Owner`s manual

Making Electrical
Connections Safer
and Easier
Prior to starting SmartPlug Systems LLC,
Ken Smith was rebuilding yachts that had been
damaged by fire. A marine industry veteran
with over 40 years in the business, Smith dis-
covered that in many cases, the fires originat-
ed from faulty shore power systems.
Sensing the current standard for these sys-
tems was unacceptable, Smith, with the help of
top designers and electrical engineers, de-
signed a shore power alternative, one that in-
corporated every safety feature they could
think of. In less than 14 months, he took the
SmartPlug concept from patent to market, and
in March 2009, Smith introduced the first prod-
uct in his marine shore power series; the 30-
Amp Inlet and Connector. The basis for this
fully adaptable and scalable system resulted in
several patents and then a second system; the
50-Amp Inlet and Connector.
"We want boaters to be safe on the water,
and utilizing a SmartPlug shore power sys-
tem is a step in the right direction,” said Mike
Miller, SmartPlug's vice president of sales
and marketing.
Distinctive features
To protect against the leading causes of
shore power failure and fires, due to unsta-
ble connections and overheating, this sys-
tem employs an asymmetrical sleeve config-
uration that can only be plugged in one way.
The connector and inlet are designed to
nest, so aligning the pins is easy, even in the
dark. SmartPlug’s pin design creates 20
times more contact surface than the old
twist lock system.
To ensure a stable electrical connection,
SmartPlug has stainless locking levers on
both sides of the connector as well as a lock-
ing stainless inlet cover. Once the sleeve is
aligned, the three straight pins slide directly
into the connector with no twisting required.
When fully secured, SmartPlug withstands a
substantial amount of vertical force that is
absorbed by the body’s assembly, not the
electrical pins.
With triple-seal weatherproof protection,
moisture and corrosion are eliminated from the
system. With the built-in thermostat SmartPlug
automatically shuts off electrical current at 200
degrees F to prevent overheating and automat-
ically resets at 120 degrees F to further protect
your boat.
Telling testimonials
SmartPlug is a great option for OEMs, as well
as for boat owners. They can install the Smart-
Plug’s inlet and duel configuration cordset or
retrofit plug system which allows them to sim-
ply upgrade the boat and keep the convention-
al twist lock plug on the dock.
SmartPlug systems are certified to ABYC E-
11 standards and are also U.S. Coast Guard
compliant. In addition, SmartPlug is ETL and
ETL-C certified, which means it meets US and
Canadian standards.
SmartPlug has a growing OEM base with
Nordic Tugs who now installs this shorepower
alternative on its line of cruisers.
“We like the straight blade versus twist locks,
whose lugs come loose and corrode,” said
Bob Shamek, the company’s sales and market-
ing manager. “While other brands don’t tighten
as well, SmartPlug is easy to connect.”
Insurance agencies are also embracing the
SmartPlug concept. Several companies in the
Pacific Northwest now offer a safety discount to
boat owners who install the products.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback
from customers,” said Paul Mendham, account
manager for HUB International in Vancouver,
British Columbia. “If it prevents just one fire, the
product and discount have paid off.”
“We’re passionate about what we do and
committed to a safer marine environment,
largely due to our own personal affiliations,”
said Smith. “ We are boaters, sailors and
scuba divers. We understand the importance
of protecting our families and friends.”
For more information, contact SmartPlug
Systems LLC, at 206-285-2990, or visit
www.smartplug.com.
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SmartPlug plug and inlet.