Twistlock vs. the rest

[saabman]

I have long been a fan of Twistlock electrical plugs and recepticles. They offer a very robust connection that will not "pull out". In my garage I have standardized on Twistlock for all my high voltage/current portable equipment.

- Welders (220v)
- Dyno (220v and 110v)
- Lift (220v)
- Utility (110v)

(Dyno and Lift are not really portable but the Twistlock is my fail safe disconnect for each)

I recently got a new Hobart 210 Mig Welder. The photo below shows the factory cord on the left, and the replacement Twistlock on the right.

10/3 SO rubber/neoprene is a bit more flexible than molded plastic SOJ type cables too.

Chris

 

[tdkkart]

A friend of mine got tired of people constantly wanting to borrow his tools so he replaced all his plugs and receptacles in his shop with twist locks. Now people are too lazy to swap the plugs so they borrow other people's tools.

 

[Falcon67]

I like the twist stuff also - but dad gum that stuff has gotten expensive. In a previous shop, I had a few twist lock drops from the ceiling in common work areas, which I liked better than trailing cords across the floor or benches.

 

[Costner]

I cut off twist lock cords from servers, UPSs, and power supplies from the stuff headed to the trash where I work so I can take them home and use them if needed. I have a good stockpile of heavy cords some with twistlocks and some without, but I'll admit I've never used any of them since I don't have any 220V equipment in my shop.

It is just the part of me that can't stand to see something tossed in the trash if I feel it has some future use.

 

[Zrexxer]

Of course you're free to do what you feel is best with your tools... for myself, though, I think it's a solution without a problem.

I've used welders with NEMA 6-50P plugs on them for 30+ years and never... not once... ever... had one pull out of the receptacle. Plus changing them to something nonstandard limits your usability with other locations/power sources, which as tdkkart mentions might be a plus after all

 

[Mattlt]

Never hurts to have a few adapters / whips made up just in case. A good example would be a male "normal" plug connected to a female locking receptacle/connector, just in case you need to take that welder, compressor, whatever to your neighbors/mother-in-laws/etc.

Our fire trucks with onboard generators have L5-20 receptacles on them. we then need to use whips/adapters to connect non-locking cords to them.

 

[saabman]

I have collection of just those kind of adapters. Most used is a 100 ft 10/3 extension with twistlocks. I often mate it with an adapter that features twistlock pigtail and double gang box of 20 amp standard outlets.

Chris

 

[Aceman]

The only time we use twistlocks is for cord and plugged lights hanging from a ceiling.

If regular cord ends for your portable equipment constantly pull out of the recep, then it's time for a new recep! When receps are new, it takes a bit of force to plug/unplug. Changing everything over to twistlock just sounds like a major PIA. Then you need adapters too. Like said above, it's sounds like a solution without a problem.

 

[79firebird]

ive changed a fue plugs to twist lock for some people what i have also done is used the old end and put the outher end on it so if they have to use it lets say at some outher shop they just use the pigtale and can use it. it does stop lots of people from borrowing tools

 

[Falcon67]

None of our servers (now or past) have used a twist lock, not even the smaller RS-6000 units. There are a few 3000VA & 5000 VA UPS units on campus and for sure if one comes out of service I'll be snagging the cord. Our server room uses a 16kVa UPS that's not a plug in LOL. I agree - I scan all outgoing material for useful items.

 

[saabman]

It is extension cords that seem to pull out. How many of us have resorted to using loose knots in the cord (at the junctions) to keep them from pulling apart. Twistlock totally solves this problem.

Jast as useful though, I have air line, power cords, chain restraints, and nylon straps all engaged when testing a car on the dyno. Very easy to trip on a cord and pull it out. Especially when trying to make good time putting cars on and off. The Lift has a ceiling feed (no twistlock in the ceiling), rather it is a emergency disconnect close to the motor/pump assembly.

I am not suggesting Twistlock if for everybody, but is serves my context of use to a T.

Chris

 

[mrb]

I do alot of temporary power, and use twistlocks for that. Keeps stuff from coming apart and keeps people from using cables or trying to plug stuff in where they shouldnt.

 

[river1]

i use twistlocks on my welder and plasma. they both have the capability to use different input voltages. i use leads with different plugs on them so i can use the tools at different friends house without any problem. my plasma is either 110 or 220 while my welder is either 110, 220, or 3 phase or anything in between. makes it quite handy to have the different leads.

later jim

 

[scooby074]

I remember seeing a locking 120v receptacle at an industrial supply once. It looked like the typical 5-15 female coupler but it had a lock that you had to slide back like a air coupler to disengage.

THis would work with all your tools without changing male ends. They had a sample and it was pretty impressive.

I cant remember the brand now I know it wasnt one of the majors. wish i bought one.

 

[Jeepskate]

I cut off twist lock cords from servers, UPSs, and power supplies from the stuff headed to the trash where I work so I can take them home and use them if needed. I have a good stockpile of heavy cords some with twistlocks and some without, but I'll admit I've never used any of them since I don't have any 220V equipment in my shop.

It is just the part of me that can't stand to see something tossed in the trash if I feel it has some future use.

Hmmm...just got several skids of UPSs & servers in yesterday...thinking maybe I should head over to the shredder and do a little pruning. I hope by 'headed to the trash' you mean headed to the e-recycler (can you guess where I work?)

 

[mrb]

Hmmm...just got several skids of UPSs & servers in yesterday...thinking maybe I should head over to the shredder and do a little pruning. I hope by 'headed to the trash' you mean headed to the e-recycler (can you guess where I work?)

UPSs...shredder? Can i have a pallet of UPSs?

 

[Jeepskate]

UPSs...shredder? Can i have a pallet of UPSs?

You'd cry if you saw the stuff that goes through the shredder and gets sold off for pennies a pound. I try to save what I think I can use...you can imagine the sorts of goodies I have around my house. Unfortunately, the contract with the company that we get most of the stuff from forbids selling whole units.

 

[Costner]

Hmmm...just got several skids of UPSs & servers in yesterday...thinking maybe I should head over to the shredder and do a little pruning. I hope by 'headed to the trash' you mean headed to the e-recycler (can you guess where I work?)

Actually yes - everything we get rid of goes to one of three approved agencies for recycling.

But they never get any power cords from us! If the wire is 12 guage or lower (larger) I cut them off before it goes out the door.

 

[Metal-Marc]

I cut off twist lock cords from servers, UPSs, and power supplies from the stuff headed to the trash where I work so I can take them home and use them if needed. I have a good stockpile of heavy cords some with twistlocks and some without, but I'll admit I've never used any of them since I don't have any 220V equipment in my shop.

It is just the part of me that can't stand to see something tossed in the trash if I feel it has some future use.

Same here.

Of course my basement is now full of junk.

 

[Doozer75]

"A friend of mine got tired of people constantly wanting to borrow his tools so he replaced all his plugs and receptacles in his shop with twist locks. Now people are too lazy to swap the plugs so they borrow other people's tools."

It seems your friend has trouble telling people NO, and he changed the plugs to make up for it?
Seems wacky to me. Seems pretty far to go out of one's way to avoid conflict.
I tell my friends NO all the time. We are all still friends.
If friends get mad when being told NO they can't borrow a tool, are they really friends worth having?
Everyone has their own "thing" I guess. Just seemed odd to me.

--Doozer