using a plank of wood ( had one break in the 70's whilst I was at the top ) & a few different canvas bosuns chairs. The best one was one loaned to me by a friend, who had bought it from Fox's marina chandlery. It had good stitching, a high back support & held one upright. Unfortunately I do not know the make otherwise I would get one.
Anyhow the problem with them all is that one feels that one is going to tip backwards, so ends up holding on with one hand. Whether one would or not is irrelevant- it is the feeling of uncertainty that matters.

My solution is to take a sail tie & loop it to the halyard , pass it under my right arm, over my left shoulder & clove hitch it to the halyard. That means I can lean back against the tie, without feeling that I am going to fall. I can adjust it when up the mast. Then with the halyard tied tight to the ring on the chair I can get myself winched tight to the mast top. That way I can easily reach the top & use both hands.

Rather than a bucket for tools I have a canvas bag. I find that on the way up or down a bucket can easily snag on rigging, radar reflectors, spreaders, lazy jacks, steaming light, flag halyard etc & tip the contents out on those below with dire consequences. Means it is fiddly to get the pieces , but safer in the long run.

 

[Daydream believer]

I would suggest that Wagos are not the best option up a mast, as one still need to make them watertight. The shape makes it difficult to get self amalgamating tape around them. Plus you need one for each wire ( I think) so you need to fit the tape round each one. It gets very bulky. I suggest crimp connectors. If you can get a decent lighter up there, then some heat shrink slid over the wire to slide over crimped connectors may be the way to go, over the individual strands. Then bind the whole lot in SA tape.
I have used heat shrink solder type connectors elsewhere, but with little success, so would not use them at the mast head.

 

[Dknightsx]

What type of connection? Wire-to-wire or blade terminals?

 

[jon and michie]

Don't forget to tie off your tools - save someone from getting a headache lol

 

[Daydream believer]

What type of connection? Wire-to-wire or blade terminals?

Blade would get my vote

 

[prv]

I’d consider using Superseal connectors. You can do the light side on the bench, and then the cable side is a fairly simple crimping job of one core at a time with the light out of the way in the bucket. Then just plug them together after installing the light. Later replacement if ever needed will be vastly easier.

Pete

 

[PaulRainbow]

I did think a bit about this. After snipping off the old connectors at the masthead, I then have to bare the two wires which will not be straightforward but then I will probably have to do this anyway so it's a possible.

As I am fitting a new light I can put whatever I like on two wires from the lamp, on the bench........with only the two at the top of the mast to make match.

.

Now you have given a decent description of what you are fitting, glue lined butt crimps are the best answer.

Wago connectors have their uses, but not at the top of the mast.