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Electrical supply home wiring project

Hello all,

I am looking for some helpful suggestions in designing my electrical power supply to my combined home theatre and two channel system. All of my components are presently solid state.

I have two 20amp circuit breakers that I intend to dedicate to my system. My circuit breaker box is about 20 feet from my system. I am having a licensed electrician do the work.

Here are the components to my system. A 52 inch LCD television, TIVO DVR, Yamaha RX-Z9 AV receiver, universal disk player, Classe CA 200 amp (200 watts into 8 ohms), a Classe CP 35 preamp (line level), classe CD player, vpi turntable, Simaudio phono stage pre-amp, velodyne DD12 subwoofer, and possibly other components down the road. So I need at a minimum, 10 outlets, however, to make room for expansion I should probably plan to have 12 to 14 outlets.

I am looking for recommendations on how to provide these outlets. Should they all be hard wired, should I use audio grade outlets or separate line conditioners? How should I configure the outlets to minimize interference? Any recommendations on the type and gauge of wire? Should I use separate power conditioners or power conditioning outlet strips?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
papajoe
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
There is a consensus that your Cable Box/Satellite Box and perhaps monitor--whatever you are using-- should be on seperate. Also, Amps should be isolated from digital components.

20 Amp circuits are good---you don't want the switchbreaker to be so strong that it won't trip when the component is failing.

Also, pay attention to low voltage cables that you might want to run in the walls. Overdo this as you will want to make changes later. Finally, if you can, run some empty electrical conduit to 'future proof' your walls as you might want to add something later.
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
Contact your local Building Department and see if you need a permit. You may not be required to get permit, based on total value of work to be done. It is better to be safe. Fines for work without permit double the project cost. Hire a Licensed Electrical contractor. CYA!
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Since most line conditioners do not provide bi-directional filtering and since it looks like you will have two dedicated lines I would configure according to the following:

o TV, cable box, etc. all on non-dedicated outlets and disconnect all interconnects/tv cables when you want to listen to audio only.

o CD / dvd players (digital) on one dedicated line. But when one is on turn the other completely off because digital components generate bi-directional digital noise and that noise will go right over to the component you may be using.

o All analog components on the other dedicated line. But you would obtain better dynamics if nothing shared the dedicated line with your amp(s).

But to some degree it's all for naught because the bi-directional digital noise will make its way back to the service panel and then induce the noise into the other circuits/lines. Your home computer does likewise.

So to really take advantage of dedicated lines invest in one or two excellent line conditioners such as the Foundation Research models which also provides bi-directional filtering.

But to be frank, if you have proper line conditioners installed everywhere, dedicated lines buy you nothing whatsoever. That is except for the amplifier's line where a dedicated line helps to ensure that the amp has enough juice on hand to reproduce dynamic and complex passages.

Lastly, you might consider some cryo-treated audio grade outlets and use simple 10 or 12 gauge romex and outlets and with your AC lines being so short, I'd suggest cryo-treating the romex as well.

-IMO
sns
3,271 posts
 
As Stehno mentions, cryo'd Romex is a nice upgrade.
jallen
502 posts
 
Use 12ga. solid core romex, not stranded. Use hospital grade outlets also.
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