mains again

well the system is running in, but it seems tempermental, sometimes open and sometimes muddled
so i rekon its time to take the mains serious

Im going to stick in a dedicated spur and im thinking of useing the following

2 * MK unswitched metal clad double sockets with surface patress
1 gang distribution box
16mm2 tails
2 core 2.5mm2 SWA
6mm2 earth cable

plan -
from existing box use tails into new box
connect SWA armour and 6mm2 earth to earth at disty box
run SWA up outside of house into upstairs listening room
into first socket but only useing the seperate earth and insulating the SWA armour so as it is used purely as an RFI screen on the cable

so thats the basic idea, what do you think?

 

I think you have done this before

 

LoL
nope
jut an ex sparky, but with no knowledge of hifi specific cableing

sounds like a plan then?

 

Should surfice, what switchbox and MCB's are u going to use?, I would personaly use different wire (because I'm that way inclined and I did get some rather good trick cyro'd stuff at a nice price), maybe the hospital grade 60 amp stuff?, I know your not going to use 60 amps, but you may be surprised at the difference I think The mad hippy is more the man to ask here, but judging by you list a fair start, and not much dosh involved too. WM

 

i may go up to 4mm2, depends on price
idealy i would like to use Mineral Insulated, but cant justify the cost at the mo (cuz i want some guys trichord aswell ), but it would give copper shield

unsure on disty unit, but ill see if i can get a metal clad 1 gang for not to much, probably MK mcb, but may try good old re-wirable fuse to start

so whats the good price on the cyro stuff hmmm?

 

A little bit more than the trichord

 

hmm
bet you aint got 30M of the stuff

Just looked, and i think 4mm2 is within budget

im after any advice on it that will help improve without costing the same as the amp i want

 

Hi Penance,

You might want to call Russ Andrews, he publishes a little leaflet on the topic. I remember that amongst the tweaks mentioned were using an earth spike buried in the garden....

I cant remember 1/2 of it, and as a sparky it would probably make a lot more sense to you anyway than I!

NB
You could have a nice little earner doing this for your audiophile mates... £50 cash plus petrol?!?!? heehheee

chris

 

A little bird tells me that the hot tip in DIY circles is that annealing does a similar job to cryo treating. As this is probably a far more widespread technique, maybe wire of that nature would be easier (and cheaper) to source - although maybe it doesn't work to the kind of gauge you need.

Shouldn't this thread really be in the DIY forum?

 

penance how are you going to tap into the mains? a henley block is the easiest,saves messing around in the consumner unit,just make sure the new tails are the same size as the old tails,also why the extra earth condutor?why not 3 core swa? makes thing easier/cheaper

 

Depends if you're planning on carrying out the work yourself, I guess. I know I wouldn't, seeing as I'm not a qualified sparky!

Very interesting thread anyway. Sort of stole my thunder with this one, as I've been muling over the plans for a dedicated mains set-up for a while now. Probably won't do anything about it this year, at present just thinking about it all and sorting out what materials to use. Don't mind throwing a bit of cash it.

I've got tons of questions myself, especially on what sort of wiring to use to the plugs/socket connections.

SWA cable is no doubt the cheapest form of shielded wiring. A right royal pain to work with I'd imagine, but then that's what you pay a sparky for I suppose if you haven't got the practical capability or inclinnation to DIY.

WM's cryo stuff looks interesting for the in wall wiring. I was also thinking about this stuff (which is at least BS approved apparently):

http://www.britishaudio.co.uk/loradflt.htm

and these distribution boards (namely the 6 way jobby for my proposed system):

http://www.britishaudio.co.uk/SPR-SPUR3.html

Interesting they use fuses instead of circuit breakers. Do fuses really sounds better?

Oh, and what sockets to use? US Hubbell, Euro Schuko or 15amp Round Pin UK?

 

£30.27 for the consumer unit,£15.08 for the input fuse,and £4.53 for each output fuse, comes to er around £72 for a 6 way unit,prices from http://www.neweyandeyre.co.uk/.and do a search for Memera 2000

As for what socket why not BS4343,16A plug and sockets?

 

I have to say I thought those B/D prices were a bit steep
I love to see a wall recepticle or plug being annealed might have a forum competition to see who can use it after
I reckon you been browsing the WAD forum too much!!!!
this stuff might be worth a go really expensive too
This stuff is pretty good and not too dear.

http://www.virtualdynamics.ca/products/HWS/ABX

How you terminate is up to you, but bear in mind if you swopping a lot of stuff, then go for a common & interchangable end.

 

Hippy, i probably will use a henly box, as you say, its the easiest way.
Only reason for a seperate earth was thinking it may produce better results

I may use 15A round pin, not sure yet, does it really give an audible difference?

 

It's mains again
It really goes 'gin the grain
I know I'm losing again
I change my cables in vain

C'mon, you little cable
Do what I know you're able
And give an image stable
'Cos I can't stand the pain
Babababaaaaaaaaa.....

(sorry...)

 

LMAO

 

No, No, No....

Be VERY sorry


Regards

 

Believe me, I am, truly, I am....

 

for your penance you can come and drill the holes thru my wall

 

No sweat! Mighty Metabo, my electropneumatic hammer, will have your wall for breakfast. (One needs such things in Switzerland, where everything below ground level is very solid concrete)