What is this connector?

[Tom S]

I remember those connectors back on the lighting rig whan I was in school... Never much cared for them, alway seemed a bit dodgy, i.e. never seemed to engage the socket correctly. They were connected to a _really_ old lighting, erm, panel... so I'd guess they're pretty old... Was this the standard before the 15A plugs, or do people still use these today as a lighting connector in their rigs?

[Grahame]

They were commonly used for a cheap way of cpnnecting on-stage practicals, largely because the connector is relatively small and could be fed through small holes in the set. This was before the advent of the Powercon of course... :D

I think you can still buy them in Woolworths.

[skdean]

But surely spray painting the connector could damage the integrity of its insulating properties. Solvents in spray paints, markers etc mostly have a chemical action upon plastics etc.

[Chris L]

Yeah, they are (or at least the ones I've used) pretty appalling, I regularly have to tape them together to hold them in properly.

 

Chris

[TLOLI]

You could always save yourself money and just replace them with 15a sockets rather than having to make jumpers up. Alternatively try RS components.

[mikienorth]

I have seen them burnt out very many times in my old job, I know them as a 'Duraplug', but if all else fails try an electrical wholesaler, for instance Newey & Eyre, or City Electrical Factors, etc, etc.

 

They are quite a common connector, both within and without this industry, I used them a great deal in my contracting days, although I cannot remember exactly what for anymore, hence my suggestions for suppliers.

 

They are pretty tedious to make off though, and you really need to take care over them, as the cable holes are too small to double over a 1.5mm cable into, and they respond quite badly to loose connections, and really stink when they overheat.

They are, as previously said, a 10A connector, and, as again previously mentioned, not uncommon on lawnmowers. Anyone any idea why that is, it baffled me for years as a child, until we got a real mower (petrol)

[Andrew C]

  Anyone any idea why that is, it baffled me for years as a child, until we got a real mower (petrol)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think that they are thought to be moisture resistant (more so than 13A anyway), but the sheds dark & I CBA to go out and look to see if they state this to be the case.

 

Don't know if anyone has mentioned that there is an un-earthed version too.

[mikienorth]

I think that they are thought to be moisture resistant (more so than 13A anyway), but the sheds dark & I CBA to go out and look to see if they state this to be the case.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'll save you the walk, as I re-made plenty of these last year, none of them have 'moistureproof' or 'moisture resistant' or words suchlike on them. They may have had an IP number on the slip of paper in them, but I never read that, I never read instructions, I just keep a set for the CDM regs and handover books...

 

But, anyway, who really cuts the grass in the rain?