Shore pwr plugs

[FastOlson]

IF ... the shore receptical on the boat is shiny and good, then replace the cord. We do that about once a decade when the cord is visibly UV-attacked. Use a name brand cable from a trusted vendor. You can replace a cord end, but it's very difficult to get the new end on as weather-sealed as the OEM one.

(I have seen an old cord with a burned-up section where it had an internal short, and a surveyor friend has a large box of cord ends and receptacles with blackened parts from arcing, and uses these as teaching aids for seminars. Whether selling or keeping a boat this is a major safety 'thing'.)

 

[capta]

I too am a Smart Plug fan and installed one on my C30.


@capta Just curious, is this based on Rod's Marinehowto.com article or did he publish comments elsewhere?

I did reread the article linked and noted he does state he prefers to install new cord sets rather than installing the retrofit Smart Plug kits on existing cord sets.
I don't know if that is a change on Rod's opinion of the Smart Plug retrofit kit but doesn't sound like he changed his opinion on the Smart Plug itself.

I guess that is what I faintly remember. Living on my anchor for 10 years, those sorts of posts may catch my attention for a second or two, but weren't apropos to us.

 

[dlochner]

I guess that is what I faintly remember. Living on my anchor for 10 years, those sorts of posts may catch my attention for a second or two, but weren't apropos to us.

He does state in the intro to the article that he does not sell the Smart Plug because he wants people to understand he is not promoting the product to make money. He had no financial interest in the product.

 

[thinwater]

In my experience, replacing the twist lock plugs now and then is just one of the costs of boating. Most burned plugs happen because the plug untwists and is just hanging there by the prongs making poor contact. I got in the habit of twisting them whenever I passed by and that helped a lot. The metal ring (plastic) should be tightened to the inlet and all connections in the line, then the twist lock shouldn't be a problem, but many to not use tighten these religiously.
All the others, including the smart plug don't really seem to be an improvement and I believe Boater's How-To indicates that.

^^ This.

Add...

• Loaded right to the limit with AC or heat for long periods.
• Corroded. A cleaning and light coating of waterproof grease each season goes a long way.
• Wet. The seals are gone, leading to moisture and salt getting on and between the contacts.

Kept clean and tight they can last 20 years. Neglected, not so much. This is true of all deck plugs on a boat.

 

[tfox2069]

Pro tip for those that decide to go the Smart Plug route: Make up a pigtail with the boat side having a Smart Plug and the dock side having the standard Marinco plug. You'll appreciate it when you do an overnite at another marina at the height of the summer and you forget your Smart Plug power cords at your home dock. Without it you can't borrow a power cord from the marina as none of them (that I've seen) have Smart Plug cords. You can get a used pigtail with the standard cord ends inexpensively on eBay or local shop and buy the new SmartPlug end online and convert it. Its a trip saver on the rare occasion you might need to use it...or loan it out to a VERY grateful transient dockmate.

I learned this the hard way so you don't have to.

Understand why the OP doesn't want to convert as he's selling the current boat and wants to sell it with a functional shore power cord, but not bear the cost of upgrading to Smart Plug before sale.

 

[DeniseO30]

The screw terminals were loose inside the molded female end!

For what these things cost and how cheaply the terminals are made make your own decisions....

Pictures show you what is underneath the molded plastic, three simple screw clamps that you would see on something like a lamp fixture!

Not lugs that are made for cable!

 

[jssailem]

We visited the marina in Vancouver BC February 10 2019. .

They have a board of Shame. What happens to bad cords.

 

[DeniseO30]

We visited the marina in Vancouver BC February 10 2019. .

They have a board of Shame. What happens to bad cords.
View attachment 208324

Noticed there is a smart plug on there too!
It really is all matter of being vigilant as soon as they start to heat up it's time to start fixing or replacing

 

[Davidasailor26]

My marina has a table of shame just like that.

I am curious what happened to the Smart Plug on that board. No scorch marks on the outside where they often form on traditional plugs from bad connections. It looks like it’s a retrofit plug and there was a bad connection on one of the terminals.

 

[Maine Sail]

My marina has a table of shame just like that.

I am curious what happened to the Smart Plug on that board. No scorch marks on the outside where they often form on traditional plugs from bad connections. It looks like it’s a retrofit plug and there was a bad connection on one of the terminals.

someone made an adapter and the adapter end is what melted..

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Are you looking for a 30 amp 125 v shore power inlet with a cover? Do you want plastic or stainless steel and square and round? What is you budget?

No, he's looking for the shore power cable end, not the inlet.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Both Hubbell and Marinco have individual ends available. It would be good to know why it blew as you want to fix that before attaching the cord again.

 

[DeniseO30]

Both Hubbell and Marinco have individual ends available. It would be good to know why it blew as you want to fix that before attaching the cord again.

The knock off female end is actually more rugged than the original marinco, why it failed, my only guess is one of the prongs was bent internally I'll blame the previous owner fortunately, I'm in a habit of putting my hands on the outlets to check for warmth or heat which is a clear signal something is amiss

 

[thinwater]

We visited the marina in Vancouver BC February 10 2019. .

They have a board of Shame. What happens to bad cords.
View attachment 208324

I wonder if the actual trend is the lack of locking rings, and by extension, strain relief? The few cords that are burnt are 100% lacking. I bet lunch >85% of the others were lacking locking rings. They either break or are simply not used. Or people just let the cord hang.

With the Smart plug the locking is more inherent (moron proof).