[astrostar59]

Great work JohnJen
 
I have ordered my parts. Quick question, what height were the PCB standoffs you used? I will get some to suit.
 
My parts should land in 2 weeks, maybe less. I will post my pics as well.
 
Cool.

 

[Golfnutz]

Awesome stuff there JJ.
 
I'm still waiting for my LPS to arrive from China.
 
In case anyone wants to use the JST XH connector (instead of soldering 5v and Ground to the board directly), here are the Digikey parts (header and pins). I can confirm these are a direct fit.
 
I'll be using these 18awg wires, although the specs say 22 - 28 awg for the pins.

 
 
 

 

[astrostar59]

Another tweak, I bought a new IEC connector block inc a 20mm fuse holder.
 
johnjen
I bet your new PS will take a week to burn in approx. So more goodies your way.

 

[johnjen]

Beeeeeautiful! Sano for sure. Really like your "sleeper" approach---

"Since I wanted to use the on/off switch and the existing IEC power connector, this arrangement would make the AC power routing much simpler, and shorter..." and "...other than the new nuts on the bottom of the chassis and the bigger feet, there is no other clue any modifications have been made to this RN3."

Caring enough to retain stock functionality and appearance in a project that involves significant modifications goes way back for me. At age sixteen my first hot rod project, an Olds engine into my Ford Tudor, took almost 2 years. Other than money, a main reason it took so long was that my Dad "forced" us to do things right every time I wanted to mickeymouse something. It stuck.

Keep wrenching and soldering, JJ!

Thanks for the encouragement. 

 
But you know, as do I, that tweaking, once it's firmly established in our means and methods, is impossible to get rid of, nor can we ignore it's siren song.
 
But it does make for a satisfying end result…! 

 
JJ

 

[johnjen]

  Great work JohnJen
 
I have ordered my parts. Quick question, what height were the PCB standoffs you used? I will get some to suit.
 
My parts should land in 2 weeks, maybe less. I will post my pics as well.
 
Cool.

Say there!
 
I used 1/4" standoffs.
I also used some 'thick' washers to take up some of the length of the threads that stuck thru the bottom of the chassis so mostly only the nuts stuck down.
 
Have fun and make sure the ac power connections are covered in heat shrink.
 
JJ

 

[johnjen]

  Awesome stuff there JJ.
 
I'm still waiting for my LPS to arrive from China.
 
In case anyone wants to use the JST XH connector (instead of soldering 5v and Ground to the board directly), here are the Digikey parts (header and pins). I can confirm these are a direct fit.
 
I'll be using these 18awg wires, although the specs say 22 - 28 awg for the pins.

 
 
 

Say there.
 
Using those headers should make for a clean install.
I'd be interested to hear if using the larger gauge wire will pose any problems.
 
But I always want to up the gauge where and when I can, just because I can.
 
JJ

 

[johnjen]

  Another tweak, I bought a new IEC connector block inc a 20mm fuse holder.
 
johnjen
I bet your new PS will take a week to burn in approx. So more goodies your way.

Say there.
After things settle in I too might swap out the stock IEC connector, but be aware that the stock IEC connector may have a hi-freq filter built in to 'block' some of the noise from escaping, and/or entering.
 
Just a thought.
 
JJ

 

[astrostar59]

 

  Another tweak, I bought a new IEC connector block inc a 20mm fuse holder.
 
johnjen
I bet your new PS will take a week to burn in approx. So more goodies your way.

Say there.
After things settle in I too might swap out the stock IEC connector, but be aware that the stock IEC connector may have a hi-freq filter built in to 'block' some of the noise from escaping, and/or entering.
 
Just a thought.
 
JJ

Will try and see if that is the case when I do the mods. I will buy a fuse holder just in case. May be a part number on the IEC block Rednet has used?
 
I have just ordered a filtered IEC block which includes a fuse holder from hificollective. Standoffs, shrink wrap and XH connector is from digikey.

 

[astrostar59]

 

Beeeeeautiful! Sano for sure. Really like your "sleeper" approach---

"Since I wanted to use the on/off switch and the existing IEC power connector, this arrangement would make the AC power routing much simpler, and shorter..." and "...other than the new nuts on the bottom of the chassis and the bigger feet, there is no other clue any modifications have been made to this RN3."

Caring enough to retain stock functionality and appearance in a project that involves significant modifications goes way back for me. At age sixteen my first hot rod project, an Olds engine into my Ford Tudor, took almost 2 years. Other than money, a main reason it took so long was that my Dad "forced" us to do things right every time I wanted to mickeymouse something. It stuck.

Keep wrenching and soldering, JJ!

Thanks for the encouragement. 

 
But you know, as do I, that tweaking, once it's firmly established in our means and methods, is impossible to get rid of, nor can we ignore it's siren song.
 
But it does make for a satisfying end result…! 

 
JJ

Ha Ha, you are right there. Here is my first foray building an Audio Note DAC 3.1 kit. Later I built the 4.1 kit and then modded almost all of it....
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/649947/check-out-my-audio-note-dac-3-1-se-build
 
The later:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/r-2r-audio-note-digital-analogue-converter-4-1-diy-and-modifications-optimizations-or-enhancements-made-standard-audio-equipment-26693/
 
Then later (new I/Vs and digital board)


Excuse the loom, but it sounded remarkable after all the mods. The I/Vs were Audio Note UK 496s bought from an owner who didn't need then anymore.
And the digital board was an AN UK PCB (blank). I had to stuff it.

 

[Golfnutz]

 
Will try and see if that is the case when I do the mods. I will buy a fuse holder just in case. May be a part number on the IEC block Rednet has used?
 
I have just ordered a filtered IEC block which includes a fuse holder from hificollective. Standoffs, shrink wrap and XH connector is from digikey.

Word of caution about the XH connectors.
 
You will need some JST crimpers if using XH connectors. I would also suggest ordering a minimum 10 headers, and 50 pins (they are just too cheap not to).
 
Another reason for ordering spares. If you need to redo any part of the connector, you'll have to throw away what you've done and start over. You'll only be able to save the wires by pulling them out the of connector. The pins will stay in the connector and it will be useless at that point.
 
I went with the Engineer PA-21 crimper. I'm sure any of the JST crimpers will work fine. There are some reviews of JST crimpers on the internets.

 
 

 

[Golfnutz]

  Say there.
 
Using those headers should make for a clean install.
I'd be interested to hear if using the larger gauge wire will pose any problems.
 
But I always want to up the gauge where and when I can, just because I can.
 
JJ

I asked the guy helping me the same question.  He said 18awg wouldn't be an issue.

 

[astrostar59]

 

 
Will try and see if that is the case when I do the mods. I will buy a fuse holder just in case. May be a part number on the IEC block Rednet has used?
 
I have just ordered a filtered IEC block which includes a fuse holder from hificollective. Standoffs, shrink wrap and XH connector is from digikey.

Word of caution about the XH connectors.
 
You will need some JST crimpers if using XH connectors. I would also suggest ordering a minimum 10 headers, and 50 pins (they are just too cheap not to).
 
Another reason for ordering spares. If you need to redo any part of the connector, you'll have to throw away what you've done and start over. You'll only be able to save the wires by pulling them out the of connector. The pins will stay in the connector and it will be useless at that point.
 
I went with the Engineer PA-21 crimper. I'm sure any of the JST crimpers will work fine. There are some reviews of JST crimpers on the internets.

 
 

good advice. Is it possible to use small pliers instead of buying an expensive crimper? Maybe I could add a blob of solder to the upper area on the header?

 

[Golfnutz]

 
good advice. Is it possible to use small pliers instead of buying an expensive crimper? Maybe I could add a blob of solder to the upper area on the header?

 
Not really, they are designed to curl at the tips (you can see this in the photo of the black wire I posted earlier, and the one below).
 
If you add solder, I doubt you'll get the pins seated correctly - the fit is already tight (size of wire isn't the issue - just the pins are tight, and they kind of snap into the connector).
 
They need to be crimped in 2 places, using 2 different sizes on the crimper (there are how-to videos on the internets showing this).
 

 

 

[astrostar59]

Thanks. I realised after posting I would need the crimping pliers, so ordered some budget ones on Amazon.es
 
Think I am all set now, IEC including fuse and RF filter, transformer, PCB for transformer, LPS PCB (built)  8 x standoffs 15mm M3, M3 screws, crimping plug and ends.
 
Will have all the goodies in 2 weeks.
 
Good luck with your build Golfnutz. Seems like a nice DIY mod and the reports on SQ from John promising. I will feed the Rednet from my PS Audio P10, so clean power from the mains.

 

[Tand2016]

This is a great thread! I am looking into modifying my Rednet 16 R. As I have 2 powersupplys in mine I can easy compare the original ps with the LPS. I am going to use my UpTone JS-2 to try this out. I want to use a panel mount 2,1 mm connector.
 
I am ready to order from Digi-Key but I am not sure which connector to buy? Is it the bottom one, with 3 contacts? 
 
http://www.digikey.no/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=219881156&uq=636233222100704793
 

 
Best Tommy