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HELIX XXL POWERSTATION

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:43 pm
by nico boom
Just bought this device, that should beat any capacitor whatsoever.
It converts any given input voltage from 10 volts up to 15 volts maximum.
The constant current capability is 100 A, peak is 200 A .
This means that even with your car- engine off, your install still gets a continous voltage of up to 15 volts [adjustable by a pot].
Also it has a soft- start build in for normal capacitors, and the ability to work on the output without any current present [it's a smart thing..]
I will post a review of it, testing it with a MS 1000; let's see if it makes up for the huge popularity in Germany, that it has amongst SPL-freaks... :twisted:

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:42 pm
by marko
looks awsome, so this kinda regulates your amps then?

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:23 am
by stipud
Wow!! Those are so rare here.

Marko, it regulates voltage... so it keeps your system at 14.4v, even if your power sags to 10v. If you've got it running on your battery, still 14.4v. They keep your system voltage rock solid in a huge variety of conditions.

You think 100 amps will be enough to feed that monster Nico? You're going to need four of them :lol:

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:46 am
by Rold Gold
DANM that's a sexy peice. I can't say I've ever seen one of those around here.

How much did it run ya?

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:22 am
by marko
i want one :evil:

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:37 am
by Pedi
Thanks Nico, I have been looking at such an item for ages, but I really do not know if that is something for me to have in my system...

So I am looking forward to see your review, and hear your opinions...

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:49 am
by nico boom
Going to test it this weekend.
First test done; with an old battery, measured at 11 volts.
The powerstation converted it to a firm 15 volts, running a starter motor from a 190SL [current measured at 86 A while cranking] ; this promises something good for my install!
These things cost around 600 euros [$ 944 ], and are not offered for sale much, even around here.
I bought it for a much better price; just couldn't resist having, and testing one!
It's in mint condition, original box, wooden crate etc.
As for the current; I'm not going to put it under a extreme heavy stereo load; just run my home-install on it ,connected to a few fresh car batteries.
After playing with it , it's up for sale again; I have my powersupply at home in the basement, providing all the power I need :wink:

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:26 am
by gkitching
I love when Pedi posts :P

This sounds similar to the 'Accuvolt' from the old days.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:38 am
by Pedi
gkitching wrote:I love when Pedi posts :P
You just got to get used to it :wink:

Best regards to you from Norway as always, BTW...

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:48 pm
by stipud
nico boom wrote:After playing with it , it's up for sale again; I have my powersupply at home in the basement, providing all the power I need :wink:
Iwannit :shock:

Helix gear is so.... sexy. Get me an Esprit 500 while you're at it :lol:

I should have bought that one the Syndicate was selling. God why does this stuff have to cost money? :roll:

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:12 pm
by El-Akeem
If someone is interested in Helix Products, please feel free to contact me, I can give you some nice discounts on German prices... :D


Achim

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:57 pm
by fuzzysnuggleduck
El-Akeem wrote:If someone is interested in Helix Products, please feel free to contact me, I can give you some nice discounts on German prices... :D


Achim
Bazzing!

I don't need any Helix stuff, but man that sounds like a great offer. :drool:

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:20 pm
by Pedi
El-Akeem wrote:If someone is interested in Helix Products, please feel free to contact me, I can give you some nice discounts on German prices... :D


Achim
Thanks...

But I really need to see how Nico's test goes first...

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:34 am
by nico boom
SO... I did my best... but so far, I was NOT ABLE TO MEASURE IT'S LIMITS. [it's fused at 150 A].
I hooked up one new [big] car battery from my work, my [modified] MS1000, and played music, test tones etc.; fun...[NOT accoarding to my neighbours :lol: ].
Conclusion; this thing does what it is supposed to do, and I was not able to get it into it's max current protection, it just kept on going until my battery's voltage was really sagging under 10 volts for over a minute; normal operation which activates the shut-off function.
It is a very well protected device as well; abuse-proof.
So at this moment all I can say is it will really lift your install to a higher level.
Especially your amps will benefit from the constant voltage delivered; 14.4 volts for example, with your car engine not running.
I share some pics, and will update this review when I do find it's limits. :wink:

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:32 pm
by andy600rr
Hmmm... Interesting that they still show the use of a stiffening cap in the install instructions :?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:41 pm
by stipud
andy600rr wrote:Hmmm... Interesting that they still show the use of a stiffening cap in the install instructions :?
A cap, when used properly, acts as nothing but a power filter. So in this case it would still serve its intended purpose; mending whatever ripple may be in the transformed signal.

Installing a cap before the transformer would be filtering in the wrong place, so I believe this is why they demonstrate how to properly install one, if you want to go for that extra bit of SQ.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:51 pm
by andy600rr
stipud wrote:
andy600rr wrote:Hmmm... Interesting that they still show the use of a stiffening cap in the install instructions :?
A cap, when used properly, acts as nothing but a power filter. So in this case it would still serve its intended purpose; mending whatever ripple may be in the transformed signal.

Installing a cap before the transformer would be filtering in the wrong place, so I believe this is why they demonstrate how to properly install one, if you want to go for that extra bit of SQ.
Agreed, but they show one BEFORE and AFTER the Helix.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:18 pm
by stipud
andy600rr wrote:Agreed, but they show one BEFORE and AFTER the Helix.
Hey, I missed that one! My bad.

I suppose that makes sense then; filtering DC ripple pre-and-post powersupply, just like within amps.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:25 pm
by Pedi
OK Nico..

So what are you really saying? Is this f.ex. something for me in my install? How many of those could I have use for, and does this thingy work together with PG Powercore???

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:54 am
by nico boom
I have no experience with a powercore, I guess you won't be needing one when you use this powerstation [or more of them] in your install.
Difference is that when voltage drops, no powercore, or cap can do much for an install.
The powerstation just keeps on delivering 14.4 volts until your batteries are down to 10 volts for more than one minute.
[they are seriously emptied by that time!] :lol:
How much of them you would need ,depends on your total power consumption.
They can be linked together by a build-in system, to provide max. efficiency. [see pic.]
Note that in this setup, although using more powerstations, they do NOT suggest adding more caps... :wink:

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:01 am
by stipud
You would hook the powercore up where the >1 Farad cap is placed... However I wonder what the usefulness of it would be. The powercore, being a carbon-aerogel cap (unless you're a lucky bugger and got the 20 farad array) has a fairly high ESR. This would make it less effective at filtering DC ripple. I would personally stick to a 2 farad low-esr cap instead. This way the XXL powerstation will keep you at 14.4v, and the capacitor will have no issue filtering out DC ripple, giving you a ridiculously clean input signal for your amplifier.

Pedi, since these things produce 100 amps each, you would need quite a few for your setup!! How many amps you got again?? :lol: :shock: :shock:

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:17 am
by Pedi
stipud wrote:You would hook the powercore up where the >1 Farad cap is placed... However I wonder what the usefulness of it would be. The powercore, being a carbon-aerogel cap (unless you're a lucky bugger and got the 20 farad array) has a fairly high ESR. This would make it less effective at filtering DC ripple. I would personally stick to a 2 farad low-esr cap instead. This way the XXL powerstation will keep you at 14.4v, and the capacitor will have no issue filtering out DC ripple, giving you a ridiculously clean input signal for your amplifier.

Pedi, since these things produce 100 amps each, you would need quite a few for your setup!! How many amps you got again?? :lol: :shock: :shock:
I have only one of the 15 farads Powercore samples. But I must have some more so I wonder if I have to get some Helixxes or some powercores. Or both Helix and Powercores? Damn, I do not know what to do....

Stipud, I got some Franks you know - and it pops out a few MSs also :wink: , so I do have some Amperages going through the powercables....

So Nico, I might be on your list of interests as soon as you are selling it? :wink:

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:22 am
by Pedi
BTW...

Is this the same that you got, Nico?

http://cgi.ebay.de/Rare-100-NEW-Brax-HE ... 638Q2em122

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:31 am
by nico boom
Yep; that's the same.
It's rare over there too! [taiwan] :lol:

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:45 am
by Pedi
Hmm.. I might get some samples of those then... So many that you will call me Pedi Powerstation in the end, hehe... :D