Heavy power cord

elizabeth

The problem with electrical tape' is the garbage adhesive usually used. So the tape sticky part turns all gooey after a few years.

I know what you mean and if that's what happens to you, then you are using the product incorrectly. Electrical tape is meant to be tightly stretched against itself. When used that way, that gooey adhesive fuses with the tape, creating a very tight, sealed connection.

Electrical tape is great for sealing exposed electrical connections. For anything else, it's next to worthless.

elizabeth,

Great suggestion on the teflon tape, I am going to be making use of that.

I stopped using electrical tape for almost anything but temporary fixes years ago. I use self-fusing silicone tape where I would have used electrical tape in the past. It has no glue. When you pull the silicone tight against itself, it self bonds to a point that it is usually easier to cut-off then try to unravel (if at all possible).

To the op, depending on the IC socket, sometimes you can loosen the screws holding it in place and put string around them, tighten the screws, then use the string to hold the plug in place.

Based upon several ideas presented above I have decided that from now on all manufacturers of electronic components and power cord should incorporate a male “tab” on the IEC connection and power cord suppliers should have a corresponding female “tab” that locks on to the “tab” on the IEC. That would solve at least one part of the problem at the connection site. Cable elevators and other suspension devices will still be required by some who have heavy cords and need extra support but at least the cables will stay secured to the equipment. (Computer cables use locking connectors quite frequently). Comments?