Navagear often promotes products from manufacturers in our own backyard: the northwestern United States and western Canada. So we’re thrilled to see a Seattle-based manufacturer with an ambitious and innovative new shore power offering.
At the same time, though, I wonder what sort of an uphill battle the folks at SmartPlug are prepared for. It’s going be be difficult to carve out even a tiny chunk of market-share when every boat and every marina already has the conventional alternative installed.
The benefits would need to be overwhelming and incontrovertible.
Are they? You be the judge:
Anyway, on with the press release!
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The harsh marine environment can cause problems with even the highest quality shorepower systems. Shorepower failure is one of the leading causes of boat fires. Regular maintenance of cords and outlets is needed to keep them in good condition, providing dependable electrical components.
When not in use, a plug should be stored in a dry area, free of moisture and chemical agents. If stored outside, boaters should keep the plug end of the cord face down. This helps prevent intrusion of moisture into the plug body and internal electrical components. When unplugged, owners shouldn’t throw the plug end onto the dock or any other hard surface to avoid cracking and damage.
Electrical contacts must always be dry and clean. Owners should check boatside and dockside plugs and receptacles weekly for scorching, discoloration, melted plastic and visible corrosion. If any are spotted, cord use should be discontinued immediately to avoid fire or electrocution.
To increase protection from these dangers, SmartPlug Systems has designed a new and patented shorepower system. Featuring advanced safety features, SmartPlug is currently available in a 30 amp plug and inlet with a 50 amp model in development.
When a plug is in use, it must be securely locked into place. It’s also important to not apply undue strain or force on an electrical pin.
SmartPlug employs revolutionary side locks to enable users to feel and hear the positive connection. This locking system also ensures any pressure or force is absorbed by the assembly’s body and not the electrical pins. Its straight electrical pins slide straight into the connector without any twisting, providing a more stable, safe connection.
To keep pins free from corrosion, the boatside cap or cover must be closed when not in use. Further enhancing the moisture resistance of pins and electrical contacts, owners can also coat them with dielectric grease.
With a triple seal waterproof connection, including a compressed front seal, rear seal and flanged cord seal, SmartPlug’s internal electrical components are protected against corrosion. To avoid overheating, it incorporates a trip thermostat that turns off the power around 200˚F.
Most importantly, a plug should never be submerged under water. If it’s accidentally dropped into the water, power should be shut off immediately before it’s retrieved. If dropped in saltwater, the plug must be rinsed with freshwater. Before rinsing plug, the cord should be disconnected from any power source. Then, users should allow a few days for the plug to thoroughly dry before reusing.
Most boaters depend on shorepower systems to gain access to electricity. However, despite the best maintained system, the possibility of burning, electrical arcing and power surges still exist. The innovative SmartPlug, paired with proper shorepower maintenance, provides protection for boats and marinas, ensuring boating remains safe and fun.
4 responses so far ↓
Adam // Jun 8, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Yeah, this is a tough one. Especially for marinas that are really feeling the downturn pain.
The best opportunity I can see for these guys is to get the marine insurers to offer a discount to boaters and marinas that install these things. That would require convincing the actuaries, but if regular shore power cords are as bad as they say (and Steve D’Antonio’s June 09 PassageMaker article is any indication, maybe they are) that shouldn’t be impossible.
One wonders if the right approach here wasn’t a revised NEMA standard. But I guess in that case a startup would have no differentiator and would eventually be crushed by Hubbell/Marinco’s manufacturing capacity.
Geoff Collins // Jun 8, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Better shorepower cable – yawn
Not having a go at your article, just thje product. Can’t get excited about this one.
Besides I’m not fitting something that can’t easily be replaced in a local chandlery when on a cruise.
b393capt // Jun 9, 2009 at 9:49 am
How many fires is due to this … 5, 500 a year ?
This would need to start with the boats being manufactured, the outlets for the boats would need to be cheaper or the manufacture would need to see that it would be a selling point (you can connect the cable easily in the dark, eliminate risk of fire), the other end of the cable remains as a normal connector (I am guessing fires are less likely to start on the dock side, the dock side end of the cable less likely to fall in the water, etc.).
Then maybe.
T.L.Sea, Inc. // Jun 25, 2009 at 11:03 am
Finally a workable solution to the; “twist-and-twist-’til-the-blades-line-up-then-push-in-and-twist-to-lock-only-to-find-out-that-you-still-don’t-have-a-good-connection” type shore power connector that currently dominate the market. The Smart Plug is a straight forward plug and inlet set that you just orient, push in and it locks by it self. For additional support the cap on the inlet locks onto the back of the plug to counter any downward pressure the heavy cord may apply. There are, however a couple of installation woes associated with the plug. The cable gasket is such a tight fit, that I found it impossible to insert the cable through it without ripping the gasket, even after applying a generous amount of soap for lubrication. Care must also be taken when inserting the wires into the terminals, or you risk breaking off the 3 strain relief jaws molded onto the plug. An included rubber plug cap would also be useful to keep moisture out of the electrics when not in use. Now, if someone could just convince the marinas to convert to this system.
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