Electric Cord..."getting the Genie back in the bottle" - lol

[sgrizzle]

My 30 amp cord is extremely difficult to get back into the storage compartment...In fact, I have started using my extension cord so I don't have pull it out. Is there a trick i'm missing in getting "the Genie back in the bottle"?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

A five finger discount. Lack of a check list. A melted plug from over use. (three strikes and you're out!)

Longtrace wrote:


I'm puzzled here... How would the Marinco kit "disappear"?

[Longtrace]

boosTT wrote:
I camped next to someone who forgot their twist lock power cord at home- 2 hour drive each way - 6 hour drive for the dad that day.

Do you leave your water hose and sewer hose connected? I don't - so I have three instead of two loose utility tethers.

[camperdave]

boosTT wrote:
I camped next to someone who forgot their twist lock power cord at home- 2 hour drive each way - 6 hour drive for the dad that day!

I like how the cord stays connected.

I'd do a quick cut/rewire with whatever I had handy before driving 4 hours! Just use whatever extension cord I could find locally, cut off the end and wire it up to the converter for the weekend. We're just talking about cables and connectors, it's not exactly high tech stuff here... If you are the forgetful type, maybe even throw an unterminated L5-30R (~$12 on ebay) into the tool box just in case. :B

I once got to a bicycle race and realized I forgot my front wheel! Thank goodness for fellow racers, someone let me borrow their extra. That was embarrassing, but emphasizes the need for checklists. Don't leave home with out actually checking them!

[boosTT]

I camped next to someone who forgot their twist lock power cord at home- 2 hour drive each way - 6 hour drive for the dad that day!

I like how the cord stays connected.

[Longtrace]

pianotuna wrote:
As good as the Marinco is, they still may fail or disappear. That is why I chose to cut the cord and install a standard 30 thirty amp rv male plug. That way I can replace the long cord at any Walmart cheaply.

I'm puzzled here... How would the Marinco kit "disappear"?

Regarding replacement, seems I've seen as many twistlock-in-a-boot to RV plug cords (5L-30R to TT-30P) as I have extension cords (TT-30P to TT-30R). I haven't needed one so I don't know how the prices compare.

A strong motivation for me was that hole in the side of the trailer. The existing plastic cover was crumbling - but even if it was in good shape I think the squirrels could run up the cord and open the cap.

Anyway, I didn't use the Marinco. I got the parts and what I put together will not let an ant or a drop of water through.

I used this stainless steel 5L-30P connector on the trailer and this cable mount 5L-30R and weatherproof boot - both from Amazon. I pulled the cord out as far as it would go, cut it, and attached the connectors. With the boot, the connection at the trailer is weatherproof - unlike a mated pair of TT-30 connectors.

I guess I should do a writeup in the "modification" section.

[Nvr2loud]

legolas wrote:

2112 wrote:

opnspaces wrote:
I find that if I gently give the cord about a half turn with each push it seems to go in easier.

Same here. I use to fight mine until I started doing this.

I found the detachable cable to be more of a hassle.

That's my question...now you have something else that needs to be stored and space is at a premium. Where do you folks who made the switch store 30' of cable.

I've never had to "make the switch" as I've never had a trailer where the wire pulls out of a compartment. My Trailers have all had 30 amp twist lock male receptacles with a cover.

I store (3) 25 foot long sections of cable in the pass thru.

[camperdave]

legolas wrote:


That's my question...now you have something else that needs to be stored and space is at a premium. Where do you folks who made the switch store 30' of cable.

That's one of the added benefits, more storage in the trailer. I added two drawers under the couch where the box for the cord used to be. I now throw the cord in the back of the van when towing. Space in the living space of the trailer is at much more of a premium to me than space in the van.

JamesBr wrote:
On the RV side, I would say about 50% of those I spend the most time with all have the twistlock setup on their trailers in the 30a or 50a flavors and still here I have not heard of any failures on the twist lock. The most common failure I have seen has been the same, the male end of the plug. I considered converting my monaco over to one before I figured out the trick to rangling that 50A cord back into the bay.

My Marinco connector failed. Well, failed isn't really fair, I drove off with it connected. :S It broke the connector housing that is screwed to the sidewall of the trailer, fortunately I noticed my stupidity and stopped before pulling anything completely apart. I emailed Marinco about buying a new housing, and they sent me all the parts I needed free of charge! Very cool.

[JamesBr]

I have not seen or experienced that myself or through closer friends. I grew up around boats and running 1 or 2 30amp marine lines with the twist locks and even my own had one and never experienced a failure in the 6 years of ownership (it was bought used.)

On the RV side, I would say about 50% of those I spend the most time with all have the twistlock setup on their trailers in the 30a or 50a flavors and still here I have not heard of any failures on the twist lock. The most common failure I have seen has been the same, the male end of the plug. I considered converting my monaco over to one before I figured out the trick to rangling that 50A cord back into the bay.

[Bumpyroad]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi James,

As good as the Marinco is, they still may fail or disappear. That is why I chose to cut the cord and install a standard 30 thirty amp rv male plug. That way I can replace the long cord at any Walmart cheaply.

JamesBr wrote:
I side with replacing the hatch and hole with a marinco twist lock kit.

yep, I'm not terribly thrilled with those Marinco twist lock connectors myself but they probably do hold together better than a standard 30/50 amp plug. Might be a reason to leave enough of the old cord so it will usually touch the ground and would be less likely to separate?
bumpy

[legolas]

2112 wrote:

opnspaces wrote:
I find that if I gently give the cord about a half turn with each push it seems to go in easier.

Same here. I use to fight mine until I started doing this.

I found the detachable cable to be more of a hassle.

That's my question...now you have something else that needs to be stored and space is at a premium. Where do you folks who made the switch store 30' of cable.

[pianotuna]

Hi James,

As good as the Marinco is, they still may fail or disappear. That is why I chose to cut the cord and install a standard 30 thirty amp rv male plug. That way I can replace the long cord at any Walmart cheaply.

JamesBr wrote:
I side with replacing the hatch and hole with a marinco twist lock kit.

[JamesBr]

I side with replacing the hatch and hole with a marinco twist lock kit.

[boosTT]

You need to pull the cord all the way out to fix the knot! It should be 25' to 30' long. Once its all the way out IT WILL be easier to push back in. I have experienced the knot about 5 times in the last 15 years.

Don't be afraid to pull hard.

[sgrizzle]

Thanks Man!