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View SlideshowQ: What’s the best way to keep HDMI Cables from ‘popping out’ and/or from damaging my HDMI Input or cable? - Lew, Portland
A: Arghh! - sorry - just a natural reaction to another HDMI cable popping out. These really are a problem aren’t they? It’s really easy for them to fall out, or worse, move within the socket and damage either the cable or equipment.
While HDMI might offer great visual and audio capabilities you do get the feeling that the connector was designed by an intern on a Saturday morning. Enough with the rant - we just have to live with it.
There are a couple of ways to help with this problem:
Adhesive - Carefully place some Blu-tack above and below the connector. This will help prevent the cable from falling out. If you can get hold of the black version, this is even stickier and better.
Locking Cables - Some cable manufacturers (notably Gefen) make locking HDMI cables. On the rear of most equipment you will find a screw above the HDMI connector. Carefully unscrew this and replace it with the screw attached to the HDMI cable. Of course this restricts the choice of cable you can use and might be expensive if you have to replace all the cables in your system.
Covers - Lindy makes two covers that are designed to work over an existing cable. These are specifically designed to work with Lindy cables, but you may find that it will work with the ones you own. At $14 per pair, it is certainly cheaper than replacing all your cables.
Even with these solutions make sure that you support the cables and ensure there is no strain on them. This can cause problems with picture quality and can damage the equipment.
Click here to view slideshow of locking HDMI cables and accessories.
My point on a locking cable causing more damage than good was directly primarily at the PPC Locking Cable style designs where it’s pretty easy to overlook that there’s a locking mechanism there at all (similar to a lot of older cell-phone charger plugs).
I understand the concern about damaging the components because of the cable being locked, but I think more damage can be done by it not being locked…I’ve heard many stories of HDMI ports being damaged (and/or HDMI Cables) while the HDMI Cable comes unplugged.
If you think back, components have always used locking connectors, from coaxial cables to rcas (not technically a locking connector, but may as well be the way some of them hold the barrel), to professional use BNC connectors (which have been a favorite of many).
Maybe more of a concern where people can trip over cords, like laptops, game consoles, etc, but I just don’t see it as a concern in a rack where there’s enough slack in the cable and things are installed properly.
My Marantz equipment had a lock screw hole above the HDMI connectors. I found some great cables at Dalco for under $20 that have the lock mount on them.
http://www.dalco.com/ProductDetails2.aspx?sku=74068
Isle… This is the main reason why mfrs of these products actually limit the pull strength of these cables—so you don’t end up yanking the connnector out of the component.
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Remember that PPC can only withstand 10 pounds of pressure. After that, the locking mechanism “fails” and the cable comes out.