View Full Version : WTB: Belkin PF30/40 or similar
I'm looking for something to replace my rubbish Maplin mains block with, but don't want to spend £'000s. Apparently there was a huge sale on the Belkins a while ago and was hoping some bargain hunter is now finding it surplus to requirements.
Or anything similar for relatively cheap (<£250) that I can try to see if it makes a difference?
Cheers
Retief
relatively cheap under £250 mate??? the belkins were about £25-£45, none left for sure as I let me PF30 go to keiths on this forum as I use an Isotek Aquarius myself now....For £250 or less you can get a blinding mains power block from me or mark grant, some say add filtering surge protection etc, others say remove all that mullarky, Tacima make mains filters, not the £30 6 way mains strip but an actual filter, I can send you one to try no problem, well under your budget. If it makes no difference send it back, simples.
Hi David
I basically said under £250 to rule the expensive stuff out, e.g PS Audio Quintet/PPP etc. I have never tried these things and don't know if they will make any difference, but I'm currently using the al cheapo Maplins surge protector for all my gear and I cannot help but feel that I could open the sound up ito scale and air with a better solution. My sound is also a tad on the bright side for my liking atm. Would've fancied giving one of the Belkins a try at the prices they were going for recently, but missed out and they don't seem to be available anymore. Was hoping a bargain hunter on here had 1 surplus to requirements.
I need at least 8-10 sockets and a member here has offered 2 new PF30's at £130 which I'm seriously considering, only downside is that I'll have to stack 2 units on top of one another. Maybe I should just get the PF50 at £200 odd, but would prefer to go the cheaper route first to see if there are any improvements to be had. Would be great if I could find a solution that works for under a £100!
Your offer does sound inviting! Can you pm (or post here) options please?
PS how does your Isotek compare to the PF30?
Cheers
Retief
PF30= Isotek Aquarius
no comparison really, when you plug the aquarius in everything just sounds better
why don't you try something else I have in mind, a 12 gang power strip with a tacima mains filtering plug at each end? A bit over the £100 but could prove quite effective. It would be a 12 gang german made power strip, wired up with good quality cable and a mains plug and at each end to stop RFI plug in the tacimas, should prove quite effective for the money?
The block is similar to this, on/off switch and light would be dis-abled:-
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/themainsman/7963280.jpg
here is the tacima plug:-
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/themainsman/H7DL3ufYLBSYJjyZhfuvyYGx8tx4YbOHKTU.jpg
Hi David
Sounds interesting, how would that compare to say the Belkin PF50? How long is the cord on the power cable, I will need at least 3m.
I go for this and when you can afford add a desent mains block
http://www.airlinktransformers.com/transformer/bps2000-balanced-power-supply.asp
A mains block will make a difference but this will make a even bigger difference we talking ps audio levels
Another I found and I am sure Martin will back me up having a really decent cable going into a mains unit really makes a huge difference and good isolation due to the transformer really helps too
I go for this and when you can afford add a desent mains block
http://www.airlinktransformers.com/transformer/bps2000-balanced-power-supply.asp
A mains block will make a difference but this will make a even bigger difference we talking ps audio levels
Another I found and I am sure Martin will back me up having a really decent cable going into a mains unit really makes a huge difference and good isolation due to the transformer really helps too
he has a budget of £100 ish?????? and wants 10 sockets?????
Hi David
Sounds interesting, how would that compare to say the Belkin PF50? How long is the cord on the power cable, I will need at least 3m.
i have never heard the PF50, the cable can be any length you want, no doubt someone else will offer plenty of alternatives as everyone has different ideas, I am just trying to help
Ali Tait
12-02-2011, 10:35
he has a budget of £100 ish?????? and wants 10 sockets?????
In his first post the OP said up to 250.
Techno Commander
12-02-2011, 13:43
True. But post 3 said under a ton would be nice. :)
Hi guys
All valuable inputs, thank you! My budget is not set in stone and I am willing to pay more if it makes sense, but am in no mood to spend 1k+ on a 2% improvement or on snake oil. The budget of <£100 was to dip my toe in the water to see how much of a hindrance the mains block is as I've never tested this and don't want to take a head first plunge of £500+.
I've never heard of the balance power supply (transformers), I see they are not too expensive and if this + a £100 mains block that David suggested will do the job at £300 or a little over that will be fine. Where to start is the question and how much of an improvement can I expect?
PS. Are these transformers not noisy and are they power efficient, won't appreciate a monthly electricity premium.
Cheers
If you wish come over to me and you can hear mine I use Balanced mains but a bit more costly than the link I put up, nothing snake oil about balanced mains, most studios now use balanced mains
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/balanced_power.html
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/themainsman/_DSC1536-2.jpg
Forgot about this, my own design of hydra lead, what do you think?
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/themainsman/_DSC1536-2.jpg
Forgot about this, my own design of hydra lead, what do you think?
My only reservation with your "Hydra" leads David is how to work out the correct amperage fuse for the entry mains plug. Most hi-fi components need around 3 - 5 amps individually, but fitting a high enough amperage fuse to supply all four cables with enough power may leave a defective component being supplied with too much current draw under fault conditions to rupture the higher rated fuse.
Techno Commander
12-02-2011, 20:22
My current distro uses unfused IEC plugs. I have never had a problem with fuses. The equipment should also have an internal fuse.
Reid Malenfant
12-02-2011, 20:31
The fuse in the plug is only there to protect the cable, not the equipment ;) As long as each cable can handle more current than the fitted fuse it should be 100% safe. As Andy just pointed out any electronic equipment is fitted with an internal fuse to protect the equipment itself.
Electrical equipment is a different kettle of fish though :eyebrows:
The Grand Wazoo
12-02-2011, 20:37
The fuse in the plug is only there to protect the cable, not the equipment ;) As long as each cable can handle more current than the fitted fuse it should be 100% safe. As Andy just pointed out any electronic equipment is fitted with an internal fuse to protect the equipment itself.
This is not strictly true though is it?
The fuse is there to protect you, your loved ones and your belongings from the consequences of a fault or accident to the cable.
No-one puts a fuse in a plug to save their precious wire from being damaged.
The equipment should also have an internal fuse.
They indeed should have internal fuses, BUT, many of the fuses are placed AFTER the mains transformer which are not unknown to develop short circuits, plus any internal mains filter components are usually BEFORE the internal protection fuses, so in that situation a faulty unit could be allowed to draw up to what the mains plug fuse is rated at. Given that we have standard mains plug fuse ratings of 3 amp, 5 amp and 13 amp, the first two ratings probably would not cope with 4 units connected simultaneously, so the natural remaining rating is 13 amps. I did in fact produce a "Hydra" mains cable set with KK until I realised that there wasn't a fuse I could fit to the mains plug without compromising safety, so I abandoned it for that reason.
Yes I know full well that the fuse in the plug is there to protect the mains cable in the event of a major fault condition, but that assumption is made when it is assumed that only ONE electrical item is connected to that plug and sufficient gauge of wire is being used in the cable to pass on the fault condition to the trip circuit in the consumer unit without the cable burning out.
Reid Malenfant
12-02-2011, 20:45
What no 7 & 10Amp fuses? :scratch:
Or do i have obsolete stock :eyebrows:
What no 7 & 10Amp fuses? :scratch:
Or do i have obsolete stock :eyebrows:
I believe they used 7 amp fuses in the floodlights and 10 amps fuses for the workmen's kettle when Stonehenge was being built :lol:
Reid Malenfant
12-02-2011, 20:56
I believe they used 7 amp fuses in the floodlights and 10 amps fuses for the workmen's kettle when Stonehenge was being built :lol:
:D Ah well, at least i'll be fusing any plugs correctly :)
If you wish come over to me and you can hear mine I use Balanced mains but a bit more costly than the link I put up, nothing snake oil about balanced mains, most studios now use balanced mains
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/balanced_power.html
Can I have a link to exactly what u use then please :)
Surely without a fus in the plug if there was a fault the rcd in the consumer unit would trip instantly if there was a fault!
Surely without a fus in the plug if there was a fault the rcd in the consumer unit would trip instantly if there was a fault!
That again is assuming that all consumer units have RCD devices fitted
Can I have a link to exactly what u use then please :)
I have the prototype of this http://www.madengland.com/product.power.php?key=25&page=3 The transformer weighs about 29kg but its not cheap. It replaced a PS Audio P500. Really makes a huge difference in my system but items like this will depend on the quality of the mains in your house
I have the prototype of this http://www.madengland.com/product.power.php?key=25&page=3 The transformer weighs about 29kg but its not cheap. It replaced a PS Audio P500. Really makes a huge difference in my system but items like this will depend on the quality of the mains in your house
Can't see a price, do u havevany idea?
My current distro uses unfused IEC plugs. I have never had a problem with fuses. The equipment should also have an internal fuse.
DITTO:)
Can't see a price, do u havevany idea?
Not sure best to contact Tim at MAD I would guess around £1500 its in the same ball park as the PS Audio gear but cheaper than the Russ Andrews Balanced mains transformer
I'm looking for something to replace my rubbish Maplin mains block with, but don't want to spend £'000s. Apparently there was a huge sale on the Belkins a while ago and was hoping some bargain hunter is now finding it surplus to requirements.
Or anything similar for relatively cheap (<£250) that I can try to see if it makes a difference?
Cheers
Retief
Another typical mains thread with the originator probably thinking shit what have I let myself in for. :)
Everyone trying to be helpful no doubt but the thread will go on for months with numerous posts saying I use this and it's great and the originator ending up totally confused and sticking with what he had originally!
If we lined 100 audiophiles up in a line my guess is over 50% would think mains is a waste of time and are using a B&Q special 6 way power strip for £5 (most would be Wigwam Members as well), then I guess a large majority of the rest would have A Tacima CS929 as they sell around 40,000 of those a year so the law of averages says a lot of systems will have them in the UK, next it will probably be Isotek in some form or another then when we get down to the last few it would be airlink, PS Audio, Nordost, Oyaide, MAD and other less well known brands, then the final few who have not yet come forward are the ones who have made their own.
Not sure best to contact Tim at MAD I would guess around £1500 its in the same ball park as the PS Audio gear but cheaper than the Russ Andrews Balanced mains transformer
Why bother mentioning it as this thread is for someone looking to spend under £250 boss....:)
£1500 is way too steep for a mains conditioner isn't it....:lolsign:
Cheers John, will have a chat with Tim, was looking at a Pure Power initially as they apparently are better than the PS Audios, does it have 2 outlets?
It has four outlets
I prefered mine to the PS Audio P500 it was quite a reasonable improvement as when I loaned it I could not go back to my PS Audio gear; but this kind of stuff really depends on your home so I would see if you can get on a 30 day trail.
Another typical mains thread with the originator probably thinking shit what have I let myself in for. :)
Everyone trying to be helpful no doubt but the thread will go on for months with numerous posts saying I use this and it's great and the originator ending up totally confused and sticking with what he had originally!
If we lined 100 audiophiles up in a line my guess is over 50% would think mains is a waste of time and are using a B&Q special 6 way power strip for £5 (most would be Wigwam Members as well), then I guess a large majority of the rest would have A Tacima CS929 as they sell around 40,000 of those a year so the law of averages says a lot of systems will have them in the UK, next it will probably be Isotek in some form or another then when we get down to the last few it would be airlink, PS Audio, Nordost, Oyaide, MAD and other less well known brands, then the final few who have not yet come forward are the ones who have made their own.
I don't think that was post was at all necessary David. Other forums maybe, but on this particular one I believe we are entitled to hold views and opinions provided they serve a purpose, are put in a reasonable manner and not personal or defamatory.
I still think the OP should buy a Belkin because I have first hand experience of their capabilities, but the OP will no doubt plough his own furrow.
You asked for opinions on your new Hydra lead and I mentioned a reservation I had about using the appropriate fuse rating you would be fitting, that was all. No drama, no hissy fit, no accusations of snake oil or foo, but a genuine question about safety that in all honesty I think you should have addressed.
Ali Tait
15-02-2011, 07:22
Yes agreed. Safety should always be paramount where mains is concerned.
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