Dedicated Power?

[Jay]

I am having some electrical work done in my new house, and think it makes sense to have some dedicated lines run for the stereo. Fortunately, the breaker box is near the area where I have my equipment so it shouldn't be too difficult to do. My questions are:

Do I need to find an electrician familiar with hi-fi equipment?
What exactly do I ask the electrician for?
How much should I expect to spend?
How many should I have run? I have an integrated now, but may move to separates in the future.

Thanks!

 

[the professor]

I would run 2 or 3 dedicated 20amp lines using 10 gauge wire.

If you run more than 1. Make sure that all of them use the same length wire. This will help eliminate ground loops. Also have him use the same phase of the 220 that comse into the circuit box.

Electrical costs depending on the situation can range all over the place.

 

[mdkim]

+1 on everything Jock said. Although, I've found best results with everything running on a single circuit. Slight hum with multiple circuits.

Also, put noisy appliances on alternate phase if possible.

 

[joeinid]

+1 on everything Jock said. Although, I've found best results with everything running on a single circuit. Slight hum with multiple circuits.

Also, put noisy appliances on alternate phase if possible.

+1

My CJ gear sounds best on a single circuit. Had a slight hum using multiple outlets. If I had it to do over, I think I'd install a single 30A circuit and just plug everything into it. There should be plenty of headroom with a 30A line. I am not sure what others would say about that.

 

[the professor]

If your local building code will allow this that would be awesome. Most building codes won't allow a 30 amp cuircuit that allows a standard 110 volt plug on it.

+1

My CJ gear sounds best on a single circuit. Had a slight hum using multiple outlets. If I had it to do over, I think I'd install a single 30A circuit and just plug everything into it. There should be plenty of headroom with a 30A line. I am not sure what others would say about that.

 

[the professor]

Have the wire the same length helps with hum.

Over the years I've found that some equip sounds better with one circuit and some benefit from more. If you install multiple circuits then you have the option to listen and see what is best for the current equip that you have.

+1 on everything Jock said. Although, I've found best results with everything running on a single circuit. Slight hum with multiple circuits.

Also, put noisy appliances on alternate phase if possible.

 

[sharkmouth]

Also get an earth stake at least 61/2ft long driven into the ground & connected to the circuit, this is what I have been told by people that know a shiteload more about it than I & I trust them.

 

[Jay]

Thanks guys. When I asked him about additional grounding, he seemed totally lost as to why I would want to do that. I may call around a bit to find someone more familiar with hifi requirements...