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 lowrider57

What you require should not cost over $3000. I agree with others to call an electrician and get an estimate. An experienced electrician has seen it all in residential situations. They don't want to break apart walls, they look for areas in the house where existing electrical wiring is. They will run new wire from the service panel and will follow the path of previous wiring or they will take measurements then drill holes or make cuts to fish the wires up through the house. 

If there's an obstacle, they might cut a section of drywall and modify a stud to get to the destination. 

10 and 12 gauge Romex will require 20amp breakers and outlets. Figure out which components are on each line and the total amperage. You may be able to use 12awg and 20A. Just a heads up, expect the electrician to tell you not to use 10awg, it's harder work for him. If that's what you need, then insist on it and buy it yourself at Home Depot.

The absolute most that you need (unless you have something most unusual) is 1 (one) 20 amp circuit.  That requires 12ga with ground from your panel & a 20 amp breaker.  Use a hospital grade outlet.

From that single outlet use a 15 amp or 20 amp multi outlet strip to plug in all of your gear.  Note: The only grounded component should be your preamplifier.  Use cheater plugs for everything else.  Otherwise you will be chasing ground loops to no end.  If you don't have a preamp then you will have to experiment.

One 20A line is certainly an option. And 12g is fine for short runs from the service panel. But to recommend grounding one component and using cheater-plugs all around is irresponsible.

And the theory for using one dedicated line is to prevent ground-loops. With all components tied to the common grounding buss bar there should be equal ground potential (impedance) unless one of the components is not using a proper grounding scheme.