BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 18, 2025, 03:43:22 PM
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Have you experienced a burned-out prong on your shore power cord burning the cord end cap yet? It happened to me, and in fact, mine started smoking. Thankfully, I noticed smoke coming out of the connection and quickly cut the power before it started a fire. I had to run my bus on my generator until I could get a replacement cord.
SmartPlug Systems, originally designed for the marine industry, have been a game-changer for RV owners like us. The owner's personal experience with power cord problems and the fires caused by inadequate power connections led to the development of this superior system, making them a far superior solution for RVers.
SmartPlug uses larger blades in their connectors, which have more surface contact area than traditional RV connectors, to reduce the arcing, therefore reducing overheating, which occurs with regular shore power cords most people use. I have used my SmartPlug cord for eight years now, and it still looks like new.
SmartPlug's cords, plugs, and receptacles are also weatherproof to prevent them from corrosion, so they last longer.
They have 30A and 50A connectors and power cords, and their power cords are thicker and provide more protection than conventional RV power cords.
SmartPlug is Made in the USA and available at Dealers and Online retailers nationwide. Check them out at
https://smartplug.com/product-category/rv/
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I am in the market for a new cord. The one I have is fine except you can not roll it up. You can pick it up by one end and lift the whole cord. Does anyone know if these cords are pliable?
Wayne
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Yes, significantly more pliable than the average RV cords, except in very cold weather. Then they are the same as regular cords.
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Wayne,you need a silicone rubber cover and the 6/3 wire needs more strands inside, I had 2 Glendenning 1 for the Glendenning power reel and 1 for extension, they stayed pliable in 20 degrees the lowest temperature we were in. the only draw back was the cost but you could roll it up easy and the reel never had a problem winding it up
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Thank you I will look into them
Wayne
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Real rubber doesn't stiffen in cold weather like PVC sheathed cords do & like Luvrbus said - they're pricey.
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Real rubber doesn't stiffen in cold weather like PVC sheathed cords do & like Luvrbus said - they're pricey.
I agree they are a bit pricy, but mine has lasted 8 years now full-timing, and I have had great luck with them, whereas the standard RV cords were stiffer and didn't seem to last as long as the SmartPlug receptacle, plug, and cord. Like I mentioned before, I don't like it when my cord starts smoking because of arcing in the connection, which has not happened (yet), in my SmartPlug connections.
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Copper wire with age gets stiff ,heat with more thin wires will help anneal the copper wire in the cord to help with stiffness.I like the blades on the smart plug but don't care for 2 plugs on 1 cord I like the cable hard wired to the chassis not a plug ,the entrance plug on a RV or my boats over the years have always caused a problem for me
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This functionality might be handled transfer switch between an inverter and shore power. Mine waits 30 seconds before switching over..