Phillips Industries released its newest Tech Tips issue Monday. The March edition addresses 7-way receptacle and pin degradation, and how it can be prevented.
The company says pin degradation occurs due to the wearing down of the brass pin receptacles in a plug and/or inside a socket. When contact between the pins in the socket and plug become weak, Phillips says lights can flicker or become non-operable on a trailer. This can lead to unnecessary downtime trying to locate the problem and CSA violations for inoperable lights.
According to the company, 7-way connectors can achieve a longer life when technicians and vehicle owners install sockets with split pins and perform routine maintenance on the plug and socket connection as much as possible.
Phillips says a “split pin design, versus solid pin, allows for the pins to be spread when the connection between the plug and socket have deteriorated, allowing a short term fix.” The company adds maintenance is important due to the increased use over the last decade of de-icing chemicals such as magnesium and calcium chlorides. “These chemicals are found to be highly corrosive to brass and copper, which is the base material for the contact pins used in plugs and sockets,” the company says.
For more technical maintenance guidance, and to read the entirety of this month’s issue, please CLICK HERE.
