How To Fit A Boat Water-Proof Electrical Connector, The Right Way

Water-proof electrical connectors allow you to power electrical equipment for use on the outside of the boat, as and when needed. These boat electrical connectors and not only waterproof but can easily be removed when not in use and come with a sealing cap to keep your boat electrics nice and water-tight when you leave that boat. On a boat there are typically a few pieces of electrical equipment that you might not want to permanently wire up for various reasons. Examples of equipment that might make use of a waterproof connector are depth-sounders, VHF radio (ship-to-shore radio) systems, auto-helm equipment, and the main reason you might prefer to have their wiring removable is so that you can either store your valuable electrical equipment down below-decks when not in use, or even take them home with you for safe-keeping. Waterproof electrical connectors can be purchased from our website at Boat Fittings at the following location: https://www.boatfittings.co.uk/c/mari... We have 2 sizes of connector, the smaller waterproof connectors are rated at 3 Amps and the larger ones are rated at 5 Amps. Each size of connector is available in 2-pole or 3-pole versions. These waterproof electrical connectors have two main parts, the bottom part is permanently attached to the boat deck or coach-roof making use of the included rubber sealing gasket (we would recommend using a silicone sealant between the gasket and the deck though to help ensure a water-tight seal). The lower part of the electrical connector also comes with a sealing cap to keep water out when not connected to the electrical equipment. The top part of the waterproof connector includes a sealing grommet which should fit snugly to the wire being used, it is important to select a wire which has a circular outer sheath, and matches well to fit with the hole size of the sealing grommet. When the waterproof electrical connector is in use, the top part (male part) of the plug is first inserted into the base unit, and then a securing screw ring mechanically holds the two parts together, ensuring that during sailing the connector parts will remain firmly attached together. One consideration when fitting one of these waterproof connectors is which screws to use. In some cases, especially if fitting to a wooden deck, it would be common to use self-tapping screws or wood screws. A range of self tapping screws can be found for purchase in the link below: https://www.boatfittings.co.uk/c/mari... If attaching to fibre-glass it might be more appropriate to use a thru screw and nut, which in some ways give a more reliable joint, as long as there is access to get to tighten the nuts. Links to marine-grade metric screws and nuts can be found in the links below – be sure to select a size which will fit through the mounting holes in the waterproof electrical connector. Link to marine-grade stainless steel screws: https://www.boatfittings.co.uk/p/stai... Link to marine-grade stainless steel nuts: https://www.boatfittings.co.uk/c/mari... Link to marine-grade stainless steel washers: https://www.boatfittings.co.uk/c/mari...