What did you do to your stereo rig today?
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So, I have been wanting to run a dedicated 20A 120v line to my amplifier for a while, but it's a nightmare to get wire pulled from my listening room (upstairs second floor) to the breaker panel in the basement. I had been planning to do this for at least a year, so knowing that I had a long weekend, I ordered everything to do this. The wire is something I found on Ebay. It's a 12-3 oxygen free copper, silver plated conductors, with Teflon insulation. The wire is aircraft rated and at 600v 200c, so 120v is a cake-walk for it. The termination is a hospital grade hanging receptacle, and a brand new 20A breaker at the panel. What I'm hearing is by far the greatest improvement I have heard from my system to date. Wow! I should have done this a long time ago!
Congrats on your upgrade! 20a dedicated circuit is a must. -
Severe weather forecasted here for the next few days, so I unplugged everything.2ch rig: Speakers: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods Preamplifier: Parasound P5 DAC: Fiio K13 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)
Standby: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands -
@WilliamM2 the cable has three conductors. There's no bare copper wire, just three insulated conductors. There are no wire nuts in this run, and the hospital grade hanging receptacle is suitable for stranded conductors.
Is there a link? I'd like to check it out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296124364484
This is what I used. I think they only have one 23 foot length remaining.Enjoying the journey while never attaining the destination. -
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/296124364484
This is what I used. I think they only have one 23 foot length remaining.
I can't see any markings/labels on the outer jacket of that wire, not even gauge? That would be a code violation here.
Not sure about the non standard wire colors. No green or black.
What made you go with a completely unknown wire? Safety first. -
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@WilliamM2, I'm not sure why you're not aware of mil-spec or aircraft wire like this. The numbers are right there in the picture man.
I didn't see any markings on the jacket (or the wire) in newbie306's link. I know here, that's what the inspector looks for. For instance, making sure outlets all have 12ga wire.
And why would I be familiar with aircraft wire? I've never wired one. Is it approved for residential use? If so, fine, but I have doubts, and also wondered about the non standard wire colors.
Looks like it's ETFE and not PTFE as well, which has a lower operating temp. 150C instead of the 200C claimed. -
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@newbie308 I'm not trying to add to the controversy (lol) but what is meant by a hospital grade "hanging" receptacle. I know hospital grade but hanging?George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
I think he means isolated ground- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Honestly if that is your main concern then I'm sure you know exactly the type you need to use.
Personally I wouldn't use it in this application myself. I'd either go with individual stranded conductors if I needed high flexibility or Romex if flexibility was not a concern in 10 or 12 gauge.
My main concern would be fire, And if it did happen, the insurance/fire inspectors finding something in my electrical panel that should not be there.
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Honestly if that is your main concern then I'm sure you know exactly the type you need to use.
Personally I wouldn't use it in this application myself. I'd either go with individual stranded conductors if I needed high flexibility or Romex if flexibility was not a concern in 10 or 12 gauge.
My main concern would be fire, And if it did happen, the insurance/fire inspectors finding something in my electrical panel that should not be there.
My question is what does the building codes say, in the latest NEC standard? Voltage rating is definitely good. Teflon insulation is good to a higher temperature than what is used in Romex. It has a military grade to it. What is it missing that the code requires.......UL listing?
I suppose they don't pay for testing by Underwriter's Laboratories since it isn't marketed for residential/commercial use, even though it would pass with flying colors. Might not be fun to argue with a building inspector about this though.
https://www.sycor.com/blog/post/mil-spec-wire-explainedGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
In my experience, a code inspector would agree to pass it if you paid an electrical engineer to say it's good- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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If you are getting it inspected, I would hesitate using it, the inspector might want to see a spec sheet if the wire isn't labeled. Inspectors are out of their depth most of the time with anything out of the ordinary.
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Done correctly I do not see that(fire hazard)as an issue. That jacket material is used to help negate that moreso than vinyl jacket. I can see the insurance negative to it, as I work in insurance. So I'm not disagreeing with that. I've used this type mil-spec/aircraft wire in audio projects many times.
I'm sure you didn't run it in the wall.
As he said, it's a lot of work. I'd use the correct wire in the first place. And I don't want to do all that work, and have a chance of hassles later. -
I think what I would do is contact the company that manufactures the cable and ask them if it has been tested by a NRTL (nationally recognized testing laboratory), of which UL is only one of them, and what the name of it is. Then you could give that info. to the building inspector or insurance investigator should it ever be required. From some comments on an electrical forum, the NEC can't specifically require UL listing, only that it is "listed".George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
That is in a nutshell why they went to different colored romax jackets, inspectors didn't want to take time to "inspect". Oh thats orange jacket (10ga), hey the outlets are yellow (12ga) and the lights are white (14) hey you pass👍
Exactly. I used piece of WHITE 12/2 w/ground Romex from my neighbor (less than 10'), because I ran short when wiring my garage. I had to make the inspector read the the jacket. He had to call someone to make sure it was okay, he had not seen white 12/2 before. It was on a lighting circuit, but all breakers are 20 amp.
My house was built in 1975, and the original wiring is all Anaconda Duratex 12/2 w ground, some is white, some is black. -
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Gardenstater wrote: »@newbie308 I'm not trying to add to the controversy (lol) but what is meant by a hospital grade "hanging" receptacle. I know hospital grade but hanging?
The shop I worked in always referred to a single receptacle that connects directly to the end of a cord as a "hanging" receptacle. Like this:
https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Leviton-8319-Ct-Black-Hospital-Connector-Nma5-20R/5655658
Enjoying the journey while never attaining the destination. -
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That is Mil Spec wire. It's also Coast Guard approved for marine applications. I used this exact stuff to rewire my boat. I'm pretty sure it's acceptable for residential use as the military uses it in all their land based facilities. As for whether it would be a better audio grade replacement than standard Romex only the end user would know but it's pretty cool...Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre Upgraded with Mundorf Supremes
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
Big shout-out to my (our!) friend & hifi fellow traveler @Clipdat for kindly & graciously enabling me to audition a pair of JJ 2A3s in the JE Labs "Simple 2A3"!
Rated for 40 watt plate dissipation. 
The JJs have a very good reputation in terms of modern 2A3 options.
I am excited to be giving these largish-bottles a whirl, and very appreciative of Drew for providing them!
So many folks here have been so darned nice to me -- and (with no false modesty) I really haven't done much if anything to deserve the kindness that's been shown to me here over the years.
DSC_0858(2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
I'll be tryin' to get the boudoir photography image of them illuminated by the glow of their own direct-heated cathodes after dark tonight. Hubba-hubba!
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Oh, yes you have!
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My pleasure, Mark. Enjoy!
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Oh, yes you have!
It embarrasses me to think about it. So many nice (and generous) folks...
The only - weak - response I can muster (other than true gratefulness*) is the occasional funky Karma.
Time for another one, methinks!
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* is that even a word?
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I am rewiring the entire rig today. Trying to chase down a ground loop or unwanted noise when certain things are hooked up after a recent addition. This required that I break down half of the rig in order to get to the space I need to redo/reroute the wiring.
We were not built as a species to do the human pretzel thing. That much, I can tell you.
Hopefully, all of this work will yield pleasing results. *crosses fingers*.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Good luck on your mission! Ground loops are a PITA sometimes.Enjoying the journey while never attaining the destination.
