HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

I'm finally making changes in the house and will be fitting a couple of radial circuits back to the incoming electrical supply Henley Blocks (with relevant safety bits and pieces).

Planning on using unswitched BS546 sockets at the equipment ends - any recommendations on the best quality sockets to use? I've been wondering about sourcing some old sockets (I remember using really good quality Bakelite ones when younger, but I guess these won't have shutters on the Live and Neutral to meet current safety requirements).

Cheers. Bill

I haven't found unswitched but MK still make them switched. This is the company I use https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/M ... dDEALw_wcB

Ah! found a MK unswitched one https://www.ryness.co.uk/mk-k772-15-amp ... yFEALw_wcB

Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:35 am Ah! found a MK unswitched one https://www.ryness.co.uk/mk-k772-15-amp ... yFEALw_wcB

Unfortunately the page currently has a note "email me when back in stock"

There is a listing at ebay for the same socket.

Thanks - I'll get hold of one and check the quality.

Cheers. Bill

I've managed to get hold of a couple of fairly old (1970's or earlier) unused MK unswitched BS546 sockets (they look to be better quality than modern ones made at lower cost) - they even have shuttered Live and Neutral so should also be legal!

I'm now thinking about the most suitable type of cable to use for the radials - I've got a roll of 10mm T&E hanging around and can simply just use this, but might a different configuration (or quality) be better? The 10mm T&E only contains a 6mm Earth core (I'm using Class 1 equipment), and I'd really prefer a lower impedance earth. Also, might a twisted Live/Neutral configuration reduce pickup of noise on the radial and be worthwhile? Any benefit in using something like CY cable with 3 twisted cores and a copper screen?

In reality, I don't suppose many people have done comparative tests!

Any thoughts?

Cheers. Bill

Don't twist any cables. Proximity creates capacitance.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-l ... e=armoured

The best one in their range but expensive https://www.screwfix.com/p/prysmian-lv- ... lack/93861

The armour acts not only to protect the cable but as a Faraday cage on the cable.

Would you connect the armour or leave it floating, with just the 'earth' core connected at the Consumer Unit and the BS546 socket?

Thanks. Bill

It is a Faraday cage why in hells name would you want to connect it to earth, if you do that it becomes a screen, they are different.

Like most things there is so much bollocks talked about Faraday Cages, it would make Faraday turn in his grave.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/faraday-cage.htm