[ctviggen]

Anyone used Auricaps on their outlets, as described here:

http://vhaudio.com/acpowerconditioning.html

I have tried this.  I used a box remarkably like:

http://vhaudio.com/images/vhhotbox.jpg

I ordered 4 Auricaps, two for each outlet.  The VH audio site uses four caps and star grounding:

http://vhaudio.com/hotbox.html

I couldn't figure out a way to fit all four capacitors inside the box while still routing wires.  I did use two on one outlet, though.   I also did not use star grounding, as the NEC frowns on grounding to the box unless special grounding techniques are used, and I didn't want to go that far.

Exactly what is this technique supposed to do?  What are the differences between having two and four capacitors?  I'm assuming this is a "bleed high frequency stuff to ground -- at neutral" technique and that the difference between two and four capacitors (added in parallel) would be the frequency at which noise gets bled, but perhaps I'm mistaken.  

By the way, wiring a box this way (with 12 gauge home wiring) is much harder than it looks.  It took me hours just to wire the box and fit two capacitors in there.   Part of that time, though, was taking apart the old box.

[JoshK]

Bob,

Occam has spoken to this application before.  In short, be cautious as Auricaps are not X rated and fail short when they fail.  Technically one should have the caps after fuses if you are going to use Auricaps across the line.  

In essence we do the same thing after the transformers in the Felicia and many of the big name PCs do too.  Yeah it is a bleed noise to ground/neutral technique more or less (more in the Felicia and potentially other BP type PCs).  I think it can also have affects on the power factor.

[Kim S.]

A little over a year ago I bought a hot box from Chris and was very impressed.  As part of the deal at the time Chris threw in a free wall recepticle.  I decided to build one myself using auricaps ordered from Chris and the spare recepticle.   Chris was very helpful in giving advice.  He encourages  DIY.

I agree that a box with two outlets is very crowded.  The one I built had only one recepticle.  Its important that that the recepticle is isolated from the metal box for the scheme of connecting a ground wire to the metal box to work.  Some recepticles are built already isolated, some are not.  The free recepticle (I think it was a Pass and Seymour) was not so I did this myself.  I used liquid gasket and nylon screws to isolate it.

I use the homemade hotbox on my digital end and the storebought on my amplifier.  They do wonders.  Darker background, better imaging, etc

[speedcenter]

I used these Auricaps inside my transport BEHIND the fuse. There's a certain risk with these caps, if you read the small print on Chris' site. If you build an outlet box you should make sure there's some breakers in there in case the Auricaps fail.

The result of using these caps inside digital components is quite amazing. I read somewhere that the effect is less if you put the cap on the AC line away from the component.

The folks who make Auricaps sell a $3800 power conditioner that's essentially a big outlet box loaded with Auricaps (no transformer). There's a breaker or two in there to make sure it doesn't ever go up in smoke.

Peter

[Occam]

Well, I'll state up front that I think Auricaps do an excellent subjective job as accross the line caps. As to why they sound better than my favorite real X2 qualified cap, the Wima MP3X2, I don't have a clue. It might well be the goober dust.

That being said, I don't see any reason for inviting trouble, from either a legal or electical perspective.  If you do have a fire, the insurance adjuster is going to be interested in your DIY hotbox, as its obviously going to look like a DIY project. If they open it up, and see a cap that isn't X2 certified, and its obviously damaged (it doesn't matter whether it was the cause of the fire, just that it appears damaged), you've just given your insurance company an excuse not to pay the claim. And Lord help you if someone was hurt (or worse) in the fire. I'm certainly no lawyer, but I've dealt with an insurance adjuster in the recent past as a result of flooding due to a frozen pipe, and simply say that they're paid to be pricks. (apologies to any insurance adjusters out there, I know you're just doing you job)

From an electrical perspective, I'd suggest you put whatever non-X2 caps behind  fuse/breaker of whatever component has the smallest fuse. (and prefferably that component's switch, so that when turned off, its out of the picture). Ignoring the minimal inductance of your powercords, the cap is accross the line at the mains circuit level, providing 'cleanup' for all components plugged into that mains circuit. Installing caps on different outlets without intervening inductive components on the same mains circuit, is really the same as putting them all one the same outlet, save for the fact that its easier to mount multiple components in multiple places.
(the Audience Adept has intervening inductive components in the form of CMCs, common mode chokes isolating each outlet).
The reason I suggest this is the danger for ANY cap is not if it fails as a direct short or open. In the former, the mains circuit breaker blows, and in the later, the cap is out of the circuit. The danger is a leaking partial short, which is exactly what real X caps are 'guaranteed' NOT to do.  This is going to heat the cap, and possibly cause a fire...... but possibly not cause your 15/20amp mains breaker to trip. But if its behind the 1/4-1 amp fuse of your DVD player (or Felicia or whatever) chances are that fuse will blow before that cap gets hot enough to cause a fire. And besides, the adjuster is far less likely to find that non-X rated cap if its buried inside a commercial component.

As to why vendors can sell the 'Auricap tweek'  with non-X rated caps -
2, 4, 6, 8,
All you do is Incorporate!

They post their caveats and warnings, but when push comes to shove, they'll simply hide behind incorporation and have the corp declare bankruptcy if they loose a lawsuit. Or if they don't incorporate, they simply don't have enough personal assets to make a lawsuit rational.

FWIW

[Kim S.]

This talk about the potential dangers of the hot box type components is distressing.  I have one installed behind a Monster cable power strip which has a circuit breaker.  The other is behind a PS audio Ultimate Outlet which I believe contains a fuse.  Does this afford me any protection?

Also outside of the theoretical danger, which I agree is enough, does anyone know of any mishaps with this this type of equipement?

[mattybumpkin]

in my wall outlet, seems to work OK.  I did it about a year ago.  Please note thought that I am NOT saying there is no danger to their use this way, just that it has worked for me.

I do no know of anyone experiencing problems.

[Occam]

I've not heard of any 600vdc (the ones suggested for accross the line use on 120vac lines). But there are a few fires caused by approved X2 caps every year; because there are millions in use. The 'Auricap tweak' is simply not common enough to draw any statistically valid conclusions.

Its akin to saying -
'Well, I've never died from autoerotic strangulation....'  

Mattybumpkin - Putting a non-X2 rated cap inside a wall is courting disaster.

[westend]

Anyone used Auricaps on their outlets, as described here:

http://vhaudio.com/acpowerconditioning.html

I have tried this.  I used a box remarkably like:

http://vhaudio.com/images/vhhotbox.jpg

I ordered 4 Auricaps, two for each outlet.  The VH audio site uses four caps and star grounding:

http://vhaudio.com/hotbox.html

I couldn't figure out a way to fit all four capacitors inside the box while still routing wires.  I did use two on one outlet, though.   I also did not use star grounding, as  ...

If I'm not mistaken VH star wires the outlets and also grounds the box. In other words, the grounds from the outlets are separated from the box ground. They isolate the wiring of the outlets from the box. This is to insure spurious RFI from the steel box, if I read their literature correctly.