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Best DIY power cable. Why not make?

Ok perhaps I don't get it.  You have hot, neutral, ground and connectors.  I am looking for advise from those that have found the secret sauce in making power cables or at least those that have had great success.  With all the quality cable and connectors why not make your own?  I refuse to pay $2,000 plus for a power cable that would take a hour to build.  I am seeking your guidance and suggestions.  Thanks!   
goose
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 

@williewonka

I think that construction with symmetrical gauges and equal quality conductors on all three legs is appropriate for a balanced power configuration. With a balanced power transformer, ground is separate from neutral, and +/-60V is developed across hot-ground and neutral-ground legs, totaling 120V between hot and neutral. For that application I build a PC with a three-twist of all 10awg silver conductors built up from 20awg .999 dead soft silver strands. At current commodity pricing for silver, that’s just $275 for a 1.5m PC.

williewonka
3,082 posts
 
@dgarretson - I agree with your design approach - specifically for that application - it makes a lot of sense.

May I suggest braiding the three main conductors - not twisting them - it should improve dynamic performance and noise floor even further.

My helix design is for individual component power cables only.

I’ve never dealt with balanced power - thanks for that info.

Regards - Steve
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
I may try your recipe for the next one.  So far, I'm using a variation of a VH Audio recipe: hot and neutral in a twisted pair, surrounded by the ground wire in a counter-spiral.  For shielding, that bundle is slipped inside a braided copper tube that is grounded at the pronged plug and floated from the IEC plug.  These PCs are killers with Furutech FI-48 ends.  For the next one I'm trying the new Oyaide AP-and AC-004 connectors.  The Oyaides are more economical and look well designed.
jb0194
476 posts
 
Nanotec Systems #308 wire and Furutech FI-11 connectors make a nice PC at reasonable cost. Add a few pennies worth of black heat shrink tubing to the ends for a professional look. 
jb0194
476 posts
 
Nanotec Systems #308 wire and Furutech FI-11 connectors make a nice PC at reasonable cost. Add a few pennies worth of black heat shrink tubing to the ends for a professional look. 
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