DIY mains cables

[Alex_UK]

Note to self: As soon as spending embargo is lifted, follow the advice in this thread and get rid of my crap cable!

In the meantime, would I be better off going back to a standard kettle lead, do you reckon?

[Welder]

Note to Alex’s wife:

Tell Alex that in future if he can’t make it then he can’t have it

(Hope this helps because it should cover a lot a male hormone induced extravagances and you should find an easy work around when it comes to dragging him off to bed)

[Alex_UK]

Note to Alex’s wife:

Tell Alex that in future if he can’t make it then he can’t have it

(Hope this helps because it should cover a lot a male hormone induced extravagances and you should find an easy work around when it comes to dragging him off to bed)

[sburrell]

Mains Cables R Us:

why the emphasis on the lowest possible price?

cheapest is never best in my experience, spending a bit more always reaps benefits

'Cos i ain't got the money My situation is that I have a fixed and limited budget, so I have to squeeze the best I can out of my meagre funds. Obversely, there's the feeling of success after struggling within the constrictions imposed by my financial limitations (without "tilting the board") and yet still managing to achieve some semblance of enjoyable, high-fidelity audio

But mostly, it's the former.

EDIT: actually, I've just had a thought. DIY mains cables are modular - so, what I should do is use my £25 to get the best I can for now, and then upgrade a particular component when the money's there. In which case, given that the silver-plated plugs are the most expensive aspect of the cable I'm aiming for, they can wait till later. In the meantime, I should just spend the £25 on the Belden and the IEC connectors. That should be easily doable for £25, if not less.

Yeah, up here for thinking, eh?

[dave2010]

Although I'm still slightly sceptical about this mains stuff, that Belden cable with the screen seems to make quite a lot of sense if mains borne interference is a problem.

I still can't figure out why a twisted pair of Neutral and Earth would be a good idea - seen in one of the other cables.

Also not sure that gold or silver mains plugs are strictly necessary, but may look nice, and save having to polish or sand the connectors from time to time. If not much more than normal ones I'd accept that reducing the oxidation and dirt build up could be a good idea, though surely you'd still get that with silver, which suggests gold or platinum as the only serious metals to use.

[Rare Bird]

My silver plugs (even treated) are a nightmare to keep clean lol..I wish Rhodium over was more widly available..I'm sorry to say this but i cannot be arsed to keep maintaining a set of flaming mains plugs.

[worthingpagan]

My silver plugs (even treated) are a nightmare to keep clean lol..I wish Rhodium over was more widly available..I'm sorry to say this but i cannot be arsed to keep maintaining a set of flaming mains plugs.

You dont have to clean them, that's one of the bonuses of silver contacts

[MCRU]

My silver plugs (even treated) are a nightmare to keep clean lol..I wish Rhodium over was more widly available..I'm sorry to say this but i cannot be arsed to keep maintaining a set of flaming mains plugs.

I sell loads of rhodium plated mains plugs dude, and oxidized silver is STILL a good conductor so no cleaning needed.

Here is a special deal for today only to help anyone on a meagre budget experience the joys of a good entry level power cord:-

uk mains plug dipped in de-oxit (twice), 1 metre belden 19364 cable and a martin kaiser iec de-oxit treated also.........................£15 delivered....oh and I will even wire it all up as long as not too many people order one as I am quite busy at the moment!

optional extra of silver plated plug and connector add £5

and finally optional extra of rhodium plated plug and connector add £20

hope that helps

[steveinfrance]

Now that a lot of UK electricity is made in France replacement of cables back to source is likely to be rather expensive.
I don't believe mains cables make a blind bit of difference-someone somewhere pointed out that once the electrons fall out of your platinum plug they end up going through a really crappy fuseholder and fuse then around many metres of cheapo copper wire in the transformer.
Seriously one thing I have found makes a real difference is an independent earth. This has been covered many times before but has scientific strength and may not be too hard to implement.
Steve

[MCRU]

Now that a lot of UK electricity is made in France replacement of cables back to source is likely to be rather expensive.
I don't believe mains cables make a blind bit of difference-someone somewhere pointed out that once the electrons fall out of your platinum plug they end up going through a really crappy fuseholder and fuse then around many metres of cheapo copper wire in the transformer.
Seriously one thing I have found makes a real difference is an independent earth. This has been covered many times before but has scientific strength and may not be too hard to implement.
Steve

I always find it funny (sorry ) when people post comments like this, I must ask Mr Anderson who just purchased 2 Ultimate Power Cords off me for his Audio Research Power Amps if they made a difference, now if they didn't would he not send them back at £695 each?