So, I picked up a pair of TC 5100 PRO NRT motors off another forum in trade. I don't think they made many of these before TC went belly up the first time and I don't think they made any after, but I've read speculation that it's the same/similar motor as used on the Aura 1808.
Does anybody here own 1808s or TC 5100s? Are there many in circulation?
A cursory search of the common parts suppliers doesn't show any coils that are going to fit (5100 motor has a very tight gap compared to 4HP and other modern 4" coil subwoofers) and while this may be meant to be an under-hung design the OEM top for the 5100 is a rather tall wind width. 10x4" soft spiders are easy enough to come by (and without those wimpy leads that Thilo used), and while I really like the looks of the cone on this I don't think that'll much matter on something with this much motor force if I just use whatever, so there's really just the coils I need to match.
I guess the question is, can someone tell me coil dimensions on the 1808 and perhaps some folks could chime in and let me know if there's any interest in parts. I'm not opposed to getting a 50 unit coil order wound if I could flog most of them to other DIY-ers who would want to resurrect 1808s or similar... assuming we could use the same coils. Or even if the 1808 coil is close enough to fit the gaps in these 5100 motors I'd just get 1808 spec coils wound up and keep some for myself and re-sell the rest.
I will get some coils done, just a matter of do I pay a premium setup fee for just half a dozen or so for myself or could I make this worthwhile for someone else along the way. Thanks in advance for any info you guys can provide.
Does anybody here own 1808s or TC 5100s? Are there many in circulation?
A cursory search of the common parts suppliers doesn't show any coils that are going to fit (5100 motor has a very tight gap compared to 4HP and other modern 4" coil subwoofers) and while this may be meant to be an under-hung design the OEM top for the 5100 is a rather tall wind width. 10x4" soft spiders are easy enough to come by (and without those wimpy leads that Thilo used), and while I really like the looks of the cone on this I don't think that'll much matter on something with this much motor force if I just use whatever, so there's really just the coils I need to match.
I guess the question is, can someone tell me coil dimensions on the 1808 and perhaps some folks could chime in and let me know if there's any interest in parts. I'm not opposed to getting a 50 unit coil order wound if I could flog most of them to other DIY-ers who would want to resurrect 1808s or similar... assuming we could use the same coils. Or even if the 1808 coil is close enough to fit the gaps in these 5100 motors I'd just get 1808 spec coils wound up and keep some for myself and re-sell the rest.
I will get some coils done, just a matter of do I pay a premium setup fee for just half a dozen or so for myself or could I make this worthwhile for someone else along the way. Thanks in advance for any info you guys can provide.
Well, now you got to pay to browse the net archive, so best I can do is that for 15/18" is a 'Massive 4" diameter, 8-layer, quad 1.2Ω aluminum voice coil'.
I don't own 1808's or TC5100's. Apparently the TC 5100 used a 1.5" long coil wind, flat wound coil. I believe it was wound at Precision Econowind from my sources, but this is already a decade and a half ago.
Former length was in the 6 1/2 ~ ish inch long range ( for the TC baskets )
Maybe you will find someone with an TC 1808 replacement top assembly that can give you some accurate coil former ID and OD dimensions. I hope that helps.
Definitely not what I have here, mine is DVC and definitely not 8 layer. Rather an anemic looking coil compared to 4HP.
Indeed my 5100 top is 1.5" wind width flat coil. I would be reaching out to Precision to wind coils for me, I have dealt with them in having custom coils made a few times in the past and they're as good as can be had and fine people to work with. Going tall on the former is virtually no extra cost for my purposes (not like I'm selling 20,000 woofers where 50 cents per coil adds up) so I'd go a bit taller than the original just in case anybody ever needed to use some oddball frame or cone.
Thanks for the bumps, lads, as you say, hopefully someone has a broken 1808 or spare top assembly they can give me OD, ID and WW dimensions of the coil. I guess if nobody comes through that is probably an indication that there's not enough people trying to run these or keep them going to justify buying 50-60 coils and hoping there's enough other blokes out there who would buy one or two.
The TC Sounds 5100 looks like it uses the same tooling as the Aura 1808 magnet structure, but the 1808 has a RE of 5.0 ohms, and the voice coil winding length is listed as 25.4mm (1.0"), so definitely not the same coil design.
In the past few years on this forum, only recall one Aura 1808 inquiry, and his drivers were working. Prior to that, 2008 seems to be the last time someone searched here for them, Ian ("iand") mentioned the Seismic 8196 used dual 10" spiders and an underhung 1" coil too.
Art
Don't forget the Leviathan. I think it was a North Creek product, and likely similar.
I actually picked up a 5100 motor at a PE Tent Sale once to look at it. They were still selling them then. What a heavy chunk of metal that was.
I actually picked up a 5100 motor at a PE Tent Sale once to look at it. They were still selling them then. What a heavy chunk of metal that was.
Yeah, I didn't find much here or anywhere else recently but I figured there's probably quite a few in service among posters/lurkers here.
Great find on the documentation though, thanks for sharing. As you say, 1" underhung isn't what I have, and unless someone comes and posts ID and OD of the gap or coil I'm going to guess that's probably not the same either.
I do recall Thilo talking these up pretty big when they were being introduced, so I guess I'm not going to do much better trying to second guess what came from the factory here.
North Creek variety is using a much softer suspension and very probably a heavier coil/cone. Also not quite the same animal I think. A bit more googling and it seems that there may have been as many as 3 versions of the 5100 and it would appear that at one point Parts Express sold a top assembly that looks like the one I have here.
Motor is a bit heavier than I expected but I'm pretty spoiled by the 3" coil neo motors I normally run. Definitely more manageable than 4hp and my old *** is absolutely done wrestling huge ferrite motors.
Anyway, thanks for all the input, fellas, I'll probably be contacting Precision over the winter so if anybody stumbles across this thread and wants to buy in on some 5100 PRO coils, email me at my screen name @comcast.net
Not sure if this is bad manners to necro this thread, but I've reached out to Precision Econowind about getting an order of TC5100 spec coils spun up for these. Trying to decide if I'm going to buy up into a MOQ or pay a one time small order fee on just what I'm after for myself.
Going to throw this out there for a few days before I pull the trigger on committing to an order so if anybody has the old NRT motor and wants to get in on some spare coils post up here.
Going to throw this out there for a few days before I pull the trigger on committing to an order so if anybody has the old NRT motor and wants to get in on some spare coils post up here.
I have placed an order for a dozen coils for these. TC specs except I added a couple inches to the total former height to allow more flexibility with cone and frame options. They should be here in 6-8 weeks and I'll be able to sell a couple for 75$ + shipping if anybody who has these motors stumbles across this thread and wants some spare parts.
Hello hispls, I have several 1808 motors and I can probably help with coil and gap dimensions. I could use replacement baskets cone assembly’s if any are available.
Anyone running 1808s WARNING the basket spokes are too thin (0.8mm IIRC) at one point, and prone to cracking off. Just ask my buddy how many she had like that from the original Lollapalooza tours! They are very cool, but best used with some kind of cradle to hold the large magnet weight.
Weirdly, I cannot reply. I don't remember about the coils, flat-wound single layer is my recollection. Those things were being built without documentation by a group of nice ladies. My friend worked for the Electrotec side of Aura, so she found out the foibles of those things. A very few 15" prototpyes were built. I'd be shocked if replacement anything is available; Aura seemed like a giant stock scam and is kaput as far as we know.
As I understand for the pictures, those 1808/5100 magnet assemblies can be detached from the woofer chassis.
Are those magnet assemblies frequently offered for sale in the US, or are these units very rare birds, mostly unobtanium nowadays?
Are those magnet assemblies frequently offered for sale in the US, or are these units very rare birds, mostly unobtanium nowadays?
Comparatively few of the Aura drivers were made.
Rikki Farr sold off Aurasound to a Chinese company prior to selling Electrotec in 1988.
Electrotec provided sound for the 1992 Lollapalooza fest, Head_unit's reports of the basket spokes breaking off probably means surviving units would be relatively rare.
Rikki Farr sold off Aurasound to a Chinese company prior to selling Electrotec in 1988.
Electrotec provided sound for the 1992 Lollapalooza fest, Head_unit's reports of the basket spokes breaking off probably means surviving units would be relatively rare.