Replacing shorepower inlet January 06, 2022, 10:25:36 am On a recent trip I noticed that the cover over the shorepower inlet was flapping away down the road, and as the receptacle had also been damaged from stupidity and repaired years ago, I decided it was time to replace it. I purchase a Marinco model 304EL-BRV for a decent price online with a white body, and took the cover of the old one into Home Depot to try to match the brown stripe from the rig - found something close in a spray paint.The outside of the new outlet and mounting holes were identical to the old unit, but as I found out, the inside cover and strain relief were not. Removing the old unit was a b...., as in typical LD fashion, it was installed with polyurethane adhesive/sealant - many broken pieces. It helped pressing against the socket inside using an inverted slide clamp while carefully prying from the outside, careful to not damage the surrounding paintwork. After I had cleaned off all the remaining sealant, I discovered the original hole was about 1.4" in diameter, and the new receptacle housing required about 1.75".I decided to enlarge the opening, using the following method. With a hole saw, I cut a disc from from scrap 1/2" pine than was a press-fit into the existing opening. This gave me a precisely located center drill hole to be able to precisely cut the new hole. I found the fit was such I did not need to glue this 'plug' in for it to remain secure. I then experimentally cut another hole in the scrap lumber until I could just slide the new housing in, thus having the exact adjustment of the hole saw I needed. I successfully enlarged the hole in the side of the rig thus, and the new receptacle went in pretty smoothly - enough excess Romex to complete the wiring externally (unusual). At this point, I just used the supplied sealing foam gasket - no adhesive. As the connections in the socket are screw connections, it might be desirable to remove and tighten non-destructively. Eventually I may add some sealant.Steve 6 Likes
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #1 – January 06, 2022, 11:02:35 am Wish you had taken more pictures of this project! Glad to hear you were able to get it done.
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #2 – January 06, 2022, 12:42:53 pm Very good job...i installed the stainless steel Marinco on my camper van and again on a casita i just sold....easy install....You are right about how Lazy Daze puts things together....everything is so secure....lol...i love that about them. I just came out of my 2016 TK and the person who did the wiring /routing is good. Everything is secured with rubber coated hold down clamps every 8 inches or so... after wiring is covered with wiring loom....no loose wiring flapping atound in an empty space with Lazy Daze.I have been looking all around trying to find a spot to install my hardwired EMS....no space and no excess wire to make it work without standing on my head behind the stove. Decided to send it back and get an EMS for the power pole....hate it but for me undoing any of their nice wiring job would be criminal...also too old to Jam my body in a space like that.....The Smart plug 30 amp plug was an option to remove and add the needed length to make it work but i remember how LD seals..glues and screws things...i would surely mess the exterior paint finish up for sure....i tried reaching the back side but it being up behind the stove...also you need and allen wrench to stick into the sides of the receptical to loosen wires...the thick ess of the wall and the small op3n8ng cut for the receptacle make it impossible to get the allen wrench in the sides....some things are just not meant to be.....
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #3 – January 06, 2022, 01:11:09 pm "I have been looking all around trying to find a spot to install my hardwired EMS....no space and no excess wire to make it work without standing on my head behind the stove. Decided to send it back and get an EMS for the power pole."---I opted for another portable PI EMS (Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X) when I did not find a convenient location to install a hardwired EMS in my 2003 TK. The current EMS is #3; the first unit on another RV was a "surge protector". This was fried in a lightning strike, the second, a true PI EMS, was "gifted", and #3 is in the compartment. I do chain the EMS to the pole when I hook up, which is not very often; the chain is pretty wimpy, but, so far, the unit has not found a new home. One caveat to using a portable EMS is that it does not protect against "dirty" power from the generator; the hard-wired unit does. Not a recommendation, but in addition to the PI EMS, one might want to look at the portable unit from Southwire and compare specs:Surge Guard 30A - Model 34930 - Southwire RVAs ever, YMMV.
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #4 – January 06, 2022, 03:47:51 pm Coupla comments:First, I'm a fan of the SmartPlug power inlet system. I installed one on my Lazy Daze and another on my Airstream. I had to do a little touchup painting on the LD, so that is a drawback. But the SmartPlug plug and inlet are much better than the old Marinco design--sturdy, weatherproof, with more contact area and positive push-on latching. Smartplug's features page makes a good case, and my experience confirms what they say there. Aside from the possible paint touch-up, installation was easy.Second, maybe Surge Guard has upped their game since the last time I took one apart, but I wasn't impressed with their internal construction compared to PI's. Also, in comparing the two companies' portable units, I noticed that the Progressive Industries one has a plastic hood surrounding the entire socket and plug, while the Surge Guard unit just has a little flap door that will offer very little protection from rain or snow. I like the PI design better. 2 Likes
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #5 – January 06, 2022, 04:06:27 pm I am waiting on a call back from Best Converter to order the same...mentioned above, Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X....And send the EMS hardwire back....sad but not interested in frustrating myself...With the the remainting list of things i want and need to do.....i can always come back to it in the future.....if a solution comes up...im good with the smart plug....just wish the adapters and replacent plugs were not so $$$$.
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #6 – January 07, 2022, 02:47:01 pm Steve, you did basically the same thing I did to ours. We had the mouse hole and cover so I popped the door off and got the stainless version of yours and it mounted exactly to the original metal housing. Everything went together and fit like a glove. 1 Likes
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #7 – January 07, 2022, 05:03:56 pm Quote from: JonS - January 07, 2022, 02:47:01 pmSteve, you did basically the same thing I did to ours. We had the mouse hole and cover so I popped the door off and got the stainless version of yours and it mounted exactly to the original metal housing. Everything went together and fit like a glove.Interesting - on our '04, neither the original nor the replacement had a metal housing. Due to different designs behind the outside parts, though, nothing was interchangeable to allow mounting without enlarging the hole...Steve
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #8 – January 07, 2022, 05:55:58 pm We had the old mouse hole style where the cord slid inside for storage.
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #9 – January 07, 2022, 06:14:45 pm Quote from: JonS - January 07, 2022, 05:55:58 pmWe had the old mouse hole style where the cord slid inside for storage.Yesss... Had that on our '83!Steve 1 Likes
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #10 – January 08, 2022, 08:12:59 am Quote from: Steve - January 07, 2022, 06:14:45 pmYesss... Had that on our '83!SteveQuote from: JonS - January 07, 2022, 05:55:58 pmWe had the old mouse hole style where the cord slid inside for storage.Yes, we have that on our 99. I will probably leave it as it is although I do see how the newer set is nicer.
Re: Replacing shorepower inlet Reply #11 – January 08, 2022, 03:12:11 pm We also have the power cable behind the mouse door on our 98~MB. We like having all of our wire in an ease to access place and we also have a 25ft 30amp extension cord in that same place if we need to add some length. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA 1 Likes
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