Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 14, 2022 20:00:59 GMT
A while ago, I started a project. The plan was to make a Busbar type power block, using a piece of copper flat bar and some copper crimps. However, it now appears that I need to audition some mains cable after a recent report from a very trusted gentleman. After the shuffle of the system, I no longer need long lengths, but seems to me that 35cm mains cables that i may want to sell once I have tried them, might be difficult to shift. With that in mind, we have decided to make a Shuko distribution block and I'll be keeping all cables to either 0.5m or 1.0m Here are the bits for the build.      The worst case scenario plan is to bypass the IEC inlet and wire directly to a junction box. Then star wire the first two sockets on either side, then daisy chain the following two. Best case will obviously be to star wire as much as I can, but the 2.5mm² solid core OCC may make that a touch tricky. We will see where end up, but I'm excited to start this project. |
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Post by rexton on Apr 14, 2022 20:08:04 GMT
Yes this looks a good shout. Marco over on AOS used to extol the virtues of this principle. Could make a neat project!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 14, 2022 20:20:41 GMT
Yes this looks a good shout. Marco over on AOS used to extol the virtues of this principle. Could make a neat project! Which principle, Star wiring or Shuko? |
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Post by rexton on Apr 14, 2022 20:40:19 GMT
Shuko. He had his system hard wired in some way shape or form, no fuses. It's a bit difficult to comment as I don't exactly know what he's done, he's also not been seen in the wild for nearly 6 months.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 14, 2022 21:01:29 GMT
Shuko. He had his system hard wired in some way shape or form, no fuses. It's a bit difficult to comment as I don't exactly know what he's done, he's also not been seen in the wild for nearly 6 months. Oh hope he's ok. I reckon the Reason I've gone for Shuko isn't the same reason most people do. Usually the decision is based on removing the fuse from the path. Mine is based on the quality of the connection. The spring loaded sleeve in the socket gives a larger, more consistent contact area. Simple reason, hopefully big result. |
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Post by rexton on Apr 14, 2022 21:15:14 GMT
Yes, lets hope that's the case. Getting rid of the fuse and IEC's must also be beneficial.
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Post by antonio on Apr 15, 2022 5:19:51 GMT
I've got a couple of Moonsaudio shuko plugs going spare  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 15, 2022 5:57:40 GMT
I've got a couple of Moonsaudio shuko plugs going spare Have you? I could have done with knowing that before i bought five of them lol Are they Gold Plated Copper? |
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Post by antonio on Apr 15, 2022 8:25:13 GMT
They might not be gold plated, just copper.
I'll bring them with me to your backyard, sorry Dudley meet up.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 15, 2022 8:34:39 GMT
They might not be gold plated, just copper. I'll bring them with me to your backyard, sorry Dudley meet up. Good man. |
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Post by misterc on Apr 15, 2022 8:58:59 GMT
Cross sectional area maybe one reason Oli the length of mains cables has been debated for many years. I have a fair number of client's who are almost religious concerning 1.8m. Others are quite robust about .75m. My personal ones are between 1 & 1.2m for 90% of the lengths
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Post by brian2957 on Apr 15, 2022 9:22:27 GMT
Bit off topic but years ago I built a mains block using these plugs and sockets www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363007463064?hash=item5484ee4e98:g:CfMAAOSwmFde0R~9These plugs are fuseless and are mainly used in , I believe, theatre lighting where the plugs are inaccessible for changing the fuse if it blows. Result was very good but I always worried if they were suitable for home insurance purposes. Always wondered if a Shuko mains block/plugs would be better. Hope your efforts pay off Oli. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 15, 2022 9:22:53 GMT
Cross sectional area maybe one reason Oli the length of mains cables has been debated for many years. I have a fair number of client's who are almost religious concerning 1.8m. Others are quite robust about .75m. My personal ones are between 1 & 1.2m for 90% of the lengths I read years ago that the ideal interconnect length is 1.8m......I will choose to ignore the mythical "ideal cable length" debate 🤣 |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 15, 2022 9:36:28 GMT
Bit off topic but years ago I built a mains block using these plugs and sockets www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363007463064?hash=item5484ee4e98:g:CfMAAOSwmFde0R~9These plugs are fuseless and are mainly used in , I believe, theatre lighting where the plugs are inaccessible for changing the fuse if it blows. Result was very good but I always worried if they were suitable for home insurance purposes. Always wondered if a Shuko mains block/plugs would be better. Hope your efforts pay off Oli. Yeah, I hear that mate. The safety of the device is absolutely top of the priority list. The case work will be earthed, as being metal it's highly conductive. The fuses will all be correctly rated and the Consumer unit was checked over last week as a matter of course of my PGIs around the house. Personally, I have absolutely no concern regarding the safety of the unit, or the Shuko plugs. There are correctly rated fuses in every device attached to the block, there will be a correctly rated fuse in the plug to the wall socket and the wiring and sockets are rated to carry around 16amps. The load is going to bloody tiny, but the maths has been done. The plugs are an interesting topic, as it says the EU plug/socket with protruding earth pin is legal in the UK, but the one without is not. Does not mention the fuse being a factor between the two, but as usual anything to do with legality in the UK seems to be written in such a way to make it impossible to get straight forward answers. The main issue appears to be around the effectiveness/presence of the side positioned earth contacts on the Shuko plug. The fact some EU plugged devices don't appear to be earthed at all isn't helping lol. So the emphasis on all the material I have read has been in regard to the earth connection. I am a qualified electrician, although well out of regs by now, but I have enough knowledge to ensure the safety of the device is above what is required by law anyway, may just not technically meet UK standards, but then neither do 90% of anything you buy out of China. There are homes filled with ropey looking Chinese units all over the UK.....this will not be one of them! |
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Post by brian2957 on Apr 15, 2022 9:55:28 GMT
Ah....didn't know you were a qualified electrician mate. I'm not, so there was always that niggling doubt. I did loads of reading and was 99% sure that the 15A round pin mains block was safe and within the law. But that 1% was always there. TBH the hifi is only plugged in when I'm at home as I'm lucky enough to have my own room for this purpose. The result of removing the fuses in the plugs (except the plug to the wall) were very good indeed. I'm sure the Shuko mains block you're building will give you the same result  |
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Post by misterc on Apr 15, 2022 10:22:55 GMT
Cross sectional area maybe one reason Oli the length of mains cables has been debated for many years. I have a fair number of client's who are almost religious concerning 1.8m. Others are quite robust about .75m. My personal ones are between 1 & 1.2m for 90% of the lengths I read years ago that the ideal interconnect length is 1.8m......I will choose to ignore the mythical "ideal cable length" debate 🤣 I did dismiss that one as well Oli.
However I genuinelly have at least five clinets where that is REALLY the ideal length and anything shorter (indentical cabling) just doesn't deliver the resuts, although not in my system
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 15, 2022 10:30:47 GMT
I read years ago that the ideal interconnect length is 1.8m......I will choose to ignore the mythical "ideal cable length" debate 🤣 I did dismiss that one as well Oli.
However I genuinelly have at least five clinets where that is REALLY the ideal length and anything shorter (indentical cabling) just doesn't deliver the resuts, although not in my system
I think there may be other reasons at work for that result T. May system doesn't seem to care what length the cable is, as long as its PC-TRIPLE C lol |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2022 11:50:40 GMT
Funnily enough, I use a schuko mains distribution block as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2022 11:56:16 GMT
You probabky need the CEE7/5 rated socket for uk compliance? This if the French/Belgian version as opposed to the CEE 7/3 socket, which is the german version?
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Post by firebottle on Apr 15, 2022 12:17:35 GMT
The plugs are an interesting topic, as it says the EU plug/socket with protruding earth pin is legal in the UK, but the one without is not. I believe it is because the side earth contacts don't necessarily connect first whereas the protruding earth pin does. |
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Post by misterc on Apr 15, 2022 12:21:44 GMT
Interesting that the German standard sounds better than the sticky out earth one lol
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 25, 2022 18:35:05 GMT
Postie has been. The PC-TRIPLE C mains cable is now on site 😁 The other bits are also in the UK, so I am hoping for more deliveries soon.  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 27, 2022 21:42:29 GMT
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Post by sq225917 on Apr 27, 2022 22:15:21 GMT
Thick wires, short cabling , decent tight connections, all you need. This looks like it ticks the boxes.
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Post by sq225917 on Apr 27, 2022 22:16:44 GMT
15amp round are entirely legal in the UK, you only have to fit a fuse of the plug takes one.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 9, 2022 14:01:44 GMT
The distribution block is done! It didn't blow up, so that's a win. Not listened to anything yet as the system is still in disarray, but will report the findings as soon as I can get everything back where it should be.   |
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Post by brucew268 on May 9, 2022 14:06:22 GMT
The distribution block is done! It didn't blow up, so that's a win. Not listened to anything yet as the system is still in disarray, but will report the findings as soon as I can get everything back where it should be. Looks the business! |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 9, 2022 14:15:50 GMT
The distribution block is done! It didn't blow up, so that's a win. Not listened to anything yet as the system is still in disarray, but will report the findings as soon as I can get everything back where it should be. Looks the business! Thanks Bruce, The cable looks a bit feeble, but I think it's probably the best mains cable we've found so I am more than happy. I have done a fair bit of experimenting lately and will share the findings. Just for fun. |
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Post by firebottle on May 9, 2022 14:26:03 GMT
I have got my system back together now, segregating all the mains down the side of the rack (up the corner basically) with the signal cables at the rear.
Good stuff with the dis block, we expect great things.
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Post by antonio on May 9, 2022 17:40:49 GMT
Looks great, have you removed the IEC connector?
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