smart plugs not so smart

[gord331victoria]

Hi Maine, I just wanted to pass along my very poor encounter with a smart plug converstion kit. I bought the kit from a local supplier and I liked everything about it on the package with the square design and heavy duty locking door - It really looks feels like a high quality piece of work , feel how heavy the package is this is quality - right? I hate to say when you get inside the package the plastic parts are paper thin, and I cracked the threads in two places, and inside the housing I broke a plastic wire guide. Now after 4 hours of fiddling, I finally got the housing together and decide to test fit the plug into the receptacle and I took me another hour of wiggling and swearing to press them together. I thought there is no way I could taken them apart on the boat. So at this point I decide to vist the supplier and ask him to replace the broken plastic bits on the housing and I comment there is no way I can remove the plug on the boat. He proceeds to show me his demo unit working perfectly and refuses to ackowledge that the unit is defective and have the manufacture replace it. He gives me a dirty look the one you give your dog when they pee on the floor and tells me he changes theses plugs out all the time and they never break. So at that point I ask for a refund and walk down the road to his competitor and purchase a new dock cord with indicator lights at both end, and saved $75. Dock cords take a lot of abuse I highly recomend complety replacing them when the ends are showing signs of burning.

Buyer beware!

Gord

 

[Maine Sail]

Hi Maine, I just wanted to pass along my very poor encounter with a smart plug converstion kit. I bought the kit from a local supplier and I liked everything about it on the package with the square design and heavy duty locking door - It really looks feels like a high quality piece of work , feel how heavy the package is this is quality - right? I hate to say when you get inside the package the plastic parts are paper thin, and I cracked the threads in two places, and inside the housing I broke a plastic wire guide. Now after 4 hours of fiddling, I finally got the housing together and decide to test fit the plug into the receptacle and I took me another hour of wiggling and swearing to press them together. I thought there is no way I could taken them apart on the boat. So at this point I decide to vist the supplier and ask him to replace the broken plastic bits on the housing and I comment there is no way I can remove the plug on the boat. He proceeds to show me his demo unit working perfectly and refuses to ackowledge that the unit is defective and have the manufacture replace it. He gives me a dirty look the one you give your dog when they pee on the floor and tells me he changes theses plugs out all the time and they never break. So at that point I ask for a refund and walk down the road to his competitor and purchase a new dock cord with indicator lights at both end, and saved $75. Dock cords take a lot of abuse I highly recomend complety replacing them when the ends are showing signs of burning.

Buyer beware!

Gord

Gord,

I have installed a lot of these, in-fact, it's pretty much all I will install these days. Seen far to many burned up NEMA/Marinco/Hubbel style plugs. The old standard is a piss poor design not well suited to the marine environment. It is a land based standard adapted to marine use and it falls short in so many ways..

I have never had the problems you've encountered so I would suggest picking up the phone and calling SmartPlug. They will likely make it right. In my experience they are good folks. Sorry to hear of your problems but in my experience with SmartPlug they have been pretty darn good..

 

[gord331victoria]

Hi Maine - I spoke with Terry at Smart Plugs, he was very nice. He explaned there have been assembly challanges with the 30 AMP plug with the 3 prong strain releif design. They are releasing a redesigned plug by the end of the year that has a 2 srew clamp strain releif design. They are also releasing a LED indicator cord next as well. So I will look at them again in a few years.

Big thanks for suggestion to call them, take care!

Gord

 

[Maine Sail]

Hi Maine - I spoke with Terry at Smart Plugs, he was very nice. He explaned there have been assembly challanges with the 30 AMP plug with the 3 prong strain releif design. They are releasing a redesigned plug by the end of the year that has a 2 srew clamp strain releif design. They are also releasing a LED indicator cord next as well. So I will look at them again in a few years.

Big thanks for suggestion to call them, take care!

Gord

Good info! I generally buy the pre-made cord sets & SS inlet as by the time the customers Marinco cord end is fried so is jacket.. I have done perhaps two retrofits and they went fine but good to know there is a re-design. They are good folks...

 

[Hello Below]

I have to admit putting the Smart Plug connector (retro fit) on the cord was challenging. Installing the boat side inlet was a snap, comparatively. Total time was 3 hours (about 2 hours for the connector and 1 for the inlet). A local marine electrician cautioned me to "Read and follow the instructions". I am happy with the results.