separate spur from 3*5sqmm to 3*10sqmm

Posted by: Ulrich Hohn on 17 February 2002

I run a separate spur from the consumer unit (fuse box) 3*5sqmm 14m long.

I asked my dealer and here the forum whether 3*10sqmm improves the performance of my hi-fi system. Nobody could let me know. Thus I let insert the new 3*10sqmm cable the day before yesterday.

One cannot connect 10 sqmm cables with a plug. So in the hifi-room the three 10sqmm cables were connected to six 2,5 sqmm cables each 0.15m long. Each of the 9 cables are connected with two screws, thus altogether 18 screws.

When I could restart the system, I was very surprised: I thought, the system sound louder, but it was quieter. I turn now the volume button about 25 degrees more. Beforehand there was noise a fog, which now disappeared. The heights are clear without sharpness. Basses come more clearly and with larger reproduction. I heard never as a good system as my last night. For NAP500 owner is probably inevitable this installation.

Ulrich

Posted on: 18 February 2002 by John Luckins
It did for me and I'm not just showing off. I found a very large improvement when going from 6 to 10 mm squared cable. I had the old 6 mm to hand still and found that a single feed of 10mm cable was better than two separate feeds of 6mm, one for Amps and one for source.

My next move was separate earth which was an even better improvement. It allowed my CDSII to resolve much more detail. I am now experimenting with different types of cable. Obviously safety is paramount with an eye on house insurance at all times, but there are much better cables out there than solid core mains. Not all of them are expensive either. My best earth was using 4 AWG Maplin 1050 strand car stereo power cable. Current rating in excess of 100Amps.

I did find 25mm squared mains cable the other day. This is normally used for the "tails" from the meter. I know that this would be better than 10mm but a little tough to work with. If there was a safe way to use the 1050 strand cable for the live and neutral with safety then I would.

John

Posted on: 18 February 2002 by Ulrich Hohn
John

The fuse box of my house ist connected to 5*10sqmm cable. Do you think that more than 3*10sqmm cable can improve the sound of my
system?

Ulrich

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by John Luckins
Ulrich

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 5*10mm (is that conductor area or outer dimensions). When I am talking about 10mm squared cable I'm referring to the area of individual conductors in UK Solid Core mains cable. The choices we have here are 2.5, 6 and 10mm squared. This is double insulated twin and earth which mean duoble insulated live and neutral and an unsheathed earth. 25mm is also available in single conductor lengths for connection to the fuse box from the meter. This is the one I'm going for once I have checked with my insurers and the regulations. What you describe may be your national equivalent of this in which case I'm sure it is better than anything smaller. I'll see if I can find a web site which describes when time permits.

These cables are starting to become a little unweildy.

As ever, Safety first!

John

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by Rico
Nice to hear from you, Ulrich. And congrats on your latest improvement!

Very interesting for me as I am about to add a separate spur myself.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by mykel
the conversion from the UK X mm2 to North American AWG ( American wire guage ) spec's

ie The cable I was looking at the other day was 10 guage, what would this be equivalent to in the UK system?

thanks,

michael

Posted on: 20 February 2002 by Ulrich Hohn
John,

My cable to the hifiroom consists of 3 individual cables, which are isolated. Everyone of the 3 individual cables has 10 square millimeter cross section. 3 the individual cables is again outside isolated. That outside diameters of the cable is 16.5 mm. It is much unweildy.

<<I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 5*10mm >>
Into the house a cable with 5 individual cables of ever 10 square millimeter cross section comes:3 duoble insulated live and 1 neutral and an unsheathed earth. I have 1 insulated live and 1 neutral and an earth connected to my hifiroom.

<<As ever, Safety first!>>
my cable was laid by a certified electrician. He said to me that he would not lay a still thicker cable.

Ulrich

Posted on: 20 February 2002 by Pete, Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know
Hi, Mykel

Check this out http://www.lexproducts.com/wireconv.htm

Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know

Posted on: 20 February 2002 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by John Luckins:
Ulrich

The choices we have here are 2.5, 6 and 10mm squared. This is double insulated twin and earth which mean duoble insulated live and neutral and an unsheathed earth. 25mm is also available in single conductor lengths for connection to the fuse box from the meter.


John,

there is also a 16sq.mm cable, which is supposedly, not much more difficult to work with than 10sq.mm. I guess it might (just) fit into standard mains fitments, where tail cable surely won't.

What size fuse/MCB are you planning to install?

I suspect that using a reasonable sized fuse/MCB may negate the benefits of outlandish cable specs, and putting a massive fuse/MCB in the fuse box would make for the possibility of an absolutely lethal accident before anything might trip.

At the very least I would suggest that an RCD before the fuse-box would be mandatory with such an overkill (literally) setup. The MEM A100HE is recommended by Russ Andrews, although again, would it negate the benefits of the huge cables?

cheers, Martin