What is everyone using for dedicated AC lines???


I need to buy some dedicated AC cable.

What is everyone using? Romex?

I want the best performance, I will tear out the cable when I leave the house. If its not up to code, oh well, I'd rather have better performance anyways.

I thought about 10/3 Romex for the amp and 12/3 for the CD/Preamp.

What do you think?

Please, no arguements over this I need to buy cable ASAP!
asi_tek
Dedicated 100 amp sub panel just for audio with three 110 volt and one 220 volt dedicated circuits.
I run THHN stranded # 10 doubled up for all hots, grounds and neutrals which gives me around 7 gauge conductors. Very nice for my amps. I use the 220 volt line for my power plant and two 110 volt lines for each amp and the last one for my Logans. I have found the two 10 doubled up is much better than single 10 gauge, I also twist the two conductors about 3-4 times per foot. Dedicated ground rod and all breakers and wire treated wit pro gold.
My next upgrade will be using two 12 gauge stranded conductors twisted around one 10 gauge solid conductor and giving it about 3-4 twists per foot, this should yield me about 5.5 gauge.
The way my dedicated lines are config, the system is dead quiet, the best it's ever been in regaurds to quiet, noise floor, blacker back ground, etc...
I think the dedicated sub really helps as nothing else is in the sub and everthing is in phase which is something that people over look as it does make a difference! Happy wiring!
Craig,
I consider $3/ft for cryo'd Romex excessive!...and still believe that better dielectric DOES matter.
Wow this thread is taking off, here's my take.

I just bought a "new" old house (with a view of course) :^)

I currently have a 100-amp service. I'm going to change that to 200 amps real soon.

Then I'm going to take out the existing sub panel (Approx 50 feet away) and upgrade it to a 40-space 200-amp sub panel.

I'll run a 2" conduit between the service and the sub-panel.

Then I'm going to pull two new hots, one Neutral (4/0 THHN cu rated for 200amps) a dirty ground and an Isolated ground.

I'll set both panels up with isolated ground bars, add a ground rod, replace the ground clamp at the water main, and run new bare copper continuous to both the ground rod and water main.

Then I'm going to tie the water and gas together with a jumper and two ground clamps, this I will do at the H/W/H for convenience and yes it is legal in CA.

After rewiring the new 200-amp sub panel I'm going to add another 100-amp sub panel on the other side of the house near my listening room (approx 150' away)

I will run a 1-1/4" conduit from the 200-amp sub to the 100-amp sub-sub. Then I'm going to size the wire for 120 amps (THHN cu) but only install a 100-amp breaker.

I will add another isolated ground bar at this panel.

Then I'll take six dedicated 20-amp circuits (#12 THHN Stranded) up to my listening room. Each with it's own neutral plus one isolated ground and one dirty ground. I may add a drain wire too (That's an idea Albert gave me awhile back that I found intriguing)

I'll be using industrial grade Hubbell I.G. 20 amp receptacles (Ground up of course) at my gear. That should get things rolling in the AC tweak department wouldn't you say.

OH, and yes I am an electrician and personally "Bang for the buck" this is as good as it gets IMO.
Glen: If you don't mind me asking, what is the second 200 amp sub-panel for ? If i read this right, you'll have a 200 amp main feeding a 200 amp sub-panel feeding a 100 amp sub-panel. The 200 amp main would appear to be for the whole house and you mention using the 100 amp sub-panel at / near your audio system. Where does the second 200 amp panel come into play in all of this ? Sean
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Dedicated 100A subpanel for theater room. All equipment on one leg, lights, utility outlets, etc. on the other leg. Standard to code 12-2 Romex for 20A ciruits. PS Audio Power Ports for PreAmp, Amp, and CD player, hospital grade isolated ground for the balance.