Looking for ideas for in-line easy disconnect connector

[MarkL]

How about Neutrik "powerCON TRUE1 TOP" connectors?  They have AC power male and female in-line twist-lock models, and are positive locking with a thumb release:

  https://www.neutrik.us/en-us/product/nac3fx-w-top
  https://www.neutrik.us/en-us/product/nac3mx-w-top

I think you are missing the point of this thread.

Ah, I see.  Sorry for raising the noise floor.

[Terry Bites]

The strain relief on the Lidl item needs to be stronger than the connector.
If not you'll rip the (hot) live wires out of the heater pad. Add some extra protection maybe?
see.... www.blessthisstuff.com/stuff/technology/misc-gadgets/tug-magnetic-breakaway-plug/ hmmm....I dunno.

The product types you want to have a look at are called "breakaway connectors". Do a visual search on gurgle.
Very popular in the medical devices, field ITM, aerospace and the caravanning community (allegedly) . Not generally cheap but I'm sure Ali has some counterfeits on offer.

I have used multipole XLRs with the latches taken out, you could remove the latches from a powercon in the same way.

[soldar]

The strain relief on the Lidl item needs to be stronger than the connector.
If not you'll rip the (hot) live wires out of the heater pad. Add some extra protection maybe?
see.... www.blessthisstuff.com/stuff/technology/misc-gadgets/tug-magnetic-breakaway-plug/ hmmm....I dunno.

The product types you want to have a look at are called "breakaway connectors". Do a visual search on gurgle.
Very popular in the medical devices, field ITM, aerospace and the caravanning community (allegedly) . Not generally cheap but I'm sure Ali has some counterfeits on offer.

I have used multipole XLRs with the latches taken out, you could remove the latches from a powercon in the same way.

Thanks, especially for the technical term "breakaway connector". That helps a lot.

For now I am going to try to modify a C7-C8 as I already have some. We shall see how that goes.

Ah, I see.  Sorry for raising the noise floor.

No problem. It happens to the best of us.

[sparkydog]

You were saying that the product was probably duff because of the shit listing, not because it was on Amazon.

Sort of both. Amazon is full of trash. Also some legit stuff that's from reputable brands... assuming what you get is actually from that brand and not counterfeit. But the listing shenanigans also scream "dodgy seller". I'd feel fine buying a shirt from them, or something else that I'm willing to sacrifice performance for cost because the worst a failure can do is mildly inconvenience and/or annoy me. I'd think twice before buying anything whose failure can burn down my house or kill me.

The .co.uk listing is full of visible HTML tags; also not reassuring. Now, maybe the manufacturer is just incompetent at making listings (although, what does that say about their competence making products?), or maybe the manufacturer isn't who made the listing, in which case, if you were to order from Amazon, who knows if you'll get an actual, branded item? This looks like the sort of thing your local hardware store probably carries, and they're hopefully less likely to have a dodgy product.

[JJ_023]

In my opinion magnetic is the best solution.  I went down this road with a client.  The others will not release the way you want.  I obviously don't know every solution out there that's why I said I would be curious to see what people come up with.  But from all of the suggestions I have seen none of them would release easy enough not to prevent some sort of hazard.

If you think you can build it I would definitely do it.

It is the solution I would like best but making the connector seems to me quite complicated. I have no idea where to begin.

For now I am thinking of just a europlug that enters very loosely and would almost fall out. Put it on the end of a vertical, flexible whip so that gravity will keep it inserted but if pulled the whip will bend and the plug just falls out.

I've already got up from the chair forgetting about the cable several times. I am using a long extension cord but it gets in the way.

I need to keep thinking about this.

I don't know what materials and tools you have at your disposal but it's not that difficult to make.  You can press fit magnets into a bored hole that connect to a spring that then connects to wires that carry the necessary electrical connection.  The spring will give you guaranteed contact.  They sell magnets in different sizes and you can play around with the exact force necessary for breakaway for your application.

As most people on this forum are aware of services that make PCB's there are also companies that will either machine or 3D print whatever you need.  Just design a plug in CAD and outsource the manufacturing if you don't think you can do it in-house. 

[soldar]

I am still thinking about this. I know I have a bunch of C8 extension cords somewhere but, as often happens, they disappear when I need them. I am hoping they will show up sometime so I can do some experimenting.

Also, I have a bunch of 2 Pin Din connectors of the kind that were used for speakers decades ago and they seem to have disappeared from speakers but they are used by Ikea for low voltage supply to lamps. It seems they are called 2 Pin Din or DIN 41529. They are the ones with one flat blade and one round pin. I think they stopped using them because they fell out disconnecting so easily ... which suits my needs perfectly except that they are meant for low voltage and ... what could go wrong?

I am going to think about it and maybe do some testing.