marine twist lock plug
FACT: I personally believe in this product and SmartPlug had nothing to do with my writing of this article. Click part # below to order or call 1-800-406-8520 - Usually Ships within 24 hours . Doh.! Can't find what you're looking for? Think again! Yes, you read that correctly, 20X less contact area! The max continuous level at which you want to load any shore power circuit is 80%. If you know what you are looking for the early signs of high resistance can be pretty obvious. 3 Marinco 50 Amp Shore power Male Plug This mind-set & origin stems from breakers re-setting into a dead short, and I agree 150% with this. Sold by Alfateers Service Center INC. and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. This can create a very dangerous situation. Adapter Plug. 3-Prong, twist-lock female plug locks onto the power inlet. Mastervolt's Integrated System Provides Optimal Performance for the Volvo Ocean Race . Prices, specifications, and images are subject to change without notice. Marinco Red 12V or 24V Twist-Lock Battery Charger Plug. Why is this? Drawing on over a century of commitment to innovation and quality, Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems, an industry leader, is dedicated to developing and delivering marine products that improve performance, safety, and functionality. In this picture we can see the contact area between pin and socket. These Colors Don't Run Patriotic Eagle USA American Flag Tow Trailer Hitch Cover Plug Insert 1 1/4 inch (1.25") 2. The Marinco 30 Amp Female Shore Power Connector is made of yellow nylon and features a ribbed design that provides a secure grip. Hubbell serves the needs of customers in a variety of market applications. then destroying them. View AllData & CommunicationsCategories, Industrial Connectivity and Control Products, View AllElectrical & ElectronicCategories, View AllWire/Cable/Hose ManagementCategories. AS A MARINE ELECTRICIAN I TRULY DESPISE THIS ANTIQUATED & ARGUABLY UNSAFE STANDARD FOR SHORE POWER PLUGS/SOCKETS ON BOATS! It was not good enough to just design a better plug & inlet, he wanted to design a truly safe product. I paid for this socket out of my own pocket. Plug Only. Hubbell is making waves in the marine devices industry with Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems marine market products. 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. These electrical outlet covers protect the wiring inside of the electrical boxes of your outlets. Over the years I have seen far too many examples of situations like this. Nylon body with UL flammability of 94V-0. The Smart Plug pins are flat thus measurements are far easier. 316 stainless steel housing Ken tried his hardest to manufacture it all here in the US which is more than most companies will even attempt these days. This means it only has to insert but does not have to twist as well. SKU: 36752 . Our selection includes plugs that have been designed to replace the outdated and problematic standard twist locks commonly used today. Interchangeable with: Let us help. Exactly one warranty replacement, a 30A 50 shore cord for a customer who had one fade to a paler shade of orange. That means a need for reliable power for cable TV, the internet, lighting, and galley appliances. Product Features: While many boats owners do improperly use these cord sets, and this too can lead to high resistance, many of them still fail and burn up even when being properly used with the locking rings properly used and installed.The failure modes are well beyond just one cause and most of it starts with the design. I find this level of immaturity, by people who should know better, utterly disgusting and the lowest form of low. 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. Call us Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM, at (877) 388-2628. Product Features: Hubbell is making waves in the marine devices industry with Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems marine market products. 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. Hubbell Twist-Lock Marine Grade Plugs . Read on and decide for yourself. Marine Products. Problem number two find a company that can make it to SmartPlugs stringent specifications and quality standards. Notice how robust the spring clamping mechanism is and the up turned guide points which make entry of the male pins seamless and easy.. There are a number of factors that all conspire to lead to a shore inlet melt down or fire: Heres a prime example of where tinned marine wire may have bought this owner a bit more time. Read the full press release. This can be a critically important consideration when installed just feet from a salt water environment. Not responsible for typographic or illustrative errors. wire system Marinco 12-volt receptacles and plugs are manufactured with an interconnecting system to create a moisture-proof connection that you can depend on. Oops, the inverter transferred AUTOMATICALLY without requiring a manual-reset to produce 120V AC. Doh. 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. Hubbell serves the needs of customers in a variety of market applications. Brass contacts to maximize conductivity. However resetting automatically into a dead short is not the same as a high resistance thermal shut down. 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. They are SS and lock into very thick and robust notches in the sides of the inlet. Shop for marine 12V outlets now and save or browse our great selection of boat switches. SKU: 36753 | Item ID: MCO 2018BP-12. Should be simple right? I grabbed some sheet metal the same thickness as the plug pin and inserted the socket over it. Threaded locking ring on the female e . The Marinco 30 Amp Standard Shore Power Inlet features a glass filled polyester construction that is UV stabilized and constructed for lasting strength. I suspect if the NEMA L5-30 standard were tested today, to todays standards, it would have never gained approvals. Store Finder; . NOTE: At this point in time SmartPlugs are for the boat end only. When in doubt, its best to also replace the feed wire from the new AC inlet to the AC panel. The field install plugs do not have the LED indicator. Prices, specifications, and images are subject to change without notice. This company is not Chinese, as one may assume, but rather a German company where labor costs are quite high. 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. Be sure to ask about our Customer Loyalty Program for additional savings. Marinco 30 Amp Shore Power Locking Receptacle One is the circa 1938 NEMA L5-30 twist-lock standard, most boaters are using today, and the other is a SmartPlug. FACT: This article was written by me and of my own volition. Compare . Wiring Device - Kellems is a proud member of the Hubbell family. Harsh Environment Turn-Lock Connectors. display: flex; This fire also turned McCotters into a SUPERFUND SITE for clean up. Compare. I am certainly not alone in my dislike for this antiquated & unsafe standard. Rather than creating my own video SmartPlug has already done this: One of the biggest pit-falls of the circa 1938 twist-lock design is that its nearly impossible to gasket and keep it dry. $9.99. Others owners simply cross thread them and ruin them. See our major markets and building types below. Scary stuff for sure. If this level of immaturity keeps up I will begin naming names and I will call you out. It measures about 1.77mm thick. This is what it looks like inside the female SmartPlug. Annual inspections shall be carried out between the end of the cruising season and the beginning of cold weather, when most boats have returned to their moorings, but before they have begun to present winter heating loads to the Marina. If the connection between the cord and the boat is even slightly damaged, it will create heat that can eventually result in fire. In order to dig deeper than weve ever seen before, into this antiquated standard, I bought a NEMA L5-30 socket. The customer benefited, not me. Manufacturer: Plug: Amps: Voltage : Poles /Wire: Part # Hubbell: L5-15P: 15A: 125V: 2 Pole, 3 Wire: HBL24W47: Hubbell: L5-20P: 20A . $28.99. Sure, in 1938 perhaps the twist-lock plug was the cats meow for industry and factories. 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. Add to Cart. Smart Plug 30A 120/208V. I did not need any prompting and am only doing what 2000+ other good marine electricians should have done long ago. The industrial quality of these plugs gives the strength for long lasting use backed by our 5 year warranty. Darrell #1 goes to the dock pedestal and physically unplugs the shore power cord. As the connections age corrosion can set in and this can create high resistance, especially with the highly susceptible 1938 twist-lock standard. Hubbell Shore Power. Shop for your Marinco trolling motor plug today, or to see our complete line of Marinco power products, click here. This was a major part of the design criteria for this system.. Total Contact area with dimple locked in place = 6.63 sq mm. If you liked it, learned from it or I saved you some money feel free to make a small donation, thats all I ask. 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. Just ask our helpful service representatives when you call or use Live Chat to find just what youre looking for. This 30 Amp/15 Volt contoured, square inlet is designed to provide an option to upgrade or replace Marinco Cable TV/Internet Inlet Right where you want it. Abrading & Polishing; . 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. I asked the folks at SmartPlug if I could get a new sealing piece, but instead they sent me a warrantee replacement kit which consisted of everything except the outer shell of the connector. At least Darrell & Darrell were still alive to open the AC panel & not cooked medium rare in their sleep. Get free shipping on qualified Twist-Lock Plug RV & Marine Cords products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Electrical Department. We cast off from our dock in Emeryville, CA in July of 2015. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Retail: $175.00. 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. 50 Amp to 50 Amp. You are using a web browser we don't support. Blatant hypocrisy? 50 Amp 125/250 Volt In addition, the information and data on this site may change at any time. Options from $9.99 - $12.99. 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. Returns are easy and youll always receive the best customer service and advice. SmartPlug Marine Power Cord Adapter - 30 Amp Female Twist Lock Connector to 30 Amp Male - 4' (25 reviews) Code: SM53VR. It is insanity to argue against the thermal-breaker in the Smart Plug 30A without also arguing against auto-transfer inverters, especially if they want to use the Darrell & Darrell argument. Female connector Outlet Covers and Wall Plates. While, in theory, this could possibly happen, it is about as likely as Rosie ODonnell beating Lance Armstrong in The Tour de France. Product Features: Drawing on over a century of commitment to innovation and quality, Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems, an industry leader, is dedicated to developing and delivering marine products that improve performance, safety, and functionality. NEMA Locking Marine Grade Plugs . RV Receptacle to Power Hookup. This is the result of just 1-2mms of movement and the dimple riding up and out of the hole in the pin.. Lets go over some of the major issues with this standard that lead to safety issues. We are dedicated to developing and delivering marine products so that boat builders and boat captains can feel at ease while on the water. We offer same day shipping at a flat rate, too. The tough construction and corrosion resistance provides Marinco 30 Amp Stainless Steel Shore Power Inlet Twist-Lock failures, marina fires and the safety of my fellow boaters are what drive my motivation. Darrell #1 opens the AC panel at the same exact moment the thermal breaker re-sets and gets zapped. Benefits are derived from well implemented Solutions. 4.6 out of 5 stars 89. They are also in close proximity to the SmartPlug facilities which means they have great access to inventory. This is their new set screw design for clamping the inlet wire. This new SmartPlug 30A inlet is purposely designed to use the same mounting & hole pattern as the twist-lock standard 30A marine inlet. You will have to decide what is safer for your vessel. My goal here was to show exactly why or how this standard can result in so many boat or marina fires. 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. 4 Pole, 4 Wire. You also cant easily drive a standard set screw directly into finely stranded wire without fracturing it. Problem number one, design and build a thermal protection system for the SmartPlug 30A inlet. AC wiring and wiring mistakes can kill you.. All the clamping screws on the Smart Plug inlet are color coded to make it nearly fool proof. Here in Maine we do have a fair number of boats that winter over, many of which use electric heat. 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. The Marinco 50 Amp Shore Power Male Plug is constructed to hold up in harsh marine environments. I experimented with these set screws in my shop to see how they performed.. Of those 55% of boat fires nearly 54% of that number is caused by shore power. They finally settled on a design for the thermal protection system and then found a company to manufacture it. What jumps out to me is the substantial contact area made by the SmartPlug pin and socket. One is the circa 1938 NEMA L5-30 twist-lock standard, most boaters are using today, and the other is a SmartPlug. The Marinco 30 Amp Shore Power Locking Receptacle features corrosion resistant nylon construction. 2 pole, 3 wire 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. FACT: I make no compensation from SmartPlug, I do not sell it on this site and I have specifically & purposely not become a direct dealer so as to not impede or negatively impact the importance of this article. Strip those inner 6-gauge wires back 3/4 inch. We engineerour productsto exacting performance specifications, including CSA and MARINE UL listings for an extra margin of safety. 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. Please use the latest version of one of these browsers. 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. The black oxidation on this wire can also lead to or create high resistance. The individual I spoke with at Bunyan Fire Department asked not to be identified because they were unsure if the damage numbers on boats, in dollars was accurate. Fisheries Supply offers a wide variety of electrical marine products, including Marinco 12 volt trolling motor plugs, receptacles, and sockets. Ford Explorer UV Graphic Carbon Fiber Look Metal Face-Plate on ABS Plastic 2 inch Tow Hitch Cover. Back of Pin Contact = 1.3mm X 2.7mm = 3.51 sq mm 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. Slide the weatherproof boot and metal two-piece connector body onto the cord. Marine grade twist lock construction 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 . 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. In todays day and age it is far and few between that I come across products that: I got a call from this owner one day saying his shore power cord looked charred and no surprise it certainly was. Even under quite a bit of torque the head continued to spin in the set screw and not destroy the wire. The stainless used in the SmartPlug does come from China but only out of necessity. 2023 Fisheries Supply Company 1900 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103, Galvanic Isolators & Isolation Transformers. Read the full press release. Product Features: 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. Manufacturer rebates, terms, conditions and expiration dates are subject to manufacturers printed forms. Wiring Device - Kellems is a proud member of the Hubbell family. . NEW Replacement receptacle restores shore power dockside connection for 50A amp service. 2 pole It would only be fair to show both. , high-temperature washdowns, oil/coolant splashing, and are corrosion-resistant so they can be used in high-vibration marine environments. 50 Amp 125 Volt $32.99 $ 32. I am playing devils advocate here, but there may be differences in the plug casings and how they transmit heat? I have far too many images of burned twist-lock plugs to show them all so I chose this one to be a good representation. I sure wish I could say I never see this, but I see it with regular frequency.. They were loaded to 28A for 1.5 hours at an ambient room temp of 72F.. Black nylon Benefits are derived from well implemented Solutions. Why are there no locking rings at the dock end? align-items: center; I have learned over the years that this is due to the clamping mechanism in the female socket weakening over time and getting loose. Please try again. 4 wire system / 2-hot, 1-neutral, Marinco 50 Amp Shore Power Female Connector This time I aligned the socket with a straight edge and moved it in and out to score another line onto the sheet metal. Black nylon Lots of these locking rings fail within a few months or just weeks and quite often just fall off and disappear entirely. Do you see any locking rings on this dock pedestal? IMPORTANT: There are some in the industry who feel an auto-resetting breaker, of any kind including thermal, is not safe. Furrion: Marinco 50 AMP Easy Lock Shore Power Inlet w/ Back Rear Enclosure Features: 30A. Manufacturer rebates, terms, conditions and expiration dates are subject to manufacturers printed forms. Rated NEMA 6P, NEMA 13, IP66, and IP69K when mated, these connectors withstand high- pressure, high-temperature washdowns, oil/coolant splashing, and are corrosion-resistant so they can be used in high-vibration marine environments. Hubell: HBL63CM60 The receptacle is robust and offers massive contact area when compared to the circa 1938 twist-lock standard. 99 ($16.50/Foot) FREE delivery . Even at this 93% of rating level the Smart Plug handles the current in a far better manner. 50 Amp Male Plug. See our major markets and building types below. A feature I really do like is the LED indicator light found on the pre-made cord sets. This means approx 21A on a 30A circuit. Are you beginning to see the reason why so many of these plugs and sockets lead to melt downs, boat fires or entire marinas burning down? The safest practice is to do the job correctly and buy a new cord set and inlet. Think about this the next time you need a shore power cord. Marinco's EEL Line of Products. Benefits are derived from well implemented Solutions. This is flat out bovine dung and a 150% LIE! Support for this site through my donate button (end of this article) help keep this site FREE and the in-depth brutally straight forward articles coming your way. 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. 2023 Fisheries Supply Company 1900 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103, Galvanic Isolators & Isolation Transformers. If US Made, the product would sit in US shelves because it could not be built affordable and could not be competitive. Inside the body of the 30A inlet is an epoxy potted thermal breaker that will trip at 200F. 1- Round plugs need to twist in order to lock into place. Even the clamping screws are color coded to the corresponding wire colors. I clamped a 10GA UL1426 wire under one of the clamp screws 35 times. In 1938 lead paint was the rage and asbestos was in everyday use. NOTE: This is a 50A female SmartPlug inlet not the 30A version. The positive locking mechanism is also considerably more robust. They told me that Cascade Thermal Imaging, Inc. of Redmond Washington had in fact conducted some independent, third part thermal imaging tests on the Smart Plug. Add just a little corrosion, some torquing & pulling on the plug and stack all that onto the minimal contact area and we develop heat. DC Rated Devices; International Rated Devices; Marine Isolation Transformers; . Front of Pin Contact = 6mm X 8.5mm = 51 sq mm background-image: url("https://www.hubbell.com//medias/Hubbell-Marine-Products.jpg?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MTc0MDkxfGltYWdlL2pwZWd8aDYyL2hkYS85MDAwMjQxNDYzMzI2LmpwZ3w2Yzc2ZjM0YTRhOTQwMDJhOGM3Nzg3MmY4ODhmYmQ3ODhhMzBkNDJjN2VmMWQ3MmU5OTZkZWJmN2FmN2U5MzM3"); Really, I am not uploading these, my computer is just so full of them it keeps puking them out (grin). Female connector 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 buy my Smart Plug products through regular wholesale or retail organizations such as Hamilton Marine, Sailboatowners.com, Defender etc.. Compare. They have good prices, great customer service. Here we are looking at the back of the 120V SmartPlug inlet with the cover plate removed. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. All Rights Reserved. I cant imagine that Harvey Hubbell III ever intended this to be used on boats, inches from the ocean, back when it was conceived.. Stainless Steel Cable TV and Internet Easy Lock Inlet, Marinco 50 Amp 125 Volt Shore Power Receptacle Not responsible for typographic or illustrative errors. When you call us, you are speaking with a fellow boating enthusiast who knows and appreciates that you want your vessel up and running and in top shape. Still the difference in contact surface area is huge. Corrosion resistance and robust Marinco 30 Amp Female Shore Power Connector Some information and data on may contain errors or inaccuracies, or there may be omissions, due to human error, technology issues or otherwise. Hubbell AC Connector Ca STD 50a 125/250v . In my opinion the answer is no. They are built to the NEMA L5-30 standard whether you buy marine or RV sockets they must all work together. (Tip: cut the green ground wire half an . You are using a web browser we don't support. We make electrical products that stand up to the harshest environments. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. When you call us, you are speaking with a fellow boating enthusiast who knows and appreciates that you want your vessel up and running and in top shape. Loaded identically, the SmartPlug yields just a 4F rise from ambient room temp. Lets stop the BS here and now. If your your cord looks like this it is time for a replacement! Furrion 30 Amp Male Plug- Yellow It requires both inserting & twisting. Their best guess and best information came directly from an eye witness who had stepped off his boat and saw the fire engulfed on the outside of another boat at the shore power 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. As you can see here the metal used to create the clamping force on the male pin is a mere 1mm thick in the NEMA L5-30 socket. NEMA Locking Marine Grade Plugs . 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. Not responsible for typographic or illustrative errors. ACE understand these problems because they pay the claims! Stainless steel fasteners. Pictured here, in the snow, is a 50 X 30A SmartPlug cord set and a 30A X 125V AC inlet. Replacement Interior height: 350px; The challenge to save energy, improve safety or make sure everything continues to perform in a harsh environment, are all candidates for good solutions. I installed a SmartPlug 30a in Atsa back in the summer of 2014 no issues and everything worked as advertised. The wire jacket itself was melted, became brittle, and then the jacket fractured. Remember this is called the twist-lock or HUBBELLOCK standard. Prices, specifications, and images are subject to change without notice. Marinco 50 Amp Shore power Male Plug The Marinco 50 Amp Shore Power Male Plug is constructed to hold up in harsh marine environments. Every marine product we manufacture can face the harshest of conditions without sacrificing performance.