Leon Paul Foil Tips (black insulator)

[Superscribe]

The tips with the black insulators. Has anyone here had trouble with them grounding out? (Press the tip and nothing goes off) I don't think it's a pinched wire or anything. I think it might just be accumulated debris from the black insulation. Has anyone had experience with this? Is this a common problem? This seems to be a pretty inconvenient failure mode.

[erooMynohtnA]

Usually the problem is dirt making an intermittent or constant break in the circuit, causing white lights.

I don't think the black insulator crud is causing the circuit to stay closed, because that would require it to conduct.

What might be happening (suggesting it because it happened to me) is that the contact cup in the bottom of the barrel might be broken and the contact is pushing up against the barrel (but only sometimes, so it's really hard to diagnose). Or the spring could just be in an awkward position and pushing up against the barrel. Thwacking it on the ground usually fixes the latter problem, rewire required for the former.

[rudd]

LP tips need regular maintenance. Clean out the tip with a q-Tip dipped in alcohol. Clean the point as well. I believe the new silver plated components - grub screws, springs - reduce the regularity with which this needs to be done.

My general experience with LP electrical doodahs it the need more maintenance than other vendors but last longer before a major failure. Their newer bayonet socket design is a major improvement.