Power Cable DIY - Please advise


Hi,

Im planning on building a pair of DIY power cables, I have shortlisted a few cables and connectors, please feel free to recommend which one to purchase.

Furutech FP TCS31
Acoustic Revive Powermax 10000
Acrolink ???
NeoTech NEP 3200

connectors... Furutech FI 28/E38 or FI50 gold or rhodium??

Thanks in Advance
narcissus

Technically speaking, there is nothing to stop you from wiring in some normal GTX receptacles and FI-28 male plugs to a UK 220V circuit. It should handle it just fine (it’s just a metal conductor), as long as you stay within the equivalent amperage (at 220V, you wouldn’t want more than a 10 amp circuit). Where you would get into trouble is that you would probably be doing this against local UK wiring codes. I don’t know the UK standards, but this could affect things like insurance claims if somehow this outlet caused a fire. Even though you know it’s a 220V circuit, there’s always the risk of some idiot plugging in a standard 125V device and causing that device to fry itself and possibly cause a fire or more.

Even the US has strict codes on what kind of outlets are placed. You can refer to this chart to see.

http://www.digikey.com/en/pdf/q/qualtek/nema-chart-non-locking-plugs-receptacles

When looking at normal 15 amp circuits, you can choose a 5-15 outlet or a 5-20 outlet. The 5-20 outlet has a special blade insert which allows both 5-15 and 5-20 plugs to be used. However, that 5-20 plug cannot be inserted into a 5-15 outlet (this is mainly a safety measure from the wiring code to prevent over-extending a particular 15 amp circuit and causing electrical fires/problems).

There is also a special 220V outlet in the US called 6-20. You need a special industrial plug for this and it’s really not used for electronics unless you want to use something like a brass Hubbel 220V plug. Again, the reason for this special blade configuration is to prevent someone from plugging in a normal 125V device.

As far as the outlets, if you want to do the wiring yourself and understand that it’s a 220V circuit, feel free to use a GTX on this.  Just make sure your electronic equipment is setup to accept 220 volts.  Once again, I don’t know your local UK codes and what is acceptable and what’s not. This would violate any wiring codes in the US for sure.

http://www.vhaudio.com/acreceptacles.html

VH Audio here in the USA also sells UK and Schuko outlets and plugs, if your interested. I’m sure there’s a UK source for Furutech plugs.

As far as IEC inlets are concerned, I have used the Furutech IEC inlets successfully.  I have both fused and non-fused inlets.  They are a good addition to your equipment.  VH Audio sells them as well.  I'm sure you can find them somewhere in the UK.

http://www.vhaudio.com/connectors-ac.html#IECinlets

Just make sure the dimensions of the inlet and the mounting holes line up exactly.  In my opinion, the IEC inlet upgrade gives you a subtle improvement in sound, but it's not as large of an upgrade as a excellent power cord.

I agree with them and this is exactly what I use: 
Furutech GTX [receptacles]
Furutech FI-03(G) [fused IEC inlet]
Synergistic Black [fuses]
Iego 8085 [plugs]
Yarbo SP8000PW [power cable]

@geoch 

Any specific reason why you use the FI03 G fused inlets
synergestic black fuses & the yarbo sp8000pw cable?
I tried several different brands of power cords. Finally, I realized best solution would be to make DIY PCs. Neotech is a very good choice. I have some Neotech PCs that I assembled myself. The connector side is very tricky on assembling. Neotech 3200 is an old version made ~2004 and some vendors still carries those. They have well articulated bass but somehow being shy on high frequency sides. New version of these PC are NEP-3001,2,3  MkIII which are UP-OCC Copper / Silver  Hybrid. NEP 300X III series are more balanced all over frequencies and are much better than old series.

Just be aware that Break-in period for Neotech cable and components are about >300-350 hours!!! That's what I was told by authorized Neotech representative.

Male/IEC Connectors- Furutech is basically very good. However Neotech PC are better served and sound better by using their own connectors or IeGO 8085 on male and Neotech GOld on IEC! To find the best PC, I tried Fi-11N (Male), FI-15-PLUS Gold and R, Fi-25R or G, Fi-28R or G, IEGO Gold, Silver and R. After testing, I still have some of those connectors in my storage!

BTW, IEGO Power cords are very good and well balanced with excellent sound stage too,  compared to Furutech PCs.

hope that would help ...

cheers.