Strain relief - IEC

You are on the right track. Common 15A. IECs are a degrade sonically to a 20 A. IEC with a DC 2A3 SE amp, so....I recon hard wiring the AC cord to the chassis will be the best sonically.

The IEC when removed leaves a large hole. I know of NO way to easily plug it up.

I might take a piece of tubing, cut open down its length, and use it over the hole's edges, so the incoming AC wiring does not chaff on the edge of the chassis' hole. I'd use one of the two chassis' empty IEC mounting tab holes to hold a beefy "P" clip which will strain relief and hold in place internally in the amp the hard-wired AC cord.

Jeff Medwin

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 13, 2014 at 10:35:15
Triode_Kingdom Audiophile Posts: 10049 Location: Central Texas Joined: September 24, 2006	"Common 15A. IECs are a degrade sonically to a 20 A. IEC with a DC 2A3 SE amp, so....I recon hard wiring the AC cord to the chassis will be the best sonically. " Quality IECs do not degrade sound quality. The OP is likely embarking on a difficult project for no sonic reward.

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 13, 2014 at 16:12:59
wheezer Audiophile Posts: 4309 Joined: January 24, 2001	Size up a Rigid reducing washer with a threaded cord grip strain relief.

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 14, 2014 at 07:46:27

drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005

Sorry, nope.

On any really good system, a 15 A. IEC into an amp is an easily audible degrade, versus a 20 A. IEC.

Also, a hard wired, well-soldered connection would be better than an IEC of any type or of any rating, just less convienient.

Jeff Medwin

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 14, 2014 at 08:18:23

Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10049
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006

No, you're wrong. Say it a thousand times, it still won't be true, wait a thousand years, there still won't be any scientific basis for such statements.

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 15, 2014 at 09:58:17

Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004

There are many reasons a 20A is superior. Look at both and compare the surface area. But the real improvement comes when one compares how they fit and stay "together". I don't know anyone who hasn't had a 15A IEC come loose out of a piece of gear when using 14 gauge or larger power cords. There is just not enough length and surface area on a 15A prongs. All good hi-fi gear should have 20 IEC regardless of its current consumption for superior power transfer and the superior physical connection.

ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 17, 2014 at 17:11:16

wood1
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Location: northeast
Joined: March 8, 2012

Hubbell makes a nice one. I got mine at Grainger and their part # is 2DPE6. It requires a 1" hole so when going into a standard IEC opening width wise you are fine but top and bottom will need to be rounded. With the hex flange base the original width should be covered. They also sell an appropriate fastener for inside the chassis. There are different inner diameters available to suit your particular cable. With the fastener I believe they are less than $10.00/ea. This unit is plastic/nylon and a little industrial looking but serves it's purpose nicely. I believe Oyaide has one made out of aluminum and it's a little sleeker and anodized black, price is north of $200.00. I have always hardwired pc's to my amps. It eliminates a connection which can be troublesome. An amp/amps are frequently the closest component to the speakers. Couple that with a higher degree (get it) of heat generated by the amp and you have potential issues. I will agree with AWE-D-O-FILE 100% in that a 20a IEC is a superior connection as compared to a 15a IEC. The increased surface area of the connectors alone SHOULD make that a no-brainer.

The only caution I would offer would be two fold. 1 : after dressing the cable if you choose to do so I cover the portion that will sit inside the strain relief with 2-1 thick adhesive shrink followed by Techflex Ultarclear which is a thick pcv shrink. When tightened down you have no chance of pulling the cable out of the strain. 2 : If your connections inside the amp are plug on or go into a terminal strip with locking screws then great. If the pc gets soldered right to a circuit board then be sure that you like this pc as the amount of heat required to properly solder a 12awg or larger wire will be damaging to a circuit board if done often enough. Good luck and have fun.

RE: Strain relief - IEC, posted on August 18, 2014 at 07:49:07
setamp Audiophile Posts: 48 Location: pittsburgh Joined: November 3, 2009	Lots of good info here. Thanks!

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Strain relief - IEC

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