Looking for a strain relief bushing for smaller diameter cables

[disorder]

I'm after a strain relief bushing similar to this... but for smaller diameter cables like 2-4mm small. I'm basically wanting to run a usb cable into a pedal enclosure and pinch it secure right where it enters the enclosure. Does this exist? I put in some time in on Mouser and only found strain relief for power cables. I did find nice "finishing" bushings with a diameter about the size I want but they don't provide any securing strain relief, they just help finish off rough edges of a drilled hole in the panel.

[davent]

Would an underwriters knot prevent the cord from pulling through a rubber grommet set in the side of an enclosure, giving you the strain relief?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpdTG1-YJpM

dave

[disorder]

Yeah that's a solid option. I will likely head in that direction if nothing comes up. Wouldn't be an underwriter's knot though since it will be a usb cable, likely just a single knot in the usb cable inside the enclosure.

[Jdansti]

A cable tie (zip tie) on each side of the enclosure works too.

[tubegeek]

You can strip some of the insulation off of a thicker cable like a mic cable and make a grommet out of that for thinner cable in a pinch.
(Pinch - get it? Yuk, yuk!)

[PRR]

Dead or strange-voltage wall-warts will often yield a perfect cable entry.

Another approach is to say that the cable WILL be abused, so should be replaceable (just like your guitar cord). This leads to a USB connector in the case.

[blackieNYC]

Those power cord strain relief things really need a D hole so they don't spin, and a special pair of pliers, without which there will be a damaged chassis, damaged thumb, and a loud swarm of the most profane and obscene curses.  If I recall correctly...

[Kipper4]

http://www.plasticwashersonline.com/rubber-strain-relief-bush/strain-relief-rubber-4-0mm-hole.html

What about something like this ?

[disorder]

Kipper - what you suggested seems like it would work great. It looks like if you drill the panel hole small enough then the bushing will pinch the cable.

PRR - I like the dead wallwart salvage idea. I'll see what my grave yard has in it when I get home.

[Kipper4]

It looks like if you drill the panel hole small enough then the bushing will pinch the cable

or push the bushing through the hole. Apply super glue to inside to trap the cable on the inside. probably best at the inside of the bushing at the thick end.

and or add super glue to the narrow outer ring so it adheres to the box.

just for extra security tie a knot on the cable inside the box or use a cable tie as suggested before.

[PRR]

> bushing will pinch the cable.

As you cut-up wall-warts, you will find that many of them just use an overhand knot behind the bushing.

I have doubts about super-glue on a flexible bushing. I like Shoe-Goo, a thick "rubber cement" sold for fixing shoes and anywhere else you need a tough flexible adhesive. I have just filled wire-holes with Goo to make an insulating holder/bushing. However a good Shoe-Goo job is VERY hard to un-do. And can be very messy-looking. And stinks until cured.

[disorder]

I'm a big fan of the shoe goo. Growing up poor and skateboarding everyday, my mom would sooner have me huff shoe goo fumes in the garage than buy me new shoes.

I would just use a panel mount USB jack here but good luck finding one that doesn't require a perfect square panel cut out. It would be nice if they made round ones similar to the DC jacks we all use here.

[PRR]

> huff shoe goo fumes

Original-recipe Goo WAS the same stuff that kept the children working in the Guatemalan shoe factories. Thin. Stinky. HIGH solvent content. It probably set off alarms at the California Smog board. Within a year the formula changed to a much thicker stuff, somewhat less huffable.

[greaser_au]

I would just use a panel mount USB jack here but good luck finding one that doesn't require a perfect square panel cut out. It would be nice if they made round ones similar to the DC jacks we all use here.

How about these (these things look like the plastic DC jacks)?  Yes,  I know the prices are crazy in the scheme of things, but for a one off project... 

http://ca.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Bulgin/PX0446     internal mount, outside nut ('rear panel')
http://ca.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Bulgin/PX0443/    external mount, inside nut ('front panel')
Mating cables (in various lengths) with sealing/locking ring are available e.g. PX0441 (or just use a standard cable)

david

[Vitrolin]

Cable glands would be what you're looking for
http://uk.farnell.com/cable-glands

the small rubber things are grommets
http://uk.farnell.com/grommets

[Mark Hammer]

https://sugru.com/

I used some of this to extend the life of my earphones.  Provides exceptional strain relief where the thin cable meets the plug.  Neat stuff.  Learned about it at a hackerspace presentation.

[Hatredman]

+1 for sugru. The thing is magic.