Wattgate Connector Measurements

Eric, this is EXACTLY the point I was trying to make.  The point of maximum contact on the Wattgates is all wrong.  Blows me away that this stuff makes it to market.  I do not have a degree in engineering--but I could have designed a plug far superior to this design.

Good research on your part.

I see that the plug didn’t work out for you, but the thesis you wrote was beautiful! Nice work, A+, the plug not so much I guess that gets an F

Did you compare the result of Wattgate, Connex and the stock Luxman plug into the Luxman C18 socket? Can the Wattgate plug in all the way?

Is it possible to post this thread on DIYAudio site? images/drawings are more easy to upload without require URL.

Hey @imhififan 

The Wattgate can't plug all the way into anything in my house.  Now that I know what to look for I can say it just  won't hit the bottom. What I'm feeling is the pin grip mechanism keep it from accepting the full width of an IEC pin.  That's probably why the body is so long.

The Luxman C18 socket feels wrong with every connector.  I mean, the Connex and generic brands make contact and seat, but I can feel that they just don't seem to grip until late when I compare to all the other IEC outlets I have running around the house.  This is what got me to make a new power cable with custom ends in the first place and down this rabbit hole.

I can confidently say that with my test connector and a couple of other IEC inlets every cable I tried feels better than the Luxman's.

So I'm really dealing now with two separate issues, one of which is what's weird about the Luxman, and another about Wattgate's grip mechanism acting as a block to full insertion.

What I’m feeling is the pin grip mechanism keep it from accepting the full width of an IEC pin.

From what I can see from a clear casing Wattage, its spring clips are deeper form the surface compare to others in the market. That could be a problem if it cannot inserted into the inlet all the way.

@imhififan  For sure in my sample it was over 6mm away.

@imhififan I could understand making the pin covers longer in cases where you needed to access a recessed inlet, but you'd think they'd also make the pins longer too, right?

Although the pin is 12mm length, I think the clip 6mm from the surface is a little too much, 2-3mm is more reasonable, IMO.🤔

Although the pin is 12mm length, I think the clip 6mm from the surface is a little too much, 2-3mm is more reasonable, IMO.🤔

Which is what connex does and as a result there's 9mm of conductor overlap.  With Wattgate there's 3.3mm of conductor overlap.

Although the pin is 12mm length, I think the clip 6mm from the surface is a little too much, 2-3mm is more reasonable, IMO.🤔

@erik_squires 

I think I'm wrong about that!

Seems 6mm from the surface is quite common.

Thanks for the detailed drawings, @imhififan  Then I just chalk it up to the clamping mechanism being unforgiving, but if it wasn't for that, they should be getting 6 mm of travel into the connector and it should measure the same 5mm or so of 0R contact.  I will say I like the rounded belly of the Connex prongs more than the sharp angle in these examples and the Wattgate.