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Please assure me I'm not going to burn my house down.

I recently bought some new mono class D amps to replace a stereo class D. I had a pair of identical diy power cords connected to the stereo amp and my preamp.

Well, with monos I was obviously going to use the identical power cords. So I needed a new PC for my pre, as the older diy version I had laying around just used thhn wire from Lowe’s and didn’t sound great. So, after some thought and research, I decided to make a PC out of cat 5 plenum cable. I kept it in its blue sleeve (containing 4 twisted pairs) and then I braided 3 lengths together for each conductor. I then took those three braids and braided them. What I have sounds incredible and I’m fairly confident that it is safe electrically.

Please reassure me. Or tell me I forgot about x, and that I should cease and desist. Or laugh at how cheap I am...

But really, I’m not going to start a fire here, am I? 8 conductors per length x 3 lengths for each conductor equals 24 strands of 24awg. Which equals 10awg for each conductor...
128x128toddverrone
toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone OP
838 posts
 
@terry9 the cable is well terminated. I stripped the individual wires and crimped spades at the end of each bundle. I then put heat shrink up over any bit of exposed metal, other than the spade. These babies are solidly terminated.

As for the Teflon melting, that will obviously not be a problem with all the conductors functioning, which they will be. 

Great points, though.

So far, I've not really heard any valid reasons backed by theory, other than @erik_squires suggestion that the insulation may not be up to the task..
mr_hosehead
200 posts
 
Do you live alone?  And alone in a single-family house, not an apartment/condo/duplex where others live in the same building?  If you'd answer "no" to any of that then please just get a commercially acceptable power cord.  And please get it now - you just cannot do that to others...

There are some very good reasons there are regulations, etc. about stuff like power cords.  And it does matter - I still have vivid memories of a couple of guys scrambling down a stairway yelling "Fire!" many, many years ago and what caused that is probably not much different than your creation.  It's really, really just not worth that.


erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Well, mine was more than just theory. It’s also legal liability.

Imaging trying to explain to a judge that the 4 house fire you caused should not have happened because you used 4 network cables braided together, and that you HAD to do it because your DAC was too bright otherwise...

I woudln't want to be in that courtroom at all.

Use only cables approved for use as power cords or get a hobby that doesn't risk your life and that of others.

Best,


E
toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone OP
838 posts
 
You guys are great. Truly. Erik, I appreciate your no BS attitude. I’m curious, though, why other diy power cable threads haven’t gotten this rawkus. Is it the cat5e cable, or my edgy headline? Because I’ve made other power cables and mentioned it in other threads, as have others, and this is the first talk I’ve heard of houses burning down and liability and such. I do realize I started the house burning down talk.. :-)

I did just find, buried in the NEC, that UL listed communications cables are rated to, at minimum, 300v. 24awg solid copper can handle .6 amps. I have 24 strands per conductor. As long as I terminated everything well, in terms of electrical theory, is there a safety problem? That’s my real question. Not liability. I understand that part..
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,534 posts
 
Here’s a test for you - go to Home Depot and buy what ever length of cord you need replace your CAT5 cable with this
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-10-3-SOOW-Black-600V-By-the-Foot-55809799/204632922
Its 10 gauge too so you will compare apples to apples, then let us know if you - truly - hear any difference. This wire is designed for what you use it for.

Good listening

Peter
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