Heavy Power Cords

These work very well when stacked interlocked between your shelf or floor and your power cord...they're rubber so they don't mark anything up either...

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1239231445&/Blueharmony-Cablock-cable-isol

A manufacturer needs to come up with a "locking-type" or "snap-in" IEC, similar to a balanced XLR connection.

Hello All:
I would like to thank the many members that responded to my little problem. As is the norm with Gonners, helpfull and willing to take the time to help less knowledgable. All the suggestions are very clever and much appreciated.
Best/ DR Cervantes

Teflon tape would I imagine be way better than electrical tape in terms of not leaving any goo, better heat resistance, and better "adjustability" since its so thin. The down side would be many more wraps and more patience necessary because its so thin. No free lunch.
03-06-09: Swampwalker

Swampwalker,
An alternative might be 3M 70 self fusing silicone tape. It only sticks to itself and there is not any residue, none.....

My amps are on 7" amp stands and had the same problem. I just made some cable lifters the same height as the iec and used rubber bands to hold the cords in place. I still had to use the teflon tape on the cord ends but now it is straight with the iec with no sag at all. After that I did the same for the ic so there would be no sag also.

Not that hard to do and cost about 20-25 bucks for four.

So far from reading this thread, sounds like there is money that could be made here....

A simple cable support bracket that does not connect directly to the equipment and does not harm or damage the equipment or after market PC in any way.....

Seems to me in the case of power amps and preamps, even some CDPs,... the weight of the equipment coupled with leverage could be used to support and hold a cable support bracket in place.

The support bracket could be made from steel or aluminum.
One end of the support bracket would have a flat surface, say about, 2" wide and around 6" to 8" in length. This end of the support would fit under the audio equipment. This part of the support bracket would have a heat resistant rubber covering to protect the bottom of the equipment as well as the platform or audio stand shelf from any chance of damage. (Maybe simply heat shrink tubing)

The other end of the support would be narrower, say around 1" to 1 1/4" wide, and would extent outward from the back of the audio equipment for the cable support.

Some type of height adjustment would have to be incorporated into this part of the support bracket for proper cord IEC connector/equipment alignment. If made of steel maybe just firmly bending shaping the bracket.

To protect the PC from damage a soft material covered cradle support for the cable to rest on. (Maybe cover the entire support bracket with heat shrink tubing)

A simple 1" or 1 1/2" wide Velcro strap could be used to hold the PC to the cable support cradle.

Most after market powercords have Iec plug designed with interference fit in mind. They should work if you do plug once and forget about it. But I guess interference fit does 'wear out' over time.

Like the Fpeel's teflon tape idea the best.

Teflon tape would I imagine be way better than electrical tape in terms of not leaving any goo, better heat resistance, and better "adjustability" since its so thin. The down side would be many more wraps and more patience necessary because its so thin. No free lunch.

Albert P

I used zip ties too. String is just cheaper and allows a bit more creative applications, eg., slings, supports, or just simple tie offs, rather than looping/stringing the nylon ties together... and it's less abrasive on the cord and rack, if things need to be slid about.

In fact I got pointed to this idea from past rigging exp. in the service. Another sure fire way is to tie off the cord just behind the connectors shrink wrap, and then run the line in a loop towards the face of the component and secure the 'loop to one of the front footers' or both in a triangle sort of affair, underneath the component so as to hide the string mo betta. Violin! ...and all just for pennies!

Try wrapping the IEC in Teflon thread seal tape (aka, plumber's tape). Use enough to get a snug fit and it will keep the cord from sagging. I find it takes about 1.5 - 2 feet. It's easy to clean up if you want to remove it as there is no residue.

Mmarvin19, usually I support the cable not the connector.

Here's some options

IEC Saftey Retaining Clips

Here's another style Retaining Clip

Clips are not universal fit and may require some bending and fiddling to work

On this site Bulgin (upper right corner) appears to offer clips by "NEMA" type termination

I've actually rigged up a little sling for both my amp and phono stage, where the weight of the cord wants to pull it down. I just took some string and looped it around the shaft of the cord by the IEC plug. Then I twisted a metal clip to atach to some point on the top of each component and attached the string (I used a picture hanger, but you could probably use a paperclip or something similar). Of course you will have to adjust the string tension to get it right, so I advise using a slipknot.

Enjoy,
Bob

+1 to Samhar.

I use anything I can find to support the connector from underneath so that it is level (i.e., pencil erasers). Have this problem especially with my small DAC and a 14g PC, but also with my big ONK 805 avr and a 12g PC.

Blindjim suggestion is similar to my own, I use Tiewraps to hold the AC cable in place so there is no strain on the connector.

Likely the same results as he gets with string.

Sort of like the other mention of it... I'd add some layers of heat shrink, one at a time until the fitting was snug.

Of course, that's not helping the contacts get tighter but will help the cords from pulling loose.... also, I use plain old string to trace up the heavier cords to the rack itself... thereby taking the strain off the connection.

I cut up cheap 7/16" thick foam work shop floor tiles and stack them horizontally for strong support under all my cables and especially the P/C's where they attach to the equipment.

Easy,

Take a piece of black teflon heatshrink tubing (1/2" O.D. ?) carefully cut or trim it to the appropriate length with scissors or a razor blade and stretch it over the end of the power cord's IEC.

Some lube that dries will help slip it on easier.

The IEC connector is one of the worst form of electrical plug and receptacle devices ever made.

OT: I vote for the 1/8" stereo mini-plug and jack. Followed closely by the 1/4" headphone plug and jack. Neither can be counted on to maintain contact in the event of the slightest jiggling, or after repeated re-insertions. But yes, the IEC is not too far behind. :)

-- Al

The IEC connector is one of the worst form of electrical plug and receptacle devices ever made. Why American manufacturers went with the European IEC connector is a mystery to me. Contact pressure between the male and female connector sucks. The USA NEMA plugs and recepts beats IEC connectors hands down.

Wow, that feels better.

At any rate I have wondered if an o-ring around the body of the IEC cord connector would help hold the connector in place. The o-ring would cause the two connectors to fit tightly against one another. Yep a bag of different thickness o-rings would cost about $25 bucks.....
Still wouldn't help the piss poor contact pressure though.