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200-amp Breaker Panel Question

My current 100 amp panel is being replaced tomorrow with a 200-amp panel with a copper bus (along with my meter box outside so that the electric company will then run 200 amp lines to my home rather than the current 100 amp service). I've read conflicting opinions here and in other forums regarding whether your dedicated lines should be on the same phase while also trying to place the noisier appliances (dryer, refrigerator, AC etc,) on the opposite phase. If you have any actual experience with this topic or are an electrician and an audiophile, I would certainly appreciate your input to help me resolve this issue.

I am also planning on having my dedicated lines on the first circuit breakers after the power line enters the breaker panel.

I cleaned the copper bus with CRC and treated it with Caig Pro Gold. Of my six dedicated lines (all of which are home runs), 4 of them are 10 gauge conductors in flexible Greenfield conduit and two of these are for my monoblock amplifiers and will be linked to 30 amp circuit breakers. Finally, for various reasons, neither a sub-panel or second mains panel are options at this time.

Any other suggestions you can think of?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you may provide.
fmpnd
rodman99999
6,162 posts
 
Hi Mr F- One of the best things about silver is that it's oxide doesn't affect electrical transfer the way copper's does. It wouldn't hurt to re-apply it now and then. But- it shouldn't be necessary. Actually- removing breakers is a very simple task, and the application of the SST should be quite easy. Apply it(sparingly of course) to the breaker contact with a pipe cleaner(the one that grips the main), and to the wire/breaker connection.
psacanli
535 posts
 
If you want an upgrade consider a sub panel of 'balanced power'units from Equitech. Or more economically buy a couple of their "blowout sale" slightly noisy transformers in a box and use them as subpanels. I did and have been very satisfied with the improvements to my Spectra/MIT system. Good luck. Pete
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Fmpnd, it sounds like you've got your ducks in a row.

About the only things remaining to consider might be:

o An industrial grade service panel (perhaps silver bus).

o Cryo-treated dedicated lines (I had Cryo-Nebraska double-cryo 500 ft. of 10 gauge).

BTW, proper line conditioning should negate any concern for noisy AC appliances being on the same or opposing leg/phase.

Most important consideration may be protecting your components from bi-directional digital noise induced through the AC lines by cdps, DACs, computers, digital amps, etc.. This digital noise will make its way back from the source to the service panel and then into your dedicated lines. The only way I know to treat this is proper line conditioning that includes bi-directional filtering (which also keeps digital noise from going back into the wall and inducing sonic harm elsewhere).

-IMO
fmpnd OP
481 posts
 
Thanks everyone. The electrician worked 5 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Sunday to get the panel in (my house is ALWAYS the house from "HELL" whenever anyone works on it so it didn't suprise me when it took him three times as long as he thought it would).

It also turns out I already had 200 amp service to the house so I didn't have to call the electric company to upgrade the service.

I didn't put my amps on 30 amp breakers yet as I only had 2-pole 30-amp breakers which would then mean they would be on both phases (since the 2-pole breaker is twice as wide). I am going to pick up two single-pole 30-amp breakers tonight and will treat them (sparingly) with SST.

Even without any after market wire (although I do have heavy 10 gauge solid-core wire in Greenfield conduit for my lines and very good outlets), the difference was much more noticable than I thought it would be given that I already had six dedicated lines. The biggest differences I heard immediately (you would literally have to be hearing impaired NOT to have heard this difference), was a pronounced improvement in bass articulation and transient attack as well as increased dynamics.

I was not in any way dissatisfied with my system or my sound prior to this change. I was changing the panel because my entire house would dim any time my AC (whether the central AC or my stereo room thru-wall extra AC), the fridge or the dishwasher went on. Now, the lights weren't phased at all when I kicked in the AC last night so, mission accomplished! The fact that the music sounds better and more lively too is just icing on the cake!. I only had about 35-40 minutes to audition last night so I am still assessing.
jea48
4,486 posts
 
I didn't put my amps on 30 amp breakers yet as I only had 2-pole 30-amp breakers which would then mean they would be on both phases (since the 2-pole breaker is twice as wide). I am going to pick up two single-pole 30-amp breakers tonight........
When you go to buy the breakers check out the price on single pole 15 and 20 amp breakers. You should find they are exactly the same price as the single pole 30 amp breaker.

The contacts are exactly the same in the 15 and 20 amp breakers as the 30 amp..... Only the trip unit is different for each breaker.

If you are using NEMA 5-15R duplex/s or NEMA 5-20R receptacles the largest breaker you should feed the receptacle with is 20 amp. (20 amp recept/s shall be fed by a 20 amp breaker.)

Your licensed electrician you hired should have informed you of that fact.
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