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Dedicated AC Circuits: It's not the noise, it's the upstream problems

I live in a 15 year old home which I’ve been slowly upgrading the AC service as time and energy have permitted. Every single switch has been replaced, many with Kasa brand smart switches. All the 120V breakers have been brought up to modern code, and every single GFCI outlet has been replaced or added where now required.

Outside outlets have been replaced where needed and new in-use covers applied. Of the remaining outlets about 2/3rds have been replaced with commercial / residential (i.e. commercial but tamper resistant) outlets.

After going through this exercise I have to say that one of the biggest reasons to have a dedicated circuit is not the use of 1" thick conductors going to a cryogenic treated, $500 locking outlet. It’s getting rid of all of the upstream crap that happens over time.

I’ve found so many:

  • loose connections
  • loose outlets
  • back stabbed connections
  • corrosion
  • random items inserted into an outlet
  • scorch marks

it’s a wonder this house didn’t actually burn down.

My point is, that for me, putting in a new circuit for the audio gear isn't about exotic materials so much as having a clean, new circuit with 2 sets of connections to worry about: at the breaker and the outlet.

 

erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,039 posts
 

@bikeboy52  I was making fun of users attempting to use giant/oversized power cables between the breaker box and their outlet.

bikeboy52
187 posts
 

Oh good I was wondering what kind of doctors could treat someone using 2 ought conductors for a 20 receptacle circuit would be.😀

brunomarcs's avatar
brunomarcs
281 posts
 

Anyone should've gotten the 1'' thick conductor joke! It's absolutely true if you have an old service it's time to upgrade everything that you can. I removed a cord from an outlet in my kitchen one time, don't remember what I unplugged, it sparked smoked and caught on fire for a second or two then it tripped the breaker. I thought I was gonna burn the house down, it was pretty scary. I was able to pull the wires out enough to cut off the burnt section and I installed all new outlets and a few gfi's at that time. An old outlet can go bad at anytime. 
 

I hired a reputable electrician to replace my service panel,  he had the power company come out and replace the overhead line from the street all the way to the house, using larger wires, they also put in a new larger transformer and pole closer to my house, the old transformer was at the street, I can look out the window and see my own big transformer in my yard. It's not my own anymore, it was replaced with a larger one five months ago and is now feeding my sons new house also. I can't tell a difference in sound quality. 

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,763 posts
 

I almost have 1" thick cable feeding mine. Okay, maybe not that big but it is 8 gauge.

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad
1,551 posts
 

Exactly.  

I'll add that a dedicated circuit ensures that a load of laundry isn't running on the same circuit causing a large power draw.  Seems like an extreme example but indeed the outlet behind my system (before I installed a dedicated circuit) was on the same circuit as the laundry room, bathrooms, kitchen and garage.  You can probably figure out from those hints that it is the GFCI protected circuit.  Seems like it would be easier to install a GFCI outlet in every bathroom than to run the same circuit all over the house but for some reason my house has only one GFCI circuit and it has an outlet behind my stereo system.

Jerry

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