Need help finding a dust-proof IEC AC inlet - Solved! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2016, 05:55:52 pm
content: Like it says on the tin, I'm looking for a standard IEC AC inlet that has some sort of hinged cover or an attached* rubber plug or the like to protect against contamination when the AC inlet is not used. The product can run off DC or AC via separate input ports and the environment will be most nasty - think pollution degree 11 (not quite, but you get the idea).I found some pictures of inlets that are more or less what I want (posted below), but I was hoping to find something that wasn't Wun Hung Lo quality... nobody likes it when their AC inlet catches on fire, after all.* - Bulgin, for example, has separate rubber boots available for many of its inlets, but where do you put the boot when the inlet is in use?

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2016, 06:23:37 pm
content: IP Code is the keyword you need.IPxy where x denotes protection against dust of decreasing size. you want it to be 5 or higher for sand/dust.y denotes protection against water, in this case you don't care.IP65 is one of the most common as it is the IP Code of many consumer electrical appliances going outdoors in the garden and/or inside bathrooms

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2016, 06:33:38 pm
content: I've been searching for "dust cover IEC inlet", for example, when "IP65 IEC inlet" makes a lot more sense. Thanks for pointing out the obvious because in this case it is was just what I needed!Wait... not so fast... I'm coming up with lots of inlets that are sealed but none with dust covers. I really need to protect against build-up of soot/dust on the contacts, rather than only ensure dust/soot/water/whatever doesn't get through the inlet.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2016, 06:51:19 pm
content: Uh, my bad.But hey, the second photo you posted... the rubber cover is screwed in place with the inlet so when the cord is plugged in the gover just hangs therecan't think of other solutions

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2016, 07:09:42 pm
content: Quote from: JPortici on August 10, 2016, 06:51:19 pmIt's okay if the cover just hangs there when the inlet is in use - I just need to stop dust/soot from collecting in the inlet when it is not in use (which will be most of the time).Looks like I might have to go with Wun Hung Lo brand...

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2016, 10:45:43 pm
content: I've already spent way more time on this than it deserves (isn't that always the case, though?) so I'm going to take a flier on these Wun Hung Lo specials:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/100pcs-lot-AC-power-socket-Fuse-Switch-with-waterproof-cover/655448817.htmlIt looks like the rubber sealing cover/gasket is separate from the inlet, so if the inlet turns out to be dodgy - which is what I expect - then perhaps I can just use the cover on a better quality inlet of similar design.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2016, 01:10:14 am
content: The no-name (that we can read, anyway) inlets are what virtually every consumer product uses, and they generally manage to be just fine.

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 11:03:56 am
content: Well, I received the Wun Hung Lo AC inlets yesterday and I don't think I'll be using them - not even just the "sealing" plug with another inlet. The main reason is the plug is made of a very hard rubber that is almost as stiff as plastic and so it probably doesn't actually seal the inlet, nor does it look like it will stay inserted for very long. Attached are a couple of pictures of the inlet, one showing that the plug is well on its way to popping out after sitting overnight on my desk. I can only imagine what might happen in a high vibration environment...The other picture shows another area of concern: the junction of the plug to the gasket looks destined to die an early death based on how it is torqued when the plug is inserted.

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 11:43:35 am
content: Quote from: MagicSmoker on September 01, 2016, 11:03:56 amHow's this?

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 12:51:33 pm
content: Quote from: TCWilliamson on September 01, 2016, 11:43:35 amYeah, that was the other option I was considering. I really had my hopes up for the two piece solution - separate gasket/plug and inlet - because I figured I could use the gasket/plug on a better quality inlet if necessary, but in this case the inlet appears to be fine while the gasket/plug isn't.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 01:25:21 pm
content: Does it HAVE to be IEC? Neutrik PowerCON TRUE1 connectors are IP65 when mated, and there's an optional rubber sealing flap for when they're not in use.

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 05:16:16 pm
content: Quote from: ajb on September 01, 2016, 01:25:21 pmThat was quite a lateral suggestion, but a very interesting and good one. At first glance I wasn't too keen on it because it is not an IEC inlet, but upon further consideration that might be a plus because it is a twist-to-lock type of connector that is IP65 rated while in use so I can use it for connecting to either the AC or DC sources and only one can be present at any given time, which means a bunch of circuitry and relays just got tossed out.Another not-insignificant-plus is that Mouser stocks them and they are reasonably priced, too. That's a very nice!