Leaking deck glands for solar

[RJJ]

Hello

Previous owner fitted these glands for the solar wiring (photo to follow). It looks as though he stuffed some gunk or sealant in there, which has fallen out of one of them.

Am I right in thinking this was a poor bodge? I would love some tips to fix it please - if possible without replacing the gland entirely.

Of course I can just stuff some more gunk in the hole but I'm not sure it's a great solution. Many thanks indeed.

 

[RJJ]

 

[pvb]

Yes, it's a bodge, but could work. The theory is that screwing the lid on compresses a rubber washer on to the wire.

 

[RichardS]

Decent deck glands normally have a rubber bung which goes around the cable and a threaded part which compresses the bung and squashes it and seals the cable/s and the housing. If you don't have one of these, then I would fit one.

Richard

 

[VicS]

Hello

Previous owner fitted these glands for the solar wiring (photo to follow). It looks as though he stuffed some gunk or sealant in there, which has fallen out of one of them.

Am I right in thinking this was a poor bodge? I would love some tips to fix it please - if possible without replacing the gland entirely.

Of course I can just stuff some more gunk in the hole but I'm not sure it's a great solution. Many thanks indeed.

I have one for my solar panel wiring ..... no problems

But if I were installing the solar panel now I would probably use a side entry gland such as one of these Deck Seals & Glands

 

[Rappey]

But if I were installing the solar panel now I would probably use a side entry gland such as one of these

Ive not seen those in real life but anything has to be better than those through deck cable gland fittings.. Have seen so many destroyed decks and cabin roofs due to those type of glands in first image leaking, saturating the core and no way of ever knowing they are leaking until you notice the deck underfoot has got a little soft or the mast base starts sinking into the deck

 

[Iliade]

[edit: crossed post]
What you have are deck glands, but the inner rubber part appears to be oversized for your cable. For a first order approach I would unscrew the top, wrap some self-amalgamating tape around the cable then reassemble. If the 'grommet' isn't too perished that may do the trick permanently...

I had a similar issue with my last boat and used some non-setting electrician's butyl 'putty' tape to good effect.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hello

Previous owner fitted these glands for the solar wiring (photo to follow). It looks as though he stuffed some gunk or sealant in there, which has fallen out of one of them.

Am I right in thinking this was a poor bodge? I would love some tips to fix it please - if possible without replacing the gland entirely.

Of course I can just stuff some more gunk in the hole but I'm not sure it's a great solution. Many thanks indeed.

The reason for the bodge is that the glands are the wrong size for the cable, you can clearly see the black cable does not fit tightly. You could do a better bodge by unscrewing the top and squirting the thing full of silicon, then screw the top back on. Better option would be to replace with one of these, or similar: 12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

 

[RJJ]

[edit: crossed post]
What you have are deck glands, but the inner rubber part appears to be oversized for your cable. For a first order approach I would unscrew the top, wrap some self-amalgamating tape around the cable then reassemble. If the 'grommet' isn't too perished that may do the trick permanently...

I had a similar issue with my last boat and used some non-setting electrician's butyl 'putty' tape to good effect.

Thanks to all, really useful all round, think I will look for a better sized bung or try butyl tape; I need some of the latter anyway.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I used Index Marine side entry glands - easy to fit and cable lies parallel to the deck, variations for single or dual cables, in black or white, pear shaped - black is cheaper so I used those!

 

[Rappey]

And then we have these ones for multiple cables at mast base .
Same principle as the opening posters pic.
I think they are terrible and will let water through eventually and saturate whatever is under your mast.
There are better solutions as I'm seeing on this thread.

 

[Stemar]

I've never had a plug like that that didn't leak. I finally got fed up with drips inside and rewired the mast with longer wires that go through these glands

and connect below. No problems since.

 

[Tintin]

And then we have these ones for multiple cables at mast base .
Same principle as the opening posters pic.
I think they are terrible and will let water through eventually and saturate whatever is under your mast.
There are better solutions as I'm seeing on this thread.

The trick with these is to put the rubber in the freezer before you drill it. Use a sharp new drill too. Never had a leak from these.