High current power cables


Hello,

How come some manufacturers offer high current power cables for use with amplifiers and some don't? Is this to say that the companies who don't offer one have designed their power cables to work in any application? 

128x128blue_collar_audio_guy

its due to the fact that a solid 12 gauge wire has a much higher current carrying capacity than a stranded 12 gauge wire.

 

No matter how often you repeat something wrong it does not become right. At DC the stranded wire will be within 5% of the solid wire. That is by design. As the frequency goes up you either have inductance which will be the same for both or skin effect. The skin effect will be less for the stranded so it will by any measure be able to handle transients better though being realistic for a power cord they will be the same. That's real physics not the made up stuff you are typing.

If you mean that helix @williewonka , you appear to have made an air core inductor. If it does not work out for audio, maybe you can use it for your car?

 

 

 

@deludedaudiophile - actually my Helix DIY Cables perform extremely well and has been prefered by many people to some of the best commercial cables available, so they will not be going to the car just yet - but thanks for the tip

Just for your further edification - the Helix coil is attached to the neutral, so there is no impact to sonic performance.

  • However, if Helix coil is connected to the Live side by accident - then you will hear anomolies

Here is some light reading pertaining to cable design - it’s a worthwhile read

https://www.psaudio.com/article/cables-time-is-of-the-essence-part-1/
https://www.psaudio.com/article/cables-time-is-of-the-essence-part-2/
https://www.psaudio.com/article/cables-time-is-of-the-essence-part-3/

Also - here is a link to a table showing the current carrying capacities of solid vs. several different stranded wire options.

Regards - Steve

Just for your further edification - the Helix coil is attached to the neutral, so there is no impact to sonic performance.

That does not make any sense. From a circuit standpoint, live/neutral, whether you place in the live or neutral makes no difference. There is still an inductor in the circuit loop delivering current.

Reading what other technical cable vendors have written, it is best to keep ground and neutral at the same potential.

Also - here is a link to a table showing the current carrying capacities of solid vs. several different stranded wire options.

I had to consult with an EE but this took about 5 minutes to "debunk", or at least clarify. Here is the key point that you appear to have missed:

The table below indicates the current ratings of PVC-insulated single and multicore wiring cables.

That derating had nothing to do with stranding. It has to do with individual insulated wires being used in a cable, not single wires. It would apply to two solid insulated wires or two solid stranded wires equally. Basically your whole premise is founded on incorrect interpretation of a chart. Here is a link he sent w.r.t. the electrical code which mimics your chart approximately. He expect those numbers you linked are from an old electrical code.