Detachable power cords... Why?

[FretNoMore]

...
-- When cords were attached, amps had ways to store them. With detachable cords, eh, where does it go?
...

I suggest you put it in the same case or bag as the rest of the other "detachable things" you need for a gig and don't want to forget either - instrument cable, mic, mic cable, guitar strap, speaker cable, water bottle, sheet music, extra pair of socks, aspirins, whatever you usually bring ... is it really a big problem adding the power cable to the bag?

 

[yodedude2]

i'm with the 'if you can remember your instrument cable, you can remember your power cord' crowd.

 

[MegaSwing]

I carry a power cord in nearly every bag or case I have, including my gig bag. They're so common now, they almost pile up in your house. You get one with nearly every new computer/audio/video purchase, and you usually don't need a new one. It's pretty easy to never be without one anymore.

BTW, once I became used to the new stuff, I learned to dislike anything without a detachable power cord—much harder to store and way easy to ruin the cord.

 

[2.6kHz]

Wow, I am amazed at all the love for removable cords.

It's not a question of love/hate. It's an industry standard requirement these days. Get used to them, they aren't going anywhere. Some boutique builders still wire their PTP tube amps with attached cords, and are rolling the dice with liability in the process.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I only worry about getting mine mixed up with someone else's cord since they all look similar for the most part.

I wouldn't want to use someone else's power cord in my amp, you never know what it's been plugged into before. Maybe a Behringer for example.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Some boutique builders still wire their PTP tube amps with attached cords, and are rolling the dice with liability in the process.

I'll bet that none of them have UL or CSA approval in North America for their products.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have yet to show up at a gig without one. If I did, the venue would no doubt have a few kicking around.

^^^This. A million times, ^^^this.

I freely admit I'm perhaps a bit more anal compulsive than other people, so I don't expect them to be quite as meticulous in packing for gigs and packing up after gigs, even though (to me) putting the AC cord in the case/rack/bag with the amp seems like it oughtta be a no-brainer. People forget stuff, I get that. But the beauty of the IEC-standard detachable AC cord is that it's a standard; if you do forget yours, everyone else in the band -- or, heck, in the venue probably -- has another one they can loan you.

My bigger pet peeve is amps that have fuses rather than circuit breakers, 'cuz nobody ever has the same type of fuse I seem to need when one blows. Decades ago I started gaff taping a spare fuse to the back of the amp chassis next to the fuse holder, and then another whole box of spares into the case that the amp travels in. Learned that one the hard way.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

So other company's can sell you a "BETTER" one for $800.

Yes, God forbid someone has to settle with the sub-par tone given to you by a standard power cable. Wrap mine in 3 inches of shielding with thermal insulation and tempurpedic foam for good measure.

In all seriousness though, nice one, wish I would have thought of that!!

 

[Steve Dallman]

Detachable power cords...a BIG improvement. I add them to amps that don't have them. I keep a couple under the seat of the car, in case I forget one. In my practice room, the power cords stay there if I take an amp to a gig or practice. IEC cords can be found dirt cheap at thrift stores.

I don't miss repairing cracked, frayed and exposed cables on amps anymore.

 

[Dave W]

I actually hate my amps that have an attached cord.

If it's in a rack: Now I have a mile of power cable to deal with. I could shorten it but what if I take it out of the rack or sell it?
If I'm carrying it without a rack: I have that stupid cable flopping around. If the amp had cable management on the back so I could just wrap it around it would be fine, but they don't. So annoying...

Detachable cord all the way. I've never once forgotten the power cable. Even if I did I carry multiple cables just in case.

If you work in an office environment, go and ask your IT guy for a few extra IEC cables. They'll have a giant box FULL of them.

 

[2.6kHz]

I'll bet that none of them have UL or CSA approval in North America for their products.

No, they don't. And it's scary stuff. Look at the power levels a diy kit can do these days, I've seen some real horror show attempts that people have made building these things.

Also look at most pedal makers ignoring FCC regs. The feds are cracking down now, so they better wise up pretty quick. The little builders are going to get wiped out by fines if they don't do their due diligence.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

In the commercial photography industry, removable power cords for lighting gear have been around since I started, many, many decades ago.

I always wondered why amps didn't have them, and am glad things are now more standardized.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I'll bet that none of them have UL or CSA approval in North America for their products.

That's probably more of a insurance concern for small builders. People always have, and always will be making or re-wiring even simple things like lamps and selling them at flea markets. I think the only item that has a blanket 'not allowed to sell even at rummage sales' law is older cribs with wide rail slat spacing.

But if one wants liability insurance for their business; whether it is a hobby business, or business for profit or loss; anything plugging into the mains will need to comply with current regs, or they won't be able to get the insurance. So if there ever is an injury or lawsuit, the crafter of the device will be personally liable. So be careful who you buy from.

 

[Spectrum]

For what they cost, fancy schmancy detachable power cables must sound better.

Who wouldn't want to be the first on your block to own one of these: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Invalid Link Removed

OMG that is hilarious. I'm obviously in the wrong line of work!

 

[Big Hoss]

I honestly prefer the IEC socket cord arrangement for a myraid of reasons.

#1. Easy as pie to find a replacement.
#2. Need a longer cord? Super easy to get.
#3. Eliminates the potential tripping hazard of an attached power cord.
#4. Allows one product to be manufactured and distributed for multiple markets without expensive and time consuming retooling / multiple product lines. Just design your product with a power supply that handles the various power inputs, and toss the right cord for the given region into the box and ship it off...

Your concern about forgetting the power cord is while valid, I would be embarassed to admit if I did forget something as important as a power cord, just like folks rarely if ever complain about forgetting the instrument cable, or say the speaker cable between head and cab...

You really ought to have spares in your gig bag anyway.

Those that read my posts know I somewhat recently went from a Crate BX-100 combo (now in the youth / teen ministry area at my church) to a Fender Rumble V3 500 combo. The Crate had an attached power cord, the Fender, uses an IEC socket / removable cord.

The biggest issue I had with the crate was portability. Weight being the biggest factor, but that stupid attached cord being the second biggest. The Rumble's detachable cord means I can remove that thing, toss it in my gig bag, and haul the amp without worrying about stepping on it, or rolling over it with hand truck wheels. No matter how I had that dumb attached cord wrapped up, it never failed, it always was in the way when moving that amp!

 

[Slevage]

i'm with the 'if you can remember your instrument cable, you can remember your power cord' crowd.

Also, If you can't remember the power cable, what else will you forget? Played with a drummer who forgot his ---seat, hi hat, sticks.......

Guitards..... no extra strings, 0 picks

 

[Slevage]

That's probably more of a insurance concern for small builders. People always have, and always will be making or re-wiring even simple things like lamps and selling them at flea markets. I think the only item that has a blanket 'not allowed to sell even at rummage sales' law is older cribs with wide rail slat spacing.

But if one wants liability insurance for their business; whether it is a hobby business, or business for profit or loss; anything plugging into the mains will need to comply with current regs, or they won't be able to get the insurance. So if there ever is an injury or lawsuit, the crafter of the device will be personally liable. So be careful who you buy from.

If you're going to make consumer goods, you'll need some type of cert---- UL, CSA, CE........ ; in order to get distribution and product liability insurance.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

If you're going to make consumer goods, you'll need some type of cert---- UL, CSA, CE........ ; in order to get distribution and product liability insurance.

Well established retailers with a buying department requires that, but in the real world, there are thousands of stores that sell whatever the artisan or craftsman brings in. And virtual places like Ebay, Etsy, CL, FB, are still the wild west.

 

[will33]

My only real beef with them is that the ones that come with amps are barely long enough to reach the floor let alone make it to a wall outlet somewhere.

These things can't cost much buying in bulk by the thousands so would it just kill them to include a 10 or 12 footer? I don't think so.

I always end up cannibalizing longer ones off of old copy machines or something to use with my gear. Have enough short ones here I could outfit a whole band, and enough left after that if I stripped them all and sold the copper I could probably buy another amp, or at least a nice pedal.

 

[Sid Fang]

Wow, I am amazed at all the love for removable cords.

-- Travel: how many of you regularly use your amp in different countries? Be honest!

I've moved a couple of times with my gear between the US and Europe, and, yeah, me, definitely.

-- When cords were attached, amps had ways to store them. With detachable cords, eh, where does it go? If the amp is in a rack or transported in a gig bag, great, but my GK combo drives me nuts because there is no place to store the cord because the cover has no pockets. That's why they are so easy to lose IMHO.

First of all, I wonder what world you live in where amps with integral cords all have storage facilities for them, 'cos that's not how I remember the Fenders and Rolands and smaller Ampegs in my universe being. Secondly, do you insist on having a built-in instrument cord on your amp, 'cos there's no place to stow one? Or is this for a future - "I won't buy a bass that doesn't come with a case with a big enough accessory pocket for all my cables and effects" thread?

-- The replies that forgetting your cord means you are disorganized is silly, it wouldn't be a problem if the cord was attached. Carrying some spares just in case you forget the cord...c'mon this is just a rationalization.

No. It's professionalism. If you can only function if everything you need is attached to your amp for transport, you're not going to be able to cope with a LOT of potential gigs.

-- The statement that if someone trips on the cord, it will unplug from the amp only holds when the amp is an SVT. An IEC plug is not that easy to dislodge and a lightweight amp is going flying whether the cord is attached or not.

Yeah, you'd have to be pretty lucky, or have a pretty worn-out IEC socket to be saved by it.

-- I still recall the gig where the drummer brought his JBL Eon setup for PA. He brought the mixer and four powered cabs and no power cords. The singer had to run a bullet mike (because it was the only mike we had with a 1/4" plug) though a guitar amp all night. That sealed the issue for me.

OK, so, because on ONE GIG, a drummer - THE ONE MEMBER OF A ROCK BAND WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ELECTRICITY ON EVERY GIG - forgot his power cables, we should all be condemned to all the disadvantages of integral cables that have been enumerated on this thread????