Duelund conversion to DIY Helix Geometry Cabling

@dbass - here’s what I am using at present

• Interconencts:
  • 2 x 18 gauge solid UP-OCC copper for signal and
  • 1 x 16 gauge solid UP-OCC copper neutral conductor
    • Some prefer 2 x 16 gauge for the neutral
• Speaker cables
  • 2 x 14 gauge Solid UP-OCC for the signal conductor
    • optionally 2 x 16 gauge for the signal conductor, but on my system they both sounded the same
    • However, this may NOT be the case for all AMP/Speaker combinations - speakers that required a higher powered amp may require the 2 x 14 gauge option
  • 1 x 10 guage stranded silver plated Mil-spec wires for the neutral
  • but you could use 1 x 12 gauge or 2 x 12 gauge stranded Neotech UP-OCC also
• Power cables
  • 2 x 14 gauge Solid UP-OCC bare copper wire for the Live conductor for the heavy duty PC
  • 2 x 12 gauge stranded Neotech UP-OCC wire with Teflon insulation for the Neutral for the heavy duty PC
  • 2 x 18 gauge Solid UP-OCC bare copper wire for the Live conductor for the Source PC
  • and oyu can use 2 x 14 gauge stranded Neotech UP-OCC wire with Teflon insulation for the Neutral for the Source PC
  • 1 x 12 gauge copper wire with Teflon insulation from Home Depot for the Ground wire

I buy my UP-OCC 6N solid bare wire from parts connexion because I only use the Air adaption for all my Helix cables, which requires bare wire inside a teflon tube - it saves me having to strip the Teflon insulation off of the Neotech and I think it provided a little better dynamic performance

https://www.partsconnexion.com/occ6n-copper-hook-up-wire.html

They also have Neotech wire and many other brands

But shop around - there are deals to be had - just make sure you are comparing apples to apples

The silver plated Mil-spec I order from Take Five Audio - again there are alternative from other vendors, so shop around

Deep Cryo Treated Cable And Wire - (takefiveaudio.com)

Others on this thread prefer the Duelund with Cotton/Oil insulation for the signal wire on Interconnects and Speaker cables, but I prefer the faster dynamics of the UP-OCC copper on my system

But realistically - all of the wires I mentioned above are excellent performers when used for Helix cables - it becomes a matter of "personal preference" and how well a particular component works with the selected wire(s).

Hope that helps - Steve

Thanks Steve

                      The info helps a lot, as I am encouraging others to consider this design for their future cable projects, I am on boards as well, and have nearly all the materials to start.

The Power Amps are still to undergo conversion to Balanced, hence my slow to start performance.  

@williewonka 

Steve, just a comment on your proposal for power cords:

According safety regulations in Europe you need to have the ground wire minimum the same size as the “life” and “neutral “ conductors. 
Something you might have to mention in your spec sheets.

I’m not sure how this is in US, but would guess it is the same as well.

@williewonka 

Thank you very much for the clarification!  I will search out vendors for the materials.  My first goto is usually partsconnexion as long as they have the item in stock.

And again thank you so much for this cable receipe - I have made a set of rca interconnects 2 years ago and they are very nice.  I have built a new system in my great room and now am ready to replace all the cables with your helix design.  So I will finally get to hear it to it's full effect.

Best wishes.

@mawe - There appears to be some interesting articles on the web on this topic

• some say yes - all three have to be the same size
• some say the neutral can be bigger than the Live wire
  • but definitely NOT the other way around
• some say the ground wire can be larger or smaller than either Live or Neutral

So the Helix basically has

• the Live wire being smaller than the neutral wire
  • which appears to be acceptable
• The Ground wire is smaller than both the Live Wire and the neutral wire...i.e.
  • 12 gauge ground (for HD cables)
    • with an 11 gauge Live and a 9 gauge neutral
  • 14 gauge ground (for source cables)
    • with a 15 gauge Live and an 11 gauge neutral
• both of which appears to be acceptable

I do think this is where common sense has to be applied to the ground wire.

It’s purpose is to carry electrical current only under short circuit or other "conditions" that would be potentially dangerous.

However - that ground is not there to allow the component to continue functioning normally.

• in the event of a catastrophic failure somewhere within the component
  • it is designed to prevent the case/chassis of the component from becoming "LIVE"
  • Generally, if this occurs with a properly connected ground wire, then the current draw should exceed that of the fuse in the component,
    • which will break the live feed to the component
  • OR trip the breaker on the supply panel.
  • I believe the ground wire in either of the Helix cables should be sufficient to protect from electric shock and be of adequate gauge such that the breaker will trip (or the fuse will blow) long before the ground wire is compromised to the point of physical failure

The only other instance I am aware of where wire sizes of all three wires MUST BE IDENTICAL is

• In those countries, such as Norway, that has a balanced power distribution network where both live and neutral carry the same voltage, with a 180 phase difference
• or balanced power supply/conditioners popular with the audiophile community
• My web site warns of both of these situations and recommends NOT using the Helix cables.

Having said all of that - it you are concerned about the different gauges used

• then please make all three conductors the same gauge
• There may be a very slight impact to performance, but it would be minimal

Regards - Steve