White Paper Cord retention schurter.com/downloads On the safe side Cord retention systems are a good means to prevent unintentional removal of the power supply. But how does it work? What are the solutions on the market? And: is there the one, best, most clever solution at all? We are fortunate to live in a country where failures are extremely rare. However, a power cut does not always have to be the fault of the energy suppliers. Sometimes a little slip-up is enough to break the supply. If you are not careful and accidentally pull out the wrong cable, or you get all confused with the cables in a tangled mess - which really should not happen. But when the plug is pulled. There can be some really serious consequences. There are numerous applications where you really cannot afford to have a power disconnect occur. For example, in medical technology. In the operating room. It could be fatal if a life-support machine suddenly stops working. They have been around for a long time Strain relief clips and cord-retention safeguards are by no means a new concept in the world of electronics. For example, in HF measurement and laboratory technology. The manufacturers of such devices usually use small-scale signal appliance couplers mounted on the front, which have a cord-retention safeguard integrated as standard: BNC (Bayonet Neill— Concelman) using a bayonet locking mechanism. An obvious choice since measuring technology is hardly ever possible without a tangle of cables. It often looks just like the jungle at the back of a PC. Countless cables together in an extremely confined area. There had to be a solution. Not everywhere, but in some places. Keyword: Ethernet network cable. Plug-in systems that have already integrated a solution often face the cord retaining problem. The cord-retention safeguard is introduced mechanically in both of the examples shown here. Unfortunately when the power is supplied from the back, this is no longer so straightforward. Why? Couplers are used virtually exclusively on devices in the 1-phase range according to IEC 60320 (IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission). Worldwide. This makes sense, because it ensures the highest compatibility. However, these IEC appliance couplers do not provide a cord restraining or cord-retention safeguard on the appliance coupler itself. Solutions The power cord-retention safeguard is not a new problem. Accordingly, different approaches to solving he problem have been put forward over the years. All of them mechanical. The following is a selection of solutions, which is by no means exhaustive, for IEC couplers. Simple, effective, cord-retention safeguard: Solution with clip or bracket Source: SCHURTER Bracket, bail and clip solutions At first glance, this solution may not appear state-of-the-art , but it fulfills its job - cost-effectively. The cable is screwed to the housing with a wire bail or clip. Please ULSCHURTER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

Cord retention White Paper schurter.com/downloads note it is the cable, not the plug or socket. It is practically impossible to inadvertently pull it out. This solution really makes sense when an installation is rarely relocated and plugged in again. Simple, but not so elegant. Retaining bail The classic: cord-retention safeguard using a retaining bracket, which is mounted on the appliance inlet and pressed over the connector. Simple and effective, if you consider the one and the other point: Because depending on the type of plug and all the different shapes of connectors, the bail with the right...

White Paper Cord retention schurter.com/downloads The so-called Plug Locks are simply put over the IEC coupler. They fill the gap between plug and socket. If both parts are manufactured completely accurately, they may require considerable force to assemble - up to fatigue fracture. If, on the other hand, there is sufficient play, then such inserts are a quick and extremely cost-effective approach for cord-retention safeguard. However, it can again be argued that a truly professional solution should be with a solid, safe and sure. The best solution? Unfortunately, this is not the most well developed...

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