AC Inlet

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alfricke's picture
alfricke
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Joined: 4/14/09
Posts: 90
AC Inlet

This topic has been covered extensively in past forums, but thought it was worth mentioning again here as we all now have time to attend to procrastinated boat projects. I've had Jubilee ten years and she is twenty years old. Eight years ago I had to replace the AC inlet and replaced the entire shorepower cord as well...all due to blackening and some melting on both male and female sides of the connector. Same thing happened this winter, probably when I had a small heater on at the same time as the wet/dry vac (rain water)...and maybe the battery charger etc. I rarely leave the shorepower connected as I use the boat regularly all year. Only have it on if batteries are down or am leaving the reefer on for some reason. Dismantling the connection showed significant corrosion up the hot (black) wire, probably due to salt water intrusion. 

I went the Smart Plug route, bought online at Home Depot, getting the White inlet as opposed to the Chromed one. It was super easy, the new inlet fit in the old hole. The screw holes even matched up!! Had to cut pretty far up the black wire to get good copper, but had just enough to get the job done. I looked at the YouTube videos and read the instructions several times (a first for me). As a result, there were no "re-do's" and all is well. 

Attached is a pic.

Al Fricke
S/V Jubilee San Francisco Bay
Catalina 36' MkII  #1867
Universal 35-B

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True Wind
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Joined: 7/15/12
Posts: 139

No pun intended but that was a smart thing you did. I changed out my AC inlet to a Smart Plug last year. I monitor just about everything on my boat including AC voltage and current. The biggest power consumer on my boat is the 16K reverse unit. The Smart Plug dropped my current intake by a couple of amps.
 

2003 Catalina 36

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dlincoln3
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Posts: 144

I installed the Smart Plug last year also.  Super easy to do and wasn't too expensive.

Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC

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KevinLenard
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Posts: 209

Guys, for the uninitiated, I'm seeing smart plugs which can monitor (via smartphone) voltage, etc., but these are single unit devices that go between the recepticle and the plug of each unit.  Sounds from your posts that you might be talking about a smart recepticle that replaces the standard 110 volt double recepticles, or even a 240v for A/C?  If the latter, please suggest a link or photo to guide me.  Thanks!
 

Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada

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dlincoln3
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Posts: 144

This is the plug.  I bought the conversion kit, which allows you to retrofit your existing yellow cord with a smart plug female end.  The picture shows the stainless cover.  Mine is white plastic which was much better priced at the time.  I bought mine on Amazon, but there are many other places you can find them.

Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC

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dlincoln3
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A few more images of mine before and after install.  Pardon the filthy cockpit, it was winter!

Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC

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