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Dedicated power,long power cords - waste of time?

I am thinking about putting in a couple of dedicated lines but if I do this I will require extra long power cords, say about 20 feet in length, as the dedicated outlets must be installed across the room from where my system resides? There is no way around this.

Currently I have 3 pieces on 1 15 amp line. Bryston amp, Hovland preamp and my digital gear is plugged into a small BPT conditioner also on the same line. Installing 2 lines would allow me to drive the preamp and amp on their own lines and leave the digital alone on its own.

The downside is having to run 2 really long power cords which I would plug directly into the amp and preamp's IEC inlets.

Am I spinning my wheels here? Is this money down a rathole???

All opinions and/or related personal experiences are most welcome.
rgd
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
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Contrary to what Zenieth states, there is doubt.

I suggest that you get a long (40 ft?) heavy duty extension cord and plug it into an outlet near your electric service box. Turn off every electrical device on the same fuse/breaker as that outlet. Now you have a "dedicated" line, except that it uses the extension cord wire inastead of Romex. Plug your system into the extension cord, and fire it up. Does it sound different? Now YOU can decide if the cost of a "dedicated" power line is worth it.

By the way, I do have "dedicated" power lines, but that's because my power amps are in the cellar, where running Romex is no harder than an extension cord (well almost) and my front end equipment rear side is in the cellar stairway about 6 feet from the electrical service entrance.
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rjs5
22 posts
 
I agree with Warrenh. I have dedicated lines that come into my room from the outside, then are run along the baseboard of the room for an additonal 15' to where my rig is located. 20' power are expensive and severely limit your choices of cords.

Good luck,

Reg
alrau1's avatar
alrau1
56 posts
 
Driver has the right idea, but the wrong product; what is needed is a product that goes by the tradename "Wiremold" or its equivalent. It's a form of wall-surface-mounted, decent-looking, paintable metallic conduit that will meet NEC requirements. The hollowed-out molding will not meet NEC req's. Wiremold sells pre-formed inner and outer corners, surface-mount outlet boxes and other useful accessories for successful completion of your "impossible" job.

BTW, I would have the electrician use STEEL (not aluminum) BX armored cable up to the point where you make the transition to the Wiremold because of its superior magnetic shielding properties.
scrowley911
5 posts
 
If the power coming to your house is crap then it won't matter how many taps or dedicated lines you have. The best thing to have is a power conditioner and they are mega buck if you want one that is respectable. I can't believe how many people are suckered into buying "Special Cable" that has absolutely no effect on their system. I am sure that everyone has a spectrum analyzer and an oscillator that they can sweep signals through their cables to make sure they are synergistic. Get a power conditioner and be done with it.
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,239 posts
 
Another Option is to use a Shunyata Hydra 2 .
A 10 foot power cord to it and a 10 foot power cord from it.
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