Re: [AH] IEC power cable specs for synths? (WAS: grrrround loop)

From Ben Bradley
Sent Wed, Jun 13th 2018, 04:10

If anything, you should keep your "non-ROHS" cables as long as you can
to keep them out of landfills.  Maybe by the time they're thrown out,
actual recycling will be done, whether things are sorted out as
"recyclables" or just thrown in the trash. Offhand, I can't think of
anything "bad" in old power cords anyway - I agree there's probably
very little solder, whether it's old and includes lead or not.

As for 12AWG vs. 14, I can't imagine this being important for anything
called a "synthesizer." It might make a difference for a 1,000+ watt
power amplifier. I'm guessing the smaller 14 gauge would be easier to
flex and move out of the way.

What you really might want to get is a few "short" 12, 24 or 36 inch
power cords for equipment that's in a rack and within foot or three of
an outlet, where longer power cords are just extra cable in the way.

On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 11:17 PM, Brian Willoughby
<xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>
> On Jun 12, 2018, at 3:12 PM, Andre Majorel <xxx-xxxxx@xxxxxx.xx> wrote:
>> On 2018-06-12 17:09 +0000, M V wrote:
>>> Hi all, this convo is well-timed as I am looking to replace a
>>> bunch of generic/aging IEC power cables in my studio with new
>>> ROHS-compliant ones.
>>
>> You seem to think that replacing non-RoHS cables by RoHS cables
>> constitutes an upgrade but the reliability of lead-free solder
>> is lower rather than higher.
>
> That=E2=80=99s a bit of an internet myth. Proper manufacturing with lead-=
free solder is extremely reliable. If you=E2=80=99re working by hand with d=
ated equipment and don=E2=80=99t update your process, then of course you=E2=
=80=99ll have poor results. RoHS requires higher temperatures, but that=E2=
=80=99s not very difficult to achieve. There are also many different qualit=
y levels of lead-free solder, so the cheapest would expectedly be poor perf=
ormers compared to the quality stuff.
>
> I don=E2=80=99t imagine there=E2=80=99s much solder in a power cord. The =
wires might even be welded rather than soldered. Most likely, these RoHS ca=
bles have removed lead from the PVC casing and insulation. The solder is a =
non sequitur.
>
>
>>> I'd also be curious to know if anyone has any specific brand
>>> suggestions. Digi-key has a wide range and while I recognize
>>> that outside of specialist audiophile-marketed cables they are
>>> all probably similar, having some some of that choice reduced
>>> would be helpful!
>>
>> My only suggestion would be to not fix what's not broken and
>> worry about the next item down the list instead. :-)
>
> That=E2=80=99s excellent advice!
>
> My Sequential Circuits Pro-One still has the original power cord that app=
arently was dragged on the freeway between gigs, grinding down the pins to =
a 45-degree angle at the tip. Until it stops powering up the synth, it won=
=E2=80=99t get replaced.
>
> Brian
>