TNT TTS Mains Cable

Full details of these easy to build (no soldering!) cables are at
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/ttse.html
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/tts2e.html
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/tts3e.html

Cable originally specified was Pirelli Screenflex S2 featuring the double shield (aluminium foil + copper braid) and two 1.5 sq.mm stranded copper conductors. People found it difficult to obtain this so Baldassari cable a single shield only was later recommended. But this cable is also not available now.

Now there is a cable that is better than both! Should be perfect for making TNT TripleT, which is claimed to be much superior to TNT Merlino.

Two 12-gauge conductors, Teflon insulation with double foil/braid shield.
Three of these braided together for the TTS would carry some power!!


Belden 83802
Number of Conductors: 2
AWG: 12. Stranding: 7x20, Conductor Material: TC - Tinned Copper
Insulation Material : Teflon® (FEP - Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene)
Outer Shield Material : Aluminum Foil-Polyester Tape/TC & Tinned Copper (Beldfoil®)
Outer Shield Coverage: 100%
Outer Jacket Material : Teflon® (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene)
300Volt, 25 Amp
Overall Nominal Diameter: 0.303 inch

TakeFiveAudio.com (Canada) are advertising at C$3.55 a foot - C$2.99 a foot if you buy 100 feet.



Micromark Multi-Way Mains Plug shown below has the capacity to connect up all those cables and will give a perfect 'star' connection.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/hydra_e.html

Available from Maplin. Part No VD02C

 

Looks good, is anyone going to order some?

 

There must be a supplier in the UK for this Belden cable used for 'Fire Alarms'

Shipping from Canada could be expensive. And there is a chance that HM Customs will charge import duty on it. Unless it is sent privately as a gift from someone in Canada.

 

BM, unfortunatly our lovely HM customs have caught onto the gift idea, over a certain amount (i think its around 40 quid) and they'll still nobble you

 

Yes but what about if they put on it that it has always belonged to you and they are just posting it to you because you didnt have enough luggage space on your last flight back from Canada?

 

A hifichoice forum member with friends and relatives in the US recently imported few Wattgates that cost £20 in UK and $20 RRP in the US.

He let me have a couple for £12.50p each including recorded delivery!

Belden 83802 is made for supplying Fire Alarms
There must be a supplier in the UK.

If everyone keep an eye open, good chance of finding it.

 

maybe try wholesale places that supply to the fire/security companiess. Maybe you might find it or something similar.

Have you tried emailing Belden and asking if they have a UK distributor that stocks that cable?

 

TY Penance
Made a few phone calls today. Best deal was from one of the top Belden Distributors in UK, Anixter. They found an off cut at Belden US.

Price £234.23p + VAT for 105 feet
So the cost to make 1 meter TTS Mains Cable will be £27.52p.
Not bad considering the spec.

Anyone interested in group purchase?

 

That ain't cheap . There can't be much in it to ordering it from Canada at c$3.99 per foot, plus you don't need nine other people to make it viable!

 

Would cost £17.11 at the Canada price to make a 1m one, before import tax etc.


Plus remember nobody has made one yet so we dont know how good it would sound, although the teflon insulation cant be a bad thing. If anyone decides to order some let me know, I'd be interested in making one.

 

Remember folks that as long as your item is under £18/22 Euros before you add post and packing then it is exempt from import duty/tax. So by Hodgesaargh's calculation you'd be able to import the materials to make a one metre cable without having to pay any additional duties.

 

What's the website of the Canada stockist?

 

www.takefiveaudio.com though be aware that the price of the cable is now CA$4.35/ft.

Also here is a website detailing costs for importing etc. might be useful to anyone thinking of ordering this cable or any hifi stuff from abroad.

http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm

 

That's a HiFi website though they're gonna charge more arent they. You really want to find a place that isnt selling it for HiFi. Call me cynical but...

 

The price increase is actually due to Bleden increasing their costs and so forcing suppliers to adjust their costs accordingly. True they are a 'HiFi specialist' but you also have to take into account that the majority of Belden stockist are industrial suppliers and you'll be lucky if you can find one willing to sell you cables by the metre. Hence you have to rely on HiFi stockists/small shops/individuals who have ordered a reel and therefore must make a profit on that investment.

Edit: By my calculations even with the 'price hike' of CA$0.36/ft you'd be looking at approx £17.74 to order enough cable to make a 1m power cord.

 

Price quoted by the Belden UK Distributor is £234.23p + VAT for 105 feet.
So the cost to make 1 meter TTS Mains Cable will be £26.21p

A Belden Distributor, Anixter (Tel: 01895 818181) charging more than a hi-fi retailer

Though in the past I have come across £1 for $1 pricing policy by some US companies.

 

Right, first I've done my calculations on buying in approx. 3m of cable which would probably give you a finished product of slightly less than 1m due to the braiding. Also I've not included any shipping costs as they don't list them on the site, you need to contact them for a quote. So you'd need to factor that into the equation. The UK distributor appears to be charging more as they have to cover their costs i.e shipping, paying the duty on the item etc.

 

Thanks to Dave, a forum member, much more comprehensive details of making this cable is now at his website:
http://www.davewhitter.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tnt_tts_mains_cable_has_been_aro.htm

 

Job - would mos def be interested in getting hold of the necessary length to build 1 * 2m TTS. If you are building TTS to sell I would certainly have one off you in the same vein as the Merlino's you sold to me.

 

OK Greg, if enough people show interest I will look into the possibility of importing a reel from a US based Belden Distributor. Should work out much cheaper than Anixter and Takefiveaudio.com