What is a 2-pin round DC power connector useful for?

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Your cell phone (mobile we call Em) would charge of a USB port which you can even plug into your lap top there. Don't go cutting anything off.

I don't think you have been following along.

[psneeld]

For a phone, the single interior or the single adapter suits me fine.

Funny that some make a big deal over some boat items being the best and lasting forever and only doing a job once...yet don't see some of their own counter discussions.

[Bluemansailor]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Actually the 2 pin socket is far superior to any cigarette plug/socket I have ever seen in my experience.

They just aren't compatible with many items unless you buy extra plugs and you replace the clips or cigarette type plug on the add on equipment.

I have owned several boats with them installed and liked them so much I have bought more. Every cigarette plug/socket has been removed and been replaced with something superior.

totally agree. I replaced my crappy rusty cigarette sockets with these- you can buy them in sets or separate...but each to his own!

[Cheechako]

you should be able to find that receptacle. I forget who makes them. I would not use a cigarette lighter receptacle outside... actually I quit using them inside any more either... they corrode and fail a lot IME.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by rwidman

My cell phone chargers have the electronics inside the plug. You can't just cut off the plug and solder on a different one. If you change all the outlets on the boat you would have to make an adapter for the cell phone chargers.

umm, yes, I was following. What have I missed?

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

umm, yes, I was following. What have I missed?

I have no intention of cutting the plugs off my cell phone chargers. I was using that as an example of why one would keep the standard outlets on a boat or car and not change them to something different.

[psneeld]

How do cars and airplanes get into a boat forum so much?

I'm quite familiar with all three....and each is very different in my book.....totally different needs much of the time.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by psneeld

How do cars and airplanes get into a boat forum so much?

I'm quite familiar with all three....and each is very different in my book.....totally different needs much of the time.

Well, in this context, I move my cell phone and hot spot chargers back and forth between the cars and the boat. And on cruises I take along the car GPS because from a marina I can easily find a grocery store, pharmacy, West Marine, etc. Even though I'll be walking I can find the shortest route.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by psneeld

How do cars and airplanes get into a boat forum so much?

I'm quite familiar with all three....and each is very different in my book.....totally different needs much of the time.

Well, apart from a lot of sailors are also pilots, it could be because the sails on a boat work the same as a wing of a plane. Navigation is also pretty much the same and so is weather understanding and trip planning.

The 'car' thing is I imagine just because the cig lighter fittings are in every car.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Well, apart from a lot of sailors are also pilots, it could be because the sails on a boat work the same as a wing of a plane. Navigation is also pretty much the same and so is weather understanding and trip planning.

The 'car' thing is I imagine just because the cig lighter fittings are in every car.

I guess the more I am around all of them...the fewer direct comparisons I see.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Agree completely. The different pin sizes guarantee correct polarity, and are far more robust than cheaper cigarette plugs.

They are made in at least two different pin-out configurations. We have both 12 & 24 VDC on board. Each has a unique receptacle.

[hellosailor]

"How do cars and airplanes get into a boat forum so much?"
It is called "the mass market". Since builders produce and sell some 10,000 or more cars for every truck or plane that is sold, parts that are designed and manufactured for the mass market (cars) become incredibly economic alternatives for boats and sometimes planes. As opposed to inventing better clever oddball uncommon standards that most customers won't be able to work with.
Which is also why there are automotive alternators with integral regulators aboard almost every production boat, regardless of whether they are suitable for the task.


I also see the UK picture and listing for the "two pin bulkhead mounted connector" seems to clearly list it as having a 2/3Amp capacity. Not on my watch! There are better ways to go than that. But if your boat is already infested with them, just remember not to plug any new cell phone chargers or tablet computers into them, they might just slag it down unless there's a convenient 2/3A fuse in line.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Canibul

And perhaps you should study marine connector design and then take a closer look at those cigar lighters. Do a part count, for starters. Then look at the material. I spent 40 years working with underwater and marine connectors. That ain't one. And I am not questioning your favorite supplier's quality. I'm saying it's the stupidest "connector" design on the entire boat. Hand's down.

I merely pointed out that this connector is a pseudo standard and good construction quality ones can be had.

That's not to say their are other better ones. It just they arnt standard


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[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Tessellate

To the people saying they prefer the 2-prong outlets, and use them for various things, how did you manage to connect those devices to the 2-prongs? Did you rewire the device to a male 2-prong plug (like the one in the Whitworth link)? Have you rewired a USB charger?

Having no serious electrical experience (yet), that sounds difficult to me. If you somehow wired a USB cord to the 2-prong plug, how do you ensure the connections are water-tight / safe? Are they exposed?

The suggestion of powered spotlights that work via 2-prong plugs, given a spotlight that was purchased a while ago (before high powered battery LED spotlights became readily available), is a good use case. But that's only one use - how do you make your outlets useful for general purposes?

I have 8 devices powered via USB, and zero powered by 2-prong plugs. So to make a 2-prong useful I would need to wire a USB to a 2-prong. I think the suggestions for cigarette outlets are because there are USB adapters for that easily available for purchase.

Yep, new connectors on appliances. If I was starting fresh I would go with a twist-lok DIN connector though. Cig lighter type do work... for a while. I had bad experiences with even the SS marine ones. Heck, I have one in my car that is intermittent!
With 8 devices you might just stick with the Cig lighter type and carry a couple spares.... depends on how anal you are about things!

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I merely pointed out that this connector is a pseudo standard and good construction quality ones can be had.

That's not to say their are other better ones. It just they arnt standard


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Yep. I just bought two new cell phones. Anyone want to guess what style connector the 12 volt chargers came with?