Dedicated Line Advise


I currently have a 20 amp dedicated line run to my small HiFi rig; amp, preamp, CDP, TT, power conditioning. I wish to add a second line using the same electrician who has worked on my house. It looks like he used 12 gauge Romex last time.

What are the key facts that I should know in case he is not familiar with doing wiring for audio systems?
I'm talking about the installation at the breaker box, e.g., keeping proper phase and preventing a ground-loop between the 2 circuits.
128x128lowrider57
Lowrider - in your depiction of your panel - for two lines on the same phase....

You would have one switch on 19 and the other on 20 - which would be PHASE B

Alternatively, you could have the switches placed at locations 17 and 18 - which would be on PHASE A

Either option is OK - just keep these switches away from the two phase switch-pairs

Regards...
Willie and mesch,
  I’ve got the concept now. It will take some work moving old breakers, since the refrigerator and the dryer are near the bottom at #16 and 18.
Many thanks.

Lowrider - since you will be juggleing swtches - I believe the best place for the two phase switches will be closest to the end of the panel where the incoming wire connects to it - that way any noise will dissipate back to the supply

The audio switches would be at the opposite end farthest away from the two phase switches.

One other thing - ensure the electrician maintains the "power balance" between the two phases

Regards...
Not trying to start any argument here, but there is absolutely no reason for the equipment to be on the same phase at all.  The AC is converted to DC within the device, so AC voltage phasing is irrelevant.

As long as the dedicated line have hot, neutral and ground going back to the panel and do not share neutral or ground before the panel. you are fine.

Also, any electrician worth their salt will want to have your AC panel loads balanced on both phases. 

I read that many posts about dedicated lines and some advocate placing them on the same phase.  But, if your equipment carries a large load =, that load must be balanced on the AC panel to avoid overloads.

I ran dedicated lines for my audio equipment.  My house fortunately is on a raised foundation, so crawling underneath the house was the way to go.  Hot, neutral and ground all back to the panel and not shared.

I have to Audio Research REF 250 mono amps connected to the individual dedicated lines back to the panel (on the same phase at the panel) and one Mark Levinson 23.5 connected to the other phase via a dedicated line. 

My low level equipment are all connected to a Transparent Audio Power Isolator 8 line conditioner, then via a dedicated line back to the panel.

I tried to balance the loads as best I could.

Noise floor is just gone.  No ground loops, no buzz, no noise whatsoever. no equipment's ground lifted via cheaters.

Noticeable difference from when I didn't have dedicated lines.

Being an Electrical Engineer, I know that AC is AC and DC is DC and every piece of equipment I use converts the AC to DC internally.  Therefore, phase absolutely does not matter and my system's sound is wonderful.

If you are going to put all your equipment on the same phase at the panel, try to make sure your house loads are balanced at the panel.

enjoy
It seems that my circuit box is balanced...
   Left                        Right
- furnace,              - refrigerator 15amp   
  30amp linked.     - light duty 15a
- A/C 20amp         - dryer, 30amp, linked
- light duty 15a      
                              
But, the original electrician did a poor layout of the breakers for my purposes. The only open area for expansion is in the middle of the box. High current breakers are at the top and the bottom.