Replacing plastic 13 pin socket for a metal one..?

Flappa30
Flappa30 Forum Participant Posts: 33
edited July 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

So I have an issue with the pastic socket fitted to my car. It's been used no more than 8 times and the little plastic lugs inside have either bent or broken off, resulting in a less than reliable connection.

Am I wrong in expecting that the twist action is meant to 'pull' the plug into the socket (and 'push' it out again to disconnect)..?

I was therefore looking at replacing said socket with an aluminium bodied one. Looking at pictures online it looks to me as though it might be pretty straight foward if the internal terminal block was able to swap straight from the plastic housing into the
aluminium one.

Anyone done this..?

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #2

    Is there such a thing as an ally bodied 13 pin socket? I can't say that I've ever seen one. Undecided

  • plasticmac
    plasticmac Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited July 2016 #3

    Flappa30, are you talking about the 13 pin socket on the tow bar? If so, having a metal body would be dangerous, as the risk of a pin shorting to the metal shell would be high. My standard black plastic socket has
    been in use for years, and shows no signs of failing. It's only the outer ring that rotates to pull the mating pins together. The lugs on the plug body are purely for alignment, the plug body should not move radially.

     

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #4

    Certainly with the 7 pin sockets some of the brands were (are?) sold with a choice of plastic or metal housings, but using the same insulated insert for the wiring. The metal used was aluminium which corrodes very quickly when exposed to salt water, as gets
    sprayed up from roadways.

    You may find a compatibile metal housing, but check the one you have that the insert does not have to be fitted from the front, which would mean disconnecting all the wires.

  • Flappa30
    Flappa30 Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited July 2016 #5

    Thanks for quick replies...

    aluminium body sockets are widely available.

    @plasticmac, I don't see your concern about shorting pins on a metal housing. The pins are well recessed into the plug.

    I know that only the outer part of the plug rotates, but it is this rotation using the 3 lugs inside the socket that pulls the plug in. The single key way at the bottom prevents the plug from trying to rotate.

    maybe I've just got a bad socket. Will talk to the fitting company, but expect they will say it has been 'abused' in some way.

    i can buy a socket for £6 so if lots of members reply saying its a common upgrade I'll give it a go...

  • Flappa30
    Flappa30 Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited July 2016 #6

    Ok, so the tow bar company changed the housing today. We'll see how we go with the new one. Credit to them for doing it for me FOC.

    Looking at the one that came off it did look like the prongs had been forced out, but I certainly haven't used any excessive force to turn the plug when connecting. All brand new as well, so can't blame any previous owners.

    I'm going to chalk it up as experience and pay more attention when connecting up for a while.

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