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Rack Case Power Cords

#5
I thought about chopping cords too until a guy at a local electronics supply house told me that doing so can restrict current as much as smaller gauge cables. He wasn't some kid either and, in fact, he owned the store. The 1 1/2 foot 14 gauge cables were $4.50 each plus shipping.
 
#6
Interesting, do you mean just cutting the wires and twisting the ends together? Otherwise I don't see how soldering a shorter cord to the board can restrict current.

r379 said:
I thought about chopping cords too until a guy at a local electronics supply house told me that doing so can restrict current as much as smaller gauge cables. He wasn't some kid either and, in fact, he owned the store.
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#7
It was the plug that he was talking about. He was of the opinion that the molded plugs were better at carrying current than the aftermarket plugs. He might have talked me into buying 16 gauge cords (which he had) and shortening them but chose to tell me what he thought would be the best choice for what I wanted.
 
#9
r379 said:
It was the plug that he was talking about. He was of the opinion that the molded plugs were better at carrying current than the aftermarket plugs. He might have talked me into buying 16 gauge cords (which he had) and shortening them but chose to tell me what he thought would be the best choice for what I wanted.
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He doesnt have to be young and telling the truth to make a sales pitch. If you do the cables right, there wont be any problem.

The only difference with molded plugs is they are molded together!
 
#10
i_got_a_mohawk said:
He doesnt have to be young and telling the truth to make a sales pitch. If you do the cables right, there wont be any problem.

The only difference with molded plugs is they are molded together!
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I have no idea what your first sentence has to do with anything I posted. I dont supose I'd disagree with the second sentence but with a molded cable I don't think I'll have to worry about connections coming loose at an inopportune time. The last sentence is beyond obvious.

I was trying to be helpful to some of our members but it looks like the info fell on unappreciative ears.
 
#11
I apologise, it was a bit late on a friday night. I maybe misread your post a bit. It seemed like he was trying to flog you pre-made cables instead of just cord and connectors on the premise that the premade ones would be better. Which sounds very sales-pitchy to me as they will both be the same, just the seperates would have been cheaper :p

I dont use a molded cable and i dont have to worry about it coming apart. Ive worked in an electronics shop and the engineers there were very knowledgable and used the seperate components route most of the time because it was cheaper and just as good as the pre-made molded cables.

Its not that the information fell on unappreciative ears, its just that i disagree with what was stated about the molded vs un-molded current capabilities.
 
#12
I also disagree with the assertion that molded plugs are better than mechanical. In fact, pretty much every mechanical plug I've ever seen has had more robust connection area than the molded plugs. I'll take clamped metal-to-metal contact over melted plastic any day.

After more than 20 years of heavy gigging I've never had a mechanical plug end connection come apart.
 
#13
You are, of course, welcome to use whatever you see fit and so am I. I live in a small one-bedroom apartment and have no work space to speak of and don't solder (I like soldered connections) anyway. I'd rather buy the cables ready-made and be done with it. This is the easiet way for me to deal with the problem. There may be others who feel the same way and it was for them that I wrote my original post.
 
#14
r379 said:
I thought about chopping cords too until a guy at a local electronics supply house told me that doing so can restrict current as much as smaller gauge cables. He wasn't some kid either and, in fact, he owned the store. The 1 1/2 foot 14 gauge cables were $4.50 each plus shipping.
Click to expand...

Anyone that would say that doesn't understand electricity. A shorter cable of the same wire gauge will have less voltage drop than a longer one, so it would techincally restrict current less.

Anyway, the only piece of rack gear that draws substantial amounts of current causing you to be concerned about conductor size (not counting the power conditioner/strip) is the power amp...

I wouldn't fear replacement plugs (as long as they're UL Listed). You plug them in your power strip and never unplug them...they'll be fine.

When I was assembling my PA racks, I bought some IEC configuration plugs from Mouser Electronics so I could get two cables out of one...
 
#15
BillyB_from_LZ said:
Anyone that would say that doesn't understand electricity. A shorter cable of the same wire gauge will have less voltage drop than a longer one, so it would techincally restrict current less.

I wouldn't fear replacement plugs (as long as they're UL Listed). You plug them in your power strip and never unplug them...they'll be fine.
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+1

Also, its a good idea not to run any ole extension cord from the power strip to the wall socket. Its best to plug the power strip into the wall socket, or, get the appropriate guage cord to match the distance between your strip and wall socket.
 

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