RA super clamp

[siluro]

Hi people



Well i decide when i get round to it im going to use supra lorad but i was looking back at the ra stuff and seen these, i might still try the silencer but before i dive in head first i was going to try a couple of leads on the main parts first and partner the supra with a super clamp so, just wondered if anyone had any expirience with these good or bad?



lee

[Nic Rhodes]

bump, someone?

[juboy]

I have a RA extension lead with a super clamp fitted. As I understand it, the clamp is basically good quality surge/power spike protection. As I've never noticed any spikes prior to using the clamp, I can't honestly say whether it's made a difference. I just figured that it was a worthwhile safety feature to have protecting my kit.

[siluro]

thanks guys images/smiley_icons/icon_thumbsup.gif



I was sure i read that one of the parts in the super clamp was suposed to reduce mains interference but i just read RA`s leaflet and juboy your right it just says its a surege/spike device so god knows where i read that, oh well.



cheers

lee

[Slartibartfast]

I must say I've never really seen the point of these. If your mains routinely suffers spikes and surges, it would seem better to attack the sources of these and suppress them there. In any case, the VDR-type varistors in these devices will degrade over time if actually subjected to such surges and spikes regularly. In fact, RA recommends you have them replaced every 5 years.



When it comes to a lightning strike, I don't think the contents of a small plastic box is going to deter it too much. :o~:-o~:eek:

[siluro]

good point charlie, i was more intrested in the noise supression bit but, as i say god knows where i got that from.

[StooMonster]

I have more money than sense -- I have the MegaClamp option on a RA SuperPurifier.



RA say that Clamp range (Super, Mega, Ultra) of spike supressors improve sound quality because they supress spike that effects amplifiers' transformers in particular.



"High voltage spikes on the mains are a serious source of distortion in equipment. Because the quality and severity of the spike activity varies during the day, and from day to day, the sound of the system will vary and the effects will be greater at some times than at others. The average electricity supply receives transients of up to 10,000v. These can come from sources such as lightning, fluorescent lights, refrigerators and washing machines.



Although the spikes are inaudible, their effect is not. You only become aware of the degradation they cause when they have been removed. Solid state equipment, semiconductors and switching devices are particularly vulnerable to such surges and spikes.



The high voltage spikes cause audible degradation of Hi-Fi sound by their effect on the power supply of a piece of equipment and by raising the background noise level in amplification circuits. The spikes saturate the core of the mains transformer, preventing normal transformer operation during the period of each spike and causing distortion to the waveform.



Hysteresis bounce magnifies the voltage of the spike so that it appears even bigger on the transformer secondary winding, appearing on the output of the rectifier as noise. It can be seen then that the mains spikes reduce the capacity of the power supply by ‘strangling’ the transformer operation, producing effects on a power amplifier like softened bass and increased HF distortion.



The spikes also cause premature ageing and failure in sensitive components like transistors, diodes, microprocessors and integrated circuits. Cleaning high voltage spikes up will, therefore, give your electronic components longer life and lower repair bills." -- "The Power and The Glory: How to Upgrade Your Mains" by Russ Andrews.



Does it work? Unfortunately I upgraded all my mains -- cables, distribution, earth, sockets, etc -- at the same time. So I don't know if it makes an audible difference. Perhaps I'll unplug it and see.



StooMonster

[siluro]

Hi stoo, if ya get round to to it, it would be nice to see if ya find any difrence. not sure if im going to use them or not but its still pretty intresting.



lee

[Matt Horne]

As in my previous post.. save your money and get a olson block.. loadsa extra sockets + the mains filter.



Heres the website..they were so quick to deliver.



www.soundfantastic.co.uk



Cheers



Matt

[siluro]

Hey matt



If i had thought about the whole mains thing a month or so ago i would have jumped at using a distro block but, the rooms been done and i put all the sockets in i needed so it seems a shame to go that root now.



But cheers for the tip tho images/smiley_icons/icon_thumbsup.gif