Heavy Duty IEC AC Power Cable

[stringtapper]

The power cable that came with my Mesa Walkabout Scout 15” has started to strip at one end, which is a surprise because it’s heavier duty than your run-of-the-mill computer cable. I’ve looked but can’t seem to find anywhere that has actual specs on thickness to know if I’m getting a similar replacement.

Does anyone know a source for getting a heavy duty cable like this?

Thanks!

 

[BassmanPaul]

Home Despot. seems not.

Parts Express
MCM
Computer store

 

[walterw]

i like the colored or otherwise unusual-looking ones, easy to tell when somebody tries to "borrow" it after the show. also cool are the ones with "hospital grade" plugs, they're more durable and reliable.

too many are just thin 18g, even if they have a big fat jacket. i think 16g is plenty big to carry any current you're gonna use for a bass rig, while 14g just makes the cable too stiff and heavy.

just google "5-15P to C13 IEC cable", you'll find them all over the place for cheap. again, i like "awg16" as the wire thickness

i like Invalid Link Removed

 

[lz4005]

The power cable that came with my Mesa Walkabout Scout 15” has started to strip at one end, which is a surprise because it’s heavier duty than your run-of-the-mill computer cable.

Heavy duty often means less flexible, so they can fail sooner than others if you're bending them often.

Remember that you aren't going to benefit from a power cable that's thicker than the wires in the outlet on one end or the internal wiring of your amp on the other.

 

[frankie5string]

D'Addario sells (formerly branded Planet Waves) an IEC cable (US use). Its called the PW-IECB-10. - they have other models for other systems/plug-types. It's uses 12AWG cable and it has a firm, but not stiff, jacket. I like it because it coils nicely, doesn't want to kink and has red-coloured ends - the red ends are very visible on dark stages without having to use lit-ends which I don't really like.

It's not advertised as some magic bullsnot - just a well made power cable.

I bought a couple to swap out a few old ones - one which acquired a kink and the other which has a permanent fold in it from being stepped on edgewise while in a loop.

It comes in one length - 10 feet.
IEC Power Cable | Accessories | D'Addario -

 

[agedhorse]

I recommend a 16 gauge (maximum) power cable, less stress at the IEC inlet and WAY beyond what your amp could ever possibly need. In fact, we have shifted to a lighter weight cable for all of the new bass amps for this reason (and they are less prone to fail at the strain relief too).

18 gauge will also work just fine, plenty of capacity and plenty safe. Virtually all PC type computers use them and I'm sure you have a bunch laying around, but if you don't I bet you have friends with piles of them and they won't cost you anything.

 

[fdeck]

Just look around the laser printer at work. Folks often take old computer equipment away and leave the power cords behind. Or, someone has a few stuffed in a drawer.

 

[stringtapper]

I recommend a 16 gauge (maximum) power cable, less stress at the IEC inlet and WAY beyond what your amp could ever possibly need. In fact, we have shifted to a lighter weight cable for all of the new bass amps for this reason (and they are less prone to fail at the strain relief too).

18 gauge will also work just fine, plenty of capacity and plenty safe. Virtually all PC type computers use them and I'm sure you have a bunch laying around, but if you don't I bet you have friends with piles of them and they won't cost you anything.

Good to hear from someone at Mesa. I do have a friend with a pile of IEC cables and that friend is me lol. I’ve just never had another one that was that heavy of a gauge and I don’t know enough about electricity to know whether it matters. So it’s good to hear yours and others’ thoughts about it. Thank you.

 

[walterw]

D'Addario sells (formerly branded Planet Waves) an IEC cable (US use). Its called the PW-IECB-10. - they have other models for other systems/plug-types. It's uses 12AWG cable and it has a firm, but not stiff, jacket. I like it because it coils nicely, doesn't want to kink and has red-coloured ends - the red ends are very visible on dark stages without having to use lit-ends which I don't really like.

if you want a cable that's way too thick a gauge for what anybody needs and has cool colors, you can get 'em a lot cheaper than $30!

computer cables

apparently fun-colored 14g IEC cables are common for computer servers, i guess so they can tell which cable goes where in the back of a big server rack

 

[Jim C]

i like the colored or otherwise unusual-looking ones, easy to tell when somebody tries to "borrow" it after the show. also cool are the ones with "hospital grade" plugs, they're more durable and reliable.

too many are just thin 18g, even if they have a big fat jacket. i think 16g is plenty big to carry any current you're gonna use for a bass rig, while 14g just makes the cable too stiff and heavy.

just google "5-15P to C13 IEC cable", you'll find them all over the place for cheap. again, i like "awg16" as the wire thickness

i like Invalid Link Removed

View attachment 3718755

These eBay hospital grade cords are decent for the money.
Bake them in the oven at about 120 degrees F; I heat up the oven, check the temp with gun, and put the cable in for 20 minutes. I let it cool and then repeat twice. They really stay a little more pliable.
I've spent hours looking for a rubber IEC cable that isn't stiff other than the one I have from a ancient HP Spectrum Analyzer.

 

[agedhorse]

Good to hear from someone at Mesa. I do have a friend with a pile of IEC cables and that friend is me lol. I’ve just never had another one that was that heavy of a gauge and I don’t know enough about electricity to know whether it matters. So it’s good to hear yours and others’ thoughts about it. Thank you.

We found that they were actually too heavy for many of our applications and the stiffness was a substantial negative. Most of our newer products (specifically bass products) ship with a lighter, more flexible line cord for this reason. A few TB members got Subway amps with the heavy cord by accident and I received some justified complaints.

 

[40Hz]

apparently fun-colored 14g IEC cables are common for computer servers, i guess so they can tell which cable goes where in the back of a big server rack

More so you know which cables not to unplug without checking twice. Mistakenly pulling the plug that crashes one of a business's e-commerce servers on a busy sales day is what’s referred to in the IT world as a “job loss opportunity” stunt.

 

[bbh]

Try cablestogo.com

 

[frankie5string]

if you want a cable that's way too thick a gauge for what anybody needs and has cool colors, you can get 'em a lot cheaper than $30!

computer cables

apparently fun-colored 14g IEC cables are common for computer servers, i guess so they can tell which cable goes where in the back of a big server rack

View attachment 3718904

The OP did ask for "Heavy Duty"...

Yeah, I didn't pay $30 for mine. I got mine on sale - which is why I bought a few. I don't like the completely coloured cables - just coloured ends. I know if I brought a bright red power cable run for a show, at least a few people in the production would have an issue with it because it would stand out on stage. Having coloured ends is good enough for me.

All of my PA gear has 12 AWG cables so for me it wasn't a big deal. They certainly don't cause any damage to the device they're plugged into. My speaker cables are all 12AWG, too. But I wouldn't use one of the big power cables on my TE-Elf amp - it would likely cause the amp to tip upwards. It actually came with a reasonably supple power cable, anyway.

My TC RH750 power cable was the worse. That power cable came with a permanent kink and the jacket felt like it was all dried out and vulcanized. It eventually developed an intermittent connection so into the garbage it went.

 

[frankie5string]

More so you know which cables not to unplug without checking twice. Mistakenly pulling the plug that crashes one of a business's e-commerce servers on a busy sales day is what’s referred to in the IT world as a “job loss opportunity” stunt.

Like backing into a master breaker in a broadcast transmitter? ;-)
"Just switch it on, pick up your tools and drive home. Don't even bother coming back to work."

 

[Frank77]

Digikey.

 

[40Hz]

Like backing into a master breaker in a broadcast transmitter? ;-)
"Just switch it on, pick up your tools and drive home. Don't even bother coming back to work."

Yep. Many ways to tender your resignation in the tech world. Losing someone revenue by screwing up big time is one of them.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

Yep. Many ways to tender your resignation in the tech world. Losing someone revenue by screwing up big time is one of them.

We call it a CLM... career limiting move...
Fishheadjoe

 

[MultiScaleMale]

More so you know which cables not to unplug without checking twice. Mistakenly pulling the plug that crashes one of a business's e-commerce servers on a busy sales day is what’s referred to in the IT world as a “job loss opportunity” stunt.

There shouldn't be one plug that crashes the servers.

 

[2tonic]

......Remember that you aren't going to benefit from a power cable that's thicker than the wires in the outlet on one end or the internal wiring of your amp on the other.

Agreed.
However, there seems to be an entire industry that prefers to differ.

Audiophile Power Cords-Videophile Accessories

Audio Power Cables

Can't you hear the difference from here?