Locking barrel plugs/jacks

[Mark Hammer]

I was discussing power jacks with a respected (but nameless) pedal-maker, and he expressed concern over the solidness of contact of the popular 2.1mm barrel jacks and plugs.  He felt the "click" of a 1/8" phone jack gave him the security he felt was required for professional use.  I pondered over the possibility that there might be a better barrel-style component out there than we were commonly used to, and contacted the ever-considerate and pragmatically open-minded Steve Daniels.  I described several possibilities to him for a more secure barrel connection, including tighter toleranced jacks and plugs, partially rubberized inner coatings on the jack for more grip, or perhaps some sort of locking mechanism.  Steve promised he'd look into it, and true to his word he did, and sent me samples (via Mouser) that I received yesterday.

Hoochie MAMA!!  Kobiconn makes a locking 2.1mm jack and plug  ( http://www.mouser.com/catalog/specsheets/KC-300840.pdf ).  They cost a little more ($1@ in lots of 500  ), but I'd say your control knobs will come off before this sucker falls out or gets bumped or jerked out of the socket.  The jack looks very much like the wide-diameter plastic chassis type many of us use, with the offset hole.  Where it differs, is the presence of some extra "ears" cut out at the side of the opening.  The companion plug also looks normal, but has two little pins or spurs sticking out to the side, about 80% of the way from the very tip to the point where the shaft  lines up with the plastic cover over the solder lugs.  Insert the plug with the little spurs/pins lined up with the added openings on the jack, give 'er a half twist, and she's solid.  More solid, indeed than any power connector you are accustomed to, and very much like a BNC connector in that respect.

What's also nice is that: a) "normal" 2.1mm plugs can work perfectly naturally with the jack (though without the insurance), and b) the locking plug can work reasonably well with a conventional (nonlocking) 2.1mm jack, although you can't insert it to the full depth afforded to plugs that don't have the little spurs sticking out..

Now, I realize there are plenty of folks whose power-source connections are no cause for concern to them, simply because the connecting cables and the pedals they go to are firmly secured to a pedalboard.  On the other hand, there are still plenty of players who rig consists of maybe a couple of pedals on the floor that can get kicked around.  So, while these plugs and jacks may not revolutionize the industry overnight, I can see where for some people they would provide a degree of power security hitherto unknown by them.

Any interest out there?  Or is this a solution to a problem that really doesn't exist?

[snoof]

On Sound Devices MP-2 pre-amp, they used these jacks and plugs...

http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/item_44-243_2001136.aspx

Awesome reliability, pretty much bulletproof!  I liked the feel of this type of jack/plug.  You def don't want to loose power in the middle of a recording.  It did add some length to plug/jack though...  I have no idea what the US prices would be.

[BDuguay]

Interested party here.
To me, the power plug is the weakest link in pedalboards. When you consider all of your 1/4" plugs are solid with metal backshells and they plug into (mostly) metal, chassis mounted jacks and the lowly, mostly plastic, power jacks are left to fend for themselves. A locking power plug is certainly a step in the right direction.
Count me in if you're counting people in....
B.

[Roobin]

The screw-type locking ones look really good...the only problem is that they are metal and thus connect to the box. This obviously causes some problems since a negative ground box doesn't like the positive in contact with it. This is one problem with negative tips...grrr. I would use the locking ones and make my plugs tip positive, but that would divide my effects into DIY (tip +ve) and bought (tip -ve). I'd rather not have lots of different jacks, which could easily lead to confusion and damaging effects.

[Mark Hammer]

The sample I received has a plastic chassis so there is no issue with grounding to the chassis.  I suspect this may be a little different than what the catalogue shows.  You can use it for positive OR negative ground.

[Roobin]

Cool, but unfortunately I can't find them in the UK. 

Not to detract or anything, but does anyone find the same thing happening with 6.35mm jacks? Like stepping on the cable, moving and then Bzz BZZZT. I found a solution (using the Planet Waves cable tie), but surely locking sockets would be a better option? They exist, so why not use them?