I have a circuit in my listening room for my amplifiers and it uses a dedicated ground.
Dedicated ground ??? Are your present outlets IG, (Isolated Ground) duplex outlets?
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Good outlet for amplifiers
I have a circuit in my listening room for my amplifiers and it uses a dedicated ground. Right now I have two duplex outlets connected - and I use the primary outlet (first on the run) for the amps (reserve secondary for subwoofers if needed). I would like to install better quality outlets for this - two duplex, set up for a dedicated ground. I could see spending $100-$200 per duplex, if that gets me something decent. I want it to grip the plugs well. Recommendations?
PS - I'm running two VAC Phi-200 amplifiers (200w tube amps, KT88)
@peter_s said:
Isolated ground? Therein an insulated green wire, Equipment Grounding Conductor, EGC, that is used for the safety equipment ground contact on an IG, (Isolated Ground) type receptacle. The green insulated, isolated, EGC is ran in the same raceway or cable as the branch circuit wiring current carrying conductors to the electrical panel the branch circuit is fed from? Is that what you mean? Not an outdoors dedicated driven ground rod? Here is an example of a Hubbell IG Hospital Grade duplex receptacle. Note the IG EGC green color ground screw and contacts are insulated, isolated, from the supporting back strap and the center 6/32 threaded hub on the front of the outlet that holds on the wall cover plate. What is the branch circuit wiring ran in? Conduit? Or a Cable like Romex? |
ya, that would be a good idea. Saves a lot of guess work what the electrician used. Don't forget to turn off the breaker. Verify the circuit is dead. While looking inside the outlet box look for two green insulated ground wires. Write down the number of, and colors of, all the wires in the armor cable. Are you sure the duplex outlet(s) are IG grounding type? They are orange in color or have an orange triangle on the face plate? Like this one for example. Here is an example of a Hubbell IG Hospital Grade duplex receptacle. I assume your house is wood framing. Why did you go with IG outlets and IG ground. What did the electrician say about it? Or was it his suggestion? I'm glad you didn't say the IG ground wire connects to a dedicated ground rod. That's usually the cause. FWIW not that many IG outlets are installed these days. They really are only used in commercial and industrial facilities. They where big in the 1970s, 1980s, and into the 1990s but really dropped off in the 2000s. .. |
I hope not... That’s AC armored cable. Commonly called BX cable. Hopefully yours in MC, (Metal Clad) Cable https://www.southwire.com/wire-cable/metal-clad-cable/armorlite-type-mc-isolated-ground/p/MC40
https://www.southwire.com/wire-cable/metal-clad-cable/armorlite-type-mc-isolated-ground/p/69599901 . |
Edit: This armored cable is apparently MC cable. Manufacture calls it Metal Clad. Must be new. I have never seen MC cable with a bare aluminum ground wire. Junk for feeding audio equipment, imo. I doubt very much that’s what you have. No way that could be considered as an IG conductor. This is AC armored cable. A different animal than MC cable.
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