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Old 04-08-2018, 02:28 PM   #1
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 02:43 PM   #2
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We installled a 50 amp set four yrs ago with no issues to date. How did yours fail?
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Old 04-08-2018, 04:55 PM   #3
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 06:29 PM   #4
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Has anyone had any experience with a 50 amp SmartPlug. Good or bad.
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.
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Old 04-08-2018, 07:17 PM   #5
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 07:37 PM   #6
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 07:42 PM   #7
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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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Old 04-08-2018, 08:26 PM   #8
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search TF...sevetal threads discussing Smart Plug isdues.

Not real common, but some.
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Old 04-09-2018, 08:27 PM   #9
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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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Old 04-09-2018, 10:12 PM   #10
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However smart plug for what ever reason has failed to get UL approval.
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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Old 04-09-2018, 10:22 PM   #11
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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.
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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Old 04-09-2018, 10:23 PM   #12
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Correction. The requirement is for a twist lock per Cruising World.
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Old 04-10-2018, 07:34 AM   #13
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Our Marina does not allow them but at the same time does not enforce the rule
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Old 04-10-2018, 10:04 AM   #14
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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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Old 04-10-2018, 11:16 AM   #15
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Hubbell is expensive , but seems to last longest , esp with slight overloads.

Lots of places sell it,

Hubbell Twist Lock, Plugs & Marine Shore Power | Fisheries Supply

https://www.fisheriessupply.com/hubbell
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Old 04-10-2018, 12:57 PM   #16
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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).
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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Old 04-10-2018, 06:06 PM   #17
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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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Old 04-10-2018, 07:33 PM   #18
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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.
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Old 04-10-2018, 09:30 PM   #19
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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.


I agree. The 30amp plug is downright scary if you look at it closely.
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Old 04-10-2018, 09:36 PM   #20
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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.


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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