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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!

 

 

 

 

128x128izjjzi
djones51
4,947 posts
 

Separate ground for subpanel is against code,  you need to run THHN in conduit not NM and can be run lower on the wall when used in open area.  BX/MC can't be run where it could be damaged, usually it's run high in corner of wall and ceiling and needs to be attached more than conduit. 

izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 

Thank you, everyone for the humor and solid advice. I literally chose to spend my time posting here today instead of running to home depot with my shopping list. Thankful I did. Eager to speak with the three local electricians tomorrow.

It's because I caught the audiophile bug that I am looking to save pennies everywhere I can, but maybe this isn't the place to save despite my experience. 

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,376 posts
 

If your panel still has a couple of extra spaces, run 2 dedicated circuits from them with the appropriate breakers to your system.  You don’t need a wire encased in metal. The ground at the panel end goes to the ground buss inside the panel.  The other end goes to the ground on the receptacle in the audio room.  Why make it harder than it needs to be?  I have 2 circuits like this for 23 years with zero noise and zero problems.    A licensed electrician did all the work.  

djones51
4,947 posts
 

The way I understood he doest want to or cant go through the wall/walls so running regular NM isn't an option. I would run metal conduit or schedule 40 with THHN since it will be exposed. I could have run mine as well but I got an electrician to do it when I was having other work done. He pulled the permits and saved me the headaches. 

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

I work for Space X, stuff keeps blowing up. What's your point? Picky! and it's not suppose to blow up? What kind of fun is that?

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