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Dedicated Lines - Sub panel or no?

Hi folks,

In a few months time I will be moving to a new home, where a spare bedroom and an understanding wife will enable me to enjoy the luxury of a dedicated listening room.

The first thing that comes to mind is installing 4 dedicated 20A lines. The breaker panel is on the ground floor, the room is on the 3rd.

I'm wondering which is better:

-to run all four lines from the breaker box all the way to the wall outlets,

-or install a sub-panel (is that the right term?) in the room, and use a single, very heavy guage line from the breaker box to the subpanel, then run 4 short lengths of 10 or 12 gauge from the subpanel to the outlets.

Thanks in advance for your advice

Kind Regards
Mick
mickey_sg
magfan
1,583 posts
 
As a cost-no-object solution, Psacanli, you got it.
For the rest of us, a good dedicated line or 2 will have to do. I suspect that a good dedicated line is well over half the battle. For a room add-on, I'd LIKE to use a sub-panel.
I used to be able the flicker the house lights with my Carver Cube....years ago. But now, with 2x the power and a dedicated line, I can do no such thing.
If I lived where there were lightning storms, I'd also have a whole-house lightning arrest system.
buff's avatar
buff
210 posts
 
Go with the sub panel, as it will allow room for potential add on later.
Never know how many lines the future may need :-)
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
I use a subpanel but my requirements are unique.

I have 3 amplifiers (2400W combined) for stereo. Much of that in class A.

I supply a large step-down transformer with 240V for balanced AC output for 2 of the amps.

A TVC line stage provides galvanic isolation between the CDP and amps. There can be different voltage between legs which can cause noise but that has not been an issue in my case.

I have the subpanel/transformer located in a closet directly behind the equipment.

The origional main panel is obsolete and breakers are no longer available.

I was able to run 6/3 wire through the crawlspace.

I rent.
psacanli
535 posts
 
I think the comment by Liquid Hi Fi is very valid and should be a major factor in your decision. You provide a foundation for future upgrades in vital power supply area.
zargon's avatar
zargon
453 posts
 
Mick, I have tried both of your options and found locating a subpanel just outside the room vs next to the main panel by far the easiest and least expensive. Once your subpanel is close at hand, it is quite simple to run separate dedicated and star grounded circuits to each component which minimizes any interaction between them (see diagrams in my system).

Plus, by putting the subpanel on an 4kva iso transformer, I found it eliminated the need for separate or multiple power conditioners, eliminated any possibility for ground loops, and minimized the need for exotic and expensive PCs.

I assume you have a fairly simple way to route the power line to the subpanel and a way to hide the subpanel in the room? If you do explore the iso transformer, be aware that they to make an audible humming noise that would need to be taken into account.
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