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Thread: DIY Power Cords
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December 7, 2018, 01:56 PM #1
DIY Power Cords
Do you solder the bare wire ends of the power cord before you insert them into the AC plug or leave bare? My concern leaving bare would be tarnish and deterioration. I remember seeing a AudioQuest video showing someone terminating a power cord and they used what looked like a paste on the bare wire ends before they were clamped into the AC plug. Maybe a silver or copper paste?
Marty
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December 7, 2018, 04:44 PM #2
Re: DIY Power Cords
Assuming that you are using copper wire as the conductor... In a well designed AC plug, the mechanism firmly securing the stripped wire ends inside the plug should provide full contact surface area whereby oxidation would not a be problem. Be sure to strip off only as much of the dielectric as is necessary for the connection. That being said, one can always "tin" the exposed wire with solder to prevent any oxidation if you are concerned. There are plenty of internet videos demonstrating this technique. (Note: A few specialty wires are manufactured as Litz conductors where each individual copper strand in the conductor is coated with an insulating lacquer. This wire requires the stripped ends be tinned before any connection is made.)
Alternatively, one can use tinned-copper wire conductors where the individual copper wire strands have been plated with a very thin coating of tin. Here, the "tinning" has already been done for you. There are a few power cable makers using this type conductor wire with excellent results.
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December 13, 2018, 01:16 PM #3
Re: DIY Power Cords
A good read and opinions
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December 13, 2018, 01:20 PM #4
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December 13, 2018, 01:33 PM #5
DIY Power Cords
Hi Marty,
Don't tin the wires, use crimp sleeves / ferrules to contain stranded wire conductors that will then be screwed down in the terminal block/connector (as described in the link above). I've been doing it this way for many years now and it creates a nice secure connection and also encapsulates the individual strands of bare copper conductors to minimize oxidation.
Another option is to use small spades like the Furutech FP-209. Then you can solder the conductor to the spade and insert the spades' forks to clamp down inside the connector body.Avanti Audio
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December 13, 2018, 03:20 PM #6
Re: DIY Power Cords
Great information; thanks for posting the link.
While thermo-mechanical creep deformation of soldered connections is an important issue in microelectronics manufacturing, it is interesting to learn that it might be a consideration in the type connection discussed here where the solder is not used to make/secure the actual connection.
Certainly an issue to be mindful about.
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December 13, 2018, 04:17 PM #7
Re: DIY Power Cords
Thanks guys for all the great info and instruction.
Marty
Aurender N20 / SonicTransporter i7 / Roon
MSB Premier
Constellation Inspiration Preamp 1.0 / Mono 1.0
Dynaudio Confidence 50 / SVS SB13 Ultra
PS Audio Powerplant 15
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December 14, 2018, 10:44 AM #8
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Re: DIY Power Cords
As 'Mike' just wrote. Never solder/tin the end of a wire under a screw terminal. Over time the solder will cold flow and the terminal will loosen!
What you can do however is:
Strip about 3/16 inch of insulation.
Solder/tin the very end of the wire.
Strip about 1/2 inch more insulation.
Then center that bare wire under the screw terminal.
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December 14, 2018, 11:56 AM #9
Re: DIY Power Cords
Marty
Aurender N20 / SonicTransporter i7 / Roon
MSB Premier
Constellation Inspiration Preamp 1.0 / Mono 1.0
Dynaudio Confidence 50 / SVS SB13 Ultra
PS Audio Powerplant 15
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December 14, 2018, 12:40 PM #10
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Yes, ferrules are a great way to go, especially if you are doing a lot of connections. Or if it's fine strand rather than course strand wire.
Ferrules are very common in industrial or military applications.
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December 14, 2018, 06:40 PM #11
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Re: DIY Power Cords
And for the TRUE audiophile, Furutech offers a gold plated crimping tool.
If you have to ask, you can't afford it.My System
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December 22, 2018, 03:54 PM #12
Re: DIY Power Cords
Furutech FI-50M connectors. Furutech FP-S55N cable. Made for my ARC REF5SE
Marty
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December 22, 2018, 11:36 PM #13
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Re: DIY Power Cords
That looks nice.
Did you connect the shield at the male plug end to act as an RFI/EMI drain?
Different schools of thought dictate one way or another on shields.My System
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December 23, 2018, 10:06 AM #14
Re: DIY Power Cords
Yes the outer shield is connected at the AC outlet side.
Marty
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December 23, 2018, 12:05 PM #15
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Re: DIY Power Cords
I would connect the shield only at the hi-fi component end of the cord. That way it acts as an extension of the component's chassis (which is also the more important shield). I don't know if 'UL' would be happy with this in a commercial cord.
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December 23, 2018, 01:25 PM #16
Re: DIY Power Cords
Marty
Aurender N20 / SonicTransporter i7 / Roon
MSB Premier
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Dynaudio Confidence 50 / SVS SB13 Ultra
PS Audio Powerplant 15
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February 27, 2019, 01:17 AM #17
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March 7, 2019, 12:44 PM #18
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Here's an interesting read on DIY power cables:
http://www.image99.net/blog/files/be...049e69-75.html
i am going to try this design using the basic copper Furutech connectors.
I just received some wire and plugs from Take Five Audio in Canada. Good prices and great service.AKA J2Ordan
McIntosh/Legacy/VPI/Bricasti/DIYCabling
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March 7, 2019, 01:11 PM #19
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Absolute and total nonsense!
Also dangerous and wrong, wrong,wrong.
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March 7, 2019, 03:05 PM #20
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March 7, 2019, 09:50 PM #21
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Neither is he an engineer.
Everything in his design is troublesome. There is nothing correct, good or safe in it.
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March 7, 2019, 10:41 PM #22
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Do you ever answer a question directly on any of the forums you visit?
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March 9, 2019, 12:06 PM #23
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Well I certainly havent received an answer... another internet expert?
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March 9, 2019, 12:37 PM #24
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Re: DIY Power Cords
So current thought goes like this.
Let's say that the shield picks up some RFI. Where would you like to send it? Back to the electrical panel ground (earth) (shield grounded at wall plug) or to the piece of equipment (shield grounded to the IEC, /equipment).
Some don't believe in shields at all. Some shield one way or the other or both.
Many ideas, thoughts and beliefs.
You get to pick which one you want to follow.My System
Acoustic Revive RTP-4
Innuos Pulsar
Lampizator BALTIC4
Cary SLP-05
Pass XA30.5 or
Line Magnetic 845ia
Reference 3A Reflector's
Pr SVS SB3000 Subs
Cables & Tubes "subject to change without notification".
Complete system on battery power/solar
Core Audio Design Rack
DIY bass traps and custom curved diffusors.
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March 9, 2019, 02:23 PM #25
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Dznutz-
I made some power cables with braided shielding. The manufacturer of the cable recommended attaching the shield to the ground wire on the wall socket side. I seem to remember the reason being similar to what jadedavid mentioned "sending it back." He also astutely alluded to the fact that highly regarded cables may or may not have shielding.
A DIYer like myself hopes to save some cash but my tinker mentality enjoys the hunt.AKA J2Ordan
McIntosh/Legacy/VPI/Bricasti/DIYCabling
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March 9, 2019, 03:46 PM #26
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Re: DIY Power Cords
To me, always with shield. But put it at some distance from the cable and grounded at wall plug ...
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March 9, 2019, 04:43 PM #27
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Even if the shield is not grounded on either end... it should still provide protection from RFI and from the power cable itself effecting nearby audio cables should it not?
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March 9, 2019, 09:54 PM #28
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Re: DIY Power Cords
The short answer to your question is yes to a diminished degree.
Why don't you just try it and let us know your results?My System
Acoustic Revive RTP-4
Innuos Pulsar
Lampizator BALTIC4
Cary SLP-05
Pass XA30.5 or
Line Magnetic 845ia
Reference 3A Reflector's
Pr SVS SB3000 Subs
Cables & Tubes "subject to change without notification".
Complete system on battery power/solar
Core Audio Design Rack
DIY bass traps and custom curved diffusors.
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May 3, 2019, 01:38 PM #29
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Re: DIY Power Cords
Just to get back to this.
I did build the cable described on page two of this thread. The total cost was about $140.
Comparing it to one made with DH Labs Power Plus Cable and the basic Wattgate connectors, the sound is cleaner and there is more separation between the instruments and vocals.
Certainly not a night and day difference however. The comparison was on my DAC.AKA J2Ordan
McIntosh/Legacy/VPI/Bricasti/DIYCabling
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AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
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I upgraded the power supply on my Gigafoil v4 to a Weiss PSU 102. It’s very nice step up. But with the new model, you’re looking at $2000 before even investing in a SOTA linear power supply.
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