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Dedicated Circuits - Subpanel importance?

My system is no more. Sold everything. Starting from scratch. Thanks to you and seven months of experience I am doing the following, which is taking care of the number one component, the room:

  1. Treating. The full GIK order in October is starting to arrive.
  2. Running one or more dedicated circuits.

I am addressing #2 in this post. There are extensive discussions here and one can spend hours if not days trying to wring-out the critical details needed for a DIY solution. I have spent hours and there a few things I need to confirm before I proceed because I was unable to find definitive answers.

I am doing this myself. I do not want or need lectures on only having a licensed electrician do this work. I have been doing my own electrical work for many years and am very comfortable doing so.

  1. Does a subpanel help? Is it required? Subpanels are typically supplied from a breaker off of the main panel's bus, so I'm guessing there is no advantage in terms of SQ? Perhaps if I can independently ground the subpanel it might make a difference?
  2. Opening up my walls is not an option, so I need to use conduit. This may restrict the number of lines if the wire should not share the same conduit? If I am restricted to Romex 8 or 10,2 versus metal-clad, is it okay for two runs to occupy the same conduit?
  3. How much better is metal-clad? Is it required vs Romex? Will metal conduit accomplish the same result with Romex?

Answers to these questions will complete my plans and I will go forward at speed. Hopefully this discussion helps others as well even if it's to know what to have their electrician setup for them.

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

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Showing 4 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 

@rajugsw , power surge took out your preamp and didn’t trip the surge protector?

 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 

 

There's no advantage to a subpanel, imo, unless perhaps it can be located close to your system and simplify the rest of the install. As for grounding, all grounds must be bonded together at the main panel and only at the main panel to ensure a fault to ground will trip the breaker.

@cleeds , I've learned about grounding code from forums such as this. But I've been wondering why can't a subpanel have it's own grounding rod as long as the main panel has a grounding rod? This is unclear to me because the subpanel ground is tied to the main panel grounding block.

Is a grounding rod ever used on a subpanel?

 

 

 

 

 

 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 

BUT, an equipment equipment grounding conductor still must be ran with the feeder conductors and the equipment grounding conductor shall be terminated to the equipment ground bar in the main electrical panel as well connected to the ground bar in the subpanel.

The purpose of an equipment grounding conductor is to provide a low impedance path for ground fault current to return to the source, the utility power transformer, through the service neutral conductor at the electrical service main electrical panel where all equipment grounding conductors are connected to.

@jea48 

Understood. We discussed this when you advised me about replacing my meter box and outside line due to corrosion. If you remember, distortion and DC was entering my service panel.

I think where I'm confused is from comments in threads about using an "independent" ground rod (or 2) from a subpanel or main panel. My take is that these ground rods are not bonded to the main panel. This doesn't sound kosher. Is there any reason to use multiple ground rods spread out in the backyard? Yes, I know earth doesn't possess any magical powers.

 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 

That's right, @jea48 , it was a large toroidal transformer humming. You answered my query and we discussed what might be causing it before I called the electrician. I'm always appreciative of the help you and others provide. 

Your explanation regarding isolated ground rods confirms what I thought. There have been many electrical threads where the OP has believed that isolating grounds either in the house or in the ground will reduce noise. I know there must be only one common ground but was looking for the final word on ground rods. Many thanks.

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