Or maybe not, in Pip's case. Mate, I'm pretty sure that the Pip-Boy is meant to be a single integrated unit. I'm also fairly sure that using duct tape in pre-Apocalyptic conditions is not following the right rules too...
Has he considered talking to the Squirrel girls or Denizens about this? I'm sure they'd be glad to knock up something for him that only has a 25% chance of blowing off his arm at the elbow when it boots up!