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Installing dedicated 10 gauge lines

Everyone keeps saying how important it is to have a dedicated 10 gauge line from your breaker box to your amp (I have a Diablo 300), and a second one to your source components (primarily an InnuOS Zenith Mk 3 streamer/Roon core).

I would love to do this, but isn’t this a major expense, like $15k or more? Does all the drywall back to the breaker box need to be ripped out to install the new lines?

Sorry if these are dumb questions. If the answer to the above is yes and yes, this project definitely won’t get past my wife!

As an aside, on the same 15A circuit, I have my amp, streamer, a Mac Mini that is normally on, my TV, video game consoles, and a network switch. So, obviously not ideal but out of all of these the only things that are on while I’m listening to music, beyond my amp and streamer, are the Max Mini and the network switch which supplies network connections to my tv and game consoles.

Hoping installing the dedicated line installation somehow doesn’t require drywall ripping and replacement?

 

 

 

 

 

 

nyev
erik_squires
16,901 posts
 

For the Diablo, consider having it adjusted to run with 240V and running 12/2 Romex instead of 10/2. Using 240V / 20A circuit the Diablo 300 will require a 6.3A fuse, which leaves a big ratio between circuit capacity and amp needs of about 3:1.  This ratio is actually a bit better than you'd get with 10/2 at 120V:  30 Amps possible / 12A needed, so closer to 2:1

In addition, running 240V the voltage drop will be halved for the same distance given the Diablo 300. A much stiffer situation.

 

Best,

 

Erik

 

 

nyev OP
1,031 posts
 

Thanks for the advice All. Unfortunately there is no crawlspace, between my room and the ground floor,  and no attic as there are vaulted ceilings with spray foam insulation. There is no access from the ground floor as it is completely finished…

Thanks Erik for the tips especially regarding 240V. I would not have thought of that.

 

builder3
776 posts
 

Electricians are good at fishing wires into walls, either from in the crawl space, if you have one, or your attic. Or surface mounted conduit on an exterior wall, there are a lot of possibilities. Removing drywall from the panel to your new dedicated outlets would be about the poorest option, unless the two are in adjacent rooms. Ask around where you live, get a name or two of a good electrician. For electrical advice, ignore 90% of what’s posted here at Audiogon. A few folks will burn your house down, others will only electrocute you, lol.

builder3
776 posts
 

nyev, do I understand that your audio room is on a 2nd floor? If so, is the wall you want the new outlets in an interior wall?

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