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04-08-2018, 02:28 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Tellico Marina, Maryville, TN
Vessel Name: Twilight Time
Vessel Model: 1986 48' Californian MY
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 104
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50 amp.SmartPlug
Has anyone had any experience with a 50 amp SmartPlug. Good or bad. I installed one on my boat in Sept 2016 and it started to fail in October 2017. Manufacturer replaced it no questions ask but claimed the problem was in my boat. I disagree and wonder if anyone out there has had a similar experience.
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04-08-2018, 02:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
City: Boerne, Tx
Vessel Name: HEY JUDE
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 36 Manatee #46
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 258
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We installled a 50 amp set four yrs ago with no issues to date. How did yours fail?
__________________
HEY JUDE, a 1986 Kadey Krogen 36 Manatee, #46 of 99. After 13 yrs on Lake Travis she's on Clear Lake TX being prepped for coastal cruising.
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04-08-2018, 04:55 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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there have been a few complaints against smart plugs through the years...
interesting to see them still trickling in....especially in the 50S category...
regular 50 A 125/250 V plugs with little or no maintenance and without wayyyyyy over current demands seem to do just fine in my experience.
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04-08-2018, 06:29 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Circuit Breaker
Vessel Model: 2021..22' Duffy Cuddy cabin
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tellico Bob
Has anyone had any experience with a 50 amp SmartPlug. Good or bad.
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Just finished my third year on a SmartPlug 50a/240v with no problems. I've been using the 30a & 50a plugs since they first came out.
__________________
Done with diesel power boats! Have fallen in love with all electric!
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04-08-2018, 07:17 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: Seattle, WA
Vessel Model: Willard 47' Dover Trawler
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 125
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No Problems
I bought one when they first came out -- must have been four or five years ago. I have had no problems with continuous use. The company is very easy to deal with. Their 50 foot 30 amp cords were out of stock, so they gave me a 25 foot one while I was waiting and didn't expect it back!
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04-08-2018, 07:37 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
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Love mine. No problems. I suspect that the issue may be user error when installing the plug on the existing cordset. Just a suspicion.
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04-08-2018, 07:42 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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I used the 30amp Smartplugs on my sailboat for a number of years. It performed exceptionally, despite it being my that installed the receptacle on my boat and replaced the plug on one cord set.
While I really like the Smartplug, I’ve not yet felt the need to change my 50a/125v plug on my boat to SmartPlug. I’m not even sure they make that oddball configuration. The 50 amp plugs are very solid and secure compared to the 30amp, so I have less concerns.
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04-08-2018, 08:26 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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search TF...sevetal threads discussing Smart Plug isdues.
Not real common, but some.
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04-09-2018, 08:27 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: AZZURRA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 54
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,309
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Many marina’s in the NW are requiring your shore cord to be UL approved. The smart plug is not UL approved. This is starting to become a bit of an issue.
I am not suggesting that the smart plug is inferior, in fact I feel it is superior. However smart plug for what ever reason has failed to get UL approval. Make sure your marina does not have a UL approved policy before investing in a smart plug cord set.
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04-09-2018, 10:12 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Bayfield, WI
Vessel Name: Gopher Broke
Vessel Model: Silverton 410 Sport Bridge
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tiltrider1
However smart plug for what ever reason has failed to get UL approval.
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My understanding is that the adherence to the standard prong shape/configuration is PART of the criteria for UL approval. Hence it can never be approved.
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04-09-2018, 10:22 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: AZZURRA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 54
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,309
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BDofMSP
My understanding is that the adherence to the standard prong shape/configuration is PART of the criteria for UL approval. Hence it can never be approved.
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That might be true. Doesn’t help the fact that more and more marinas are going to a UL approved policy. At this point it hasn’t reached critical mass but it’s not helping that the largest marina in Seattle has banned them because of the UL approved issue.
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04-09-2018, 10:23 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Bayfield, WI
Vessel Name: Gopher Broke
Vessel Model: Silverton 410 Sport Bridge
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 904
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Correction. The requirement is for a twist lock per Cruising World.
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04-10-2018, 07:34 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Sarasota,FL/Thomasville,GA
Vessel Name: Steppin Stone IV
Vessel Model: Marine Trader Kelly Trawler 46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,815
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Our Marina does not allow them but at the same time does not enforce the rule
__________________
Alan
Skype roatan63
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04-10-2018, 10:04 AM
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#14
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Guru
City: Southwest MI
Vessel Name: Sobelle
Vessel Model: C-Dory 22 Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,229
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I can see a requirement for positive locking of the connection. But twistlock is not the only way to do it. The SmartPlug has positive locking and IMO is way better than the twistlock style connector. I replaced the boat side connectors on all my cords with SmartPlugs after failure of a twist connector took out my battery charger. On the east coast I have never been questioned about the shore power connectors (so far anyway).
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04-10-2018, 11:16 AM
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#15
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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04-10-2018, 12:57 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Bayfield, WI
Vessel Name: Gopher Broke
Vessel Model: Silverton 410 Sport Bridge
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssobol
I can see a requirement for positive locking of the connection. But twistlock is not the only way to do it. The SmartPlug has positive locking and IMO is way better than the twistlock style connector. I replaced the boat side connectors on all my cords with SmartPlugs after failure of a twist connector took out my battery charger. On the east coast I have never been questioned about the shore power connectors (so far anyway).
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I agree completely. The problem is in the specification, not the product. SmartPlug meets all of the performance requirements of UL, just not these design aspects. Plus they have other certifications. It's a shame.
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04-10-2018, 06:06 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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While posdible to burn up any plug including smartplugs...
the 50A 125/250V plug design is vastly superior to the 30A version.
if 30s were similar, the smart plug, while having bells and whistles wouldnt be nearly as popular if I had to guess.
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04-10-2018, 07:33 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,093
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Does anyone know how the Marinco EEL plug retention works? It's Marinco's answer to SmartPlug, and I wonder if it has UL certification.
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
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04-10-2018, 09:30 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld
While posdible to burn up any plug including smartplugs...
the 50A 125/250V plug design is vastly superior to the 30A version.
if 30s were similar, the smart plug, while having bells and whistles wouldnt be nearly as popular if I had to guess.
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I agree. The 30amp plug is downright scary if you look at it closely.
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04-10-2018, 09:36 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twistedtree
Does anyone know how the Marinco EEL plug retention works? It's Marinco's answer to SmartPlug, and I wonder if it has UL certification.
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My 50a/125v shore power cord is a Marinco EEL.
It is actually pretty nice. The plug is the same as any 50a/125v plug. However, there is a clamp that surrounds the plug. To insert the plug, you squeeze the clamp which opens the jaws. Then you insert and twist like any 50a/125v plug. You then release the clamp and the jaws grip the threaded portion of the receptacle. There is a thumb lock that slides between the clamp to hold it in place.
It isn’t any better than the threaded ring locks on a standard plug, and actually isn’t as strong. However, it is much more convenient so it gets used every time the shore power is plugged in.
I like it, I wouldn’t have one other than I got a screaming good death on my short 50a/125v cord set.
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