DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Do It Yourself - everything from building your own hardware to room
treatments.
Post Reply
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4565
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:50 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by admin »

I recently bought a new turntable that did not come with a power cord. I figured that as I was making a set of RCA cables, I might as well do a custom power cable as well. I decided to to a "tri-weave" cable. I think it came out rather nice.

I found some rather inexpensive but very well made standard outlet and IEC plugs made by a company called Viborg. I was really surprised by the quality. Sold metal housing, well made clear plastic plug holder, and I really liked how they have 4 individual cord fasteners (vs the usual two way compression method). The rhodium plating also looks really nice and gives the metal a mirror like finish. They look really great and feel solid in your hand.

Viborg Audio Rhodium Plated US AC Power Plug Connector IEC Female Connector

I braided a standard power cord to make a "tri-weave" pattern. The cord feels very sturdy. With the triple cord, it could potentially handle 45 amps no problem (although the plugs do not support that level of current). Wasn't really the point as the turntable draws well less than 100 watts.

I also used my favorite "snake" design techflex wrap.
20170726_134648.jpg
20170726_134648.jpg (319.23 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
All finished. Next to the RCA cable I made as well.
20170725_122501.jpg
20170725_122501.jpg (291.82 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Unwrapped from the box.
20170725_122955.jpg
20170725_122955.jpg (300.43 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Unscrewed and ready for assembly.
20170725_143950.jpg
20170725_143950.jpg (276.84 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
I basically used a long power extension cord wire cut into three equal length pieces.
20170725_181940.jpg
20170725_181940.jpg (155.38 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Temporary held together so I could do the "tri-weave."
20170725_181949.jpg
20170725_181949.jpg (249.98 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Tri-weave done and I am pushing on the techflex.
20170725_182925.jpg
20170725_182925.jpg (115.32 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Heat shrink placed.
20170725_183137.jpg
20170725_183137.jpg (152.24 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Nice and tight.
20170726_080041.jpg
20170726_080041.jpg (125.96 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
Wires firmly attached and ready for the housing to be placed.
20170726_081019.jpg
20170726_081019.jpg (293.47 KiB) Viewed 3867 times
All nice and snug.
-admin
Home Theater in Member Gallery
Main stereo: ART Amplifier and ET7s2. 2nd stereo: PV-14L and MV-55. Previously Owned: PF2 preamp, Evolution 2000 Amp, PV-12AL preamp, D/A-2b Vacuum-Tube Digital Processor.
User avatar
Joe Appierto
Pro Master
Pro Master
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:04 pm
Location: NJ

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by Joe Appierto »

Very, very nice. I always have great admiration for those who are good with their hands. Enjoy!
Oppo BDP-105D and PSA DS DAC
C-J CA200
Polk T50
In-Akustik Exzellenz Cat 6, Kimber IC, Q-Audio SC, Blue Circle and Acrolink power cords; PSA Juice Bar and Duet PLC
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4565
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:50 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by admin »

Thank you for the kind words. I had them in my system this weekend and finally had the opportunity to put in a few hours of serious listening with the new turntable. So far I really like what I hear. It also looks nice as now I have a number of cables with the "snake" techflex design in the setup.
-admin
Home Theater in Member Gallery
Main stereo: ART Amplifier and ET7s2. 2nd stereo: PV-14L and MV-55. Previously Owned: PF2 preamp, Evolution 2000 Amp, PV-12AL preamp, D/A-2b Vacuum-Tube Digital Processor.
User avatar
AnotherJohnson
Ultimate
Ultimate
Posts: 5199
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:29 pm
Location: Tennessee

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by AnotherJohnson »

It is a very professional, well finished job.

The Chinese are making similar, but badging them as Krell, PS Audio, etc. Krell may have been among the first to exploit audiophiles with a proprietary EXPEN$IVE power cord, and Chinese counterfeiters quickly exploited the exploiter.

I bought a Krell badged and a PS Audio badged off eBay to check them out. They were of high apparent quality. Both were two meters. I used them to power my biamped Krell KSA150s. Swapping back and forth, and using other power cord options never produced any discernible differences. But they looked cool.

When I sold the Krells, I included the OEM power cords (they were standard heavy duty 20 amp wire with 15 amp plugs).

I offered the Krell and PS Audio badged cords on eBay, with the disclosure that I was representing them as “badged,” but not as authentic. I did not, and do not, know if they were authorized, but I suspect and suspected they were not. I priced them as though they were heavy power cords, but not as though they were really as badged.

I sold them both for about $100 each, which was about what I’d given originally. But not without harassment from someone protecting PS Audio. He bought the PS Audio, but wanted to argue about it, and not pay. He was a real PITA. I convinced him that it was not a crime to resell something on eBay if it were legal to own and not represented as something it was not. He finally agreed. I let him off the hook. And sold it to someone else as a probable counterfeit.

Admin, your cord is worthy of counterfeiting 🥶.
Meanwhile, I know that you know that turntables draw almost nothing … even fancy turntables with laser pickup sensors.

Did you try it on your big SS amp too?
It’s just stuff. I like mine. I hope you like yours. I probably like yours too.
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4565
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:50 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by admin »

I tried it on multiple units. SS (CJ Evolution 2000) and tube amps, preamps (including phono), and digital sources. Having IEC power plugs on all these make it really simple to change and try. Again, no appreciable difference in sound to my ears.

It's nice to have a custom length for keeping the cables tidy.
-admin
Home Theater in Member Gallery
Main stereo: ART Amplifier and ET7s2. 2nd stereo: PV-14L and MV-55. Previously Owned: PF2 preamp, Evolution 2000 Amp, PV-12AL preamp, D/A-2b Vacuum-Tube Digital Processor.
User avatar
AnotherJohnson
Ultimate
Ultimate
Posts: 5199
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:29 pm
Location: Tennessee

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by AnotherJohnson »

admin wrote: Sat Feb 26, 2022 10:21 am It's nice to have a custom length for keeping the cables tidy.
That’s for sure. That’s my major complaint about the high end CJ OEM cords. They’re way too long in my applications.
It’s just stuff. I like mine. I hope you like yours. I probably like yours too.
User avatar
roberto
Ultimate
Ultimate
Posts: 2330
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:02 am
Location: Costa Rica.

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by roberto »

I do recommend for long cables do not do a round shape in any excessive long cable, power or interconnect. The round shape is a coil...and a coil is not wanted where there should not be. A "S shape" is the way to shorten a long cable.
ML CLX BF-210 Stage X Motion 4. CJ 120SE amp ET7V2 pre, Holo May Kte Dac. Mac Pro. Power Cond. BPT Signature+ 3.5, Gaia II Feet. USB Lush^V3. Nordost SPM IC and Spk. Shun Mook, BCanto CD2 CD3. Linn LP-12/Unitrack tonearm/Denon DL103R MC.
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4565
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:50 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by admin »

Roberto is correct. A coil will amplify the electromagnetic strength generated by the current. An S ship, I like to think of it an an "infinity sign" will cancel each loop out.
-admin
Home Theater in Member Gallery
Main stereo: ART Amplifier and ET7s2. 2nd stereo: PV-14L and MV-55. Previously Owned: PF2 preamp, Evolution 2000 Amp, PV-12AL preamp, D/A-2b Vacuum-Tube Digital Processor.
Pops110
Frequent User
Frequent User
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2022 6:12 am

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by Pops110 »

They come up really nice, good work.
The connectors look really solid and well made, might have to check them out and see if they do Aussie plugs. I made some power cables a little while ago for my power amp out of some really heavy duty shielded cable I grabbed when I was working on the new Childrens Hospital in Perth.
I used some cheap tech flex but really doesn’t look as good as yours, where buy it?
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4565
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:50 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Re: DIY Tri-weave Power Cable

Post by admin »

They are techflex. https://www.techflex.com They have an amazing selection of weave styles and multiple material types. I would check out their website as I'm sure there is something there that you would like.

The design was "rattle snake" but I'm not sure if they still make that as I bought it about 10 years ago.
-admin
Home Theater in Member Gallery
Main stereo: ART Amplifier and ET7s2. 2nd stereo: PV-14L and MV-55. Previously Owned: PF2 preamp, Evolution 2000 Amp, PV-12AL preamp, D/A-2b Vacuum-Tube Digital Processor.
Post Reply