High end fuse box options??

I don't think the Isoclean is available yet. (At least it wasn't when I last checked.)Call them directly if you can to find out about it.

I put in a subpanel for my audio/video equipment last summer and looked into audio-quality alternatives at that time. Unfortunately I really didn't find any (and the one I found was ridiculously overpriced) so I just went with a 12 circuit, 125 amp, Square D QO series breaker box. It's a better quality Square D box than the homevalue line that the Depot sells.

FYI - CYA - Most local ordinances require a permit for adding a subpanel, so getting the permit, hiring a qualified electrician and doing it to code is HIGHLY recommended. Your home's insurance company will also be happier that way.

Cheers,
Tom

I had the same experience as Tcowden and went with a dedicated Square D QO box and breakers as well.

This year was the third time that I have installed dedicated circuits in a house for my system. This time, I not only went with a separate dedicated better quality panel and breakers, I split the electrical system a few inches past the meter into a 200-amp house system and a 100-amp AV system. The dedicated AV cable from the meter to the AV breaker panel is an 85-foot length of armored 0-awg copper cable cooked and cryo'd by Virtual Dynamics and the 5 dedicated cables from the AV breaker panel are armored 10-awg cables to the Virtual Dynamics cooked and cryo'd Hubble hospital receptacles (1 for each of the mono blocks, 1 for the analog gear, 1 for the digital gear and 1 for the projector. The 0-awg cable (expensive) was used primarily to prevent a voltage drop on such a long run.

This was not inexpensive, but the result is well worth the cost. It took my system to a level I have not previously experienced in terms of how silent the system is save for the actual music. The system is very relaxed and powerful, but the thing everyone notices is the width and depth of the soundstage, 3 diminsional imaging of every voice and instrument, the clarity of low level detail and the extended decay of notes, the easy ability to distinguish different guitars and strings. I cannot recommend this dedicated cabling too highly.

Best,

Ed

Thanks guys,

How about setting the box up. My guess is the main power coming into the house would go to the box for the audio, and then into the box that runs the rest of the house. I would guess having it a couple feet away from the house breaker box may be a good idea.

Is the QO copper or aluminum buss bars?

I'm following this with great interest. I'm about to close a deal on a place with screw in fuses. I want to install the best breaker box I can find.

John C.

Freemand,

Rick Schultz and my electrician recomended splitting the electrical system into two separate systems just behind the meter, 1 for the house and the other for the AV. We used a 200-amp breaker for the house and a 100-amp breaker for the AV. The breaker box for the house is in the garage only a foot from the 200-amp breaker and the breaker box for the AV is in the closet next to the AV wall. That way nasties from the AC system, stove, computers, printers, etc. will not back upstream and infect the AV system.

Ed