Where can I buy one of these?

VicS said:
Like mud in a wine glass now ? :)
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Trouble though with modifying another connector will be finding one with exactly the right hole spacing. Looked at my collection earlier... all slightly different
 
nigelmercier said:
Or perhaps
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Yes that looks like it. Pity they dont quote the part number but it doea says its for the AS40 range which is what I was looking at

But who whats to pay £32 for about 20p worth of connector strip
 
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These electrical components are known as "Terminal Blocks" or "Terminal Strips" in Australia (and I think the US) but certainly not "Chocolate Blocks" or "Choc Blocks"!

I did an eBay search for "choc blocks" in the "Cars, bikes and boats" and came up with plenty of milk chocolate bars and a few electrical terminals (all from the UK)

I was happier when I did a google search

Screw terminal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_terminal
A screw terminal is a type of electrical connector where a wire is held by the tightening of a ... These are known as connector strips or chocolate blocks ("choc blocks") in the UK. A similar arrangement is common with paired screw terminals, ...
‎Description · ‎Applications · ‎Multiway versions · ‎Installation

J
 
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nigelmercier said:
Indeed. I'd be inclined to get a few chocolate blocks and take the brass section out, see if it can be made to fit the original.
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Just wondering if you could use two of these?

View attachment 58527

Maybe not as it has to fit the protruding pins

View attachment 58528

In Australia they wouldn't be allowed to sell a light without making spare parts available. (if spare parts are not available they have to warn the intending buyer)
 
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coopec said:
In Australia they wouldn't be allowed to sell a light without making spare parts available. (if spare parts are not available they have to warn the intending buyer)
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Funny that, 'co for some reason it was the Australian website that I was looking at originally.
 
VicS said:
Funny that, 'co for some reason it was the Australian website that I was looking at originally.
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Yes, some re-sellers are not aware of their legal obligations.

"The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) requires businesses to provide ... have spare parts and repair facilities reasonably available for a reasonable ...[time]"
 
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Strictly speaking, I believe the slang "chocolate block" originally referred to the type of (originally brown) screwed terminal strip with raised sections between which you could "break off" a number of pieces. Personally I don't normally use the term, but was going with the flow.

I don't think trying to adapt a terminal strip would work, but as I suggest above, the terminals themselves may be suitable for modification.
 
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coopec said:
Yes, some re-sellers are not aware of their legal obligations.

"The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) requires businesses to provide ... have spare parts and repair facilities reasonably available for a reasonable ...[time]"
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Well there are spares available. The spare is the complete base. No consumer law can or will specify to what level spares must be available.

You wont find the programed micro controller available for your washing machine, what you will find is a replacement controller board.

I have done extensive search for the kind of terminal blocks but only found ceramic ones. The important point is the pitch of the connections is 10 mm and it looks like the 4 way was cut down from a longer strip. One of my local suppliers does have a similar type in 12 way only in either 10 Amp or 20 Amp but give no detailed dimensions.

If I was looking I would take the old one to my local supplier and try to match the size and pitch then cut a longer to suit.

Clive the term chocbloc is slang as most are brown and are in sections that can be cut just like a block of chocolate that you eat.
 
Does it need to unplug to change something?? If not I'd be tempted just to solder the wires on the pins & heatshrink them, be a more reliable connection anyways.
 
Tammany said:
Does it need to unplug to change something?? If not I'd be tempted just to solder the wires on the pins & heatshrink them, be a more reliable connection anyways.
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Good idea and presumably that would stop corrosion.

I'd go along with "reconditioning" his existing terminal block that OP suggested. Wouldn't there be spark-plug type terminals (either straight or elbow) on the market?
 
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Apologies for absence, been away sailing at weekend.

Well done Roger Shaw, post 17, photo is spot on. Roger, I am familiar with what you are referring to in post 33, I have tried same in Morgans at Brightlingsea but the pins did not line up.

I have e mailed CPC Farnell technical dept referring them to this forum and I await their response.

I do feel the design of the light is flawed in that the light unit fits inside the base unit and inevitably water will run down into the base. The only thing that can corrode as a result is this connector block. Yet, still they use steel screws. I object to paying £32.39 just to replace a connector. All this serves to do is make people avoid Aqua Signal nav lights. I shall certainly think twice about using them when I replace my other nav lights.

I'll update when I get a reply from CPC Farnell, in the meantime, thanks for all the assistance and advice especially to those who posted the photos.

Andy
 
UPDATE:

Today I received an email reply from CPC Farnell. They state that they "are unable to assist with this".

I can only assume Aqua Signal have them specially made just for them and their lights. I can't think where else to try to find them.
 
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