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Dedicated Power Lines

Been thinking about running dedicated Romex circuits from my circuit breaker box for my rig. No . . . I decline paying for specialty wire, Romex will do. The question is how many discreet lines and the amp capability of each line. I'm still trying to figure out how to do the installation in accordance with Code, without tearing my finished basement apart. For that, I'll consult a licensed electrician.

My rig consists of the following gear: (1) self powered sub that is rated at 1500 "Class D" watts; 4500 watts on a surge; (2) ARC tube CDP; (3) ARC tube line stage; (4) ARC tube power amp rated at 120 wpc - supposedly draws 700-800 watts when driven hard; (5) ARC tube phono pre; and VPI TT. I have a large screen plasma TV and a DVD player. I think that stuff can run off the house circuits.

Right now, everything I just listed is sucking juice off the same line. I gotta believe no good is coming from that set-up. Funny story -- one day my kid was playing Rosetta. I think it's a band that plays music, or at least that what my kid says. Tons of bass. When the band kicked into "low gear," first the basement lights dimmed, then the circuit breaker tripped.

Oh, my house is tied into the utility lines with a 100 amp service. If I change that out, that's the next project. But not right now. Other than Rosetta, no other power delivery problems noted.

Thanks
bifwynne
jea48
4,395 posts
 
Coxhaus,

Just curious have you ever checked if the outputs of your three isolation transformers are in phase with one another?

Simple test.
Using a volt meter/multi meter set the meter to AC auto or for AC over 300Vac.

Insert one test lead probe in the hot contact, small slot, of a receptacle fed from one transformer and the other test lead probe into the hot, small slot, of a receptacle fed from one of the other transformers.

If in phase you will measure 0 Vac nominal. If out of phase you will measure 240Vac nominal. Check each hot to hot contact from each receptacle fed from each transformer.

If out of phase the 240Vac nominal is lethal real potential power, not phantom power.

You want the outputs of the isolation transformers to be in phase with one another where audio equipment is connected together by ICs.
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coxhaus
231 posts
 
How is this different than people who plug into multiple plugs which are in different phases of their breaker box? Most people do not know what phase every plug is in their house nor do they go to the trouble to figure it out.

The sound is great from the isolators.
ptss
1,964 posts
 
Jea. Why not test them independently?
jea48
4,395 posts
 
Jea. Why not test them independently?
06-17-13: Ptss
Ptss,

Test what independently?
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ptss
1,964 posts
 
Jea48. The outputs of the 3 transformers; as you suggested June 14.
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