Making my power cords jiggle proof

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enjoylife_95135

I have been tasked with building a demo system for my company which
then gets shipped far and wide. It was shipped cross country for the
first time last week. Things were perfect, except for one thing, the
system was jostled by the shippers, and some of the power cords came
loose.

This wouldn't be a problem normally, but the systems are in a rack,
they're of unequal length, and I needed to take the systems off the
rack in order to stick the power cords back in.

Does anyone know of a way to make sure the power cords stay tightly
lodged in their sockets? I recall seeing some small plastic attachments
which would screw them in. If you know of them, please point me to a
suitable vendor.

Thanks!
EL
 
(e-mail address removed) wrote in
Does anyone know of a way to make sure the power cords stay
tightly lodged in their sockets? I recall seeing some small
plastic attachments which would screw them in. If you know
of them, please point me to a suitable vendor.
Click to expand...

Cable ties?
 
I have been tasked with building a demo system for my company which
then gets shipped far and wide. It was shipped cross country for the
first time last week. Things were perfect, except for one thing, the
system was jostled by the shippers, and some of the power cords came
loose.

This wouldn't be a problem normally, but the systems are in a rack,
they're of unequal length, and I needed to take the systems off the
rack in order to stick the power cords back in.

Does anyone know of a way to make sure the power cords stay tightly
lodged in their sockets? I recall seeing some small plastic attachments
which would screw them in. If you know of them, please point me to a
suitable vendor.

Thanks!
EL
Click to expand...

I've had good luck using velcro straps in that situation. Attach the cloth
part to the power cord (just behind the connector), glue the loops part to
the side of the case, near where the power cord plugs in. -Dave
 
I said:
I have been tasked with building a demo system for my company which
then gets shipped far and wide. It was shipped cross country for the
first time last week. Things were perfect, except for one thing, the
system was jostled by the shippers, and some of the power cords came
loose.

This wouldn't be a problem normally, but the systems are in a rack,
they're of unequal length, and I needed to take the systems off the
rack in order to stick the power cords back in.

Does anyone know of a way to make sure the power cords stay tightly
lodged in their sockets? I recall seeing some small plastic attachments
which would screw them in. If you know of them, please point me to a
suitable vendor.

Thanks!
EL
Click to expand...
I guess you could replace all the plugs and sockets with twist lock
ones. Kind of extreme but it would work.

Eric
 
It all depends on what made the cords come loose.

If they came loose because something plulled on them, then of course the
cable ties are the way to go. Use them as a strain relief. If the systems
are in a rack, you can normally use a cable tie to attach the cord to the
rack itself. If the systems are on rails, when you tie the power cord to the
cabinet/rack, leave enough slack so the system can be extended on it's
rails. I would also use a tie wrap as a strain relief on the system itself.
You can purchase cable-tie attachment pads that have a sitcky back on them.
Attach one to the back of the system, then use a cable-tie to attach the
cord to the system.

If they are simply vibrating out of their sockets during shipping...
Some cords fit more snugly than others to begin with. Or, remove the power
cord, gently spread the prongs inside the socket apart just a bit and
re-attach the cord.
With the cord attached to the system, you could run a bead of silicone caulk
carefully around the joint where the cord meets the socket.

A combination of these methods will go a long way in reducing the chance
that the cord will come out again.
 
Like the other poster said, twist locks are the only
way to go. No big deal changing them out, but
you might see if there is a hole punch designed
just for the ones you buy .. or you will be into
a bit of machining to make them fit properly.
I built a system like yours ( PCs in racks )
that had to fly in a helicopter, and be loaded
in and out constantly .. by soldiers. I used
Mil Spec twist-locks and dog chains to clamp
behind the twist locks. Nothing like repairing
your demo pack while a $20,000 per day
helicopter sits there idle.

johns
 
I have been tasked with building a demo system for my company which
then gets shipped far and wide. It was shipped cross country for the
first time last week. Things were perfect, except for one thing, the
system was jostled by the shippers, and some of the power cords came
loose.

This wouldn't be a problem normally, but the systems are in a rack,
they're of unequal length, and I needed to take the systems off the
rack in order to stick the power cords back in.

Does anyone know of a way to make sure the power cords stay tightly
lodged in their sockets? I recall seeing some small plastic attachments
which would screw them in. If you know of them, please point me to a
suitable vendor.

Thanks!
EL
Click to expand...

Our Engineering servers are temporarily set up in our office while a new server
room is being built, and I had an opportunity to look them over. One thing I
noticed is that the power cords to the machines are held in place with a bracket
that attaches to the computer case and straddles the cord plug, preventing it
from pulling out. To remove the plug, one bends the bracket up out of the way
and pulls the plug out.
I'd DAGS for server and computer case parts to find these accessories.
 
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