After 10+ years it was time to change the 50A 125/250 V shore power splitter. It had served well but it was showing signs of degradation due to heat. I also had previously changed out the boat side power inlet connectors to the SmartPlug type, changing out the fittings on the shore power cable to match. I absolutely love the SmartPlug system. No twisting, sure connection, much more surface area, etc.
I decided to buy short factory made 25 FT Smartplug power cords as I normally berth stern-to and don't need fifty feet of cord the majority of the time. Also, length adds resistance, resistance builds heat, so shorter is better, is the theory. I cut off the SmartPlugs from the old fifty foot cords to save for new cords I was going to make up. I cut off about a foot of the cord to inspect the wire looking for dark spots/ corrosion. I found i!. So, I kept cutting off cord in 6 inch increments , looking for corrosion signs (darkened copper) and kept finding it. I decided to toss the cords and will keep a couple of new fifty foot ones around for travel needs when I have to connect at distances greater than 25 feet.
Bottom line, if in doubt, throw them out. My friend's 2008 Beneteau 46 just burned down two slips away from mine due to an electrical fire.
Sam
Longhawk B43 2008 #9
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