Question about 50amp inlet plug

[Likes_to_tow]

What is the deal with the plug on the side of my 5th wheel? There is no way to get the collar to tighten up or to keep it from going cross threaded !! The threads seem to be ok on both the recepticle and the 50 amp cord but after I push it in and twist lock it I can never get the collar to go on which would make it more water tight and help with the stain relief of the heavy cord. I have considered a right angle adapter which would possibly make it easier to start the threads, then plug the heavy cord into the adapter. Anyone done this? I'm sure some company makes a better quality plug. When I was in the Air Force we had heavy cables that connected two radar trailers together. They were made from metal and once tightened they were water tight and strong.

[D_E_Bishop]

I don't have a plug in cord but from years of experience with marine grade power cords, Marinco sold at West Marine or after looking at the above mentioned Smart Plug, the Smart Plug and Marinco are both great designs. Spendy but they are not manufactured on a bid for the lowest possible cost in China. Running an AC, Hair dryer, Microwave and other high wattage items requires safe and well designed equipment. A new inlet and a new cord end may be expensive but they are electrically safe in my experience. I would change.

[Likes_to_tow]

Very sad that we have to replace something on a new $40K unit that fails from day one. They could have invested another $150 and had a quality electrical hook up for us.

[kennethwooster]

I can never get mine on as well. Guess I will check on the smart plug.

[john_bet]

Mine came without a locking ring,new. Never have had a problem in over 11 years as it is plugged in 24/7. No signs of cracked, bent, water intrusion at all. JME.

[Acampingwewillg]

If it was that simple on mine, I would have done it long ago! Trust me!!

[avvidclif1]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
I too use a right angle adapter to relieve the tension BUT be aware that sometimes, as with mine, the receptacle might be 90 degree's off causing the Right angle adapter to hang oddly. I left it as is due to the right angle adapter being a "one piece" (vacuum molded)set up. I didn't really want to try and turn the receptacle on the MH to get it to hang straight.

Mine was at a 90 deg angle. Remove 4 screws, rotate, replace screws. Nothing to it.

[TxGearhead]

^^^That usually works for me on hard to start threads of any kind...tubing, small diameter fine threads, etc.

[4aSong]

Many have done this;
Once you plug the cord and twist lock it in place, hole the cord straight and turn the threaded ring in a counter clockwise direction until you hear it click than proceed to tighten it by turning it clockwise. No guarantee but it sure is worth a try.

[Learjet]

you can find some that are twist lock collar vs. the screw on ones. Your inlet should be able to take both.

[rhagfo]

Get an SO shore cable and it is lighter and more flexible puts far less strain on the outlet, Like the Smart Plug.

[Allworth]

In seven years of using a right angle adapter in all kinds of weather (including tropical storms) I have Never tightened the locking rings and have never had the slightest water intrusion problem.

I bought it for the strain relief and it does that just as designed. My feeling is that the locking rings are overkill for a fiver. Maybe for a radar trailer (We used them on our radio intercept huts in VN), but for an RV??

[Acampingwewillg]

I too use a right angle adapter to relieve the tension BUT be aware that sometimes, as with mine, the receptacle might be 90 degree's off causing the Right angle adapter to hang oddly. I left it as is due to the right angle adapter being a "one piece" (vacuum molded)set up. I didn't really want to try and turn the receptacle on the MH to get it to hang straight.

[byrdr1]

avvidclif1 wrote:
You're not holding your mouth right, try a smirk. As in "gotcha you turkey".

I use a right angle adapter to take the load off the receptacle, never take it off the 50a cord..

Same here, it makes that angle just better.
I got one when they were cheaper than they are now. ITS a Marinco 1RPC50RV Right Angle Locking Adapter. $87.00 at Amazon.com now.
randy

[RollandB]

Check out Smart Plug.....http://smartplug.com/

I recently changed from a 30 to 50 amp service so needed to get the inlet for the trailer side of the connection. After looking at videos was convinced Smart Plug is a better mouse trap. I'm glad I went that way, so much easier to wire up, the install pretty straight forward and comparing to an twistlock 50 amp I had on an older rig, a much more solid feel.