Smart plug 30 amp shore power-gctid378698

[Guest]

Hello all. Not sure how well covered this has been, but our old style 30 amp shore power connection on the 4588 nearly lit the boat up recently. I replaced it with a smart plug and now the plug says cool to the touch. In and out on the plug is also by far, a better experience. Not sure how that old style plug ever got approved in the first place, but for all that are considering it..... You will love this much more hefty, easier to use item.

Cheers Steve.

[capt._ron]

Thanks for the info I've been seriously thinking of switching over. The cost has held me back plus I check mine for arcing each time I disconnect them & check them with my ir temp gun 3 or 4 times a year. You make it sound like I should go ahead and change them out.

[Guest]

Ron, I changed ours (2x30 amp) earlier this year and don't regret it one bit. I got the kit that has the boat receptacle and female cable end. The receptacles on the boat were all but ready to set the boat afire.

Took about 45 per cable- I sleep better now.

[mmichellich]

The smart connector is not a standard connector. Somewhere in last couple of weeks I was reading an article on new marine shore power connectors and found that someone, maybe Hubble was working on a new series of shore power connectors for marine use, and they were attempting to make these a new standard-ie the designs for the interface would be in the public domain. So far this company has released a new 50 amp connector and was working on a new 30 amp version. If this happens the Smart Plug could end up being an orphan or it could become the standard if they release the design as public property and got it approved as a standard. Anyone have any information on this? Don't remember if I read it on line or in a local boating magazine, it is the pitts getting old!

[Guest]

Maybe I should have mentioned that unless where you go has smart recepticals you might not be able to use this plug unless you have the smart plug on the boat end only. My shore power is hard wired in the boat shed end, and we don't tie up and use shore power so this is not a concern for us. I suppose for the boats shore power chord, one would have to have a smart end, and an old school end. From a pure safety point of view, the "safe" end is on the boat side, so it is still a big win to install the plug even if it's a one end only, deal. I was told by a boating friend today that he got a 10% deduct on his insurance from HUB for installing the plug. This plug should pay for itself in reduced power consumtion over time. My chord went from always being warm.....to stone cold. This heat was doing nothing but costing somthing 24/7

Not using shore power when out, I never even considered the "other end of the chord"

Steve

[JimMc]

Most are plugging in at marinas with twist lock power connections on the power post. So as said the old style would be dockside and the Smartplug would be on the boat end only.

I upgraded mine and look forward to trying it out. We launch this Friday.

If this connection is safer I do not care if it becomes a "Standard". I care about my boat and families safety.

BTW - The old style inlet I removed was showing signs of overheating.

[Guest]

I upgraded mine this winter to Smart Plug after my second y splitter fried on my 3870. Bought the kit and changed out the 2 ends on the y and the boat receptacles. They were toast. Lucky nothing caught on fire. My buddies y did catch on fire and burn the wood in the cock-pit and melted a bolster. He is aslo changing to the Smart Plug.

Please not that there is Smart Plug for the shore side - just the boat - which is what you are protecting.

Steve

[JimMc]

I spoke with the technical support guys at smartplug recently and they told me they will be coming out with a y connector. They want to get thier 50 amp products in place first