Hi!

[Roy Riches]

Hello Ladies & Gentlemen.
I've been invited to join this new and enterprising Forum by some acquaintances of old. I wish it every success and hope the high standards of good conduct are maintained.

My last 8 years of experimentation with affordable Dedicated Mains supplies for Hi–Fi, and with the numerous Mains contributions from other like-minded people (Thank You everyone), has left me in the privileged position of being able to offer all this information to anyone who requests it, for FREE.
There is currently 5Mb of Dedicated Mains Information, consisting 36 MS Word documents/attachments. My e-Mail account is listed in my profile details should anyone require this free information.

Most of us have Hi-Fi aspirations that exceed our disposable income, so we try and maximise what we have. Upgrading the Mains to the Hi-Fi is one area where HUGE MASSIVE gains can be achieved for "little" financial outlay. I just wish someone had been there for me 30 years ago, informing me about these Mains ideas that improve Hi-Fi equipment performance.
Mind you, back then people laughed when they were told that interconnect cables were directional. How times have changed?

Please note that all of these Mains ideas should be within the scope of anyone who has modest DIY skills. I have attempted to keep everything at a "nuts and bolts" level, and have used "off the shelf" electrical items - nothing esoteric. I have purposely avoided anything which requires equipment internal modification and soldering of the Hi-Fi equipment. The aim was to ensure, hopefully, that the sonic gains achieved are easily duplicated and repeatable by anyone employing these ideas. There is no magic, just adherence to good quality engineering practices, and a belt and braces approach to achieve a decent dedicated power supply for all the Hi-Fi.

Please note that as of January 2005 Part "P" of the Building Regulations came into effect and any completely New Mains installations will require certification.

Best regards
Roy

[Filterlab]

Hi Roy and welcome!

Excellent offer of FREE advice, thank you very much. I'm sure you'll have a few requestors.

Nice to have you here. :)

[Marco]

Hi Roy,

Nice to see you and welcome!

Don't worry, there are no 'idiots' allowed here... ;)

I look forward to hearing all about your latest experiments. If you could list your current system and/or post any pictures in the Gallery that would be great.

Regards,
Marco.

P.S Ian tells me that you're seeking to change your Naim gear?

[greenhomeelectronics]

Oh no!! When did you change the rules about idiots being allowed?
That's me gone :)
Welcome Roy, it's nice here - some good people.
Dave.

[Filterlab]

Oh no!! When did you change the rules about idiots being allowed?
That's me gone :)

Don't worry Dave, we won't retrospectively prune our members. :lol:

Btw, I'll do your backgrounds this evening - been so busy mate I've not had time to even look at it. :steam:

:)

[greenhomeelectronics]

I was worried for a while there. I didn't fancy being pruned - whatever that is. Is it some sort of moden day perversion that uses dried fruits? If it is I might be interested after all...
Sorry to hihack your thread, Roy. I can be very immature at times :-)
Dave.
PS I won't nag you on the backgrounds Rob, I know how busy life has a habit of becoming at times.
Keep smiling.

[Mike Reed]

Like to think my e-mail exhortations had something to do with your resurfacing on a forum again, but good to see you anyway.

Must mention this to our mutual friend in Thanet, who has potential for considerable input, I feel.

Good luck, Roy

[Gazjam]

Hi Roy,
great to see you here.

We corresponded YEARS ago on your work with Mains treatment, prior to installing my balanced mains system for the system.
Your documents were very helpful, and I can speak to how good and throurough your research is, so thanks.


Hello Ladies & Gentlemen.
I've been invited to join this new and enterprising Forum by some acquaintances of old. I wish it every success and hope the high standards of good conduct are maintained.

My last 8 years of experimentation with affordable Dedicated Mains supplies for Hi–Fi, and with the numerous Mains contributions from other like-minded people (Thank You everyone), has left me in the privileged position of being able to offer all this information to anyone who requests it, for FREE.
There is currently 5Mb of Dedicated Mains Information, consisting 36 MS Word documents/attachments. My e-Mail account is listed in my profile details should anyone require this free information.

Most of us have Hi-Fi aspirations that exceed our disposable income, so we try and maximise what we have. Upgrading the Mains to the Hi-Fi is one area where HUGE MASSIVE gains can be achieved for "little" financial outlay. I just wish someone had been there for me 30 years ago, informing me about these Mains ideas that improve Hi-Fi equipment performance.
Mind you, back then people laughed when they were told that interconnect cables were directional. How times have changed?

Please note that all of these Mains ideas should be within the scope of anyone who has modest DIY skills. I have attempted to keep everything at a "nuts and bolts" level, and have used "off the shelf" electrical items - nothing esoteric. I have purposely avoided anything which requires equipment internal modification and soldering of the Hi-Fi equipment. The aim was to ensure, hopefully, that the sonic gains achieved are easily duplicated and repeatable by anyone employing these ideas. There is no magic, just adherence to good quality engineering practices, and a belt and braces approach to achieve a decent dedicated power supply for all the Hi-Fi.

Please note that as of January 2005 Part "P" of the Building Regulations came into effect and any completely New Mains installations will require certification.

Best regards
Roy

[Alex_UK]

Well that’s possibly a new record Gary - welcoming a new member 17 years (to the day!) since they joined… :lol:

[Roy Riches]

Good Afternoon Everyone,
I’m returning here to inform those interested in Dedicated Mains supply for Hi-Fi of a new development which I abandoned in 2003 because of ridiculous costs. This information is FREE, like all the other information.
In 2003 I researched the possibility of acquiring pure Silver Buss Bars for the Live and Neutral in the Memera Consumer Units. Manufactures quoted me prohibitive costs of £400 to £600 for a single 8-way Live Buss Bar and required a production run of 1000 units minimum.
What’s changed? An enthusiast near Tentenden, Kent, contacted me 2024 about Dedicated Mains and after appreciating the benefits of doing some Mains upgrades including the double copper Live Buss Bars, inquired if I’d ever thought about silver? I told him my story of 2003. He was keen to do his own research and made several inquiries with laser cutting and hot forged casting options. But was still given quotes of around £600 for 8-way silver buss bar at 2mm thickness.

In 2008 I had purchased a scroll saw; searching online I can now purchase 2mm thick flat pure silver plate and can make myself these Live buss bars for around £80 and using 1.5mm pure silver wire in a bundle of 4, insulated inside blue heat-shrink sleeving, for the Neutral connection at about £20. Now this made it a realistic opportunity to explore the 2003 shelved idea. Betts Metal Store, Birmingham was my silver supplier.

Yes, it worked, adding the Silver Buss bar behind the existing copper Buss Bar made noticeable improvement, also the chap near Tentenden, plus his two daughters, confirmed noticeable benefits.
What next, explore and fit 2nd 8-way pure silver Live and Neutral Buss Bar, discarding the copper completely; not as enlightening as the first, but still slightly better. VFM was the combination of copper plus 2mm silver buss bars. Some Consumer Units have thinner Live pins, you’ll have to file away the surplus silver to fit.
If you purchase 2mm x 36mm x YOUR REQUIRED LENGTH. Then cutting through the middle you get two Buss Bars, one will have the extra tooth – share costs with a friend

https://hosting.photobucket.com/45a1582b-8ea1-4e98-ac7f-cb0fef6184f1/b7b0d7fa-1e12-4925-8676-b2829f32a3e0.jpg

https://hosting.photobucket.com/45a1582b-8ea1-4e98-ac7f-cb0fef6184f1/827e8398-bade-4782-a1be-3fe098b5a9f8.jpg


For those enthusiasts on a single 6mm or 10mm single radial (spur) or standard domestic 32A ring main, there is also something for you for about £25. Use the 1.5mm pure silver wire at £25 per metre, plus some Red/Brown and Blue heat-shrink sleeving for Live & Neutral insulation.
Run a loop connection from the bottom of the Main 100A On/Off (RCD) switch along the Live buss bar to where the 32A breaker supplying the HI-Fi resides, connect to the bottom of this breaker, NB unscrew the clamp fully and install the silver wires BEHIND the existing copper Buss Bar. Next, from the bottom of the Main On/Off switch Neutral connection, run a length of silver wires to the Neutral Bar where this same 32A breaker has its Neutral wires terminated. Usually a bundle of 3 silver wires can be fitted in these terminating holes. NB. The further away along the Live buss bar your Hi-Fi 32A breaker resides then the greater the improvement. NB. PLEASE Do remember to turn off and Isolate Mains supplies when working with electricity.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/45a1582b-8ea1-4e98-ac7f-cb0fef6184f1/74563e34-cafc-4e9f-a378-b130b963c1cf.jpg

[Barry]

Why do the additional silver conductors have to run behind the existing copper busbar?

[Roy Riches]

Hello Barry,
Because you would be bending/distorting the existing copper buss bar tooth backwards, when all the other copper teeth are clamped to the front of their breakers. Remember the Buss Bar securing clamps come inwards from the back of the MCBs. Hope that helps?
Regards
Roy

[Barry]

I'm a bit confused now, as looking at your photographs, the silver busbar and wire bunch appear to be on top of the copper busbar, that is in front rather than behind.

But no matter - I never really had a good look at the arrangement in my (Wylex) CU, as it was installed by an electrician. I would have done it myself, but since the work now has to be signed off by a qualified 'sparky', it was more convenient to let him do the work.

[Roy Riches]

Hello Barry,
The LIVE link was put in front to show people the principle of the connection, if I'd put it behind the Live copper Buss Bar you would not be able to see it!

Dedicated C.U
If you are competent to do the installation yourself it's much cheaper. When completed you can then get a Sparky to sign it off; or get a Periodic Check Inspection, which will also check all the existing house wiring is secure, with attention to current Earth Bonding.
Installing this Silver Link will not require a Sparky to sign it off.

Keep the questions coming. Although I thought I'd covered these aspects there must be other people who also share your concerns.
Some of the Wylex C.U versions have a bent 90 degree Live Buss bar, but no problem, these can also take the silver link. I've already completed one such Wylex C.U. for a friend near Ashford who's Hi-Fi is on the upstairs 32A ring-main; noticed the improvement straight away.

Just in case anyone thinks silver makes a system sound bright, it may in the audio frequency domain, however UK Mains is at a steady 50Hz and this silver idea is about lowering electrical impedence to the Hi-Fi.

Regards
Roy

[Lawrence001]

I have a question please which is, if there's an electrical fire at the house and an claims adjustor turns up, would this have an affect on the claim?

Sent from my HEY2-W09 using Tapatalk

[Roy Riches]

Hello Lawence,
If there is an electrical fire there was something else unsafe with the domestic wiring,(Earth Bonding?) or an Applience fault which did not activate either the RCD or related MCB. This is where a 10year Periodic Check Inspection is worthwhile. Every EVEN year, 2024 - 2026, at Christmas I go around all my sockets and lighting switches and check tightness of terminations. I also have the test equipment to verify RCD function and check the earth loop impedence is within spec.

The addition of the pure silver Buss Bar to the existing Live copper Buss Bar raises the total current rating from 100A to 200A, it is more robust.
Likewise a 1.5mm pure silver wire strand will easily carry 30A per strand, and with 3 or 4 bunched together, combined with the existing Neutral wire link from the ON /Off Switch makes this connection more robust, again about 200A.
If you have doubts get a Qualified Electrician, not a Sparky, to inspect this. If they do not know the answer to this question they are a Sparky. Why is the Earth wire in T&E cable located in the middle and not on the outside?
I will not be posting the answer!

Regards
Roy

[Barry]

You have to be careful with insurance claims. In the event of an electrical fire the insurance company's inspector could deem your modified CU as having been tampered with, and thus might make your claim null and void.

The same might happen if you used Furutech mains plugs. They are perfectly good, but are not labelled as conforming to BS1363, and therefore be regarded with suspicion.

[Roy Riches]

Morning Barry,
Fair informative comment.
I consider these Mains ideas for Hi-Fi are an Upgrade not Modification.
Splitting Hairs?
Modification is variation / change/ revision to existing situation
Upgrade is an improvement / advancement / reinforcement to existing situation.

Take your pick!

Regards
Roy

[Roy Riches]

Been Here before.

Once again, I’m asked to provide a response about a Hypothetical Scenario regarding house fires/insurance. This is one reason I stopped posting to Hi-Fi Forums. Explaining technical aspects to people that have no knowledge of the subject is really frustrating; I spent too many hours of my life trying to provide explanations which often, were not comprehended. Consequently, this will be my last post on the subject; I’m going back into exile and enjoying my music.

Final words
There is so much more to this subject than most people would be aware of and their ignorance is their bliss. Regarding electric supply, most UK house fires are caused by faulty unsafe wiring (old), faulty appliances, overloaded sockets and now cheap Far East battery chargers.

If anyone wishes to know more about Mains electricity and safety aspects then I respectively direct then to the local Library, where they can read about this subject.
During the last 24 years I have read much on this subject and with the benefit of my practical experiences, which include breaking-open Fuse-holders, MCBs and RCDs to view the internals, some are shite, I have made my informed decisions and implemented my options.
The primary goal for me was to achieve the absolute "best "sonic performance from my Hi-Fi and then secondly to seek the very best safety options. This ultimately meant that the "best" sonic option would be compromised a little, because there were some aspects of safety that I would consider as totally unsafe.
I have made informed "risk assessment" judgements on what I consider to be the best sonic and safest Mains power supply to my Hi-Fi that I personally believe to be safe - within reasonable parameters. Others may view this differently and it is their right to do so.
Of the 7 or 8 Hi-Fi Mains installations that are currently offered, at least 4 are fully compliant with the UK IEE Regs. Depending on choice and cost, these will lift a systems performance by 40 to 70%. Those of us that want to achieve more, up to 95% (my opinion), will have to make a "risk assessment" decision and weigh the Sonics V Safety information. Ultimately these people accept all the consequences of their actions and decisions.

Elements to "risk assessment" - example - if I were to open my front door and venture outside there is a "HYPERTHETICAL RISK" that I may get hit on the head by a meteorite falling from the heavens. If I always stayed indoors then that potential risk is minimised. OR perhaps we should all make haste and visit the Army surplus stores and purchase WW2 Army Tin-hats! - this would also minimise the risk. No, of course we do not do this because generally we perceive the risk of a meteorite on the head to be infinitesimally small. BUT ultimately we all DO accept this risk when outside in the open!
Also, around 700 people perish in plane crashes each year, 29,711 people killed or seriously injured on UK roads 2023, do we abandon these modes of travel?
When we have electricity (and gas) in the home we ALL accept a raft of additional potentially dangerous, sometimes fatal scenarios. With regard to domestic electrical supply/protection, many people still have an antiquated 1940 -50s installation consisting 4 x re-wirable fuse carriers, no RCD protection and old textile /rubber insulated wiring. This, is a very, very basic level of protection, personally I would not stay in such a home – far too dangerous for my liking especially if the C.U. is located in the stair cupboard; how do you exit the house with the stairs alight? Others like myself have upgraded to the latest, fastest "state of the art" protection. There is a chasm of difference between the safety aspects of the two installations. There is NO-WAY I would countenance changing/ upgrading anything in my hi-fi system with the aforementioned antiquated 1950s installation, but because the upgraded safety level of the modern second installation is SO MUCH higher, I personally believe that even with my optimised Mains I'm still well-ahead on safety when compared to the antiquated basic protection. Example, my active system has 3 x chrome bumper Naim 250’s, these have a 48V small bulb behind the green power button. When the bulbs eventually blew, different years, on the mid and treble amps the individual 32A RCBO of both tripped out.
Today, I’d be far more worried about Chinese E-Scooters, cheap battery chargers with 2–pin plugs (no earth), Chinese Mains cables for Hi-Fi, and home appliances with fake CE and BS kite-marks in my home, as Barry has already pointed out!


Anyone is welcome to e-mail me privately and I will attempt to answer your questions objectively and fairly. It is then your decision to choose what is "right" for you.

Farewell.

Best Regards
Roy

[Macca]

Of the 7 or 8 Hi-Fi Mains installations that are currently offered, at least 4 are fully compliant with the UK IEE Regs. Depending on choice and cost, these will lift a systems performance by 40 to 70%. Those of us that want to achieve more, up to 95% (my opinion), will have to make a "risk assessment" decision and weigh the Sonics V Safety information. Ultimately these people accept all the consequences of their actions and decisions.



No wonder you've been questioned on this before. Electrical safety should never be compromised even in a small way.

That planes crash and that cheap non-compliant electrical products can cause fires is irrelevant, that does not reduce the risk in the slightest.

If it doesn't conform to the current regulations then don't do it - and never make any modifications if you're not formally qualified to do so.

Added to which there is zero evidence that doing any of this will make the slightest difference to the sound quality of a hi-fi system.

For anyone thinking of tinkering with their mains supply my advice is - don't do it.

[Barry]

Been Here before.

Once again, I’m asked to provide a response about a Hypothetical Scenario regarding house fires/insurance. This is one reason I stopped posting to Hi-Fi Forums. Explaining technical aspects to people that have no knowledge of the subject is really frustrating; I spent too many hours of my life trying to provide explanations which often, were not comprehended. Consequently, this will be my last post on the subject; I’m going back into exile and enjoying my music.

......

Farewell.

Best Regards
Roy

Perhaps we will hear from you in another 17 years time Roy.
Until then stay safe and enjoy the music.

[Barry]

Art of Sound Electrical Safety Advice

The Art of Sound is an open forum for music lovers and a place where all members can share their views on music and the equipment used for its reproduction.

The forum also caters for those who are interested in the DIY aspect of everything related to the audio replay chain, and therefore there will always be a healthy number of DIY articles and discussions in threads across the forum. Given the number of these, it is not possible to monitor or moderate all technical aspects of posts made by members.

The Art of Sound would therefore like to remind all who read such articles that while we encourage discussions on all audio related DIY we cannot and will not accept liability for the information given on any DIY related matters contained in any thread or posts herein.

We strongly advise extreme caution when considering any modification or building projects described, especially those concerning any mains voltage related upgrades, earth modifications and/or any other high voltage related modifications or building projects.

Unless you are suitably qualified or otherwise capable of carrying out such modifications/suggestions, then we strongly advise you consult qualified personnel.

We would also like to remind all our members and readers that some or all of the modifications found within the threads and posts of the forum may not be legal in certain countries and therefore advice on the legalities or otherwise should be sought before carrying out such modifications.