Why the SmartPlug is better
Compare the SmartPlug to yesterday's standard
The Problem
Contrary to popular belief, the #1 cause of shore power failure and fires is not electrical shorting, but rather overheating caused by poor
electrical conductivity. How does this happen? The problems with many plug designs are that the shape of electrical pins allow for very
little contact area, and the pins themselves are also largely responsible for bearing any physical stress placed on the cord (from constant movement of the boat, someone tripping on the cord, etc...) This results in the
pins working loose, further lessening the precious little contact area they had to begin with. Furthermore, such loose connections allow for
moisture intrusion and ultimately corrosion of the pins. Arcing occurs and the connection heats up, scorches, and in some cases, catches fire. Because the current draw is unchanged, all of this happens long before a breaker or a GFCI can cut the power. Additionally, the old design can be very difficult to use in low light or hard-to-reach scenarios since the "L" shaped pin must first be located and then oriented before connection.
The Solution
SmartPlug’s 4-Stage solution protects against overheating every step of the way. Loose connections are addressed by a Sleeve Design and Multi-Point Locking System which take all the physical stress off of the pins while securely fastening the plug to receptacle. Pin contact area is increased by more than 20x and protected behind three weatherproof seals for a dry and corrosion-free connection. Finally, an integrated trip thermostat cuts power at the first sign of overheating. See all SmartPlug features.
| Twist-type shore power inlet and connector |
SmartPlug shore power inlet and connector |
 |
 |
Twist-type |
SmartPlugs |
||
Introduced |
Circa 1938 |
Circa 2008 |
|
Electrical Contacts |
Minimal contact area means more heat and a higher chance of arcing |
Over 20x more contact area keeps things cooler with no arcing |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Waterproofing |
Barely water resistant. Only a dustshield around cord (on retrofit models) |
3 weatherproof seals keep moisture away from electrical contacts |
|
Secure Connection |
Screw-on plastic retaining ring (if supplied) prone to stripping & cracking |
Self locking side levers and snap-down locking cap create a rock solid connection |
|
Electrical Contacts |
Minimum electrical contact area means higher chance of arcing |
Over 20x the contact area means no chance of arcing |
|
Overheat Protection |
No thermal protection - prone to overheating and failure |
Integrated thermostat cuts power at 200° and restores at 120° |