Broken Plug

 

 

If you are experiencing odd signals on the box(It may be random hit lights or no lights at all, high resistance, or there is a tendency for the plug to come out of its socket, then any or all of these problems may be due to a broken 3-pin plug.

            It is the offset angle of the pins (see diagram) that grips the plug firmly in the socket and provides electrical connectivity to the circuit.

If the plastic block surrounding the pins is broken, then the pins will no longer be held firmly in place. This may result in a loose plug, and poor electrical connection. Furthermore, the broken pin, if not fixed, may cause a wire to break or detach and intermittently short circuit the plug.

 

 

Repairing a broken three-pin plug—Rating EASY

 

            A broken Leon Paul 3 pin plug can be easily checked for in a matter of seconds without any tools, and should be done as a matter of course at each use. Simply grip the plug between the index, middle finger and thumb, and gently squeeze. If the plug deforms under a little pressure, then further examination is necessary by peeling off the rubber cover and exposing the plastic block underneath.

Should the plug need replacing, spares are easily obtained for minimal cost. (Link). Do not be tempted to glue the block, as the joint will probably be too weak to work for long.

 

To replace the plug, disconnect the line three (far pin) and re-connect this to the new plug. Do the same for the other pins in turn so that the wires are only disconnected one at a time, and there is less opportunity for switching the cables. In this way the wires are always connected properly.

 

 

 Ensure that the wires are held firmly in the block before replacing the cover.

 

Remove the threaded screws before discarding the broken block and use them for spares. Always check the wire is working properly t by shorting out the two close pins with a coin or other metallic object. A red light indicates the hit side is working properly, a green, it’s not.