Identify Dri Plug

[oldbilbo]

I'm looking to identify the female 'Dri Plug' unit that secures into the cockpit coaming, provides 12v power, and mates with this Autohelm ST2000 unit. Please note the rigid central black fin just visible in this pic....

Thanks for any info.

 

[earlybird]

Raymarine autohelm standard

 

[Cloven]

Here you go

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autohelm-...575?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item418180de1f

 

[VicS]

Here you go

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autohelm-...575?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item418180de1f

It would be cheaper to convert to a standard Dri plug and socket!

http://driplug.com/products.html

 

[FulmarJeddo]

It would be cheaper to convert to a standard Dri plug and socket!

http://driplug.com/products.html

I have had an intermittent fault with my Raymarine SPX5 tiller pilot with it just stopping working. I have struggled to find the cause, and was convinced it was internal to the drive unit. I had a conversation with 2 people on the Raymarine stand at the London boat show who said it is almost certainly going to be the 3 pin plug and socket, "they are terribly unreliable," were their words. Yesterday I plugged the tiller pilot in and nothing. I took the socket off and checked the wires at the rear and got a slight turn on the wire clamp screws and tweaked the socket connectors slightly more closed and it worked without cutting out. So I think the guys at the boat show were correct about the unreliability of the plug and socket, so I will be looking for something more suitable, and cheaper. Only problem I can see, most of the dry plugs are more bulky than the Ramarine plug and socket for mounting in the cockpit.

 

[VicS]

I have had an intermittent fault with my Raymarine SPX5 tiller pilot with it just stopping working. I have struggled to find the cause, and was convinced it was internal to the drive unit. I had a conversation with 2 people on the Raymarine stand at the London boat show who said it is almost certainly going to be the 3 pin plug and socket, "they are terribly unreliable," were their words. Yesterday I plugged the tiller pilot in and nothing. I took the socket off and checked the wires at the rear and got a slight turn on the wire clamp screws and tweaked the socket connectors slightly more closed and it worked without cutting out. So I think the guys at the boat show were correct about the unreliability of the plug and socket, so I will be looking for something more suitable, and cheaper. Only problem I can see, most of the dry plugs are more bulky than the Ramarine plug and socket for mounting in the cockpit.

My Autohelm is connected via a standard Dri-Plug and always has been. With the socket sensibly located it is no problem.

 

[earlybird]

I think that the OP's plug was used on the smaller tillerpilots prior to the "plus" range when NMEA connections were not required. The current offerings need 5 wires and come with a Bulgin connector.
AFAIK, that 3 pin is a Raymarine special. Hence the eye-watering price. Might be worth trying a Raymarine dealer if a socket is really wanted.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

My Autohelm is connected via a standard Dri-Plug and always has been. With the socket sensibly located it is no problem.

Yes I agree Vic, my current socket is mounted at the rear of the cockpit, so I shouldn't have a problem changing it for a Dri-plug. What I was getting at more, is that the Raymarine plug and socket are quite neat and less obtrusive. I already have a Dri-plug socket mounted in a less than ideal position, that is the power feed for the old original Autohelm 2000 control box that serves as a backup to the more modern SPX5 when it lets me down, albeit a bit more sluggish and less powerful.

 

[Cloven]

I think that the OP's plug was used on the smaller tillerpilots prior to the "plus" range when NMEA connections were not required. The current offerings need 5 wires and come with a Bulgin connector.
AFAIK, that 3 pin is a Raymarine special. Hence the eye-watering price. Might be worth trying a Raymarine dealer if a socket is really wanted.

I believe this to be correct. However, the problem is that I don't think Raymarine stock that item any more.I am fairly sure that the eBay seller referred to bought up a lot of ex Raymarine stock and so can name almost any price for older parts. I was looking for a part which he had at £65 which I though too expensive. Noted the other day that the same part had gone up to £85. Fortunately for me it was not critical.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

I believe this to be correct. However, the problem is that I don't think Raymarine stock that item any more.I am fairly sure that the eBay seller referred to bought up a lot of ex Raymarine stock and so can name almost any price for older parts. I was looking for a part which he had at £65 which I though too expensive. Noted the other day that the same part had gone up to £85. Fortunately for me it was not critical.

It certainly looks very similar to the plug I have on my SPX5, that was the current model when I bought it 2 or 3 years ago. I'm not sure my one has the plastic tab in the centre though. It seems very early for Raymarine to have stopped holding stock already.

 

[Cloven]

It certainly looks very similar to the plug I have on my SPX5, that was the current model when I bought it 2 or 3 years ago. I'm not sure my one has the plastic tab in the centre though. It seems very early for Raymarine to have stopped holding stock already.

Its the same plug & socket I have on my Raymarine Autohelm and that dates back to late 1990s so it has been around for some time.