SmartPlugs no longer have thermostat?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Stumble

We have an EEL, its fine, better than a ring, but not even close to as nice as the SmartPlug. Its just a better ring but doesn't fix the fundamental problem with the standard plug, poor conductor contact area.

It looks like the EEL is at least somewhat weatherproof. That's something. The classical Hubbel/Marinco connector doesn't even slow down the rain getting in, even if you diligently screw down the carpy plastic ring. Bah!

But yes -- those contacts are fundamentally flawed -- very small area, and they rely on the female contacts springing closed. But they are not spring steel! After you've screwed and unscrewed them a number of times, they stop springing closed, and start arcing. To my mind, this is a simply unacceptably bad design, and I won't ever have another one on my boat.

Smart Plug looks really nice, but I'm thinking that a Victron 32 amp connector might also be just fine, in case I can't find the Smart Plug here. The European round pin blue connectors, which come in 16 and 32 amp versions, are very good -- fat copper pins and lots of contact area, and with the sockets designed to keep water out even without a seal. Almost never see one of those with burned contacts.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

The "value" is that the boat side is less likely to get hot. And shore ends tend not to get dunked in salt water as much as the boat ends. If you put a smart plug on your boat end you will understand and never go back to the old twist lock plug.

Indeed. Would you prefer the pedestal to burn down, or your boat?