Dedicated 20 amp/ground loop question


Hi all.....I am getting ready to start construction on a new home and I am trying to get all the plans ready for the electrician for a dedicated 2 channel music/library. I am planning on having the speakers on the end of the room (18 X 23) and a McIntosh MC352 amplifier placed in between the speakers on a stand. I would like the rest of the equipment on one of the side walls so I can run 1 set of balanced ICs to the front and that's it.

I am planning on having the electrician do the dedicated circuit(s) to this room....I've read on here about the existence of ground loops if you run 2 or more dedicated lines. I was plannning on having one dedicated line to the digital/preamp/etc. on the side wall, and one dedicated line to the McIntosh amplifier. Does anyone know if this arrangement would have a good chance of producing a ground loop since the receptacles will be separated from each other in the room?
audioguy3107

Showing 1 response by dlcockrum

Excellent advice from NSGarch. Especially:

"Make sure you tell your electrician you want all dedicated circuits on the same phase (i.e. all the dedicated circuits' breakers on the same side of the neutral buss at the panel.)"

In addition to this, have the electrician arrange the breaker box such that all 'dirty' appliances (microwaves, garage door openers, home PC/server/router, refrigerator, and anything with a switching power supply) are on the other side of the neutral buss from where your dedicated lines are.

Another even better idea is to run a separate service/breaker box directly to the closet of your soundroom and wire all of your outlets in that room from it with some of the higher grade/cryo'd wire instead of standard Romex.

Good luck.