loose IEC power cord connection?

You may need some cable holders or elevators to keep the heavy or/and stiff power cord in place. I have two power cords like that and use improvised elevators. Unless things are really loose because either IEC is too big or power cord's plug too small by design, it should work.

I have improvised pc support using toilet tissue tubes. Cut a u shaped slot at one end, slip under the plug or IEC. Adjust
slot height to fit.

I move the components to a lower shelve on my racks so it doesn't hang as much and fall out.

Audio Research resisted using IEC sockets for years for this very reason. There is no better connection than a hard wired power cord.

thanks to all. I'll try the recommendations.

It's not so much a question of the IEC connector fitting into the component. It's whether the connector grips firmly onto the component's prongs. Many connectors fall right back out and if that happens, no wrapping, etc. of ends is going to help make a firm electrical connection. This is the main reason I use Furutech IEC connectors when possible. They really grip.

Rrog, agree with you.

My Conrad Johnsons ART preamps (at least the series 2 and 3) came with hardwired cords. At 16,000 and 25,000 dollars, I don't think they were trying to save a few dollars by doing that. At least they have hospitol grade plugs on them.

Best method I found was fitting a piece of black heat-shrink tubing over the IEC plug.

Black "electricians" tape is all you need. It's so bloody easy...just wrap a couple turns.

Nothing applied to the outside of the IEC plug does a thing to improve its connectivity. Just keeps it from falling out.

I think not falling out would help the connectivity everytime;^]

Okay, but put a Furutech IEC connector on your power cord and I'll bet you can hear the difference :-)

This is assuming that you can do this without miswiring, electrocuting yourself, burning the place down, or otherwise wishing you hadn't.

Yes, I agree that keeping it from falling out does not improve the connectivity. My Acoustic Zen Tsunami  into my Simaudio amp does not grab on to anything when inserted. There is no weight on it,...I made sure of that. It is just a very loose fit.  I worry about it's not really being a tight fit, sound wise.

 

What to do? Anybody? Bend the inside of the end of the cord or bend the leads on the back of the amp?

I have used Teflon tape wrapped around the IEC.

ozzy

Exactly what @ozzy said! Doing that for many years with great results...

Wig 😁

yeah... first avoid Wattgate connectors. They tend to fail to seat fully so you always have wiggle room.

If the male connector has only 2 pins consider adding a ground pin but do not connect it internally. This will increase the grip 50%. Lastly, yes, Teflon or even just electrical tape can help reduce the clearance and therefore the wiggle between the male and female connections.

On the wall socket side, use at least commercial/residential (both together) outlets for grip strength, and add steel gaskets if the wings against the drywall have any play at all or sink when pushed.  The sockets on the wall should be rigid.

Here, in the wall connection, I’ve found Leviton hospital grade, 90 degree plugs to be superb.

C20 Contact Retention Insert for connecting a C20 into a C19 Black (cables.com)

 

IEC320 Male Over-Mold Contact Retention Inserts - Secure Sleeve Tab For Plugs (cables.com)