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
I know it is opening pandora's box, but I have two dedicated lines in my room and only use one. I have only found limited success with ac filtering and none at all with surge protection devices. My house was once hit by lightening with a surge protector on my computer. Both were taken out by the strike. Later with my entire system on and plugged into a Sound Application filter, lightening struck the water heater only 6 feet away. The strike took out my garage opener, the intercom system, my wireless phones, and blew a hole in my gas line. My stereo system was unaffected. When we have a storm, I unplug everything.

If you get a surge device, get one with a guarantee. You will need it. Your sound will be worse as a result of using it.

I have everything plugged into a single IsoClean wall outlet but only the line stage has an ac ground. This is far superior to any sound I have had before, largely I think due to the Stealth Dream power cords.
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.
Nsgarch, I do have the good fortune of having stable voltage. I borrowed a chart recorder from a friend in the EE department and monitored it for a week. It deviated .4 volts over the entire period. It is a municipal utility and has current equipment, but I was truly impressed. I have tried the PS Audio regenerators in their first version. Fortunately, I don't need them.

Thanks for the kind words.
I usually unplug things also when the power goes out, but if I'm not home I can't do that. We dodn't have to many problems with lightning. Nothing like the mid west, lightning usually strikes in the mountians here and causes fires. It's the wind. When it gets windy, trees (lots of trees around here)get blown on lines. It's the power bumps from transormers blowing or when the power comes back on that I worry about.

Wow struck by lightning twice??
Sgsoundnut, this was over a 30 year period. We have recently been twice missed by tornados by less than a block in one case and by being jumped over in another. Neither did anything to our electricity. Obviously, wind is a problem here but seldom affects our electricity. Good tree trimming I guess is responsible.