Determining current flow to install "audiophile" fuses.

Aolmrd1241 4-7-2016 9:46am EDT
I read somewhere that only the direction of the ac [in a fuse...or power cord for that matter] towards the business end of the component[what is heard] is of any value in directional break-in ,hence, the reason there is directionality in a fuse used in an ac circuit is because of the cycle going to... and not fro. For what its worth,it sounds plausible.

While it is true that in the case of an AC mains connection energy is being transferred essentially in just one direction, from the outlet to the component, a fuse in that path has no way of being aware of that direction. All it has knowledge of is the current flowing through it. It is not even aware of the voltage of the AC, unless it is blown or in the process of blowing. And that current flows to and fro, as you put it, alternating its direction every 8.33 milliseconds in the USA and other countries having 60 Hz AC, and every 10 ms in countries having 50 Hz AC.

Also, upon careful reading it appears to me that the statement you referred to is an example of what is known as circular reasoning.

Regards,
-- Al

You really can't pose any argument or meaningful discussion with subjective opinion regarding magic fuses or any other technically questionable tweak…if somebody "feels" their hifi has an improved soundstage, instrument tonal quality, or any other improvement from a premium FUSE (!), it has to stand…among those who have had a suspicious relationship with SR fuses (seriously overblown prattle that should raise eyebrows implying a commercial connection with the manufacturer) the arguments regarding the cheapness of the product relative to other tweaks ("the BMW cost you 50 grand, why not spend $300 on valve stem caps?") is lame on it's surface. By asking potential buyers to spend hundreds or many hundreds of dollars on something costing 20 times what it should (relative to other, non precious fuses) since "you can return the item before 30 days," plays to the fact that most simply won't bother to return these things or will keep turning them around to test directionality or adding more break-in time because they really really want them to work. This desire to hear things that might not exist because you paid dearly for it, and ego driven desire to not be left out of some "extra sensitive hearing" club drive most audio silliness and distract from actually valid or perhaps useful information that keeps the hobby rolling along.

Well I guess if one is a theoretical physicist one can propose pretty much anything they want.  After all it's all, you know, theoretical.   Some might even buy into the theory.   Funny how these things work.  

Also so I feel slighted a bit in that I don't expect others won't hear something just because I didn't yet some expect most all will because they and others think they do.  All that despite the fact that even the most knowledgeable EEs on this sight have clearly expressed their views which normally get a lot of traction but cannot convince some that the benefits may not be as predictable as some think.   I guess the 30 day guarantee makes it safe but really how many are going to bother to return something that at worse causes no harm?

just saying.  Too much hype with these fuses in any case IMHO.  

Mapman wrote,

"Well I guess if one is a theoretical physicist one can propose pretty much anything they want. After all it’s all, you know, theoretical. Some might even buy into the theory. Funny how these things work.

Also so I feel slighted a bit in that I don’t expect others won’t hear something just because I didn’t yet some expect most all will because they and others think they do. All that despite the fact that even the most knowledgeable EEs on this sight have clearly expressed their views which normally get a lot of traction..."

Actually the whole directionality thing is probably more of a physics issue than a EE issue, which is probably why we cannot seem to get any explanations from EEs. I have been involved with the atomic physics of crystals for eons. One need look no further than my Brillaint Pebbles, the first comprehensive application of mineral crystals to high end audio and I won’t get into the paper I presented in school at the national AIAA conference on the design of a low thrust rocket engine for interplanetary travel that employed metal crystals bombarded by high energy Xenon ions to develop a net thrust from atoms sputtered from the metal surface. Ergo, for the metal conductor of cables, you know, what with the crystal lattice strictest that get deformed when the wire is drawn through the final die, and of fuses, the directionality they exhibit is acually a physics issue more than a EE one.

George’s latest input duly noted. I appreciate all the angst nevertheless, guys.

Geoff Kait
machina dynamica
no goats no glory