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PC & Dedicated Power Lines Questions

I'm about ready to upgrade my powerlines with dedicated 10awg 20A runs. To see what's in my system, click "system". I have just added a Shunyata Hydra 8, but haven't upgraded it's power cord yet (thought I'd make my own). A little background, I'm a electronic tech and I work on big servo looped systems (CNC mills, stretch presses that are analog feedback). So I know how important it is for good cableing with no noise. Most my power cords are DIY with either 10AWG wire or beldon 83803 with Oyaide P/C-79 connectors. My amps still have the OEM cords for now untill I get my incoming power straightened out.
Question 1) I was going to add 3 incoming lines with 10AWG wire on 20A curcuits off of the same leg or phase. One for each mono amp (might add my soround amps on them too) and a third to power all the front end stuff including a TV. Is this overkill? Should I just plug the hydra in my already supplied 15A line (it has a pass-Seymour outlet) and just add dedicated power for my amps?
Question 2) Power Cords. I just can't beleave the cost of these!! I can get hi quality fine strand 10awg copper twisted 4 conductor cable for free. I also have a bunch of 5 cond 16awg twisted with sheild. I was tempted to make power cords for my amps and Hydra from this and I have made some power strips already with Oyaide and Pass & Seymour outlets (see my system for pic under Oyaide). The Beldon 83803 is a PITA to work with and in my field it is considered cheap cable. I'm suriosly looking at VH Audio Flavor 4 DIY cords with Oyaide connectors. Flovor 4 for amps and Flavor 2 fro my Preamp. I have a sheilded beldon on my CD player now. What are your thoughts?? What PC cord should I use for the Hydra, was going to buy a used Shunyata Python Alpha, but just thinking of making a flavor 4 for it? Sorry for the long post but am curious to opinions. Thanks.
Scott
sgsoundnut

Showing 2 responses by nsgarch

nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Scott, I find the surge protection clamping circuits in most conditioners often affect sonics, but more important, they don't adequately protect your equipment from the really bad stuff (lightening strikes.)

And as others already rightly pointed out, you probably will get best performance from the ded. cts. alone, so why add a dynamics-degrading conditioner just for surge protection?

Here's a great solution that's inexpensive (about $2.50 for four dedicated circuits ;-) and highly effective: wire a high speed diode (MOV device) between the "house" side of each dedicated circuit breaker, and ground, inside the panel. Any surge will close the diode and trip the breaker before it can even reach your equipment (that's why it's called a 'high speed' diode). You'll simply have to replace the poor little diode, which sacrificed its life for your gear ;-)
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nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Tbg: If your system is the one currently posted ;-) then I think you are doing the smart thing. I doesn't require high amperage; I'll bet it doesn't draw more than 500W with everything running. Grounding only the preamp (linestage) is a good way to insure lowest noise and hum (star grounding) and I totally agree, surge protectors ruin sonics and don't really protect anything from the kind of strikes that can cause real damage. If you live where there's lightening, unplug, unplug, unplug!!

IMO the only other thing one (might) need with a dedicated circuit(s) has to do with the quality of power being delivered by the utility company. If it isn't stable voltagewise, or carries noise in the line (not from your house) a regenerator is the only solution, not filter/conditioners.
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