Electrical Plug Cover?

[hube2]

I have been looking for something for a while and I cannot seem to find anything suitable and was hoping someone has seen what I'm looking for. Who knows, maybe it does not exists.

Anyway, I have a block heater on my tractor. The plug hangs out the left side of my hood. I am also going to add a heating pad to my HST and I'll have the plug for this hanging out as well.

What I would like is a watertight cover to put over these when they are not in use to keep snow and moisture off while I'm out moving the snow. They do not need to be covered when they are plugged in because the tractor will be inside.

The only thing that I can really find are covers for when they plugged into the extension cord. These are large, some might even call them huge, bulky covers that are not really meant to go on and off on a regular basis.

It really doesn't even need to be specifically made for this task, but it needs to be something that is quick and easy to do, possibly multiple times each day.

Any ideas?

 

[LouNY]

These are not covers, but are what are commonly used for block heaters;
Amazon.com: NOCO GCP1 15 Amp 125V AC Port Plug Power Inlet with 16-Inch Integrated Extension Cord: Automotive

There are numerous styles of these available,
Amazon.com : Recessed Male Plug

 

[TerryR]

hube2,

I've been looking for the same thing for the charging cord on my electric side-by-side. You have moved be to try Google and I found this, which seems to be just thing:
Amazon.com: Kat's 2845 12 Volt Cord Cover End: Automotive

There are several alternate models listed in the "customers also viewed" section down the page.

 

[hube2]

These are not covers, but are what are commonly used for block heaters;
Amazon.com: NOCO GCP1 15 Amp 125V AC Port Plug Power Inlet with 16-Inch Integrated Extension Cord: Automotive

There are numerous styles of these available,
Amazon.com : Recessed Male Plug

This looks interesting Amazon.com: NOCO GCP2 15 Amp 125V AC Port Plug Power Inlet with Dual 18-Inch Integrated Extension Cords: Automotive

but some of the reviews are not real great and I'm not real sure I want to cut a hole in my new tractor. Will have to give it some thought.

 

[PandDLong]

Thanks for the idea. I have the same issue and frequently end-up drying and cleaning the plug end. I hadn’t even thought of a cover but will get one now

 

[hube2]

hube2,

I've been looking for the same thing for the charging cord on my electric side-by-side. You have moved be to try Google and I found this, which seems to be just thing:
Amazon.com: Kat's 2845 12 Volt Cord Cover End: Automotive

There are several alternate models listed in the "customers also viewed" section down the page.

These were more along the lines of what I was looking for, at least for now. My search foo must be bad. Tried a number of times and never came up with anything.

 

[TerryR]

I just ordered this one:

Prong Shield | Protector for 12-Volt Plugs |12 Volt Cord Cover End | Protects: Extension Cord Construction Equimnement | Equipment Protection | 3-prong Cover (5) - - Amazon.com

The problem with this one is you have to order at least five of them.

We'll see how well it works when it gets here. The others I found, including the one I linked to above, fit over the outside of the plug body rather on the three prongs, and some reviewers said they only fit smaller plugs.

I too had a problem searching for them. "Plug cover" turns up covers for outlets, not cord plugs. Looks like the secret is "cord end covers."

 

[WranglerX]

Think something from RV/Travel trailer world, they have had these things forever.....

Dale

 

[hube2]

I just ordered this one:

Prong Shield | Protector for 12-Volt Plugs |12 Volt Cord Cover End | Protects: Extension Cord Construction Equimnement | Equipment Protection | 3-prong Cover (5) - - Amazon.com

The problem with this one is you have to order at least five of them.

We'll see how well it works when it gets here. The others I found, including the one I linked to above, fit over the outside of the plug body rather on the three prongs, and some reviewers said they only fit smaller plugs.

I too had a problem searching for them. "Plug cover" turns up covers for outlets, not cord plugs. Looks like the secret is "cord end covers."

I was thinking about those along with some gaskets Amazon.com: Weatherproof Extension Cord Gasket (1 pack): Home Improvement

 

[WranglerX]

I was thinking about those along with some gaskets Amazon.com: Weatherproof Extension Cord Gasket (1 pack): Home Improvement

Think I would tend to go for a solution that eliminate the dangling cord...

Dale

 

[Diggin It]

Think I would tend to go for a solution that eliminate the dangling cord...

Dale

How about an outlet? A regular household outlet mounted up under the hood somewhere in the dry; a dead outlet, not wired to anything. Unplug the heater cord from the live extension, then plug it into the dead outlet under the hood. A regular duplex outlet would give the OP places to plug both heater cords when not in use.

 

[hube2]

Think I would tend to go for a solution that eliminate the dangling cord...

Dale

I like the idea of the inlet receptacle like this one Amazon.com: NOCO GCP2 15 Amp 125V AC Port Plug Power Inlet with Dual 18-Inch Integrated Extension Cords: Automotive more actually, but like I said, I don't like the reviews stating that they overheat or smell like they're burning. All of the ones meant for RVs are open in the back and require bare wires to hook up. And, I'm not sure I want to cut a hole in my tractor to mount one of these.

I still need to decide which way I want to go. Getting some simple covers for now will keep my options open.

 

[hube2]

How about an outlet? A regular household outlet mounted up under the hood somewhere in the dry; a dead outlet, not wired to anything. Unplug the heater cord from the live extension, then plug it into the dead outlet under the hood. A regular duplex outlet would give the OP places to plug both heater cords when not in use.

That is also not a bad idea. I could simply zip tie the end of an old extension cord to something and not have to drill or otherwise put holes in the tractor.

 

[bigtiller]

I use a freezer bag from the kitchen.

 

[hube2]

I use a freezer bag from the kitchen.

This was actually my first thought and there is actually one rubber banded to it now, but I thought that there must be something better.

I am actually leaning toward, and I've almost convinced myself to put in the inlet plug. I just have get myself comfortable with the idea of drilling a hole in my hood.

That and the fact that it's getting really cold out there, I should have been thinking about this stuff a couple of months ago but I was too busy tearing down my old shed and putting up a new one big enough to hold the bigger tractor.

 

[LouNY]

Would it be nicer and cleaner to mount a bracket somewhere for the inlet plug,
come up off the frame rail or the loader mount with a light weight bracket.
Possibly inside the grill guard.

 

[workinonit]

Do this ^^^^. Don't drill any holes in your hood!!!

 

[hube2]

There aren't really any options for adding a bracket. If anyone with a MF GC1700 series tractor can see something I don't let me know.

But I won't be drilling any holes any time soon and will be going with one of the other options for now. I will have plenty of time to think about it.

I found an old thread here about drilling holes and if I do it I will need to make sure I prep and paint the edges. It will be too cold here most of the time to think about painting outside until some time in March or April.

Thanks for al the great input.

~JH