Uhlmann body cord with Leon Paul blade

[Argelmcgee]

So the other day I had forgotten to tighten my Leon Paul body cords so the body cord inspector didn't pass them. I was able to get some Uhlmann body cords and used them for the tournament, but I had a TON of problems. Out of 3 blades, 2 grounded out mid-bout. I lost a ton of points to these and got 2 yellow cards when I found out about the grounding the next bout (no wonder I lost) as the ref checked.

Is there any reason why an Uhlmann body cord would ground out with a Leon Paul foil (continental socket)? I used two of the blades the night before at my club with no problems (I know high resistance wouldn't show up unless it was really high).

I've learned my lesson and I think I'll remember to test my body cords next tournament, but why wouldn't Uhlmann cords work with Leon Paul foils?

My foils have LP Golubitsky-Pro blades, LP GT ultra tips, continental sockets (usually with a plastic clip, but I took off the clips to use the Uhlmann cords) and uninsulated Uhlmann visconti grips.

[DangerMouse]

It has nothing to do with the combination of Uhlmann and LP. Most likely the metal spring loaded clip on the Uhlmann body cord is contacting the wire inside the plug.

[Argelmcgee]

So you mean it's just the Uhlmann body cord at fault?

[SJCFU#2]

The metal retaining clip on the two-prong plug will usually be in contact with the metal bracket of the socket, therefore it is shorted to the "C" line. Sometimes the small tab on the metal clip that lies flat against the underside of the plug will come into contact with the top of the "B" socket, creating a "B" to "C" short that will prevent any touch from scoring (this i more likely to happen with poorly made copies of German plugs - the better ones often have a small recess molded into the bottom of the plastic shell where the tab can sit. This helps keep the metal tab further back from the metal sockets).

IIRC the metal brackets on LP two-prong sockets also tend to be a bit smaller than those found on most "German" sockets. Since the sockets were originally designed for use with a plastic retaining clip mounted on the bracket there was little need for the bracket to be much larger than what was necessary for the sockets.

[Barry Paul]

IIRC the metal brackets on LP two-prong sockets also tend to be a bit smaller than those found on most "German" sockets. Since the sockets were originally designed for use with a plastic retaining clip mounted on the bracket there was little need for the bracket to be much larger than what was necessary for the sockets.

This used to be so but I think the ones made in the last 10 years have a bracket the same size as the 'German' IGS socket. (but I could be wrong)

[SJCFU#2]

This used to be so but I think the ones made in the last 10 years have a bracket the same size as the 'German' IGS socket. (but I could be wrong)

It's also very possible that you're correct. Well built sockets tend to be so long lasting so I don't see many new ones (although it sounds like I might have to order a new LP socket some time just to see what else has changed over the years - I know that I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the new LP bayonet socket with the arched metal top).

[Argelmcgee]

I'm nearly positive that I've found the problem. The nuts had come loose from the bottom of the socket, letting quite a bit of the wire work its way up and down the washers and nuts. No wonder it was grounding...

I just didn't think to tighten the nuts, so this is all user error. False alarm, people.