How many other critical electrical items do you use in your house or boat that have remained virtually unchanged since 1938..? WARNING: I will be honest here and say that I much prefer a new cord set and inlet as compared to the retrofit kit shown here. I believe in the dire seriousness of these issues 150%. With the last two images you can easily see why the two actions required for connecting this plug, insert & twist, leaves us with very, very, very little contact surface area. It can remain in spec far longer than a twist-lock because the twist-lock allows for odd angles, twisting, unintended off center loading, torquing and expansion/stretching of the clamp mechanism all due to its left over 1938 design. As we can see in this photo the wire was not only corroded, due to the marine environment and the age, but it also suffered due to the high resistance. Wiring Device - Kellems is a proud member of the Hubbell family. } Hubbell Marine makes a variety of products from Hubbell twist lock plugs & receptacles, adapters, inlets and shore power cordsets from 30 amp up to 100 amp. A main AC breaker on a boat needs to interrupt both the AC WHITE/NEUTRAL & AC BLACK/HOT wires, and be located quite closely to the AC shore inlet (10 or less). Shop for marine 12V outlets now and save or browse our great selection of boat switches. What I was told was that the exact cause cant be 100% pin pointed, and they rarely are. This cord-to-boat connection is subject to wear-and-tear damage from the activity of connecting and disconnecting the cord, and it is also subject to damage from wet winter weather, and it is a major source of fire in marinas. Product Features: 50 Amp 125/250 Volt 3 pole, 4 wire Marine grade twist lock construction Stainless steel. I apologize for the tape residue but some of these pics were taken in 11F weather and the tape did not want to come off cleanly. Cord lets you connect your RV's or boat's marine-style, 50-amp power plug to a 50-amp marine-style power source. Enough with the lies already, please grow up.. 2 pole, 3 wire The crew at Sailboatowners.com (LINK) are really great. In addition, the information and data on this site may change at any time. 2023 Fisheries Supply Company 1900 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103, Galvanic Isolators & Isolation Transformers. Add to Project List. +2 options. 50A Twist-Lock | Locking Devices | Wiring Devices | Electrical Wholesale Marine | Sitemap. sealing/strain relief had split where it enters the plug body. We also carry the complete line of Marinco trolling motor plugs and receptacles such as the new 70 AMP plug or the ConnectPro plug. They tried, but to make them waterproof was proving too expensive on a field install plug. 1. Marine grade construction 4.6 out of 5 stars 89. Should be simple right? The argument the opponents (most likely the manufacturers who dont care about safety) propose is this: Boat owners Darrell & his other brother Darrell awake in the middle of the night to no boat power.. Darrell & Darrell find no electricity at the AC panel. Marinco 12V or 24V Trolling Motor Twist-Lock Receptacle with Flip-Lid Cover. For a 50-amp cord with a male connector and female twist-lock connector we have 18-inch cords like # CAM55572 and the others shown on the other linked page. Unfortunately this call was in February, in Maine and the boat is stored in the water because this hearty owner sails year round. Compare. To combat these issues the guys at SmartPlug came up with a floating & rotating head for their set screw design. This allows it to have a long life and stand up in harsh marine environments. Twist-Lock EdgeConnect Plug with Spring Termination, 20A, 125/250V, L14-20P, Black and White Nylon . Darrell #1 opens the AC panel at the same exact moment the thermal breaker re-sets and gets zapped. EDIT: SmartPlug has decided to offer a version of the 30A inlet without a thermal breaker to be in compliance with the ABYC standards against auto-resetting. Rustic American USA Flag Distressed Tow Trailer Hitch Cover Plug Insert. NEMA SS-2 receptacle. Adapter Plug. In 1938 houses had cloth covered wire and no safety ground for 120V outlets, In 1938 GFCI outlets were not even a thought in an inventors mind. Ace Insurance Group SUGGESTED ELECTRICAL INSPECTION STANDARD FOR MARINAS AND YACHT CLUBS: Each vessels connection devices shall be inspected annually. The receptacle is robust and offers massive contact area when compared to the circa 1938 twist-lock standard. Abrading & Polishing; . They also prevent moisture and dust from entering the electrical box. Click part # below to order or call 1-800-406-8520 - Usually Ships within 24 hours . Read on and I will dig much deeper into the whys & hows. Hubbell Twist-Lock Marine Grade Plugs . Today, in 2016 we can certainly do better. Smart Plug 30A margin-top: -10px; Simple plug-and read design to allow you to effectively test your trailer lights harness saving you . This fire at McCotters Marina was estimated at approximately 23 million dollars in damage and included a Bertram 68, with a single boat value into the millions. The regulatory & certification organizations that over see this, such as UL, NEC, NFPA, NMMA & the ABYC should all be ashamed that they continue to allow this standard to continue in the marine environment. We offer same day shipping at a flat rate, too. Modular connectivity. Made to withstand the harsh marine environment, Hubbell shore power products are some of the best in the business keeping your boat safe while plugged in. Featuring a robust construction and corrosion-resistant materials, Marinco's Power Inlets are built Marinco 50 Amp 125 V Shore Power Inlet Is so feel free to donate, support the site and keep it growing. SKU: 36753 | Item ID: MCO 2018BP-12. I buy my Smart Plug products through regular wholesale or retail organizations such as Hamilton Marine, Sailboatowners.com, Defender etc.. Looking for an inlet that is highly corrosion-resistant? Marine Products. In 1938 lead paint was the rage and asbestos was in everyday use. Top / Locking Wiring Devices / Marine Twist Lock Plugs. Manufacturer rebates, terms, conditions and expiration dates are subject to manufacturers printed forms. 3- We are trying to use this on boats and boats move continuously. - TT-30 (Travel Trailer 30amp) 30A 120-volt 3-prong outlet, the older style found in RV parks, not used in . The same few folks (ABYC members & even instructors) & competitors of the SmartPlug arguing against the thermal-breaker in the SmartPlug 30A inlet have zero issues with auto-transfer inverters which can create the same exact Darrell & Darrell scenario they paint above, and use, to argue against the innovative and significantly safer SmartPlug.. Once such competitor actually argues out one side of their mouth against the thermal-switch then out the other sells piles & piles of auto-transfer inverters. Stainless Steel Fasteners Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), 30 ft. 10/3 STW 30-Amp RV Power Extension Cord with Power Light Lighted Plug, 3 ft. 10/3 Two 30 Amp Males to 50 Amp Female Marine Shore Power Y-Adapter, 36 ft. 6/4 Marine Shore Power 50 Amp 250-Volt Extension Cord NEMA SS2-50P to SS2-50R, 50 ft. STW 6/3 plus 8/1 RV/Marine 50 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt Extension Cord 14-50P Plug to SS2-50R Twist Lock Receptacle, 50 ft. 10/3 30 Amp 125-Volt Marine Shore Power Extension Cord, 50 ft. STW 6/3+8/1 4-Wire Heavy-Duty RV/EV/Generator 50 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt 14-50 Extension Cord NEMA 14-50P to 14-50R, 25 ft. 125 Volt 50 Amp RV Camper Extension Cord, 3 ft. 10/3 50 Amp Male to Two 30 Amp Females Marine Shore Power Y-Adapter, 25 ft. 6/4 50 Amp 125/250 Dual Voltage Marine Shore Power Extension Cord, 3 ft. 10/3 50 Amp Male to Two 50 Amp Females Marine Shore Power Y-Adapter, 25 ft. 125 Volt 30 Amp RV Camper Extension Cord, 3 ft. STW 6/3+8/1 4-Wire RV 50 Amp Y Adapter Cord NEMA 14-50P Plug to two 14-50R Female Receptacle, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In my experience nearly everything about the SmartPlug is extremely well thought out and constructed specifically for the marine environment. More Options . You can purchase a Smartplug kit from the MHT Amazon store: Buy Smartplug Products MHT Amazon Store, This is an ordinary day for me and it brings to mind that saying, a picture tells a thousand words. 2 pole Manufacturer rebates, terms, conditions and expiration dates are subject to manufacturers printed forms. 4-Prong, male plug connects to a power cord for hookup at home . Marine Power | etrailer.com Fisheries Supply is your premier supplier of 12-volt marine plugs and sockets from trusted brands like Marinco, Blue Sea Systems, Sea-Dog Line and more. $9.99. Think about this the next time you need a shore power cord. Let us help. One more comment in your picture with Not an uncommon occurence overprinted in red you ask if the reader sees a locking ring you missed. FACT: This article was written by me and of my own volition. Like anything common sense should rule the day, but too often common sense is being waved bye-bye to out the back window of the school bus.. We now have a safer mouse trap & a better mouse trap but it will always get hung up with second guessers & direct competitors proposing poorly thought out & grossly hypocritical supposition like I just outlined. If you click this image you will be able to see the locking dimple on the female socket that locks into the hole on the pins of the male plug. The Marinco 50 Amp Shore Power Male Plug is constructed to hold up in harsh marine environments. Everything is clearly coded for a US AC wire color standard installation. If this level of immaturity keeps up I will begin naming names and I will call you out. The black oxidation on this wire can also lead to or create high resistance. The Marinco 30 Amp Stainless Steel Shore Power Inlet is constructed of 316 marine grade stainless steel and includes a heavy duty cap strap for strength and durability. This is what it looks like inside the female SmartPlug. There I said it.. Whew.. 4.7 out of 5 stars 512. Every product we make, from our rugged shore power cordsets and adapters to a wide array of 12V accessories, is designed to withstand the rigors of life at sea. Ouch! Marinco stainless steel power inlets are solid cast marine-grade 316 stainless steel. Every marine product we manufacture can face the harshest of conditions without sacrificing performance. The Marinco 30 Amp Shore Power Locking Receptacle features corrosion resistant nylon construction. Hubbell is making waves in the marine devices industry with Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems marine market products. Please use the latest version of one of these browsers. A new run of 10/3 triplex tinned marine wire was in order. Please use the latest version of one of these browsers. DC Rated Devices; International Rated Devices; Marine Isolation Transformers; . . If your old yellow cord is in good condition, then replacing the boat end is a choice youll need to make on your own. These failures are a combination of a poor design that is not well suited to the application and sometimes no option to use the cord-set properly even if an owner wanted to. Total Contact area with dimple locked in place = 6.63 sq mm. Hubbell. If the connection between the cord and the boat is even slightly damaged, it will create heat that can eventually result in fire.. Apparently my computer has a mind of its own today and these images just keep seeping from my image database Sorry, I will try not to let it happen again.. (wink). The results were, well, shocking.. Hubbell serves the needs of customers in a variety of market applications. They were loaded to 28A for 1.5 hours at an ambient room temp of 72F.. I suspect a large number of the 55% of boat fires that are electrical in nature (source ABYC & USCG data) are the result of this antiquated and unsafe twist-lock standard we currently use. Slide the weatherproof boot and metal two-piece connector body onto the cord. This is also against the ABYC safety standards. 30A. There are four points of positive locking between the inlet and the plug: 1- Right & left push lock connectors which are similar to the locking mechanisms found in cordless drill batteries. Regardless of the age or make of your craft, Wholesale Marine has the shore power plugs or any replacement part or upgrade your boat requires. We . Marinco 70A Trolling Motor Plug Wins 2017 Boating Industry Top Product Award. Adapter lets you connect your RV's or boat's marine-style, 50-amp power plug to a 50-amp standard power source. Browse and shop now! This 30A inlet is highly polished cast, not stamped, 316L stainless steel. Over time the female spring mechanism tires, becomes weaker and the plug fits loosely and no longer snaps or clicks into the detentes. Suffice it to say we have been grandfathered into a substandard and marginally adequate plug & socket combination for marine shore power cord/plug/receptacle use. There are also signs of arcing and burning on the pin itself. In order to dig deeper than weve ever seen before, into this antiquated standard, I bought a NEMA L5-30 socket. I wrote this from my own physical experiences and from what I firmly believe, as a marine electrician, is safer. Any boat that enters the marina under a new Moorage Agreement during the winter heating season shall be inspected within 15 days of its entry into the Marina. It measures about 1.77mm thick. Threaded locking ring on the female e . Here is a brief list of those different plugs and their use: - 10-30 standard 30A 240 volt 3-prong Dryer outlet found in homes built before 1996. Look at the pin closest to you and you can easily see the melted plastic migrating up from the base. Mastervolt's Integrated System Provides Optimal Performance for the Volvo Ocean Race . Up until now we have had no shore power thermal breakers that trip on high resistance / temperature just on overload of the circuit or an imbalance such as an ELCI (basically a whole boat GFCI).. Add to Cart. Over 20 boats and the marina were destroyed all on what is believed to be a shore power cord/inlet. I then slid it back and forth thus creating a corresponding mark on the sheet metal showing the actual contact area. Female connector It does not take an engineer to see that the spring clamp can remain tighter, and within design spec for far longer, with the SmartPlug, than it can with a twist-lock. Product Features: This is the clamping screw for the AC BLACK/HOT wire. This is a simple one screw deal. The field install plugs do not have the LED indicator. Returns are easy and youll always receive the best customer service and advice. 50 ft. STW 6/3 plus 8/1 RV/Marine 50 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt Extension Cord 14-50P Plug to SS2-50R Twist Lock Receptacle. Veepeak 30 Amp Shore Power Inlet NEMA L5-30P 125V Twist Locking Plug for Boat RV Trailer Camper Van, ETL Listed, Marvine Cable Shore Power Adapter 30A L5-30P to 50A SS2-50R Dogbone 1.5Ft, ABN L5-30R Connector with RV Power Cord Cover & Ring 30 Amp Twist Lock Inlet Locking Plug Protector, 30A 125V, Leisure Cords 30 AMP RV Power Cord Locking Shore Connector Replacement End Marine Twist Lock with Boot, | Based on star rating and number of customer ratings, RVGUARD 3 Prong 15 Amp to 30 Amp RV Adapter Plug with Locking Connector, 5-15P to L5-30R 125 Volt AC Camper Generator Adapter Electrical Converter Plug Green, 25ft 30Amp 125V LED Electric Extension RV Power Wire Cord Marine Shore Boat L5-30 Black 25 Feet Heavy Duty Electrical Power Cable, NEMA L5-30P to NEMA L5-30R, BougeRV 30 AMP RV Receptacle Plug RV 30 AMP Plug Electrical Plug Adapter with Handle (Male Plug), 25FT 30 AMP RV Power Cord with Handles 10 Gauge Heavy Duty Weatherproof Electrical Camper Trailer Marine Boat Shore Cable with LED Twist Lock Connector Wire Yellow, CircleCord 30 Amp to 15 Amp 110 RV Adapter Cord with Locking Connector, NEMA 5-15P Male to L5-30R Twist Lock Female Electrical Power Dogbone, STW 10 Gauge for RV Trailer Camper, ETL Listed, Dumble Outdoor Marine Electrical Power Male Inlet Socket Box Kit 30A 125V Connector, Twist Lock Plug Cord Cover, Ring, Parkworld 692026 Splitter Marine Shore Power Y Adapter SS2-50P Male 50A Plug to (2) L5-30R Female Dual 30A Receptacle, Camco Heavy Duty RV 30 AMP PowerGrip Male Replacement Plug- Durable and Safer Plug with an Easier Grip (55245), Yellow|Yellow, Muelnmey NEMA L14-30C 125/250 Volt 30 Amp Generator Locking Female Plug Box, MECMO - Marine Shore Power Y Splitter SS2-50P Male 50A Plug to (2) 30A L530R Female, 50 Amp 125/250V to L5-30R Y-Adapter Splitter Boat Shore Power Adapter w/Locking Ring & Collar, UL Listed - 3FT, Parkworld 691685 Shore Power Adapter Household 15A 5-15 Plug to RV Twist Lock 30A Socket L5-30 Receptacle with Locking Ring (Adapter), Marinco 30A 125V Marine Shore Power Cordsets, SmartPlug 30-Amp Inlet Connector - BM30NT, ABN 30 AMP RV Power Inlet with RV Receptacle Plug and Weather Resistant Twist Cover for Marine Boat RV Shed Electrical Extension, 30amp Extension Adaptor Cord TT-30P to L5-30R, RV Electrical Cords, Dogbones, & Protectors, Parkworld 692019 Shore Power Adapter Cord Marine 50A Plug SS2-50P to L5-30R RV 30A Receptacle Female (1.5FT). Resource Quick View. Clearly not a satisfactory situation, but not exactly what you describe. Here is a different brand of NEMA L5-30, a non marine grade version, and we can see that the male pin is virtually the exact same thickness. Keep in mind that I dont have advertisers I need to worry about offending so I can actually be honest in my writing.. Do your part and help support MarineHowTo.com. Manufacturer rebates, terms, conditions and expiration dates are subject to manufacturers printed forms. The challenge to save energy, improve safety or make sure everything continues to perform in a harsh environment, are all candidates for good solutions. Not responsible for typographic or illustrative errors. Here in Maine we do have a fair number of boats that winter over, many of which use electric heat. You are using a web browser we don't support. Corrosion is a direct contributor to high resistance. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. #1 Home Improvement Retailer. I used their retrofit kit and changed the end on my existing twist-lock cable. SmartPlug Marine Power Cord Adapter - 30 Amp Female Twist Lock Connector to 30 Amp Male - 4' (25 reviews) Code: SM53VR. 2- The front portion of the lid, nearest the hinge, positively locks into the plug body. display: flex; Why is this? Marine grade twist lock construction I do this purposely and by design to eliminate any potential for being called a shill. 4- Even just 1-2 millimeters of movement between the plug & socket can cause the dimple to ride up out of the hole and create even less contact area than this already poor design has. When this plug standard began life it was back in 1938. Read on and decide for yourself. Frustrated with the investigation follow up I could find on-line I reached out to the Bunyan, NC fire department to see if they had any more information, they did. This twist-lock standard would likely never gain approvals under todays stringent electrical safety standards but we have it due to grandfathering. The industrial quality of these plugs gives the strength for long lasting use. If your wire run between the AC shore inlet to the AC main breaker, at the AC panel, is more than 10 wire feet, not as the crow flies, then you will want to install a second 30A or 50A double pole breaker. Because it does not involve fine threads, twisting and the plug cant physically wiggle, once inserted, the locking mechanism actually lasts for more than a few weeks before self destructing. I examined rather closely the NEMA L5-30 socket and pin design and now want to show the SmartPlug 30A pin and socket. 50 Amp 125/250 Volt You are using a web browser we don't support. These plugs and inlets were both 30A versions run at 28A or 93% of the face value rating. Installing a New Shore Power Cord End | Boating Mag Product Marinco 50 Amp Easy Lock Shore Power Inlet Once plugged in and locked a SmartPlug 30A or 50A male/female socket combo can not move side to side or up and down. Let us help. Not responsible for typographic or illustrative errors. Returns are easy and youll always receive the best customer service and advice. FACT: I personally believe in this product and SmartPlug had nothing to do with my writing of this article. When Ken, the owner of SmartPlug, set out to design this product he wanted to incorporate a thermal-breaker into the inlet body to prevent melt downs, boat and marina fires due to high resistance. Twist-Lock failures, marina fires and the safety of my fellow boaters are what drive my motivation. background-position: center; During the course of my research I came across the McCotters Marina fire that happened in January of 2011 in North Carolina. This makes the installation & conversion to a SmartPlug simple. The other reason there can be more contact area, is because the pins are flat not curved. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. This fire also turned McCotters into a SUPERFUND SITE for clean up. SKU: 36752 . AS A MARINE ELECTRICIAN I TRULY DESPISE THIS ANTIQUATED & ARGUABLY UNSAFE STANDARD FOR SHORE POWER PLUGS/SOCKETS ON BOATS! High resistance is a direct contributor to boat fires! This means it only has to insert but does not have to twist as well. Interchangeable with: HBL29W78. Marinco stainless steel power inlets are solid cast marine-grade 316 stainless steel. Right where you want it. Still the difference in contact surface area is huge. 2000-2022 Home Depot. This was 28A in a controlled testing environment with brand new specimens. Fisheries Supply offers a wide variety of electrical marine products, including Marinco 12 volt trolling motor plugs, receptacles, and sockets. 1 of 3, NEW 99 ($16.50/Foot) FREE delivery . Please use the latest version of one of these browsers. Others owners simply cross thread them and ruin them. Can't find what you're looking for? The silver screw is your AC 120V WHITE/NEUTRAL wire. Get it as soon as Saturday, May 6. In Stock. Due to a design, that included for the projected environmental concerns, the SmartPlug system is considerably better sealed in order to keep it as dry and corrosion free as is possible. Try Marincos Stainless Cable TV/Internet Inlet. This site is 100% FREE and reader supported, not industry supported in any form shape or manner.. To date I have made less than it cost me to write this article due to the cost of buying the supplies etc. Replacement receptacle restores shore power dockside connection for 50A amp service. NEW Read the full press release, Marinco 70A Trolling Motor Plug Wins 2017 Boating Industry Top Product Award, Marinco is honoured that the new 70A trolling motor plug and receptacle has recently been named one of the top 50 products of 2017 by Boating Industry. Can't find what you're looking for? .jumbotron { 50 amp 125 volt inlet with stainless steel housing and cover Inlet, Cable TV Square Stainless Steel. Weve seen far too many examples of failed replacement cord ends to recommend this practice. (2) Hubbell HBL9452C 50A 125/250V 14-50P 3-Pole 4-Wire Industrial Grade Male Electrical Plug - Black. Different Types of 30 Amp Plugs: Are All 30A Plugs The Same? It needs to be robust to handle the marine environment and loads imposed by a moving boat. Once the plate is removed the inlet can be wired. See our major markets and building types below. We dont and wont install replacement cord ends for customers. When you look at the temp spread you can see a 23F rise in temperature, from the ambient air temp, on the circa 1938 NEMA L5-30 plug standard. (Tip: cut the green ground wire half an . This new SmartPlug 30A inlet is purposely designed to use the same mounting & hole pattern as the twist-lock standard 30A marine inlet. The thermal breaker is made in Germany using comparable wages to US workers. . Be sure to ask about our Customer Loyalty Program for additional savings. Call us Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM, at (877) 388-2628. Please do yourself a favor and blow this image up. All Rights Reserved. The shaping of the female socket to accept the twisting results in considerably less surface area contact. width: 100%; Easily Engaged Locking System. NOTE: This is a 50A female SmartPlug inlet not the 30A version. This 30 Amp/15 Volt contoured, square inlet is designed to provide an option to upgrade or replace Marinco Cable TV/Internet Inlet As the connections age corrosion can set in and this can create high resistance, especially with the highly susceptible 1938 twist-lock standard. In this picture we can see the contact area between pin and socket. (EDIT: 2/24/16 I have now made $245 in net reader donations on this article after paying off all the parts and pieces used or destroyed in the article.). Read the full press release. Hubbell serves the needs of customers in a variety of market applications. Hubbell serves the needs of customers in a variety of market applications. When I called SmartPlug, during the research phase of this article, I spend many hours or sometimes weeks researching before I delve into a detailed article, I asked about independent testing and temp scanning. Red 12V or 24V Twist-Lock Battery Charger Plug. Product Features: The customer benefited, not me. The Marinco 50 AMP Shore Power Receptacle is designed to stand up to the rigors of life on the seas and the harsh marine environment. Furrions 50-Amp 125-250V Inlet is also made from stainless steel with a quick-lock cap and a waterproof locking seal that remains open in an upright position for easy cordset connectivity. Benefits are derived from well implemented Solutions. Keep in mind that a 30A NEMA L5-30 circuit should never be loaded to this level for long durations. Legal Notice: all of the information and data on this site is for informational purposes only and is provided for the convenience of the user. We offer same day shipping at a flat rate, too.