How To Making a strain relief for power cord

[Gary W. Graley]

I use some strong thread when I make my keychains and thought I'd try putting some of that along the start of my power cord for my iphone, so the area just before the connector is less prone to bending and can help prevent damage to those fine wires that are connected at that point. It would also be good for the android cables to I would imagine.

I use what is called a whipping knot, basically make a loop, then wrap the thread tightly around until you reach the end.
Then I pull on the one part of the exposed loop so it cinches up the start of the wrap, making it quite tight there.
Then I slip the one end through the loop and pull the loop down and under the wrap. Take a small pair of scissors to trim off the end and pull the end beneath the wrap.
Then trim off the part at the start of the wrap and you're done.

Here are some images to help;

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

I have also seen where people have used some heavy shrink tubing to accomplish the same thing, but, I don't have any of that stuff, now this doesn't stop someone from bending it 90 degrees but it will help keep the end straighter when charging and you are handling the device at the same time.

G2

 

[22-rimfire]

Very neat job. I like the concept.

 

[Midget]

I had done this several times using the heat-shrink method but this ^ is MUCH cleaner and aesthetically pleasing, especially over the fabric jacketed cable. Well done!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks, and while it's not 'fool proof' as you know fools can be pretty clever it does provide a modicum of strain relief to the end. The cable mfg could have provided something more but then...they'd not have to sell you another cable later on.

Key to this is doing the cinch pull after you have tightly wrapped up to the base of the connector, pull the one end so it really snugs up the start of the wrap tight and then wrap a few more and slip the end through the loop and pull it beneath the wrap.

It's part of the tutorial I made a while back on paracord lanyards seen in this thread

G2

 

[eveled]

Great idea. I use the same knot to replace eyes on fishing poles. I use Squid line. Which is a braided nylon fishing line used a lot for ice fishing. After the knots are set I paint them with clear nail polish.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I thought I had seen it used on those

I think I might re-tie it using some sliced bamboo
G2

 

[Phydeaux]

That's a great idea using some bamboo to give some rigidity. A piece of small cable tie might work too.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Exactly, anything to prevent stressing the fine wires at the connection point
G2