14 Aug 2003, 20:08, Roy J. Tellason (1:270/615), wrote to Matt Mc_Carthy:

Hi Roy.

 MMC>> Power connectors are even worse, 

 RJT> That's been my experience here,  too.

 MMC>> as the plastic of the amphenopl connector has four little 
 MMC>> 'notches' to make the plastic plug fit tight, but leaves you 
 MMC>> with no indication whatever as to the tension of the electrical 
 MMC>> pins.  I usually slice off those plastic 'bumps' with an exacto 
 MMC>> knife so I can feel the tightness of the _pins_ themselves.

 RJT> Eh?  What are you referring to here?

Look at the flat sides of a female power 'plug'.  Near the leading edge you
will see two rectangular 'dimples' on each flat side.  Look inside the male
socket, you will see two rectangular 'bumps' on the sides of the socket
near the bottom that match those on the plug.

Take the pins completely out of a female plug and plug that empty shell
onto a drive, it _still_ fits tight and 'snaps' into place. 

Makes you _think_ you have a good connection even when there are no pins in
it at all!  That 'snap' arrangement _should_ be part of the pins
themselves, _not_ part of the socket shell.


     Good luck...  M.

--- Msged/386 TE 06 (pre)