Heavy power cord

"...I have decided that from now on all manufacturers of electronic components and power cord should incorporate a male “tab” on the IEC connection..."

I think a better/easier solution is to incorporate a "lip" in the male IEC connector where the cable can rest. Or simply increase the depth of the connector. 

Mapleshade and I applied Super String Theory to the fabulous set up at CES. All power cords and speaker cables were suspended from eye hooks in the ceiling by string, with a rubber band at one end. Shannon Dickson said it looked like Plan 9 from Outer Space. The Nakamichi Dragon CD Transport and separate DAC were isolated on my Nimbus sub Hertz platform, the DAC sitting on the underslung ballast of the iso platform. The CD Transport created a strong vacuum around the CD 💿 once it was inserted. You know, for an extra stage of isolation. Better safe than sorry! 🤗

I have used Scotch brand, blue painters tape, around the female IEC end of a very heavy ac cable. Cut evenly, with a wrap around that was suitable for the particular connection. Never any gooey residue, if removed.....So, that I understand what I have thought for many years. The IEC plug end on pretty much every power cord, is the female, and the chassis mount IEC on the equipment, is the male, based on the plugs " blade " configuration. Somehow I thought this was stated above, to be opposite of this. BTW, I build my own cables, with excellent results.......

There is already a standard for this and readily available at least in Europe.

tom68971,047 posts11-07-2019 9:43pmBased upon several ideas presented above I have decided that from now on all manufacturers of electronic components and power cord should incorporate a male “tab” on the IEC connection and power cord suppliers should have a corresponding female “tab” that locks on to the “tab” on the IEC. That would solve at least one part of the problem at the connection site. Cable elevators and other suspension devices will still be required by some who have heavy cords and need extra support but at least the cables will stay secured to the equipment. (Computer cables use locking connectors quite frequently). Comments?

Yeah, dream on. They ain't changing' nuttin.

Electrical heat shrink wrap will stay in place without adhesive making it better than tape. 

Ceramic cable elevators are primarily for improved sound. Try and see.

Based upon several ideas presented above I have decided that from now on all manufacturers of electronic components and power cord should incorporate a male “tab” on the IEC connection and power cord suppliers should have a corresponding female “tab” that locks on to the “tab” on the IEC. That would solve at least one part of the problem at the connection site. Cable elevators and other suspension devices will still be required by some who have heavy cords and need extra support but at least the cables will stay secured to the equipment. (Computer cables use locking connectors quite frequently). Comments?

elizabeth,

Great suggestion on the teflon tape, I am going to be making use of that.

I stopped using electrical tape for almost anything but temporary fixes years ago. I use self-fusing silicone tape where I would have used electrical tape in the past. It has no glue. When you pull the silicone tight against itself, it self bonds to a point that it is usually easier to cut-off then try to unravel (if at all possible).

To the op, depending on the IC socket, sometimes you can loosen the screws holding it in place and put string around them, tighten the screws, then use the string to hold the plug in place.

elizabeth

The problem with electrical tape' is the garbage adhesive usually used. So the tape sticky part turns all gooey after a few years.

I know what you mean and if that's what happens to you, then you are using the product incorrectly. Electrical tape is meant to be tightly stretched against itself. When used that way, that gooey adhesive fuses with the tape, creating a very tight, sealed connection.

Electrical tape is great for sealing exposed electrical connections. For anything else, it's next to worthless.

First of all I'd like to personally thank all the members who participated in this thread and all the suggestions....
Yesterday evening I was contacted by the power cord manufacturer, he said there were others who had the same problem and his solution was quite simple...I was told to wrap a layer of electrical tape around the connector, this would snug the fitting tight "problem solved ".....
Happy Again!
BTW 
To answer (cesoj) ,question..
The sub's plugged into a  Pangea Audio Quattro Power Center....
I added isolation feet to de couple from hardwood floors and the addition of the power cord, gives me a tighter/cleaner bass response ...
Alfonz 

I wish all components had removable power cords. I unplug, move, relocate, loan, ... makes it so much easier to move without cords.

so I want something that stays connected but easily disconnects. 

my Cayin A88T integrated amp has a removable power cord, nice connector, but so heavy it could potentially fall out. Now, I push it back so the wall behind keeps it from moving in playing position.

I would think of some kind of cable tie, velcro strap, that you could fasten somewhere on the equipment, and fasten/unfasten to the cord readily. 

This is one of the easiest things to test. Simply listen with everything laying on the floor. Then listen with everything propped up off the floor. Literally anything that will hold them up will do. Paper or plastic cups, pieces of wood or plastic, books, carbon fiber, string. Anything. Just try it. Trying and hearing beats guessing and spreading false information, but only by about a million times. In my opinion.

Frankly it never crossed my mind to even test this. What I did notice though is that reasonably relaxed (long enough cable, any, actually) sounds better than stretched/tight one. Never experimented with lifting the cord off the ground. It is probable that vibrations from the floor catch the cable. However they can transfer through equipment, too. So, what's best solution anyway? Dampening cable holders, I'd guess?

However the thread was about plug unplugging because of cable weight, right?

Just curious how much audible difference it made to use the cord. Considering that you might have a 1/0 awg. cable connected to number 10 or smaller gauge romex in the walls. Most homes are lucky to even get past 14 awg. Treatment.

Buy a new, better quality outlet. Also do not ever "Bend" a power cable.
They do break. Been there. I employ a fine white string from the TV above in two spots to keep the power cables supported to reduce stress on the outlet and maintain distance from I/C cables. No you can't see the string if you are over 30.

if power cable is mostly (or completely) in the air then you need a longer power cord, which will keep majority of its weight on the floor.

This is one of the easiest things to test. Simply listen with everything laying on the floor. Then listen with everything propped up off the floor. Literally anything that will hold them up will do. Paper or plastic cups, pieces of wood or plastic, books, carbon fiber, string. Anything. Just try it. Trying and hearing beats guessing and spreading false information, but only by about a million times. In my opinion.

Do this enough with enough different materials, raising to different heights, it pretty quickly becomes apparent the improvement is probably related to electrical charges of some kind. Because of all the materials and shapes and everything the ones that work the best are ceramic insulators, with the insulators with the greatest resistance to static migration working best of all.

This is what is called doing due diligence. As opposed to blindly following along. If you DYODD well enough it may extend to looking up different ceramic insulators in electric parts catalogs and learning they actually have standards by which these things are measured in terms of being able to resist kilovolts of charges migrating along the surface. Sorry but its been a while and I forget some of this. So don't just take my word for it, DYODD. Maybe even compare like I did enough to actually know for sure what you're talking about. For a change.

Funny enough, while playing music for a friend just the other night I removed the insulators letting the speaker cables lay on the floor. Then put them back again. All while the music was playing. He noticed right away. As has everyone I ever did this for. Its not a subtle difference, not at all. Only reason I can think of everyone doesn't know this, they feel better spreading false information than actually trying and finding out for themselves.

Go figure.

Yes put blu tak wedged in between  and a put book, foam or whatever of = height  to keep cable from sagging.

+1 for elizabeth's post

If you have your amp up on an iso stand you MUST suspend, prop up, or otherwise eliminate any forces the power cord may exert on the iso device as external forces ruin the isolation effectiveness. The amp must be free to move in all directions of isolation even if the iso stand is one direction 🔛🔝

I have some heavy and thick power cords and no single one of them is unplugging, But if power cable is mostly (or completely) in the air then you need a longer power cord, which will keep majority of its weight on the floor. As well it seems to me that IEC plug is not quality, it's usually pretty firm stuff when quality plug is used and it should not unplug by itself no matter.

Don’t hesitate to improvise by making your own suspension device if needed. My cables are hidden from view behind a curtain. I ended up suspending several cables with 1” leather straps and heavy fishing line connected to the back side of the curtain rod. Completely seamless and inconspicuous. Took all of the stress off of the IEC connections. Good luck figuring out you solution!🍀

Try it on other components. When you figure out what combination sounds best then use cable elevators to support all the power cords so they are up off the floor. Do this with all your cables and interconnects.

Cable Elevators btw is a specific product, which turns out to be just another generic ceramic insulator, which are sold all over eBay and work just as good.

Cables that are stiff, relieve stress by bending to fit the location.

So first you get improved sound from everything no matter what. Then as a bonus you get everything supported putting less stress on connectors. Two birds, etc, etc.