Marinco Power Cables

[SteveInMD]

Sorry to drift off topic. I've had no problems with my cord and I know I run very near 30 amps sometimes since I've tripped my 30 amp breaker a twice. My cord is at least 10 years old, which may add to your case that the new cords are not as well built as the old ones. Are the cords you have seen burn up all been new(ish)?

[SteveInMD]

It's not hard for Marinco to test their cords, looking for heating at the rated current draw. They claim to meet the marine UL standard for their products. I would still be suspicious of the voltage at the dock. Maybe more and more boats with air conditioning in recent years are taxing the marina power systems. Your case to Marinco would be much stronger if you could show voltage data, which as you said before, would require a data logging system.

Have you tried to contact Marinco? Contact Us | Marinco Maybe they have a theory to offer.

[T34C]

Guys, it is an extension cord! Get, or make, a new one.

Sapper- Does that help?

[k1vsk]

CD
Despite Steve's insistence there is no current on a live line, it is there. You might also check the pedestal receptacle innards to ensure it isn't corroded which would cause heating of the entire mated plug.

I am not being dismissive of your hypothesis that the cable quality has been changed as that appear to be more often the rule than the exception these days and we would have no way, simply by seeing a UL stds label, it isn't true here. What I do know is that when it happened to an older cable of mine, I did some surgery on it just for interest and it appeared to me upon cursory inspection to be of the same quality as a new cable I chewed up with the tractor. It was clearly the same guage wire but as you point out, the cable plug ends are sealed and not easily inspected so I couldn't draw any conclusion.

Regardless, for any number of reasons, arguable or otherwise, it is prudent to shut off the circuit at the main breaker on shore before disconnecting.

[SteveInMD]

I think we're moving on the concept that we're not dealing with operator error here.


AEMC L215 - AEMC L215 AC Voltage Exception Logger on DataLoggerStore.com

and it's only $350!!!

[Sapperwhite]

Maybe a different brand is in order? I found this, but haven't got any experience with the brand.

Charles Industries

[Cruisingdad]

CHarles makes chargers too. They are standard on Catalinas and other boats. But I wonder if they will retro with a Hubbel/Marinco power connection?? I do not know.

Incidentally, for those who have not priced these cables lately they are very expensive. Even if they were free, I would still be concerned as this type of failure could burn the boat to the waterline.

I have no problem contacting Marinco, and will, before doing any writeups in Mainsheet, etc. However, before I do, I want to make sure I have my facts in order. I am not acusing them or anyone at this point - just find it suspect. As Marinco has the vast majority of the market on power cables, I think this thread would have interest for many others too.

- CD

[Cruisingdad]

To those that have had their cables burn up, could you please list the approximate age of the cables. In all 5 examples that I have, the cables were produced (ballpark) 2004-2005.

- CD

[T34C]

CD- There are multiple manufactures of these cords, all can be interchanged as they have like plugs/recepticals. You should notify any manufacture whose product fails in this way. Addtionally you should contact UL concerningthis product. UL requires that the company fill out a Product Incident Report and investigate the cause of the failure.

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by T34C

CD- There are multiple manufactures of these cords, all can be interchanged as they have like plugs/recepticals. You should notify any manufacture whose product fails in this way. Addtionally you should contact UL concerningthis product. UL requires that the company fill out a Product Incident Report and investigate the cause of the failure.

Thanks T... good idea.

- CD