2. cables
  3. 176414-125055

Installing dedicated 10 gauge lines

Everyone keeps saying how important it is to have a dedicated 10 gauge line from your breaker box to your amp (I have a Diablo 300), and a second one to your source components (primarily an InnuOS Zenith Mk 3 streamer/Roon core).

I would love to do this, but isn’t this a major expense, like $15k or more? Does all the drywall back to the breaker box need to be ripped out to install the new lines?

Sorry if these are dumb questions. If the answer to the above is yes and yes, this project definitely won’t get past my wife!

As an aside, on the same 15A circuit, I have my amp, streamer, a Mac Mini that is normally on, my TV, video game consoles, and a network switch. So, obviously not ideal but out of all of these the only things that are on while I’m listening to music, beyond my amp and streamer, are the Max Mini and the network switch which supplies network connections to my tv and game consoles.

Hoping installing the dedicated line installation somehow doesn’t require drywall ripping and replacement?

 

 

 

 

 

 

nyev

Showing 2 responses by artemus_5

artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,994 posts
 

Unfortunately there is no crawlspace, between my room and the ground floor,  and no attic as there are vaulted ceilings with spray foam insulation.

FWIW my system is also in a room with cathedral ceiling. Yet I still have an attic in which I can run wires to 3 walls of that room.  I can even get it into the 4th wall, at least on each end with a minimum of Sheetrock work. So all is not lost, IMO. As @builder3  has said, the electricians have more experience than I do in pulling wires. And after seeing the job, they may be able to do this somewhat easy. We are working blind here so I don't know without seeing a print. Get an electrician who has remodeling experience to take a look.

artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,994 posts
 

I am a retired lifelong carpenter/ building Contractor. I also ran my own line in my house after it was built. As @winoguy17 says, You can go through the crawlspace (if you have one) If Not then go through the the attic. There will be no need to cut Sheetrock except the hole for the remodel box. If you have a 2 story house and trying to put this on the 1st floor in a home without a crawlspace, it can still be done without much cutting of Sheetrock. This will take a lot of measurements and planning and is not for the typical DIYer.

Depending on where you live and how strict the codes are, an electrician should be able to do this for maybe $750-$1k. The later situation I spoke of will be more $$$, maybe double that price. One caveat is that this cannot be done in exterior walls due to the insulation without removing Sheetrock. Of course , the price then increases to double or more. Again, its all dependent on where you live and the bureaucracy & codes. Also some city codes are very cumbersome and this too raises the price.

Also, I agree with @helmholtzsoul concerning the 12g wiring. Most outlets will not accept 10 g  and you would have to junction it over to 12 g anyway. Good luck

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