Smartplug Converstion
First I give credit to the smart folks that posted on this 5th Wheel thread. https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/30084692.cfm Particularly this link: https://marinehowto.com...
Forum Discussion
SPRey wrote:GrandpaKip wrote:
I dunno...sounds like a solution in search of a problem.
In all my years of boating and RVing, I’ve never seen a reason to doubt the Marinco inlets and cordsets. May be there are problems with the China knockoffs, but I have always had the Marinco.
Two objectives I had before searching for my solutions.
#1 Replace the nondetachable power cord with one that can be plugged and removed. Don't like bugs and critters crawling in my castle and the insulation in the cord storage hole is "economical" at best. You can feel the cold air drafting.
#2 Replace the RV plug (it was getting rather warm to the touch while plugged in) which means inefficient electric contacts. My TT was manufactured in 2000, so lets just assume both the cord and molded plug are probably "tired".
We usually dry camp (seldom visit RV parks with hookups) and since 1995 (when we started RVing) never been ripped off or had any of my gear walk off--save some firewood, but we had lots.
To me SAFETY and QUALITY are always number #1 and I don't think one can do any better than upgrade from a nondetachable cord to a Smartplug cord.
And, an unintended benefit, the cubby hole that once held the old power cord, can now be a secret stash spot, a safe of sorts to hold weapons, ammo, cash, etc. A slight modification in the paneling and poof, push open door.
You forgot about the supposed "better" electrical contact area that you claimed was the main reason..
Personally, what you have done is ADDED MANY more "points of failure" and INCREASED resistance (which equals heat) which the additional contacts.
All you did was spend a lot of money and spread out the heat across all of the additional contacts.
My cord "cubby" is FULLY closed off from the outside, what you could have done instead of all of the needless adaptation was to put a electrical workbox on the side of the "cubby", run the shore cord into that box via a weatherproof gland and made your connections inside the work box. Then proceed to double insulate the cubby box and seal it up well to prevent outside cold air from getting through the cubby box.
Instead, you now have a bunch of non standard electrical cords and connectors that can be lost and most difficult to locate in most stores..
No so "smart" to be non standard in a world of "standards".
