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Dedicated Circuits - Subpanel importance?

My system is no more. Sold everything. Starting from scratch. Thanks to you and seven months of experience I am doing the following, which is taking care of the number one component, the room:

  1. Treating. The full GIK order in October is starting to arrive.
  2. Running one or more dedicated circuits.

I am addressing #2 in this post. There are extensive discussions here and one can spend hours if not days trying to wring-out the critical details needed for a DIY solution. I have spent hours and there a few things I need to confirm before I proceed because I was unable to find definitive answers.

I am doing this myself. I do not want or need lectures on only having a licensed electrician do this work. I have been doing my own electrical work for many years and am very comfortable doing so.

  1. Does a subpanel help? Is it required? Subpanels are typically supplied from a breaker off of the main panel's bus, so I'm guessing there is no advantage in terms of SQ? Perhaps if I can independently ground the subpanel it might make a difference?
  2. Opening up my walls is not an option, so I need to use conduit. This may restrict the number of lines if the wire should not share the same conduit? If I am restricted to Romex 8 or 10,2 versus metal-clad, is it okay for two runs to occupy the same conduit?
  3. How much better is metal-clad? Is it required vs Romex? Will metal conduit accomplish the same result with Romex?

Answers to these questions will complete my plans and I will go forward at speed. Hopefully this discussion helps others as well even if it's to know what to have their electrician setup for them.

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

izjjzi
goose
723 posts
 

There has been a lot of audio chatter about grounding.  Michael Fremer did an extensive electrical upgrade and has a YouTube video that may be helpful.  I have an audio friend that also did a sub panel addition as well as install a new ground system for his home.  It was based on a three rod grouping that went very deep (30 feet) into his rocky soil to get the resistance as low as possible.

 

erik_squires
16,645 posts
 

Does a subpanel help? Is it required? Subpanels are typically supplied from a breaker off of the main panel’s bus, so I’m guessing there is no advantage in terms of SQ? Perhaps if I can independently ground the subpanel it might make a difference?

 

The big advantage of a subpanel is the heavy gauge wiring to the main panel as well as the convenience of short local circuits. The heavy gauge will reduce any possibility for voltage drop that you would get from running 12 or 14 gauge wiring given the same current.

Always follow the National Electric Code for grounding, which means NO independent ground.

Do put in a panel surge suppressor on your main panel and sub panels.

djones51
4,947 posts
 

I see 2 possibly 3 code violations in your questions maybe you need to rethink your don't need an electrician stance. At least pull a permit and get inspected unless you never plan on selling the house. Forget insurance covering fire damage.

izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 

@djones51 Can you PM these potential violations or post them here? 

@All - Based on your responses the subpanel would reside right next to the main panel, so I do not see any advantages vs a pair of 20A breakers in the main panel. There is plenty of room. This simplifies things and I will look into a permit and inspection. Thank you.

 

izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 

The backstory here, which I may have mentioned in another thread, is that I learned "the hard way" of how important a dedicated line may be. My system was sounding pretty good, but I was listening alone during the day and at night. My brother visited twice and loved what he heard. My point - my system was the only thing using electricity during these times, something I didn’t realized until last Thanksgiving when we had a houseful of guests (as did the neighbors) and my brother said to everyone "you have to hear xxxx’s system". Practically every light, television, Christmas lights and tree were on at the time and a number of us headed down. The SQ was atrocious. Embarrassing! My brother walked out blaming my gear and exclaiming "what a waste of money"... A total disaster I want to avoid or greatly mitigate in my next system.

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