DOEPKE Residual Current Circuit Breaker AUDIO GRADE

CKKeung

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CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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CKKeung

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The non audio version sells for Euro 280 on amazon, must be decent quality to start with:

https://www.amazon.de/Doepke-FI-Sch...om-Schutzschalter-4014712215955/dp/B00O88HOUE
Thanks for this info.
Quite unexpected!

BTW I notice in Hong Kong that although many of the brands making RCCB & MCB are German brands, the products are NOT all made in Germany.
Nowadays many factories are located in Southeast Asia or elsewhere because of production cost considerations.
Maybe the quality is the same but I personally will buy only those labelled clearly that it's made in Germany.
 

Taiko Audio

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Thanks for this info.
Quite unexpected!

BTW I notice in Hong Kong that although many of the brands making RCCB & MCB are German brands, the products are NOT all made in Germany.
Nowadays many factories are located in Southeast Asia or elsewhere because of production cost considerations.
Maybe the quality is the same but I personally will buy only those labelled clearly that it's made in Germany.

The normal retail surely suggests “made in germany” :)
 

CKKeung

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The normal retail surely suggests “made in germany” :)
I forgot to mention on #6 that in Hong Kong some of these German brand products are without such a "made in Germany" label whereas some have the label and their prices do differ.
It's very obvious why that is so.
;)
 
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Rocoa

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Meanwhile please share with us WBF brothers your installation experience and its sonic effect/character.

Of course. I'm waiting to get it and I will do when installed.

I'm using an AHP fuse in the live siince many years ago, better than usual magnet-thermic disyuntors. Would you let me know if the Gigawatt G-C20A or G-C16A could outperform it?
I'm considering try it too....
I've replace the fuse some years ago after melt it.
fuse 1.jpg fuse 2.jpg fuse 3.jpg
 
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Rocoa

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I used to use a Siemens Sitor 690V/32A rated fuseholder similar to your AHP before moving to blade type fuses, those are rated for 690V/160A max but you can get 16A fuses for them. I’m pretty sure I was violating code with those

Thank you Emile,
I don't know these kind of fuses. I'm violating the code too:).
 
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Taiko Audio

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Thank you Emile,
I don't know these kind of fuses. I'm violating the code too:).

They are typically used for heavy gauge cable short protection to avoid fire, they blow VERY slow. It is similar to the open fuse photo you posted above but it is a silver plated solid copper bar which is rated for 160A. They drill holes in that which are filled with Tin. When its shorted, the bar heats up, the Tin melts and it breaks. So you have no significant losses over it until it heats up to much. This would take much to long to blow for general domestic safety protection.
 
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marty

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Alot more more expensive than the Gigawatt MCB!
Hope that its performance justifies its price!

Fascinating. Does anyone know if the DFS 4 F audio series in compatible with the US electrical code for circuit breakers? And if so, does anyone know who sells these in the US. I'd certainly try some immediately.
 

Taiko Audio

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Fascinating. Does anyone know if the DFS 4 F audio series in compatible with the US electrical code for circuit breakers? And if so, does anyone know who sells these in the US. I'd certainly try some immediately.

The datasheet doesn't say, note its not a circuit breaker, at least it wouldn't qualify for that in Europe for domestical applications at a 40A rating, here it would be a ground fault interrupter, are those standard fitted / mandatory in the US? This would only protect from for example touching live equipment chassis when you personally start conducting current to ground.
 
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asiufy

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The Gigawatt distributor told me these are not approved for sale in the US. Otherwise I would've been using them :)
 

marty

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The datasheet doesn't say, note its not a circuit breaker, at least it wouldn't qualify for that in Europe for domestical applications at a 40A rating, here it would be a ground fault interrupter, are those standard fitted / mandatory in the US? This would only protect from for example touching live equipment chassis when you personally start conducting current to ground.

https://www.elprocus.com/difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-rccb/

I'm not sure if the DSF 4 F units are RCCB or other? It seems the Doepke devices are indeed a GFI type device which in the US is only required if an electrical outlet is in close proximity to water ( faucet, bathtub, etc). Surely there is a knowledgeable electrician among us who can educate us as to what is required and appropriate?
 

Taiko Audio

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https://www.elprocus.com/difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-rccb/

I'm not sure if the DSF 4 F units are RCCB or other? It seems the Doepke devices are indeed a GFI type device which in the US is only required if an electrical outlet is in close proximity to water ( faucet, bathtub, etc). Surely there is a knowledgeable electrician among us who can educate us as to what is required and appropriate?

I think this is an ELCB. In The Netherland these are mandatory. We have mains fuse -> mains breaker -> ELCB -> MCB. Probably the same in Germany where these are made.
 

marty

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Taiko Audio

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CKKeung

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In Hong Kong, most audiophiles live in apartment buiding units.
Our home breakerboxes are with a main RCCB and MCBs for each powerline.
The apartment management offices usually don't allow us to mess with the building' main breakerbox which receives incoming electricity.
Therefore this Doepke RCCB with the Gigawatt MCB may be the best combination for HK audiophiles.
 
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