Poquito
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Post by Poquito on Aug 2, 2019 5:21:34 GMT -8
This is a RANT, about waiting over two weeks to get a product (which I was not bothered by really, but now that does erk me), and the SmartPlug 30 AMP 125V Plug and Dual Configuration kit I purchased is possibly a fake. I am replacing my 14 gauge wire plug that is direct wired into my circuit box with this new 30 Amp SmartPlug, which I am hard wiring with 10 Gauge wire and will use the 30 Amp plug set that came with the kit to plug into the camp ground 30 amp post.
If your still following, this is where the problem is: I am ticked off. I have spent a few days analyzing how I was going to remove wires, put in new ground post, and install the plug. I got as far as installing the 10g wires into the new plug, was not as fast and easy as they advertise by the way. So this morning, I'm looking at it and the silver label on the front of the plug is coming off at the corner. Hmmmm, so it is a thin aluminum label and I don't want to cut myself on it so I pull it all the way off the plug. What do I find? On the plug face there is the original SmartPlug 50 A 125/250V stamped on it.
I'm mad, because now I don't know if it is safe to continue wiring the thing into my camper, I tried posting on their Facebook page: SmartPlug Systems, and my post is not coming up. Should of known they aren't going to be transparent. So I have to wait on Seattle time to call them at 8 am.
I bought it through Camping World online and when I called them to see why it was taking so long to deliver, they say it is because it comes from the manufacturer. It did come from SmartPlug Systems, Seattle, WA.
I imagine the thing is only as good as the wiring installation and it may not be an issue. But really, passing off a product with a fake label is just wrong.
Poquito
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 2, 2019 6:01:18 GMT -8
It is much cheaper to make a single product and relabel it for the smaller volume sku. Very many companies do this, from Intel (only make one silicon die, then test and mark each part with the speed grade it can achieve) to your store brand generic cereal made by the same company as your name brand. I'd be happy your inlet is designed for the higher rating even if you don't need it.
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Poquito
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Post by Poquito on Aug 2, 2019 7:50:50 GMT -8
Danrhodes, that may be true, but I am going to ask the company to give me a written statement that it will not cause a problem. I want to be able to sleep peacefully while I'm in my camper... Poquito
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Poquito
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Post by Poquito on Aug 2, 2019 9:51:58 GMT -8
UPDATE: SmartPlug Systems, Terry Gilliand, emailed me and offered to give me an upgrade to the Stainless Steel 30 SmartPlug with weather cover. I thought that was a good customer service thing to do and accepted his offer.
I called SmartPlug Systems and they are sending me a new plug. The man said because it has a set up for 3 wires it is a 30 AMP plug, so when I asked for something in writing saying it was safe to use, he said he was sending me a new plug. He did not want to take a risk I suppose if anything went wrong. Hopefully it will get here before September when I have a big trip scheduled. Poquito
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 5, 2019 11:39:20 GMT -8
When you, an untrained hobby crafter are doing your own installation, having no idea what you are doing, how can you expect a manufacturer to blindly claim in writing that there will be no problems? The best thing you can do is study all of the electrical advice on the pages of this forum and perhaps even take a course in household electrical systems and electricity in general. One of the main reasons I do not post in the electrical section here is due to the fact that you can not understand how this stuff works without an extensive course in electricity and the courses I went through to become an electrician and an electronics technician took many months. Not too many people are going to go through all of that theory and studying just to wire up a trailer. Because of the classes I teach I finally decided to do a fairly involved video series on trailer electrical systems and along the way I try to make the viewer understand how electricity works enough so that they can safely wire up their trailer. And if after this videos series they still don't get it, they need to hire an electrician. There is a reason people don't wire up their own houses. There is a reason people don't do their own brain surgery. It's because they have no idea what they are dealing with and don't want to do further damage to their house or their brains. The same goes with trailers. You'll find my electrical video series on my website if you want to educate yourself. In the mean time, there are now two standards for trailer wiring when it comes to AC or Alternating Current. 30 amp 120vac and 50 amp 220vac. And in most RV parks you will find plugs or outlets for both in the power pedestal at the camp site. You will also find a regular 15 amp household GFCI outlet which you should never plug your trailer into. Those are just there to run outdoor lighting or the weed eater for the park gardener. Your kit that you bought from Camping World is generic to both types of service. Now you just need to know the difference and why there are two types of systems.
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 5, 2019 16:14:35 GMT -8
I'm curious why you recommend not plugging into the 120-volt outlet at an RV park? We are going to the Buellton trailer rally in a month and many of the people I've talked to say it's totally fine to plug into that outlet for an old trailer. Our trailer just charges the battery off of the 110 and maybe runs a small fan we would not be doing anything crazy
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 5, 2019 16:42:13 GMT -8
I'm curious why you recommend not plugging into the 120-volt outlet at an RV park? We are going to the Buellton trailer rally in a month and many of the people I've talked to say it's totally fine to plug into that outlet for an old trailer. Our trailer just charges the battery off of the 110 and maybe runs a small fan we would not be doing anything crazy As long as you don't trip the GFCI and you don't overload it you're fine. I recommend always using the 30 amp receptacle and if need be an adapter.
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Poquito
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Post by Poquito on Aug 14, 2019 10:46:29 GMT -8
Hi Mobiltec, yes I am interested in your wiring class, I will check it out when I get back from my weekend trip. I had already done the research when I started my re-wiring project. I wouldn't have had the nerve to get into it without research and asking questions. An electrician had wired my camper but had put the neutral and grounds together on the same bar which caused an issue at campgrounds with GFI and no 30 amp outlet (I used an adapter if 30 amp was available). The adapter worked and I never over used my circuits and thus could not detect the problem until I read it on a post here in VintageTrailer Talk.net. My last camping trip had a campground 20 amp outlet, which triggered a circuit break. I was determined to find out what the problem was.
It was the information on this forum that helped me understand what the wiring problem was on my trailer and now I am 1/2 way to getting everything corrected, it's not helping that it is hot as hell but I am working it out in an 108 degree camper to get the panel box re-wired for the upgraded wiring to 10 gauge/30 amp plug. Hopefully your video class will help me get the job finished.
It pays to let a company know that there is an issue with their product, if they want a good reputation, they will do the right thing, which they did. I'm at the age where if it ain't right and I spent good money they will hear about it. The set cost over $200, and the upgraded 30 amp stainless steel plug is priced at $116 which they sent to me lickedy split. So I'm back to rolling around on the ground, replacing the trailer ground 14 g. wire with 10 gauge single strand...Thank god I am leaving on a road trip later today to drop off my last child at college and then heading to the keys to snorkle and to forget about all this s&%$.
All your advice and those that contribute to this forum is highly appreciated. Poquito
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Aug 14, 2019 13:14:18 GMT -8
What’s a smart plug?
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