2. tech-talk
  3. 1153532229

Advice on New Electrical Service

Hi folks. I am in the middle of home renovations and have a great opportunity to upgrade the juice reaching my two channel system. I am having the service moved to the other side of the house where it will feed a new 200amp panel. There is a transformer on the pole outside my window. I already have a 15amp dedicate line to a four way (quad) outlet behind my entertainment center, which holds my TV, DVD-VCR and all my audio equipment. Here is what I am thinking/planning on doing. I'd really appreciate comments to help me approach this a thoroughly as possible...

My town has it's own electrical power generating system and I know one of the guys who works for the public works department. I'm thinking of asking him to check and test the transformer to make sure it is appropriate size and is operating properly. I will also ask that the new service feed be copper rather than aluminum wire.

At the panel I am going to install an Environmental Potentials 2050 to deal with noise, surges and lightning damage. I am then going to have the electrician create a new 20 amp circuit to a duplex outlet for my amp and preamp. This will be run off the first tap. The existing 15 amp direct line will be upgraded to a 20amp circuit for the quad and will run off the second tap. I will connect the TV and all other components to this line. The two separate dedicated lines will be wired "in phase" so as not to produce noise. I will have the electrician install three new Porter Ports for the quad and new single outlet.

I am also considering getting an Environmental Potentials 2450 to plug all the components into behind the entertainment center but this seems like overkill. If I did this I would merely upgrade the current 15amp dedicated line to a 20amp and install the Porter Ports. (Since the additional outlets would not be necessary).

This is the best plan I have been able to generate given my limited technical expertise in this area. I'd really appreciate hearing if I am on the right track, thinking about the right things, haven't missed anything or gotten it wrong before I order the equipment and talk to the people who are going to be doing the work.

Thanks for the help.
dodgealum

Showing 3 responses by zephyr24069

zephyr24069's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
zephyr24069
1,241 posts
 
Check out my system thread and another thread or two where I've talked about the EP units; they are WELL worth the money. Best $750 and $179 I've put into my system ever. Also on those threads I give details on my main and sub-panel; briefly, I've got a Cutler-Hammer 200amp main panel with copper busbars (EP 2050 installed there) and a GE (w/copper bars) interior sub-panel (EP 2750 units installed there). I had them pull straight (non-cryo) 10-guage Romex (it sound surprised me...length of run prohibited anything more expensive in the $10-$30/foot realm).

Outlets: I've used a lot of different ones over the years and about a year ago finally found something I like better than cryo'ed Oyaide R1s; Avatar Acoustics AFTERBURNER8 outlets are the best I've used/heard by far. Check them out.....sound, no exotic plating metallurgy with rock-solid design and sonics....

Questions,...let me know on this thread or in-mail on Audiogon.
zephyr24069's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
zephyr24069
1,241 posts
 
Brownsfan: I think you'll be very surprised and happy with the result (I obviously am)!.

Diwakarv: I'll have to look up the model numbers of my CH/Eaton panel and GE panel when I get home off the road for work. They are both interior installs in my garage; see my system page for pictures.

I picked up the EP units from VHAudio. Here is the link to the EP2050, you'll have to ask about the 2750 units...;

http://www.vhaudio.com/acpowerconditioning.html#ep
zephyr24069's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
zephyr24069
1,241 posts
 
Sorry...weird posting result after copy-paste; the link above looks bad but it does work correctly. The EP2750 unit and EP2050 occupy the same ad-line; click on the dropdown list for details....
More to discover