Marinco 30 Amp Shore Power Inlets

[Dockhead]

How many of these have I burned out in my ca. 30 years of cruising? I can't even count them.

After burning out the latest one, I realized how much I hate them. You always think you're going to break them, trying to figure out if you've twisted them enough or not. Water gets into them. The contacts are flimsy.

So I bought a European 16 amp blue plug receptacle, a really nasty Chinese plasticky thing which cost 51 Euros in a Holland chandlery (manufacturing cost 23 cents).

And reflected and how superior is the 16 amp European plug, even in the poor Chinese example, with all that contact area. Water can't get into them. I think I'm never going back.

[tanglewood]

Those IEC plugs are nice. The US 50A plugs are good too, but the 30A plugs not so much.

[skipmac]

Switched to Smartplug years ago. Of course I have to keep a Marinco on the dock side but at least I know the boat plug is not a problem.

[Miz Pea]

Second the Smartplug.

[boatpoker]

Hard wired mine years ago, no problems.

[rwidman]

I haven't had much difficulty with the standard 30 amp inlets. I did eventually replace the original but the boat was about 15 years old at that point and spent most of it's life plugged in somewhere or another.

I don't really see any problems with them or their design as long as they are used properly. I try to twist the cord a bit in the direction that will keep pressure on the plug before plugging it in. I do the same at the other end.

Smart plugs are arguably a better design but they are far from standard and you can't just run down to the marina store or local store and pick one up if you lose or damage yours. You should probably carry a spare. Also, you can't connect them end to end to make a longer cord.

I'll be sticking with what I have and understanding that shore power cords and inlets are a maintenance item, not something that can be ignored.

Hard wired means you can never borrow a cord if yours fails.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Switched to Smartplug years ago. Of course I have to keep a Marinco on the dock side but at least I know the boat plug is not a problem.

That Smart Plug looks really excellent -- large contact area; thoroughly water sealed; excellent catch design. I likes it. No more carp Marinco for me! Not ever again!! Those are just fires waiting to happen

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by rwidman

. . . .I don't really see any problems with them or their design as long as they are used properly. . .

I agree! As long as you keep them in the trash can where they belong, and strictly avoid putting any electrical power through them, they will cause no trouble


In fairness, I am a fairly tough customer for power cords since I heat with electrical power through the winter time and in a wet climate. So I might easily draw 16 - 18 amps continuously.

Still, never had a single failure of any of the 16 amp European blue plugs -- not one.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

That Smart Plug looks really excellent -- large contact area; thoroughly water sealed; excellent catch design. I likes it. No more carp Marinco for me! Not ever again!! Those are just fires waiting to happen

I have a Smart cord as well, the real advantage to me is there is a thermal disconnect device on the boat side of the cord in the plug itself. If it ever gets hot, it disconnects power.
It may be worth you considering one, I bought both a cord and a "kit" to convert a regular cord, so the kit is my spare as I have a couple of regular shorepower cords already.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I have a Smart cord as well, the real advantage to me is there is a thermal disconnect device on the boat side of the cord in the plug itself. If it ever gets hot, it disconnects power.
It may be worth you considering one, I bought both a cord and a "kit" to convert a regular cord, so the kit is my spare as I have a couple of regular shorepower cords already.

I'm sold. It really looks the business. Could not be a greater contrast to the pathetic, non-waterproof, flimsy contact Marinco job.

[a64pilot]

Maine Sail's excellent write up on Smart Cords.
I so often go to his site for advice
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/i...g_a_smart_plug

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Maine Sail's excellent write up on Smart Cords.
I so often go to his site for advice
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/i...g_a_smart_plug

Yes, and he hates the Hubbel/Marinco connector EVEN MORE than I do, and explain why in great detail. Never again on my boat!

[a64pilot]

Your still stuck with the dock side connector of course as they are not modifying pedestals.
However I have found by keeping everything coated in silicone grease that seems to keep corrosion at bay, and I believe a lot of failures begin with corroded contacts.

[Mycroft]

When my last Marinco fried, I switched to SmartPlug. Love it! Only way to make it better would be to enable larger cabling. I would have preferred to replace my wiring with larger gauge. Oh well, nothing's perfect.

I also keep a 25ft and a 50ft marinco cable as extension cords when the dock pedestal is too far away.

[zeehag]

since 1990 i have not burned out any shore power cords or plugs.
but then i always remember to twist them locked to complete the ground circuit.
have used 20 and 30 amp no issue. used 50 amp no issue.