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Isolated ground for 20 amp

Hello,

I am planning to have three 20 amp circuits run from my panels into my music room which is right next to the basement where I got two 200 amp breaker boxes. 

To add an separate breaker box directly from the transformer, I was told it would be very expensive and it would make it commercial.

The electrician said, he can make a separate 100 amp panel and run 3 20 amp circuits. But the ground from the separated breaker box will be connected to the ground of one of the main panels. If the grounds are finally connected to the main panel, what is the point of having a separate 100 amp panel? I have quite a few 20 amp slots available in the main panels.

I am also reading about isolated ground. What does it exactly mean? I also read that, it is dangerous to have isolated ground and regular ground next to each other, as each can have a different potential and it can kill people when touched simultaneously.

I also read that, all grounds have to be connected to each other as a safety code. If that is the case, how does isolated ground actually isolate?

Also, I want to connect my components directly to the three 20 amp lines, so I can save cost on conditioners. How do conditioners work? some say they impair sound.

My components are: Reed Muse 3c, Ypsilon MC26L SUT, Ypsilon VPS100, Cary SLP05, Cary DMS600, Cary CAD 211FE monoblocks, KEF Blades

Sorry, any guidance is hugely appreciated.
kanchi647
kanchi647 OP
70 posts
 
@erik_squires thanks for sharing the article.
Power conditioners can cost as much as 10K and split single 20 amp circuit among all the components, which should be plenty enough even with 500 amp monoblocks. 

Running isolated 20 amp circuits is cheap. I can have 3 seperate 20 amp lines with 6 outlets for 1-2K depending on the outlets I use. Will they still have EMI/RF that needs to be conditioned?

@millercarbon Thanks for sharing MF's video. I am surprised he is running all that equipment on single 20 amp circuit using Niagara 7000.
kanchi647 OP
70 posts
 
http://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-Romex-SIMpull-250-ft-10-3-Non-Metallic-Wire-By-the-Roll/3129315
Is this a good one?
kanchi647 OP
70 posts
 
There are a total of 4 wires, what do you do with each wire for isolated ground connection?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
kanchi,
Yes. Left side is the A leg (phase), right side is B.

Typical circuit box layout...
                   A.      B.
 Breaker.    1.      2
                    3      4
                    5      6
You could use 20A breakers in 
slots 1,3,5 for audio. That's 3 dedicated lines on the same phase.
Every home is different. The electrician will need to balance the loads. The current draw on A should be about the same amount as the current draw on B; ie, refrigerator on A and air conditioning on B.


kanchi647 OP
70 posts
 
Romex 10/3 is solid copper, whereas 8/3, 6/3 is stranded copper. I am taking that solid copper is preferable and enough gauge.
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