semi truck trailer break away connection

[iwire]

How much are they willing to spend on making this safe ?

What is unsafe here?

Now I have been having fun in this thead as well but this is really no big deal.

Install a male flange mount intlet or a short piece of cord with a male cap on the truck and move on..

This is no different than all the block heaters used in cold areas on trucks, they don't use fancy ejector plugs, they use a short cord usally hanging out the front of the grill.

Yes, they get forgoten and get broken, and repaired and broken ect.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

What is unsafe here?

Now I have been having fun in this thead as well but this is really no big deal.

Install a male flange mount intlet or a short piece of cord with a male cap on the truck and move on..

This is no different than all the block heaters used in cold areas on trucks, they don't use fancy ejector plugs, they use a short cord usally hanging out the front of the grill.

Yes, they get forgoten and get broken, and repaired and broken ect.

While it might work hundreds of times and just pull out lets keep in mind that your unpluging under a load.Also there is a high chance of the cord getting stuck and breaking.There might well be a live wire dangling from the dock.At a min this should be on a gfci.There are ways to warn the driver.The choice is up to them.Cords where never designed to be used this way.While working we all have accidently pulled a cord out and seldom any damage.As long as this is not forgoten every day it might work.

 

[iwire]

Jim, you have missed the point.

In areas that get cold having a 120 volt cord running to a diesel truck is as common as swimming pools are down your area.

Even my own gas powered suburban had a block heater although I hardly ever used it.

They are not at all as troublesome as you seem to feel.

 

[infinity]

Here is the unit that Don posted. Sounds like the perfect solution for the device needed in the OP.

 

[yanici]

Not trying to bust 'em Don, but if it's a wet location, and it probably is don't we need "in use" covers.

 

[iwire]

Here is the unit that Don posted. Sounds like the perfect solution for the device needed in the OP.

It would be except we are taking a trailer, not a truck.

Out of the normal wiring in a trailer I can not think of any that are always live when a truck plugs into the trailer.

This is what Don meant here

Not sure what you would connect it to on the trailer to initiate the eject.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Jim, you have missed the point.

In areas that get cold having a 120 volt cord running to a diesel truck is as common as swimming pools are down your area.

Even my own gas powered suburban had a block heater although I hardly ever used it.

They are not at all as troublesome as you seem to feel.

Bob, i totally understand the need.But that does not permit us to violate nec.I see it as an accident waiting to happen.We all do what we must,sometimes legal sometimes not.We also all forget to do things like unpluging cords.If it falls out great.

 

[iwire]

But that does not permit us to violate nec.I see it as an accident waiting to happen.

Jim, what NEC violation?

If you have one in mind share it with the rest of us.

We are alowed to plug things in.

 

[iwire]

Here is how every engine block heater I have noticed is set up, a simple cord hanging from the grill.

This is used on cars, trucks, busses etc.

I don't see why a plug on a trailer would have to be breakaway or self ejecting.

Have you ever seen a self ejecting cord on an RV?

No they usually have a cord you drag out and plug in, if you drive off plugged in something is likely to be damaged.

I just don't see the big deal.

 

[growler]

I think iwire is right, this job is no big deal.

This job sounds like a gold mine. If you can come up with a fast, easy and simple install.

I would give to two proposals . One on the cheap side and a more elaborate one to be pitched first.

With hundreds or thousands of trailors we could be talking about some real money here.

 

[iwire]

I would give to two proposals . One on the cheap side and a more elaborate one to be pitchd first. .

Sounds like a great idea, if they want to spend money I will be more than happy to help them do so.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Here is how every engine block heater I have noticed is set up, a simple cord hanging from the grill.

This is used on cars, trucks, busses etc.

I don't see why a plug on a trailer would have to be breakaway or self ejecting.

Have you ever seen a self ejecting cord on an RV?

No they usually have a cord you drag out and plug in, if you drive off plugged in something is likely to be damaged.

I just don't see the big deal.

Was not thinking in terms of an RV.You do have a valid point.My concern is simply knowing this will happen.

 

[tom baker]

Dons autoeject is one that I have seen, the type we use have had some issues with holding up and need repairs from time to time.
We use to install a cord from the ceiling that the fire rigs would plug into and then would pull loose when it went out on a call.
It was odd that those male female connectors, 125V 20A, would overheat, with about a 1500 watt load from the block heaters. We were replacing the connectors every six months.
with the newer fire rigs, we went to 240V block heaters, but still have 120v for the battery charger. But the autoeject still seem to fail frequently.

 

[Dave58er]

I agree this is not a big deal.

I also believe it is not a code issue; it is a spec issue. This sounds to me like this job will be a quoted extra. Not bid and not T&M. The two choices for the customer (one cheap, one expensive) is a good idea. But IMO I'd rather have more money in labor and less in very expensive parts for the high end proposal. You could make it cheaper and more profitable.

We pretty much make our living on work like this. You bid a light industrial/commercial job for low profit margin, build it, then stick around for a couple years (off and on) for the high profit no bid extra's.

I could be way off here, we don't have a lot of info to go on. The OPer hasn't been heard from.