More Questions about Dedicated Circuits


I had an electrician install a 60 amp subpanel in my garage, which is below my audio room. I am having him install 4 circuits to the audio room, (2)20 amp and (2)15 amp.

I told him that all 4 circuits need to be all on the same phase(leg) of the panel. He seems reluctant to do it, saying that it would put things out of balance and cause problems, etc. I tried to explain to him that I'm told (here on A-Gon) that it is better for the audio system, but I am not able to explain why. There will be no other circuits in the panel.

My first question is, will 4 circuits on one side of the subpanel and no circuits on the other side of the subpanel cause any problems. Does anyone else have it set-up this way?

My second question is, why is it a problem to split the circuits, 2 to each side of the subpanel?

My electrician is coming back to wire this up this Wednesday 4/28. Any assistance is appreciated.

Thanks,
Rick
rcj1231

Showing 2 responses by glen

Hi,

Having been an Electrician my whole life and an audiophile at least half of that I would have to agree with your Electrician. Putting everything on one leg throws off the balancing of your panel and taxes the nuetral conductor big time.

It always amazes me when people at this web-site give advise on subjects they no nothing about. Man I've heard some doozies here when it comes to electrical installations.

Some how I just don't think it's worth my house burning down.

And for god sakes leave the ground in tact.

Check my teck talk threads for the right way to do dedicated lines. Sean is another good poster on this subject.

Beware of the shade tree electrician!

PS - This subject has been covered time and time again so don't be afraid to research it in the audiogon archives
Wow, no one dissed me, I'm the man!

Just for the record I'll say it one more time. Always run a dedicated neutral with every hot. And try to run an isolated ground too with IG recptacles. That's what I use in my house, I personally run a 20 amp circuit to each piece of gear, subs and one to my plasma all from a dedicated sub-panel. Is it over kill absolutly, do I care absolutly not :^)

I wish I had the time to explain why this works so good when installed correctly but it's just to boring to talk technical (at least for me) so instead I say trust me.

You have to make sure you clean up all your electrical issues around your house too.

I'll never understand people wineing about noise or dimmers or ballasts. I use lot's of track lights in my house and practically every switch is a dimmer. I have ceiling fans in every room, AC, All the taboo stuff, but none of it ever effects the sound comming from my gear, except maybe the occasional power dip in the grid which makes my subs hum like there's no tomorrow :^( But aside from that the AC is always very clean, crisp and quite. and no I don't run any surge protection or line gear. Strictly house AC that's it.

Thanks guys I guess I really is an ELECTRICIANO!

And I can only hope that's a good thing, I think I'll forward this thread to my boss :^)