Dedicated Power Line - Directions for Electrician?


My understanding is that having a dedicated power line from where my electricity enters my house, to the outlet where I plug in my audio components would do a great deal to improve the sound I am getting from my system.

My guess, however, is that a regular electricion might not know optimal way to do this. How I can describe to the non-audiophile electician what kind of wiring, AMPS (110 or 220 or whatever) and set up to do.

Is there someone here who can tell me exactly what I need to do to have this work done is such a way that it will result in the best power set up for my system (Mac c-46, Mac 352, B&W 802D's)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
tomehunt

Showing 1 response by stereo_spencer

I worked as an apprentice to near journeyman electrician way, way back and was very fortunate to be able to wire my own house under the license of a master a few years ago, running 4 seperate 20A audio/video circuits off their own sub-panel off of the main panel.

It is true that a dedicated line helps, but generally the issue goes back to the panel and what appliances may be on similar busbars/phases within the main panel that may backfeed noise into the system.

Everyones electrical system can be slightly to very different, and each state, county, municipality has their own electrical codes, so the following are strictly suggestions without me knowing your setup.

The best and probably easiest thing to do is to have your electrician run 2 individual 20A circuits where you use one circuit for your analog and the other for your digital components. This would also be a good opportunity to invest in two conditioning devices, one for each circuit.

On your own, open your panel and check to see what breakers control your kitchen circuits or motor-driven circuits. Pick out these circuits and make sure that the electrician installs the 20A breakers on opposite busbars where these circuits are. You may also request that he rearrange some of the breaker positions so that most of your circuits covering motor-driven appliances, pumps, etc... will be positioned on a similar phase. This is probably the easiest and cheapest way.

You could also go one step further and have the electrician install a subpanel (60A or so for future upgrade) and then run the individual 20A circuits off the sub. This would be a bit more costly, but also a consideration.

In addition, check to see if your panel has the capacity to do any of the suggestions I made as it may be filled to its rated capacity...

Food for thought and good luck...