dedicated line - yet another question concerning

Chuck...thanks, I did mean 2 not 3.

tswhitsel

I believe you are refering to 14/2 or 12/2 not 14/3 or 12/3.
Three conductor has one black, one white, one red, and a bare copper groung; 4 wires total. Two conductor has one black, one white, with a bare copper ground; 3 wires total.

Chuck

What Mkfischer is suggesting is clear enough to me, but I do not agree that you "need" a dedicated line based on your current system. The difference between a dedicated line and a dedicated circuit is the dedicated line is completely independent of of the electrical system the rest of your house is running on. This will require public service to come out to your house and run a new service to your house with its own meter. As compared to a dedicated circuit, the only difference is you will not be sharing a common neutral and ground. A dedicated circuit is a circuit that is dedicated to your audio system only and has nothing else on it (lights, appliances, computers, etc.). It has its own circuit breaker but shares a common neutral and ground with the rest of your house. You do not need an electrician to do anything except perhaphs change it from a 15 amp breaker to a 20 amp breaker(and even this may not really be necessary). The only caution here is most 15 amp circuits use 14/3 romex and 20 amp circuits use 12/3 romex to handle the higher current demand. Outlets in your kitchen will be 20 amp and are required by code to be 12/3 romex. It is a difference between 14 AWG and 12 AWG copper. My entire house is wired with 12/3 regardless of whether it is a 15 or 20 amp circuit. I built my own sound room and ran 4 circuits into it (2 analog, 1 digital, 1 lighting). So far I've been doing fine with a 15 amp circuit breakers and I have two pure class A 200 watt per channel BEL monoblocks on one circuit with no problems. Your amps are the only issue here as your preamp and source components use very little current.

A dedicated line is considered to be the ultimate power source. The question is, how much will it cost to install such a system versus installing a dedicated circuit, and will it be worth the expense. My guess is a lot more and I do not think yours system justifies the expense. If you do go the the expense of installing a dedicated circuit though, you may want to consider doing two so you can isolate your digital from your analog.

Do some homework, read the Stereophile issues mentioned above, and be prepared to explain to the electrician what you want to accomplish. You may also want to install some industrial or hospital grade duplex outlets(even it you decide not to do anything eles). Or you may just want to leave well enough alone and enjoy the music.

I am not sure what mkfisher is telling you to do. Sounds like what he's telling you,is to install a 20amp circuit outside your electricial service, unconnected? How are you to supply ac to an unconnected circuit? Are you suppose to install a separate service, or hook directly to the power co service drop unmetered? I Don't get it. As per NEC you can have a separate ground rod, but it must be connected to existing building grounds. All yo need is a 20a dedicated circuit with a good quality receptical.

Are you asking about a dedicated line or circuit? If line then do what mkfischer suggests. However, I believe it is a huge over kill for what you are hooking to it. If what you want is a dedicated circuit then go with a 20amp breaker and 10/2 romex and a good hospital grade outlet such as the Hubbel 8300 or PS Audio Power Port.

Chuck

You need a 20 amp circuit outside of your existing fuse box and unconnected to your existing electrical service with a separate earth ground (rod in the ground). Keep all connected components plugged into this outlet so they all draw from the same circuit. You will get an unbelieveable improvement in sound. Stereophile mag ran a series of articles on this maybe in 2000, 2001. I had this done 1-2 years ago and went WOW. Regards, Mike P.S. you can still use your strip, but I would listen without it to see what happens after the circuit upgrade.