MCB & other Breakers : Not to be ignored when perfecting audio powerlines

[Kingrex]

I could possbly build a subpanel up in the USA like your panel. Question becomes, sometime back the NEC started demanding "assemblies " be UL listed. For instance, refrigeration guys would build panels like that in the field. Then inspectors started failing them and they had to buy them complete. It would probably come down to a testing agency stamp. It does not have to be UL. There are other accredited testing agency that are accepted in the USA.

 

[CKKeung]

DOEPKE DFS 4 & KEMP ELEKTRONIKS SUPREME³ CARTRIDGE REVIEW

Mono & Stereo High-End Audio Magazine: Magico - Nagra - Tidal Audio - Wilson Audio - MSB - Totaldac - Living Voice - Taiko Audio - Aries Cerat -Thrax

www.monoandstereo.com

 

[Marcus]

Waiting for installation...

 

[Blackmorec]

Waiting for installation...

View attachment 71880

Just a heads-up. There are compatibility issues between a Doepke Switch, a Gigawatt switch and the rest of the components in your consumer unit.
The best solution is a dedicated Consumer unit for the Doepke and Gigawatt, using Henley blocks to T-off 25mm2 tails directly after your meter.

What are the problems?

Firstly, the cable inlets dont align. Doepke inlet is at the front of the switch and Gigawatt at the rear, so you can‘t use a bus bar for the phase feed.
Then, the inputs are at the top of the Doepke and at the bottom of the Gigawatt, so you need a decent piece of 16mm2 cable to connect the 2 (See diagram below)
Finally, the Gigawatt switch isn’t the same depth as regular circuit breakers, so doesn’t completely fill the switch access cutout in the front cover of the consumer unit.

FYI, here’s pictures of the finished supply, the meter tails and a diagram that I handed to my electrician before he got started

Having said all that, the combination of Doepke and Gigawatt significantly outperforms my previously installed dedicated lines based on a regular RCCB and cut-out switch and German-made Klangmodul (Sound module) fuses. The extra work was well worth it.

 

[Rocoa]

DOEPKE DFS 4 & KEMP ELEKTRONIKS SUPREME³ CARTRIDGE REVIEW

Mono & Stereo High-End Audio Magazine: Magico - Nagra - Tidal Audio - Wilson Audio - MSB - Totaldac - Living Voice - Taiko Audio - Aries Cerat -Thrax

www.monoandstereo.com

View attachment 71873

I'm afraid this guy doesn't know the gigawatt yet

 

[Marcus]

Just a heads-up. There are compatibility issues between a Doepke Switch, a Gigawatt switch and the rest of the components in your consumer unit.
The best solution is a dedicated Consumer unit for the Doepke and Gigawatt, using Henley blocks to T-off 25mm2 tails directly after your meter.

What are the problems?

Firstly, the cable inlets dont align. Doepke inlet is at the front of the switch and Gigawatt at the rear, so you can‘t use a bus bar for the phase feed.
Then, the inputs are at the top of the Doepke and at the bottom of the Gigawatt, so you need a decent piece of 16mm2 cable to connect the 2 (See diagram below)
Finally, the Gigawatt switch isn’t the same depth as regular circuit breakers, so doesn’t completely fill the switch access cutout in the front cover of the consumer unit.

FYI, here’s pictures of the finished supply, the meter tails and a diagram that I handed to my electrician before he got started

Having said all that, the combination of Doepke and Gigawatt significantly outperforms my previously installed dedicated lines based on a regular RCCB and cut-out switch and German-made Klangmodul (Sound module) fuses. The extra work was well worth it.

Thanks for your comments Blackmorec. My photo doesn’t show a dedicated “hi-fi branch” where’s more than enough space, so I think my electrician will be able to install all new devices as you suggested.

 

[Kingrex]

Folks using gigawatt and Doepke. Any chance you can share thoughts on sonic performance. I have a UL panel shop that can make assembly such as the European consumer units. I can use Carling CB, SqD Multi 9. Maybe even Gigawatt. But Carling can make a custom run if I buy enough.

I'm wondering the sonic advantage. What about that Doepke with gold contacts. I don't usually like gold. Its great for corrosion resistance. But it can get bass heavy and color the sound.

Let us know if you got any sonic improvements over the stock breakers in your panel.

 

[auricgoldfinger]

Folks using gigawatt and Doepke. Any chance you can share thoughts on sonic performance. I have a UL panel shop that can make assembly such as the European consumer units. I can use Carling CB, SqD Multi 9. Maybe even Gigawatt. But Carling can make a custom run if I buy enough.

I'm wondering the sonic advantage. What about that Doepke with gold contacts. I don't usually like gold. Its great for corrosion resistance. But it can get bass heavy and color the sound.

Let us know if you got any sonic improvements over the stock breakers in your panel.

You can buy Gigawatt made for the U.S. All you need is a subpanel with a DIN rail. Not a big deal at all.

 

[Kingrex]

You can buy Gigawatt made for the U.S. All you need is a subpanel with a DIN rail. Not a big deal at all.

I still want to know if they sound any better than a plain old QO or Multi 9. Thats what matters.

 

[auricgoldfinger]

I still want to know if they sound any better than a plain old QO or Multi 9. Thats what matters.

My point was you do not need to pay Carling for a custom run when they already manufacture the Gigawatt for sale in the U.S. market.

 

[Kingrex]

My point was you do not need to pay Carling for a custom run when they already manufacture the Gigawatt for sale in the U.S. market.

Their spec sheet says built to Ul. I don't know if it's on the breaker. But who cares if they are sonically the same as every other breaker. That is my point. I am looking for performance. I would like to hear peoples impressions of the product.
I am still looking at options. I think I have another route that is promising. But I'm open to whatever configuration works best.

 

[Blackmorec]

Their spec sheet says built to Ul. I don't know if it's on the breaker. But who cares if they are sonically the same as every other breaker. That is my point. I am looking for performance. I would like to hear peoples impressions of the product.
I am still looking at options. I think I have another route that is promising. But I'm open to whatever configuration works best.

Hi there,
Before I installed the Doepke differential switch and Gigawatt breakers I was using a standard 100A cut-off switch with 2x 30A Klangmodule fuses in a dedicated consumer unit. These were connected via 2x 6M runs of Acrolink P4030II Stressless cable to 2 each Furutech unswitched duplex sockets. I was perfectly happy with the performance of the fuses but sockets without RCCBs no longer meet UK code and I didn’t want anything in the house that could be dangerous to myself of future users.

So how did the new switches change my system’s sound? I would say that the major changes were in:
Frequency extremes
Vibrancy of the music
Colour saturation and density
Pure energy

Bass, which was already very extended thanks to Devialet’s brilliant SAM (Speaker Active Matching) took on a more physical, visceral nature across the entire lower bass spectrum. I can now feel as well as hear the bass, and not only on the loudest, deepest notes. The bass now seems to have an ‘energising’ character which is extremely pleasant and a joy to experience. There’s not a trace of emphasis and the bass is extremely clean and pure with oodles of detail and timbre....even the quietest notes....but the music and the soundstage now has a new foundation that I can still feel even when the amplitude is below the threshold of my hearing. The top end, which again was already beautiful thanks to Magicos incredible tweeters took on additional sparkle and shimmer and above all energy and vibrancy. My hearing is pretty good for my age, but I don't hear a great deal above 12Khz, yet it feels like I’m hearing 18KHz. There’s now a level of energy combined with purity and transparency that is again thrilling to listen to. Well recorded cymbals sound incredibly realistic, natural and exciting. Overall, the music has taken on greater ‘density’ and the music is more ‘solid’ with a greater physical presence. The mental picture of individual musicians weaving musical magic is likewise enhanced.
Am I happy with the new mains set-up? Absolutely! I already had an ‘audiophile’ level installation but the Doepke and Gigawatts increased my level of involvement and enjoyment and added measurably to the joy and thrill of listening.

 

[audioblazer]

Few days ago visited a friend . Big system with Gryphon Kodo , Mephisto monoblock & Gryphon Ethos . After listening to a few songs , we asked the owner what he has changed In the syst. All he did was to insert DFS 4 & DFS to his electrical panels & SQ took a quantum leap- a wow moment . Owner exclaimed, “ U have never praised my system before until today “. Definitely will investigate what DFS2 can do to my system .

 

[Marcus]

Doepke & GigaWatt installed..

 

[audioblazer]

Added a Doepke DFS 2 & Gigawatt MCB replacing a cryoed ABL Sursum ELCB & MCB . What an improvement even though it is not run in yet. Is like I just boosted my car performance by adding some super fuel addictive . Syst wise sounded like I upgraded my Vitus Masterpiece Monoblock . Awesome . 1 of the best tweaks I have ever done to my system. I did ground my syst with Frank PE35 Ground loop Emi Filter

 

[Papic971]

Hello Blackmorec
I think that picture 2 its OK.
Best.View attachment 70941

Hi ,
I come back to this subject which interests me a lot and This photo looks great, but can you tell me if the phase is black cable and neutral in blue please? because in France, the phase is black, brown or red) and the neutral is blue! I just have to installed dedicated circuits from the meter with 2-pole Gigawatt breakers and a Deopker Differential!

Thank you Very much !

 

[Papic971]

Waiting for installation...

View attachment 71880

I find myself with that also to install but from the meter! So separate from the house electrical panel! I will only have an array for my hi-fi system! Besides, I'm thinking of buying a second two-pole Gigawatt circuit breaker!

 

[Rocoa]

I come back to this subject which interests me a lot and This photo looks great, but can you tell me if the phase is black cable and neutral in blue please? because in France, the phase is black, brown or red) and the neutral is blue!

Yes, the blue cable is neutral in Spain too.

 

[Blackmorec]

Please bare in mind that these switches are potentially life saving devices and must be installed correctly. In addition the installation itself deals with lethal voltages and currents and really ought to be done by a qualified person.

 

[Papic971]

Yes, the blue cable is neutral in Spain too.

Thank you very much !

Please bare in mind that these switches are potentially life saving devices and must be installed correctly. In addition the installation itself deals with lethal voltages and currents and really ought to be done by a qualified person.

Yes I am well aware of it ! Thank you very much for caring !