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Where to buy Power Strip or Housing big enough for audiophile outlets?

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Posted on October 24, 2009 at 07:51:32
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 4834
Joined: April 6, 2000
 I am trying to find a power strip casing that has enough spacing to use audiophile outlets without having to cut off the metal ends. Where can I find casings like these?

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Decent quality and reasonably priced., posted on October 24, 2009 at 16:44:34
Paul_A
Audiophile

Posts: 1518
Location: New York City
Joined: April 3, 2000
Contributor
  Since: June 25, 2000

1/4" thick aluminum, copper and brass.
Check 'em out.

RE: Decent quality and reasonably priced., posted on October 27, 2009 at 14:56:19
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 5944
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 There did not seem to be any info on prices or how to buy. Do you have this informaton?

Dave

RE: Where to buy Power Strip or Housing big enough for audiophile outlets?, posted on October 24, 2009 at 16:31:15
bacobits
Audiophile

Posts: 556
Joined: September 29, 1999
 Here are some, aint cheap.

More, from China, pretty nice.
http://www.vt4c.com/shop/program/main.php?group_id=2&cat_id=1038#656

$300 just for casing? Just went to Home Depot, posted on October 25, 2009 at 15:16:00
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 4834
Joined: April 6, 2000
 I went to Home Depot and picked up some utillity boxes for my outlet boxes.

With Synergistic Research Tesla Plex outlet.

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Tesla Plex and ACME Cryo Silver Outlet.

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Right now, I made them just to function as straight extension cord/expansion box, but there is room enough in there for simple capacitors, Bybees, etc, should I decide to play with those..

OK, for better sound, posted on October 27, 2009 at 17:49:22
bartc
Audiophile

Posts: 3514
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: November 25, 2002
 Go back and buy the cast metal (non-ferrous, but not sure if it's all aluminum) outdoor weatherproof variety at HD or elsewhere. The ferrous ones you have aren't the best for sound. For a few dollars more you get much improvement, IME.

OK, I made the boxes again w/ non-ferrous case, posted on November 2, 2009 at 13:51:04
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 4834
Joined: April 6, 2000
 using the non-ferrous casing from Home Depot. I was able to take off the spring-loaded outlet covers, and the whole thing looks like a million bucks.

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RE: OK, I made the boxes again w/ non-ferrous case, posted on November 2, 2009 at 16:55:39
bartc
Audiophile

Posts: 3514
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: November 25, 2002
 OK, now follow Al Sekela's advice and break the ground loops the way he suggests. This is an easy improvement that you'll appreciate.

Also, you may not realize this, but there is a putty colored sheet material that electrical places sell that's used to create more of a waterproof seal (I think that's its use) for these boxes. It's cuttable and malleable. You can use it inside the bottom of the box by lining it to get some additional mechanical damping.

You may want to experiment with the ceramic cover plates to see if you like their mechanical damping effects (as opposed to the pot metal plate you have). I've used both kinds of plates and settled on the ceramic, but that's just me. Nothing hard and fast here!

FYI, these boxes also benefit from spike/cone footers or isolating footers too. Again, mechanically damping the case from the floor this time.

OK, now try breaking the conductive loops, posted on November 2, 2009 at 14:39:59
Al Sekela
Audiophile

Posts: 8279
Location: Northern California
Joined: February 18, 2002
 formed by the outlet back straps and the metal box. Replace one of the two fixing screws with Nylon, and slip a Nylon washer between the outlet and the box.

The outlet back straps and metal box form a one-turn transformer with the hot and neutral AC wires that pass on either side of the strap. Current delivered by the outlet causes current to flow through the back strap and box unless you break the loop.

Nylon screws..where?, posted on November 2, 2009 at 18:08:35
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 4834
Joined: April 6, 2000
 I briefly looked, but who carries nylon screws of appropriate size?

Home Depot used to have them., posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:57:20
Al Sekela
Audiophile

Posts: 8279
Location: Northern California
Joined: February 18, 2002
 I haven't looked recently, but I would not be surprised if they don't stock them anymore. Home Depot seems to be reverting to their old, repulsive habits.

There are plenty of on-line sources, or you can check with your local fastener supplier. Most larger cities have at least one company that stocks and sells a myriad of bolts, nuts, screws and similar hardware.

What you want is #6-32 by 1-inch binder head or similar.

OSH or an electrical supply store nt, posted on November 2, 2009 at 19:24:19
bartc
Audiophile

Posts: 3514
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: November 25, 2002

RE: OK, for better sound, posted on October 27, 2009 at 21:54:28
benie
Audiophile

Posts: 1050
Location: B.C. Canada
Joined: October 24, 2004
 I agree with bartc, for not much $$ these outdoor weatherproof type can make for a very good power strip. I used a few of these and have built some for friends.
I also have some 1/8 plate all aluminum boxes that are deeper, which is nice to have the extra room for filters, these boxes are only avible locally though.

You shouldn't need to cut off the "ears", posted on October 24, 2009 at 12:16:27
bartc
Audiophile

Posts: 3514
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: November 25, 2002
 There are sometimes tight situations where you might do that, but I've never had to!

YOu can DIY power strips from many different types of housings found at eitehr your local hardware store or an electrical supply house. I DIY mine from the aluminum (?) outdoor boxes at any hardware store; good metal shielding and not ferrous (magnetic). I've tried the plastic ones and the steel ones, but this is best IME. This is the basic idea of the Hotbox you see from VH Audio.

You can find commercial grade power strips of the kind in your top pic and swap in your own outlets. That's the easiest way to get that type. If you want one already commercially produced for audio use, check out Tweaks in the archives for posts about sources, but be aware that those can be very costly!

RE: You shouldn't need to cut off the "ears", posted on October 26, 2009 at 16:49:39
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 2061
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 Yes, as you said regular outlet boxes work, and you can get threaded "joiners" to make a longer strip.

The commercial units I've used are Hammond rack-mount outlet strips. Good space inside as they typically have only 2-3 duplexes in a 19" frame. Mounted several with my "own" outlets in a Hammond 19" rack-box. The box has some BP transformers, filters, and other crap in it...gets darn heavy.

RE: Where to buy Power Strip or Housing big enough for audiophile outlets?, posted on October 24, 2009 at 11:45:04
Palustris
Audiophile

Posts: 251
Location: Cape Cod
Joined: September 12, 2008
 cut off the metal ends

What metal ends? You can make a device like the bottom picture from parts available at Home Depot.

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