up vote 6 down vote favorite
1
share [g+] share [fb]

It's always annoyed me that while the sockets for network, serial, parallel and display cables all have securing mechanisms (ie a screw-in bolt, or a clasp) to stop them from being pulled out by jostling, there's nothing similar on power sockets (ie IEC 60320 C13 and C14 connectors). It seems to me that while accidentally knocking out a server's network cable is bad, it's nothing like as bad as accidentally knocking out its power.

Using power distribution units/UPS systems actually increases the risk of this happening because you then have two poorly secured sockets per machine, rather than one.

Is there any reliable, standards-compliant and relatively cheap way of securing C13/C14 connectors? I'm thinking about the sort of thing I can epoxy on the back of the servers that will hold the power cable securely. Are there any manufacturers who build something like this into their chassis?

link|improve this question
Use UK power plugs, or something that has a right angle bend like that C17 on the IEC socket page that you referenced. In the USA, power cords are also available where the cord is at right angles to the plug. In some jurisdictions there may be regulations requiring power connectors to be easy to unplug, i.e. non-locking. – Michael Dillon Oct 23 '09 at 21:50
Michael, depending on locality the use of "foreign" plugs and sockets may be illegal. – John Gardeniers Oct 23 '09 at 22:24
The right-angle C13 plugs don't fit correctly on many servers. They are often blocked by the chassis wall, the power-supply handle, etc. – Stefan Lasiewski Feb 11 '11 at 0:40
I've always been annoyed by this too, even with new enterprisey gear in our new DC the same problem exists. I just assumed it was something of a lowest-common-denominator fire code issue. That is, some fire code somewhere requires that all power cords be easily removable, so manufacturers make all these plugs non-locking. But why twist-lock 30A plugs would be exempt from this is a mystery. – rmalayter Mar 16 '11 at 13:32
feedback

5 Answers

up vote 8 down vote

There is at least one solution - IEC Lock - that I'm aware of. I think it's based on some kind of spring-friction mechanism and fits existing sockets. I haven't personally seen the need to try any locking solutions, so YMMV.

Places selling those can be found e.g. searching with Google. Prices are around 3-4 USD, so I'd say it's relatively cheap.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 3 down vote

Every rack mount server I have purchased in the last 5 years, has came with power cable strain relief clips of some kind. If properly used it would take a lot of force to pull the power cable.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 2 down vote

Enterprise class servers and PDUs have them built-in already! :-)

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

I have used Panduit cable-tie anchors for this sort of thing. They have small "loops" through which you pass a cable tie and are backed with adhesive to stick to the chassis.

I use mostly IBM servers and they have various methods of anchoring the power cable. NetApp filers are the same way, as are Juniper switches and I think routers.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

If I really don't want a plug to be accidentally removed from a power strip, at least the type where you have access all the way around it, I use either one long or two shorter cable ties. Wrap them around the power strip and the upper part of the plug in a figure-8 fashion.

link|improve this answer
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.