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In wall power cabling- for Apartment Dweller

Howdy.

I need some advice on what kind of in wall power cabling (reasonably priced to cheap) is a step up from whatever my Landlord's go-to electrician would pick up at Lowe's to do the job.

I'm going to be installing 2 dedicated lines, and I need some knowledge on what brands of cable to use. Also, I won't be purchasing "audiophile Grade" circuit breakers, if they are expensive, but anyone have knowledge re: circuiut breakers- i.e. 15 amp, etc and some manufacturers that make them better than others, etc...

I've got my "Porter Ports" on the way (thanks again Albert!)
and I need to know what to do next.
Keep in mind that, once I move, 100% of my investment will be lost, so I'm not going to be purchasing anything that is really expensive.

THANKS!!!!
gthirteen
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
I live in rental apartments and my solution has been to get a 220V in/110V out ONEAC isolation transformer. It has two dedicated, individually fused 110V outlets. It has plenty of beef for the job. You can also get a 10 ampere Elgar AC regenerator for ~ $250 in the surplus market. I use both.
jsawhitlock
302 posts
 
The only choice you have in wire that's not costly is romex, but have them run 10 guage to your power ports.
It would be nice to have three lines run as you can use the first one for Amps, second one for Digital and third for Preamp etc.. Next I would pick up a few PS Audio Ultimate Outlets as you can take these with when you move! You can pick up U/O for around $225 each used here on Agon. If it's in the budget check out a used P-600 for around $1300 Happy Upgrading!
lak's avatar
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lak
4,532 posts
 
The beauty of Psychicanimal’s post is everything that he listed is located outside of the inner walls (cables run on the floor). When you move you can take it all with you! When you set up a system in a permanent home setting, you already have what you need to run VERY CLEAN POWER (probably cleaner filtered power than 85%-95% of the users of Audiogon). Only slight drawback is that the isolation transformer needs 220 AC.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
simply use #10awg solid copper THHN conductors - inexpensive, so no problem leaving it behind. Cable designer Mike VansEvers advised that it's good enough for him & it's certainly doing me a fine job too. One single circuit runs the whole works.
Breakers are pretty much dictated by the manufacturer of the distribution panel - you have to buy what will fit there.
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