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Dedicated circuits? Bldng a new house. Help.

I am in the process of having a house built. I have a 50/50 theater/music system, mostly all Linn stuff, and I am very ignorant about electrical power. My stuff is all currently plugged into a Tice power conditioner, except the amps are plugged directly into the wall. I do not have ANY dedicated circuits. They are all sharing.

I have 2 amps,processor,dvd player,cd player,xbox 360, cable box,and a plasma.

Since I am building, obviously this is the time to do what I need to do. So please help. How many dedicated circuits? What plugs into each one? What do I do with the Tice? What kind of outlets?

Thanks.
rushrx

Showing 2 responses by jea48

jea48
4,310 posts
 
If you have not started the wiring yet, the first thing you need to do is spec the main electrical panel to be Square D QO. The Square D QO panel has copper plated buss not aluminum as many have. Make sure it is not the Square D home Line brand, it has aluminum buss.

Next pay the extra $$ and have copper wire installed from the electric meter to the main electrical panel, not aluminum. The utility companies wire to the meter will be aluminum, nothing you can do about that.

How far will your audio room be from the main electrical panel? Approximate, don't forget to figure up and down. If the length are approaching 70 ft or more you may want to consider a sub panel closer to your equipment.

As for the number of branch circuits Walkelin pretty much covered it in his post. Cheaper now than later down the road.
jea48
4,310 posts
 
Next pay the extra $$ and have copper wire installed from the electric meter to the main electrical panel, not aluminum. The utility companies wire to the meter will be aluminum, nothing you can do about that.

The utility companies wire to the meter socket will be aluminum, nothing you can do about that.
This would be for an underground service hook up. If the service will be fed overhead have the electrical contractor install copper wire for the service drop also to feed the meter socket. Again the utility company's feed from the pole to the weather head will be aluminum.
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