How do I lock a brick plug into an outlet?


  #1  
Old 01-06-20, 05:14 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Pierson, MI
Posts: 125
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
How do I lock a brick plug into an outlet?

It's a silly question but it's frustrating. We have Logitech Harmony remotes that have a charging base. The charging cables has the same USB connector as Android devices use. I don't quite understand why the kids keep stealing them. Their tablets quit working. We took away their cell phones. But Everytime I replace the charging cable, a couple of days later it's missing. And, of course, all the kids say they didn't take it. But, does anyone have any creative ways I could lock the transformer to the wall outlet?
 
  #2  
Old 01-06-20, 06:47 PM
T
Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Canada
Posts: 81
Received 4 Upvotes on 4 Posts
As a former sneaky kid I can guarantee that any solution you come up with will be quickly overcome by kids. Unless you lock it in a combination safe. If you come up with a non-technical solution, please let me know as I have sneaky kids too.
 
  #3  
Old 01-06-20, 08:24 PM
L
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,573
Received 201 Upvotes on 172 Posts
One solution I can think of is installing lockable outdoor in use weatherproof cover. Most of the covers will not have enough room for a USB charger, so you probably will have to replace the outlet with built in USB charger.

https://www.amazon.com/TayMac-MX3200...=fsclp_pl_dp_1

https://www.amazon.com/Taymac-MM420C...8371034&sr=8-4
 
  #4  
Old 01-07-20, 03:46 AM
B
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Ct.,USA
Posts: 3,214
Received 293 Upvotes on 260 Posts
You are the parent. Teach them to respect community property just as you would teach them about any other virtue. Good luck.
 
  #5  
Old 01-07-20, 05:33 AM
P
Group Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 27,657
Received 2,153 Upvotes on 1,928 Posts
My parents made the mistake of giving me real tools when I was 3. There wasn't anything I couldn't get into or take apart. I think discipline is your best option. If you can't enforce rules for something simple like a charger I'm afraid a lot worse is happening that you don't know about.
 
  #6  
Old 01-07-20, 05:53 AM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Pierson, MI
Posts: 125
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
But Everytime it comes up missing, I have 5 kids. They all swear they didn't take it. If I do figure out who took it, I doubt beating my kids is the answer. I can't take away their electronics seeing they don't have any. I can't think of a different punishment that would teach them not to take it.

I did think of a way to kind of lock the cable to the outlet last night. I just need to get a small cable holder thing where you feed the cable through it and then screw it to something. So, I'll feed the wire through it and then screw it to the center screw on the outlet so the USB connector shouldn't be able to pull back through it unless you unscrew it from the plate. If it still pulls through, I could get one of those things that goes around a wire that is to prevent interference so the wire now is definitely too big to pull through the loop.
 
  #7  
Old 01-07-20, 06:00 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
If you can't enforce rules for something simple like a charger I'm afraid a lot worse is happening that you don't know about.
True that. They probably have phones you dont even know about.

I would imagine that if you had a locking cash box, you could grind a slot in the side of the lid... run an extension cord into that slot, then just keep the charging base inside the lockbox. Or do like you say... put something inside the lockbox that you could tie a knot around... then just run the wire through the slots in the lockbox lid.
 
  #8  
Old 01-07-20, 06:14 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Guy's I think you're all being a bit harsh to the OP. I don't think the kids are taking it. The kids taking the USB cable then consistently denying it doesn't make sense. Maybe once or twice but not constantly. And of what purpose is there if the kids tablets and so forth are unusable because USB cords are missing.
To the OP...Do you have pets? Cats, ferrets, dog, pet rats, they all like to horde things. USB cables are cheap and plentiful. Buy a bunch of them. Or take the USB cord and keep in your pocket when not in use. Or charge the remote in a private room that's locked.
 
  #9  
Old 01-07-20, 06:21 AM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: welland ontario
Posts: 8,038
Received 515 Upvotes on 420 Posts
Install one of these and you won't need the brick.

 
  #10  
Old 01-07-20, 06:35 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
That won't solve the problem of the USB cords being stolen.
 
  #11  
Old 01-07-20, 06:39 AM
D
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 143
Received 34 Upvotes on 31 Posts
Set up a hidden camera to catch the culprit, then discipline accordingly.
 
  #12  
Old 01-07-20, 07:33 AM
T
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,569
Received 74 Upvotes on 69 Posts
I bought a special, stainless mesh charging cable. The thief becomes obvious. AND, i have USB receptacles, so the charger blog goes away, per Joed.
 
  #13  
Old 01-07-20, 07:43 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Just for the sake of discussion... That won't solve the problem. If in fact stealing is taking place, they will just take an expensive ss mesh cable and not bring it back. Nor will they show it. How does that solve the problem?
If the OP really wants to prevent the removal then super glue the cable to the brick.
 
  #14  
Old 01-07-20, 08:01 AM
T
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,569
Received 74 Upvotes on 69 Posts
My USB phone ends are junk in about 3 months time. I vote do not glue the cables into something else, or, you will be replacing more than just the cables.

 
  #15  
Old 01-07-20, 08:15 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
This idea might work, but again if stealing is taking place you'll need to grind off the screw slot to prevent the cable clamp from being taken off.
 
  #16  
Old 01-07-20, 08:40 AM
T
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,569
Received 74 Upvotes on 69 Posts
Allan/button head screw on the cover. When they figure that out in a few months, go with allen head button, with the pin in the center. And then....
 
  #17  
Old 01-07-20, 10:20 AM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Pierson, MI
Posts: 125
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I wonder if the outlet with USB ports would work. Not every ac to USB adapter charged the remote. Only certain ones do. I might try it.
 
  #18  
Old 01-07-20, 11:34 AM
D
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 143
Received 34 Upvotes on 31 Posts
I can't think of a different punishment that would teach them not to take it.
So, they don't have phones (good for you, by the way!) or tablets or electronics that you can take away. But surely each kid has a "currency" - something that is important to him/her. Maybe it's an activity, or watching TV, eating dessert, driving the family car, allowance, whatever. Figure out each kid's currency and tell them, as a group, that if it happens again and no one fesses up then they all lose whatever is important to them. And then make sure you follow through.

I am curious what they need chargers for if you're telling us they have no electronics.
 
Astuff voted this post useful.
  #19  
Old 01-07-20, 01:28 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Pierson, MI
Posts: 125
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I have no idea why they need the charger. A few months ago, we caught one of the kids. They found one of the smartphones that we took away from them and that's why they stole the charger. My wife laid into her pretty harsh about it. But she now has all of those spare phones locked in a safe.
 
  #20  
Old 01-07-20, 04:55 PM
T
Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Canada
Posts: 81
Received 4 Upvotes on 4 Posts
Maybe try a harm reduction approach: create an alternative pile of alluring charging cables (thrift stores have tons) with accompanying sign? Wiley Coyote cage trap optional.

I pick my parenting battles. As my wife would say "is this the hill you're going to die on?"
 
  #21  
Old 01-07-20, 10:05 PM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: welland ontario
Posts: 8,038
Received 515 Upvotes on 420 Posts
lockable electrical box cover.

Name:  41hrhmmyoZL.jpg
Views: 430
Size:  17.7 KB
 
  #22  
Old 01-09-20, 02:15 PM
CasualJoe's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 9,871
Received 185 Upvotes on 166 Posts
They all swear they didn't take it. If I do figure out who took it, I doubt beating my kids is the answer.

Don't beat all the kids, just the one you catch!
 
  #23  
Old 01-11-20, 12:58 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Pierson, MI
Posts: 125
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I first bought a USB ac outlet, but then changed my mind and returned it.

So, I did what one person recommended and got a loopy thing to put the wire through. It's small enough that the USB end won't pull through.

Here's a link to see the pic of the outlet
 
  #24  
Old 01-11-20, 01:35 PM
H
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 2,311
Received 296 Upvotes on 254 Posts
A) Rub black-eyeliner all along the cord. "Caught black-handed".

B) get each kid their own color-coded cord.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: