HELIX XXL POWERSTATION

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:43 pm

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...

marko · Post by **marko** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:42 pm

looks awsome, so this kinda regulates your amps then?

Post by **stipud** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:23 am

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

Post by **Rold Gold** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:46 am

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?

marko · Post by **marko** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:22 am

i want one

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:37 am

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...

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:49 am

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

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:26 am

I love when Pedi posts

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

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:38 am

gkitching wrote:I love when Pedi posts

You just got to get used to it

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

Post by **stipud** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:48 pm

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

Iwannit

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

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

El-Akeem · Post by **El-Akeem** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:12 pm

If someone is interested in Helix Products, please feel free to contact me, I can give you some nice discounts on German prices...

Achim

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:57 pm

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...

Achim

Bazzing!

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

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:20 pm

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...

Achim

Thanks...

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

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:34 am

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

].
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.

andy600rr · Post by **andy600rr** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:32 pm

Hmmm... Interesting that they still show the use of a stiffening cap in the install instructions

Post by **stipud** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:41 pm

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.

andy600rr · Post by **andy600rr** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:51 pm

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.

Post by **stipud** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:18 pm

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.

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:25 pm

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???

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:54 am

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!]

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...

Post by **stipud** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:01 am

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??

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:17 am

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??

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

, 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?

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:22 am

BTW...

Is this the same that you got, Nico?

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

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:31 am

Yep; that's the same.
It's rare over there too! [taiwan]

Pedi · Post by **Pedi** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:45 am

Hmm.. I might get some samples of those then... So many that you will call me Pedi Powerstation in the end, hehe...