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Isolated Ground Outlets Hosp Grade vs Audiophile

Hello All -

I'm in the process of completing the listening room construction. I've put in two isolated ground dedicated circuits, 20A each. The conduit is metal, the boxes are metal. I need isolated ground outlets for the boxes. Hospital grade versions are made by Leviton, Hubbell, and Pass & Seymour. Many of the "audiophile" outlets available are not isolated ground. Should I just go get some hospital grade IG outlets from my local electrical supply house (around $20 each), or look around for audiophile versions (atleast $50 each).

I could always loose the ground isolation and use more affordable audiophile outlets. I don't know which is more important. I just figure I went to the trouble of putting in IG dedicated circuits, I should use IG outlets. I figure hospital grade outlets ought to be pretty good. Any thoughts? Thanks.
peter_s

Showing 1 response by cincy_bob

cincy_bob
270 posts
 
If you decide to go with the Albert's Porter Ports, you need to be aware that they are not IG outlets. In my case, I used Porter Ports for all my listening room circuits. I terminated each of these circuits with a plastic receptacle box so that there is no ground necessary for any of the receptacle boxes. The Porter Port receptacles are all individually grounded back to the circuit panel with separate 10-gauge conductors.

Since you mentioned that your receptacle boxes are metal and are, apparently, already installed, I am inclined to think that you would do best to carry your true IG configuration through to fruition through the use of audiophile IG outlets. However, I defer to the experts.
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