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Sources for information and/or advice on dedicated AC lines desired

I have relocated, and the new house will allow me to at long last have dedicated AC power lines in the music listening room. Halleluiah! I’ve seen the topic discussed over the years, and have a general idea of what is needed, but can I get recommendations of sources of information about the details of what the optimum power and wiring system is, and exactly what to have done by a professional electrician (in the event that is necessary) to achieve it? And/or personal advice on wiring and power sources (excluding power conditioners---I mean just raw power. I already have Shunyata and Bybee units for conditioning) required for optimum sound quality? For instance:

- How many separate lines from the main panel to the room? Separate lines for sources vs. amps, analog vs. digital? My system sources are LP, analog tape, digital, and FM radio. Three tube pre-amps, a couple of tube and three SS power amps. And ESL speakers and powered subs also needing AC, of course.

- Amperage advisable for each line? 20 Amps?

- What to look for to determine if the already-installed wire is sufficient? And if it is not, the type and gauge of wire to have installed? 10g Romex?

- Grounding---metal rod into the earth?

- Anything else of concern not listed above.

Thanks for any recommendations of sources of information. Personal recommendations and/or advice also welcomed!

128x128bdp24
jea48
4,425 posts
 

eichlerera Said:
Question:
I’m about to run two dedicated lines into my stereo room using a dedicated breaker panel.
For grounding should I drive two copper grounding rods into the earth (one for each circuit) or can I connect both lines to one grounding rod?

The earth does not possess some magical mystical power that sucks nasties from an audio system.


2008 NEC—250.54

Auxiliary Grounding Electrodes.

One or more grounding electrodes shall be permitted to be connected to the equipment grounding conductors specified in 250.118 and shall not be required to comply with the electrode bonding requirements of 250.50 or 250.53(C) or the resistance requirements of 250.56, but the earth shall not be used as an effective ground-fault current path as specified in 250.4(A)(5) and 250.4(B)(4).
http://www.ecmag.com/section/codes-standards/significant-changes-nec-2008-0

The ground rod must connect to the safety equipment grounding conductor of the branch circuit wiring. The branch circuit safety equipment grounding conductor must be connected to the equipment ground bar of a sub panel or main electrical service neutral/ground bar in the main electrical service panel. Period!


Here is a great video to watch on the subject.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlnFNTay-9Q

Lightning loves Auxiliary Grounding Electrodes. Audio equipment not so much. Good for a quick high energy buzz though.....

bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
9,788 posts
 
euchlerera---I too had thought that was something that might be done, but in reading the various threads I was referred to here (thanks again guys!), I learned that it absolutely should NOT be done, and is illegal anyway! The grounding arrangement is for the entire panel, not for separate breakers on it. You would install new grounding only if you have a separate new panel installed (as mentioned by ghosthouse) in the house. But I seem to recall Harry Pearson years ago saying that he looked into doing just that in the house in Sea Cliff, and was told that two separate accounts to the same residential address was not permitted. Perhaps that is a local or state issue, or perhaps Harry was given incorrect information, I don't know. I don't think I would do it anyway! 
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lak
4,627 posts
 
Jea48, thanks again! ;-)

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whart
3,037 posts
 
For clarity, and Jea can correct me here, but I think "separate panel" means separate service from the street. I think part of this is pure electrical code which is national (and then locally implemented, correct Jea?) and part of it is zoning, e.g. if you had a guest house on your property that zoning law allowed you to rent, you could conceivably get separate service directly to that guest house- separately metered so that the renter's electrical use could be billed separately from the main house. I had a preliminary discussion a couple years ago with the electrical inspector in Austin, in contemplation of my build out. The first thing that amazed me, coming from New York, was that you could actually get the person on the phone! 
There was one property we had looked at several years ago in Austin that was a very run down piece of serious modern design- it had been used for a tech company start-up and had 400 amps of service :200 on one line, and two separate 100 amp lines coming into a single building. I have no idea how that was approved. 

jea48
4,425 posts
 
whart said:
For clarity, and Jea can correct me here, but I think "separate panel" means separate service from the street.

First, my response on 05-14-2016 8:56am was in response to eichlerera’s post.



eichlerera said:
Question:
I’m about to run two dedicated lines into my stereo room using a dedicated breaker panel.
For grounding should I drive two copper grounding rods into the earth (one for each circuit) or can I connect both lines to one grounding rod?

Dedicated breaker panel? I read that as being an electrical sub panel fed from the main electrical service panel. "Dedicated breaker panel" for his audio equipment.


whart,

As for an answer to your question above, I would have to say no. To me a separate panel does not mean it is fed by a separate service fed from the street.


I think part of this is pure electrical code which is national (and then locally implemented, correct Jea?)

Agree. The AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) has the final say. In the case of an electrical service supplied to a building structure I would add so does the utility power company.

NEC Code adoption state by state.
http://www.jade1.com/jadecc/nec_code_adoption.php



https://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarchive/NEC-HTML/HTML/Article230-Services~20020219.htm

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