anyone ever tried these $0.88 snap-in or lockable DC jacks from Mouser?

[Derringer]

163-1060-EX snap in ? $0.88

163-1000-EX lockable? $0.88


success or fail?

If no one knows, I'll order one each with my next order and report back.

[Mark Hammer]

I asked Steve Daniels (Small Bear) about finding something like that, on behalf of someone else.  His gracious search came up with this particular model and he sent me a sample.  Fan-freaking-tastic, I must say.  As secure a connection as one could ever want.  Note that the jack accommodate ALL plugs of the same pin diameter, whether locking or not, so installing one in a pedal simply means the option to use a locking plug if you have one.  Conversely, the locking plug can still fit in a conventional non-locking jack.  You can make the pedals with the locking jack, and convert any power cables you have to locking plug at your leisure.

The caveats are that inserting a locking plug into a non-locking jack results in LESS plug shaft being inserted (hence some risk of it being easily yanked loose), and that the locking plug-jack combo is so solid that if you trip on the wallwart cable that leads up tot he plug, your real concern is not the plug coming out but the cable being torn asunder or the pedal or pedalboard being moved.

[smallbearelec]

To make best use of that jack, you need the locking plug that mates with it, p/n 171-0721-EX, and they are a little pricey. If enough people like these, I can stock them.

[head_spaz]

I use them exclusively. No complaints.

Kobiconn DC Power Connectors - Locking Style
Mouser part numbers
2.1 mm Jack 163-1000-EX (0.5 Amp rating (12V)
use with Plug 171-0721-EX, (brass)
or cheaper version 171-0722-E (phosphor bronze)

2.5 mm Jack 163-1100-EX (1 Amp rating (12V)
use with Plug 171-0725-EX, (brass connector)
or cheaper version 171-0726-E (phosphor bronze connector)

[Processaurus]

and that the locking plug-jack combo is so solid that if you trip on the wallwart cable that leads up tot he plug, your real concern is not the plug coming out but the cable being torn asunder or the pedal or pedalboard being moved.

Anything bulletproof and industrial strength is reassuring and generally desirable when it comes to music equipment you want to depend on, and looks good on paper, but are 2.1mm DC power cables coming unplugged a common problem? I can't think of a single time as a pedal using musician that it has.  They are in there pretty good (better than 1/8 phono plugs or EH's weird blade plugs for their tube pedals, which have both often come unplugged on me and caused confusion), and any accident that has enough force to pull them out would be close to enough force often to  mess things up if it were locked to the pedal, like ruining the DC cable (probably where it is soldered to the plug), or ripping things off your pedalboard.  In that case it would save the day if it mercifully came unplugged.  Locking connectors could well cause more problems, in practice, than they would solve, by shifting the trauma to other parts of pedal systems.

Some new-ish video game controllers go the other way, by having a magnet coupling thing in the cord so if someone trips over it, it comes undone instead of pulling the console off the shelf along with all the cords hooked up to the TV.  I think I've seen laptops with similar magnetic power cord connections, so when someone trips on it, it doesn't pull the computer off the table.  Whew.  Deep fat fryers have the magnetic ac cord.  Not that we need magnetic connectors, just that connectors staying connected at all costs is often a bad idea...

[Mark Hammer]

I think these are all cogent considerations.  I suspect for some players, the thing they maybe sometimes want of a power plug is something akin to that same reassuring "click" that comes with a stompswitch but doesn't come with a momentary, no matter how many ways a momentary (and accompanying circuitry) might compare favourably or even be superior.

[audioguy]

I like the thought of the non-locking snap in versions.

[roknjohn]

I've used them in situations where the power supply must be isolated from the chassis. Mostly when dealing with AC supplies. I haven't had any problems with them yet.
I specifically used the 2.5mm version, I believe the part number is 163-1061-EX.

Roknjohn