Shorepower lead. length?

VicS said:
...BUT I guess a blue plug and a blue in line socket do not make a waterproof connection ? So would probably need one of these for the times both lengths are needed?...
Click to expand...
The connection is as waterproof as the one to the pontoon outlet and the one to the boat inlet which are both generally exposed to the elements. I've never bothered with a cover when using two cables and experienced no problems...
 
l'escargot said:
The connection is as waterproof as the one to the pontoon outlet and the one to the boat inlet which are both generally exposed to the elements. I've never bothered with a cover when using two cables and experienced no problems...
Click to expand...

+1

Don't drop it in the sea, but I don't think rain is a problem in practice.

Pete
 
l'escargot said:
The connection is as waterproof as the one to the pontoon outlet and the one to the boat inlet which are both generally exposed to the elements. I've never bothered with a cover when using two cables and experienced no problems...
Click to expand...

prv said:
+1

Don't drop it in the sea, but I don't think rain is a problem in practice.

Pete
Click to expand...

The fixed " connectors can be ( are?) angled downwards so (rain)water will be naturally shed off without entering the connection. I was worried about a plug and socket lying flat on the ground/ pontoon but if there's no problem with that then I won't worry about the the cover

They are IP44 compliant i suppose which means they should withstand water splashing from any direction.
 
A 16amp plug and socket in the horizontal position will last for years before water ingress. I have one in the feed to my boat that has been out now for over three years and is still dry and shows no sign of corrosion inside.
At work we use thousands of these connectors and the only time we have had problems is when a join is fixed in the vertical plane................

ETA the 25m max length comes from a combination of voltage drop and the fact that 1.5sqmm cables over 25m will not always pass a portable appliance earth test due to the resistance of the cable.
 
Last edited:
I made up an 18m one in 2.5mm flex which seems to cover 99% of situations and is ok to coil ( I vist lots of different marinas each year). This is stored in the lazarette.
I keep an extra 10m one in a locker below in case adjacent power sockets are already used.
It is sometimes cheaper to buy a made up lead rather than a plug, socket and flex.
 
sarabande said:
Hmm. Just found an IP67 16A plug :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16a-230v-...917378884?clk_rvr_id=1019464709924&rmvSB=true
Click to expand...

Interesting.

I'm not sure it would fit into the boat's receptacle, though, the lid looks too wide.

1360_4811.jpg


Pete
 
prv said:
Interesting.

I'm not sure it would fit into the boat's receptacle, though, the lid looks too wide.

Pete
Click to expand...

I'm sure it wont not one of those flush fitting types anyway, The hinged cap on it will prevent it fitting . It might fit a surface mounted receptacle though.
It will limit the versatility of the leads a little if trying to be clever in a having two of different lengths . One with the usual type of IP44 connector will needed at the boat end for a flush fitting inlet......... except of course I wont be using a fixed inlet receptacle it will be hard wired to the campsite unit.

The male plug should fit the pontoon socket Ok.

We'll see. Undecided about it all at the moment esp as it may not get enough use to make it worthwhile at all.
 
prv said:
Interesting.

I'm not sure it would fit into the boat's receptacle, though, the lid looks too wide.

1360_4811.jpg


Pete
Click to expand...

I have one similar to that except the piug faces downwards at about 45 degrees when the line socket is plugged in with the lid part closing and when the lid is closed the plug swings to point downwards.

Its located just to the right of the hatch and above the fuel fillers.

WEB0425_zps66625285.jpg


This is the fitting

059965_xlge.jpg


These guys seem to have a nice selection of electrical power connectors

https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/e...-plugs-and-sockets/exterior-plugs-and-sockets
 
prv said:
Interesting.

I'm not sure it would fit into the boat's receptacle, though, the lid looks too wide.

1360_4811.jpg


Pete
Click to expand...

It does not, but then the boat end is the one you could conceivably upgrade. However, the other end doesn't fit any marina socket I've ever seen either, and even if it did fit the marina socket wouldn't have the mating part and thus the connection wouldn't be waterproof. So while it's nice that there are now waterproof IEC plugs, I don't see them being widely adopted.

Before you plug your new (IP44 - splash-proof only) plugs in, slather some silicone grease on the pins. It'll keep the moisture away from the contact surfaces. I've had to cut off both plugs on an extension because they had become inseparable :P
 
Yngmar said:
It does not, but then the boat end is the one you could conceivably upgrade. However, the other end doesn't fit any marina socket I've ever seen either, and even if it did fit the marina socket wouldn't have the mating part and thus the connection wouldn't be waterproof. So while it's nice that there are now waterproof IEC plugs, I don't see them being widely adopted.
Click to expand...

I think the plug end would fit onto many or most marina sockets, though without the waterproofing part as you say.

However, given that there are hundreds of thousands of the ordinary ceeform connectors, including inline ones, in use around the country in marinas, campsites, burger vans, portacabins, and outdoor activities and installations of all kinds, seemingly without any danger or problem, I'm of the opinion that since it ain't broke, I won't fix it :)

Pete
 
prv said:
Interesting.

I'm not sure it would fit into the boat's receptacle, though, the lid looks too wide.

1360_4811.jpg


Pete
Click to expand...

Ive just fitted 1 of these to my boat yesterday as it fitted my requirements /location.

its quite a size of hole you need to hack out if you havent already got 1, and i found the connections on the back a complete pain to work with in terms of getting the wire to fold out of the pre defined holes in the covers.
 
I have a 15m and a separate 12m. the 15m covers most situations , ,mainly be useful for bows into a marina berth ( fingers) and the box being on the main walkway ( Our inlet is on the stern ( 11m boat)

we only really usually use the extension when rafted.
 
I have 50 m on drum, one 15 m and one 9 m with blue CE plugs. Then a polarity changer, and two cables which I can connect to non CE plugs if necessary.
All cables are orange flexible PUR .
 
The power outlets in my marina are cunningly arranged so that water from the tap can splash onto any inline adaptors. At present I have a 1.5 litre Coke bottle with a slit down the side as a waterproofing unit. Next visit I'm fitting a different plug so I don't need the adaptor, and I'll get a line that is 2m longer as well.
 
parsifal said:
It certainly does make a big difference. I have a 30 metre extension lead which is labelled " max load: coiled = 1700W; fully unwound = 3200W"
Click to expand...

I have one with a thermal trip built into the reel and yes I have tripped it !
 
VicS said:
I have one with a thermal trip built into the reel and yes I have tripped it !
Click to expand...

I've seen one at a friend's warehouse where all the insulation was melted and fused into one scorched blob. Not sure whether it lacked a thermal cutout, the cutout failed, or, knowing the people involved, it was deliberately defeated :)

Pete
 
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